motorcycle n00b questions, plz help?
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Speaking of this - I have a buddy who needs gear and we were gonna go look around this weekend. Can anyone recommend a good place to look for helmets/safety gear anywhere between Sunnyvale and say San Mateo? Anywhere else too, just those places would be the most convenient.
LOL about the dude in Hawaii. I remember people doing stuff like that. I didn't always wear a helmet when I was riding back then.
LOL about the dude in Hawaii. I remember people doing stuff like that. I didn't always wear a helmet when I was riding back then.
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in my opinion, 600cc is a good starting pt. That's what i started with (my ex had a bike). I'd suggest you get a cheaper and older model, cause i can guarantee you that you will drop it. You maybe careful for the first 3 months, maybe even 6 months, but one day, you wont warm up your tires that well and your gonna take a corner and bam. you drop. So i'd say get a 2000 r6 or cbr600. and when you've got enough experience under your belt, and more knowledge about bikes in general, go for what you want then.
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i think the best thing to do would be get a 600, and put some weight on the flywheel...when youre ready to step it up, just take the weight off...as opposed to selling a bike for a faster one.
Flywheels are easy to mess with...at least on a single cylinder dirtbike, i doubt its much different...it will be on the outside of the engine beneath a little cover that you can probly put a new flywheel on yourself
Flywheels are easy to mess with...at least on a single cylinder dirtbike, i doubt its much different...it will be on the outside of the engine beneath a little cover that you can probly put a new flywheel on yourself
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thanks again all those who have put in their input. just a quick last question since i think at this point a cheap ninja 250 would be manageable for my skill level and insurance... if i bought an 08 ninja with the nice fairing, is it possible to take that stuff off and ride it without the front pieces until i get more comfortable and know im not going to drop? i was talking to a friend who basically was saying that people buy these 250's without the fairings and then add them on after they get comfortable enough. is that bs or is it possible to ride the naked frame? seat on of course...
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thanks again all those who have put in their input. just a quick last question since i think at this point a cheap ninja 250 would be manageable for my skill level and insurance... if i bought an 08 ninja with the nice fairing, is it possible to take that stuff off and ride it without the front pieces until i get more comfortable and know im not going to drop? i was talking to a friend who basically was saying that people buy these 250's without the fairings and then add them on after they get comfortable enough. is that bs or is it possible to ride the naked frame? seat on of course...
If you go with the 08, just leave the fairings on and take it easy. If i were you, I wouldn't start on a brand new bike. But, the new 250 looks sweet and it will be a great starter.
Edit: I just reread your post. The dealership won't sell you a new Ninja without the fairings. You might find a used Ninja without fairings. If you are really worried about rashed fairings, get a naked bike. The Suzuki GS500E comes to mind, or a naked SV650.
Last edited by debbid; Oct 10, 2007 at 12:34 AM.
start with
I say start with an 99-02 r6. THats what i did, and can be found for well under 4k. Good beginner bike and it still looks sweet.....pic below.
Then when you get the urge to go faster you mess with a 1L lol.....new toy
Then when you get the urge to go faster you mess with a 1L lol.....new toy
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I say start with an 99-02 r6. THats what i did, and can be found for well under 4k. Good beginner bike and it still looks sweet.....pic below.
No offense, but I wouldn't recommend taking riding advice from a guy who rides without good leather gloves, much less learning to ride a supersport under those conditions.
#1 piece of advice, no matter if you ride a scooter or a 'busa: wear your gear. Skipping boots or pants is forgivable, but there is no excuse for not wearing gloves, jacket, and a good helmet. Bikes are disposable, appendages, not so much.
lol
uh... is that you? If so, where are your gloves at?
No offense, but I wouldn't recommend taking riding advice from a guy who rides without good leather gloves, much less learning to ride a supersport under those conditions.
#1 piece of advice, no matter if you ride a scooter or a 'busa: wear your gear. Skipping boots or pants is forgivable, but there is no excuse for not wearing gloves, jacket, and a good helmet. Bikes are disposable, appendages, not so much.
No offense, but I wouldn't recommend taking riding advice from a guy who rides without good leather gloves, much less learning to ride a supersport under those conditions.
#1 piece of advice, no matter if you ride a scooter or a 'busa: wear your gear. Skipping boots or pants is forgivable, but there is no excuse for not wearing gloves, jacket, and a good helmet. Bikes are disposable, appendages, not so much.
Last edited by stylin525; Oct 10, 2007 at 07:22 PM. Reason: because
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haha... I might have been a bit harsh... saw a pic of a guy on an r6 with almost no gear.... you can imagine the knee-jerk reaction. Sorry about that.
no matter what you do, ride safe and sensibly!
no matter what you do, ride safe and sensibly!
"only a matter of time before you drop it..." Great reasoning for frame sliders I guess but is this really true? For those that ride, have you all crashed at least once? I am a super-cautious rider, but the only thing I ever did was tip over my first bike in the garage after a 250 mile ride when I put my foot down and there was sand on the floor (my pops had been aligning a car). I rode consistently every day from age 15 till about 20, and then off and on for the next 5 years or so here in the Bay Area. Maybe I was just too scared to crash? On the other hand a friend (experienced rider) asked to take my Ninja around the block in Sunnyvale and crashed it within 2 miles. My brother crashed my 750 Virago but then again he rode like a retard (no gear, wheelies, donuts, etc). My dad's been riding since the 60's and has crashed once due to rubble/gravel in a turn but that was before I was born. I guess my time is coming which means I should not be looking at bikes again haha..
Either way my personal opinion for the best starter bike ever is a '91 or so Honda 750 Nighthawk. Yes it's a 750 but it is nothing like a 750 streetbike and maybe has the power of the Kawa EX500. Great bike, cheap, easy to ride and you won't feel bad if/when you tip it over. My pops grilled me on riding when I had my permit and made me do figure 8s, ride around a cone setup he made in a lot, etc before I was allowed to ride out myself. I rode with him where he would watch me ride till he thought I was safe.
Either way my personal opinion for the best starter bike ever is a '91 or so Honda 750 Nighthawk. Yes it's a 750 but it is nothing like a 750 streetbike and maybe has the power of the Kawa EX500. Great bike, cheap, easy to ride and you won't feel bad if/when you tip it over. My pops grilled me on riding when I had my permit and made me do figure 8s, ride around a cone setup he made in a lot, etc before I was allowed to ride out myself. I rode with him where he would watch me ride till he thought I was safe.
Bike is for sale, and I will have Dainese jacket/pants as well as some other stuff - oh yeah, an OGIO nodrag pack too. I have 3 helmets and nice boots too but I dunno if you sell those things haha. Gloves I will prolly just toss.
It's been fun, and I'm all done. I posted this because I know a lot of people were considering getting bikes, so maybe my story will help or something. My wife and my sister both took MSF and decided they were too chicken to ride. Personally I think that is a great thing to do even if you are just thinking of getting a bike - puts it into perspective even if just a little bit. I also took MSF before I started riding again just for the practice on someone else's bike...
Last edited by wombatsauce; Dec 4, 2008 at 05:04 PM.
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an overall good bike i would say Honda. R6 are great bikes, they are better track bikes. the bike is so sensitive on the throttle that its scary sometimes on the turns.
People choose gixers for stunt bikes, kawasaki's seating position is very low, so kinda tired when you ride a long run.
i prefer honda or gsxr. i personally have the honda cbr600rr and they are great street bikes.
before you decide on any bikes, go to a dealership and SIT on all of them. see which one do you feel most comfortable with. leg position, and angle makes a big different.
People choose gixers for stunt bikes, kawasaki's seating position is very low, so kinda tired when you ride a long run.
i prefer honda or gsxr. i personally have the honda cbr600rr and they are great street bikes.
before you decide on any bikes, go to a dealership and SIT on all of them. see which one do you feel most comfortable with. leg position, and angle makes a big different.
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I dunno if I would recommend an RR style bike for a beginner, maybe like an older CBR F2 or F3, or FZR600?
After I got my F4 running, I was pretty shocked by it's performance characteristics. Roughly twice as powerful, twice the brakes, race grade suspension, as compared to my 500.
As a third bike, it is excellent, and gives me lots of control over the various situations I find myself in on the street. The new RR bikes are no doubt more so this way.
For a beginner though? I would be hesitant to recommend it. The brakes are quite powerful, and an unpracticed panic stop will rapidly put you in a position of being under the bike.
There are also some logistical issues. First, the supersport bikes are much harder to work on. also, they have worse fuel economy, not by much, but enough to make it a concern.
Take it for what you will. You can learn to ride on a 250r or R1, but it pays to at least be sensible. The general attitude in this crowd of a kid crashing daddy's STi is roughly the same attitude motorcyclists take towards newbies wiping on dealer new supersport bikes. it's an avoidable risk, so why take it? Learn on a civic before you take the WRX out.
After I got my F4 running, I was pretty shocked by it's performance characteristics. Roughly twice as powerful, twice the brakes, race grade suspension, as compared to my 500.
As a third bike, it is excellent, and gives me lots of control over the various situations I find myself in on the street. The new RR bikes are no doubt more so this way.
For a beginner though? I would be hesitant to recommend it. The brakes are quite powerful, and an unpracticed panic stop will rapidly put you in a position of being under the bike.
There are also some logistical issues. First, the supersport bikes are much harder to work on. also, they have worse fuel economy, not by much, but enough to make it a concern.
Take it for what you will. You can learn to ride on a 250r or R1, but it pays to at least be sensible. The general attitude in this crowd of a kid crashing daddy's STi is roughly the same attitude motorcyclists take towards newbies wiping on dealer new supersport bikes. it's an avoidable risk, so why take it? Learn on a civic before you take the WRX out.