| newtuner |
| My girlfriend and I are looking at getting into riding bikes. We are trying to get into a bike course in August. She has gotten into her head that she wants to start with a used GSXR 600. I think that is way too big of a bike to get started. I started to look around on some bike forums and most agreed that a 250 or 500 would be a better size. I looked at some Kawasaki ninjas and some other sport bike looking bikes. I want to ride a cruiser bike, but I can't think of too many smaller bikes. Brand isn't really an issue as we will buy new bikes in the future. I think a trip to some bike shops will be in order to size up some bikes. Any feed back would be great. |
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| midnite |
If you are smart and responsible, starting on a 600 shouldn't be a problem. If you start on a smaller bike, you'll probably end up selling and buying the original bike you wanted anyway a year or two later.
You may want to look into a used bike over a new bike, that way you won't be so worried incase you accidentally drop it. Frame sliders are also cheaper(like 80bucks) than fixing or replacing ferrings, so you may want to pick up a set for peace of mind. They are really easy to install.
Where do you two plan to take rider training? |
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| AudiInProgress |
| I'd say 600cc on a sportbike is too much for a beginner... 600cc on a cruiser style is perfect for a beginner though... |
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| Flex |
| It all depends on how comfortable she is on a bike. You not only have to take in consideration the engine size but the weight and height of the bike as well. A 250 is a much easier bike to ride at slow speeds and is very light. It also has a much lower seat height then a 600 as well. Get her to sit on some bikes and get what feels the most comfortable for her. If shes not comfortable on the bike when shes starting out she wont enjoy it and wont want to ride. And so what if you buy a bike and sell it in a year or two the smaller bikes hold their value pretty good and they are in high demand and are easy to sell. |
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| MPZoom |
| I'm going to start out on a CBR125 just cause... you could pick one up for dirt cheap. I've Seen some selling used for 2700-3000. Probably could pick it up for 2500. Insure it for a couple months...get some experience then sell it. Thats what I figure anyways. Not too bad of a looking bike but its probably slow as hell. |
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| silviadrftr |
quote:
Originally posted by MPZoom
I'm going to start out on a CBR125 just cause... you could pick one up for dirt cheap. I've Seen some selling used for 2700-3000. Probably could pick it up for 2500. Insure it for a couple months...get some experience then sell it. Thats what I figure anyways. Not too bad of a looking bike but its probably slow as hell.
if you are worried about riding a street bike, buy a dirtbike learn on that and then buy a street bike...dont waste your money on a 125...unless you want to be laughed at everywhere you go? ;) |
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| Ayeso |
| Start small, prudz_ludz is just starting out with bike, maybe talk to him. |
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| Prudz_lude |
| :lol: i am bought a mountain bike, not a motorbike. |
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| MPZoom |
quote:
Originally posted by silviadrftr
if you are worried about riding a street bike, buy a dirtbike learn on that and then buy a street bike...dont waste your money on a 125...unless you want to be laughed at everywhere you go? ;)
Who said I was worried about riding about a streetbike? Why should anyone care if they are riding a low powered bike, this isn't high school. I'm not doing it to 'look' cool. ;)
Like I said its just a couple grand. In reality I want that cool ass GS500F or SV650 thats most likely doubled the price. I could always sell the pansy 125 anyways :dunno: |
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| newtuner |
quote:
Originally posted by midnite
If you are smart and responsible, starting on a 600 shouldn't be a problem. If you start on a smaller bike, you'll probably end up selling and buying the original bike you wanted anyway a year or two later.
You may want to look into a used bike over a new bike, that way you won't be so worried incase you accidentally drop it. Frame sliders are also cheaper(like 80bucks) than fixing or replacing ferrings, so you may want to pick up a set for peace of mind. They are really easy to install.
Where do you two plan to take rider training?
My girlfriend is going to try and get us in on the Alberta Safety council course in mid August. I guess she has sat on a friends bike which is a GSXR 650, she said the bike fits her pretty good. I think it would still be a good idea to go sit on some bikes.
I was kind of thinking that my cruiser bike could still be around 5 or 600cc. Any suggestions on some in that size?
One more thing, where is a good place to pick up some good riding gear? We need our own gear for the course. |
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| SilverNeonRacer |
| My father-in-law was talking to me about bikes cause I mentioned I was thinking about it. He said for a cruiser you want a larger bike as they don't move quite as fast as sport bikes.. so you want to be able to get out of the way of things.. |
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| newtuner |
| ^^^Ya that's what I was kind of thinking. Not saying a 600 cruiser has no power I just think it's a bit more manageable. |
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| kevito_ |
Kawasaki Ninja 250 is pretty good... and a Honda CB125R is also another good bike. It's not really the bike that matters, it's the gear. I'd recommend something less than 450cc for a beginner, though.
I won't take a girl on my bike unless shes got either full proper leather gear or has a lot of experience riding bikes. The first thing that burns off when a chicks drops a bike are T&A. Having the best gear can turn a fatality to a minor scrape, bruise or broken bone.
The Ninja 250 is pretty fast for a beginner bike and is agile enough to teach the basics of riding. The 125R isn't as fast, but is more fun to take to the track or to practice some knee scraping. If she wants a high displacement bike, try a hybrid like moto/sport, etc.
A 600 is pretty damn fast, especially for someone's first bike. A 600cc can get you into a lot of trouble, very fast.
Make sure she takes proper riding lessons and a trip to the track for a weekend with a pro for a course is also a good idea. |
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| Mustard |
a smaller bike for the first season is a really good idea, but not 100% neccesary. Depends on the rider, more than anything.
If you don't end up getting a license til august your season is pretty short anyways. So a smaller bike for this year is probably your best bet.
the thing behind a 250ish (or smaller) bike is it's gonna get REALLY boring really fast, once your skills are up. It's a great way to ACQUIRE those skills, though, and you will learn a lot from a smaller bike. Plus it's still plenty of fun. (some would even argue MORE fun, given how nimble they are)
But after you do get those skills up and get on a 600 or bigger, you'll wonder why anyone rides anything smaller, so it's kind of a double edged sword.
I can see if your friends all drive 600's you'd kinda feel dumb on the smaller bike, but safety is more important, in the end.
I'd get a 250 or smaller this "season" and grab something bigger over the winter, or next spring. |
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| bw54867 |
How often do people fall? Is it something that happens as just a part of riding?
What do you guys think of dual sport bikes? I love atv riding and I would love to try out dirt biking. I have a main source of transportation so I won't be riding around the city much. Looking at the Honda XR650L. |
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| zhao |
like 10 years ago i had a lot of friends that used to ride a lot; about 8-9 months of the year (in kelowna). i'd say they averaged about 1 fall each every 6 months. it was never anything major for them, almost always they just hit some bs sand going 20kph-50kph on a corner in a residential neighbourhood and wiped out.
imo bikes are death traps so prepare for that. odds are you will wipe out, its just a matter of when. |
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| kevito_ |
I see a lot of 600cc riders that don't have the skills to match a 250cc rider. It's not about acquiring skills to go to a bigger displacement bike. It's just about speed. It's much easier to ride a 600cc fast than it is to ride a 250cc fast :) But if you don't know how to ride, a 250 can outlap a 600 on a racetrack.
I always laugh pretty hard when I see guys on sport bikes or giant Harleys who can't drive slow in a straight line, or that always have their feet down when they go to turn... or wobble and stuff when they ride around town. Those guys need 250cc's, haha.
You're going to drop the bike fairly soon after you buy it. There are only two kinds of riders: those that have dropped their bike (or will drop their bike) and those that like to lie. |
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| midnite |
I agree with Mustard. If as a new rider you don't understand what you are dealing with then you should start with something smaller than you can deal with, but if you are smart and responsible like I mentioned, then it is not necessary. It all depends on the rider.
It's like how some people can drive a large pickup truck their first time and they are fine, yet others don't understand the dimensions and power and run over curbs or back into stuff.
quote:
Originally posted by bw54867
How often do people fall? Is it something that happens as just a part of riding?
What do you guys think of dual sport bikes? I love atv riding and I would love to try out dirt biking. I have a main source of transportation so I won't be riding around the city much. Looking at the Honda XR650L.
It can happen so make sure you are wearing proper gear. A light dusting of sand on the road changes it's level of grip dramatically, and you may not always expect it.
Dirt bikes or dual sport bikes are a lot more nimble and easier to learn on than something like a 600 sport bike. They are a lot of fun, especially off road. :D |
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| newtuner |
| This all sounds like good advice. I talked to her about getting a smaller bike, but she really like the feel of the 600. So I said that"s fine, but we will wait until the course to see what she is really comfortable on. I don't know if she has driven the 600 or just sat on it. She might be in for a surprise when she fires that baby up. I'm all for starting on a smaller bike. I like to live so I think I will look for the best gear I can afford right now. |
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| midnite |
I know a girl (like 5 foot 4) who started on a 600 last year, my brother also recently started on his 600, both had no issues working their way into the comfort zone because they did it at their own pace, and with respect for the type of bike they are dealing with.
Like in a car, keeping the vehicle in control is all about having smooth inputs.. It's just more important in a 600 vs a car, and that is what you need to respect. If you are the type that can't drive a car without always needing to floor it or push it in the corners, you'll find yourself in trouble a lot quicker on a bike. |
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| CKXtreme |
My first bike out of riding school was my last bike (at the moment). It was a 1996 Kawasaki ZX7R Team Green. It was the exact same bike as whats currently for sale on this forum under general cars/trucks.
Its extremely easy to drop or lay down a bike. The first time it was dropped was a transition from paved road to gravel and I was taking a slight turn. too much gas, out came the rear and on my ass I ended up. twisted my ankle, and bruised the shit out of my shin, up to the side of my ass. Fairing fuckered, pipe scraped up, indicators gone
The second time it was dropped was actually from a friend who had just got his license, but wanted to ride mine. Got on it in an underground parking lot, goosed it too fast, had to turn (due to concrete wall) and it fell over on him. He was fine, but snapped off both left side indicators... again.
Now.. not trying to instill fear here, but I have 2 friends who both wiped, and you can figure out the rest.
1. Just bought Yami R1. Brought it up to about 180-200. Lost control.
2. CBR600 F4i. About 130km, lost control, into a telephone pole.
Stupid, and their own fault? Yes, but how many bike owners dont want to abuse their power from time to time?
On a bike, shit can happen really quick, much quicker then a car, and you need to be able to handle it. So, that being said, start small and work your way into it.
If I got a bike again, as an experienced rider, I'd probably buy a basic 600cc or something used, and pull a season or 2 out of it first, just to get back into it.
Inexperienced, I dont know if I'd go straight into a 600. A 250 or 500 (are there still 500's?) would be good. My 750 scared the shit out of me on many many occasions, and I was a very timid rider with it. And we're talking a bike thats now 12 years old. The 600's+ of today are much more efficient and make absolutely insane power.
Sorry for the novel... |
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