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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/26/2007 8:16:05 PM
Posts: 4, Visits: 16 |
| I'm looking around for my first bike. After looking for quite awhile I've landed to where I'm looking for a bike that would be good to learn on but not be just a learner's bike. obviously I'm looking for a compromise between power and practicality. I know that my many years bicycle riding (upwards of ten miles a day) and long distance driving through metro traffic (60 miles a day, minimum) will help me. My question is, if i give myself time to learn and take it slow (just riding for fun and practice for awhile), how powerful of a bike can i handle. I'm looking for a one time buy that will last and keep me happy for a long time (don't have enough money to gradually buy a faster bike every couple years). would a ninja similar to this be a good buy for me several years from now?
thanks |
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:38:03 PM
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| You sound very smart about the way you're looking into this, and realizing that as tempting as a supersport bike may be, it might not be the safest choice. Sooooo, I'm going to give you the answer you probably already know, but may not want to hear.
The ZX6R or any other supersport 600 is not a very safe choice for a new rider. A dealer and some riders will tell you its OK, but those are also likely to be the people who will tell you that crashing is just a part of riding, and eventually everyone crashes. THIS ISN'T TRUE. If you start out on a smaller, less aggressive bike, and work your way up, you are much less likely to crash. Bikes like the ZX6R will not forgive mistakes with the throttle, brakes, or steering, and this can have very bad consequences.
Two different ideas. Start on a bike like the Ninja 500, Suzuki GS500F, or maybe even the Ninja 250. These are safer bikes to start on and usually hold good resale value, especially the 250. You can usually find a good used one of these, because some smart rider bought on to learn on, rode it for 4-5000 miles, then they were ready to move up to a bigger bike like like a ZX, GSXR, CBR, R6 etc.
The other thought would be to try a Ninja 650 or Suzuki SV650S, with the idea of keeping the bike for a long time. These are at the very top, performance wise, that a new rider should try, and not as safe as the other choices, but if you're smart and cautious, they may still be OK beginner bikes. They also offer lots of room to grow on and can be very sporty and fun to ride. A lot of people prefer them in the real world because they are more comfortable than the supersports, and have all the performance one could safely use on the street and highway. They are also good enough to use for an occasional track day.
So short answer is NO. The safest is the small bike first, big bike later idea. You can try the other idea if you truly only want to own one bike ever. Whatever you decide, good luck, safe riding and welcome to the club.
K$ |
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/26/2007 8:16:05 PM
Posts: 4, Visits: 16 |
| thanks for the input. And, it's good to hear someone say "not everyone falls" because I'm sorta planning on not falling if at all possible
several other questions , if you would be so kind
- How much of a step down in proformance would I be taking from a 600 to a 500?
-how do you recomend a new rider should start off in terms of learning and riding?
-what's the insurance like for a bike like this?
-any riding tips for a new rider, that aren't just common sense?
thanks for all the help |
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:38:03 PM
Posts: 322, Visits: 318 |
| Insurance will vary, but the rates for supersport (ZX GSXR etc.) are a notable step up from other bikes with the same sized engine.
The performance difference between a supersport 600 and the 500's is notable, but the 500's still have very good performance. Its just that the supersports have mind blowing performance. The difference between the 650's I mentioned, and the 500's is not as much. The 650's will have a fair bit more, but not a huge difference, and again, not as much as the supersports.
To start riding, I'd recommend the Motocycle Safety Foundation (MSF) beginning rider course, which is offered at many technical colleges. It gives you good basics and gets you your license, without temps. It doesn't give much real road experience though, so you won't leave it ready to hit the freeway, but you'll be ready to ride on the back streets, and it won't take long to get your confidence up.
Some tips I find useful (but may contradict what the course tells you)
Don't ride with your highbeams on, instead use them to repeatedly flash when coming up to an intersection where you see a car that may be looking to cross in front of you, this increases your visibilty to them.
Make sure to move through traffic, not with it. This also makes you more visible. This means just going 2 or 3 mph faster than surrounding traffic so they always see you as being in motion relative to them.
When approaching a green light that turns yellow, try to go through the light instead of braking hard for it. You can probably stop quikly enough for it but cars behind you don't brake as well as you, and you might run the risk of being rear ended.
Other than that, ride defensively, and wear the helmet.
Good luck
K$ |
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/26/2007 8:16:05 PM
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| | thanks, very useful stuff |
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:38:03 PM
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| I forgot to mention about insurance, that Progressive and State Farm are consistently less expensive. State farm is a little bit more restrictive as far as past speeding tickets or other moving violations though. I had (and still have) Progressive when my GSXR 750 was stolen, and they were very helpful. They worked quickly, gave me a fair amount, and even paid a big chunk of the sales tax on the bike I bought to replace it, so I definitely like them. If you have a clean record, though, State Farm may be less expensive. Even so, shop around other companies too, I haven't bought new insurance for a few years and don't know if anything has changed.
K$ |
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/26/2007 8:16:05 PM
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| | hey thanks, luckly for me i am still clean. i always follwed the two rules of driving my mother taught me: 1) don't hit anything 2) don't get pulled over |
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| | | Junior Member
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Last Login: 11/12/2008 11:07:14 PM
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| | I just wanted to say that I recently pick up a used 1997 kawasaki ninja 600 with only 1,693 miles on it. So far it has been an awsome bike for me since im new to street bikes. I know that i coud have picked up a brand new 250 ninja really cheap, but since 6'2, the 250 was really small to me. But overall, a |
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