I've decided, at the age of 27, that it's time I learn to ride a motorcycle. I've always loved 'em, and rode on them with my Dad all the time as a kid. He owned 3 bikes, and ditched them all after my Mom said "No more" following a pretty bad accident. At any rate, it's one of those things I'm ready to get into, but I have no idea where to start.

Here are my questions:

Should I take riding lessons?

Will I need to buy a bike first?

What do you recommend as a pretty good starter bike, taking into account cc's, cost, reliability, and "cool" factor?

How difficult is the learning curve?



Thanks guys, I really hope someone can steer me in the right direction. I hope to be riding by the end of the Summer...

4/14/2008 12:16:40 PM

first off, don't buy riding gear, its a waste of money, second buy the fastest damn street legal bike possible, a 200 hp busa will make up for lack of riding skills, last, remember the cool factor, riding wheelies down dan allen and splitting lanes on 40 at 150 mph will get you all the bitches, at least thats what toyotafj40s seems to think

4/14/2008 12:20:30 PM

well yeah i was just gonna ride around in ripped jeans and a Rusty Wallace T-shirt. Plus a sweet pair of gas station sunglasses is all the headgear i'll need at this point.


200 hp? please. thats 40 less than my car.

4/14/2008 12:24:32 PM

dont forget a 3 foot extended swingarm, makes em handle so well

4/14/2008 12:25:36 PM

sell you my sv650


sv650 is the coolest of cool beginner bikes
reliable
decently quick with 70 horsepowers
i need to sell mine so buy it already

4/14/2008 12:29:51 PM

let me also add

i'm 6'6"

so small bikes are pretty much out of the question.

4/14/2008 12:33:12 PM

if a scooter can move a 500lb fatass, then any bike will move yours.

4/14/2008 1:08:25 PM

buttseks

is just jealous he cant ride a proper wheelie. im sorry for you go buy a liter bike and race down the straights, that'll prove your cool and a man!


[Edited on April 14, 2008 at 1:14 PM. Reason : ]

4/14/2008 1:13:33 PM

goddammit you guys

4/14/2008 1:14:32 PM

or just become so fucking fat that the only bike ur gut can fit on is a fjr1300.

4/14/2008 1:16:34 PM

the only reason we flame this thread because there's probably like 20 threads asking the same damn thing just below yours.

^^ v8 powered hog would fit the bill better?

4/14/2008 1:25:23 PM

OK MY BAD

4/14/2008 1:36:32 PM

I would take the class first, any of the community colleges Wake tech for example will have one.

I took mine at Ray Price Harly Davidson, really good instructor, i can still hear him yelling at me when i think about doing something stupid (if you have enough room to break/stop in a turn, then you just need to lean more and give it a little more gas). Also if you take the class there you get 2 free bike rentals, so you can kinda see what its like to ride out on the highway and stuff. http://www.rayprice.com/riders.htm

After taking the class decide on what type of bike you want, Your probably going to be pretty uncomfortable on any of the sport bikes (sans the big ones like hyabusa and zx-1x which will kill you), cruisers might be easier or sport tourers.

Starting out

Sport/sport touring

I could see like an older Katana 600 fairly roomy, SV650 might be a bit small, Kawassaki ZR 7s. Another possibly a VFR800 (interceptor) or VFR750 but youll need to be fairly careful with them.

Alot of crusiers would be fine, just find one you fit in or on,

I would stay under 1000cc/ 80hp for sure on your first bike.

Remember you'll need about $500 dollars worth of gear to go along with it, you want at least a dot approved helmet ~150 jacket ~150 and gloves ~50 and possibly some boots and other gear.

If you can ride a bicycle then you can ride a motorcycle, it will help if you know how to drive a stick shift during the course.

Keep in mind what you want to do with the bike, are you planning on going cruising or tryign to drive around fast? is it going to be used primarily for commuting or do you jsut want somethign to drive around look cool on and make pretty noises?

I would try not to spend more than 2500 for your first bike, especially if you go the sport bike route, you will likely drop it or wreck it at some point (at least everyone I know has at least one accident under their belt) The katanas and Zr7s benefit from being air cooled so there is less to worry about as far as maintance, and katanas seem to be pretty tuff bikes (although sometimes they dont seem to like the cold). SV650 are nice reliable bikes, easy to work on and dont have much fairings to break.

Any bike you get on sans a 250 or a 500cc single is going to feel pretty fast, and will beat most cars 0-60.

Go and sit on some bikes, go to like used motorcycle places and just sit around, some bikes can be really uncomfortable. keep in mind what kind of driving and riding your going to be doing.

I have a 600rr im 6ft and about 205pounds, honestly the bike is very very fast, even with my big ass on it. I dont think I ride it anywhere near its limits (at least on the streets around here). I started with a 600cc katana and it felt amazing fast when i got on it.

I used my bike mainly for commuting so its pretty damned uncomfortable for long rides, it eats gas (~40 mpg), and tires are expensive (~350 a set every 5k miles). I'm really considering a sport touring bike for commuting and long distance riding (ie going to the mountains with the gf). A harley or sport bike will probably get you the most cool points.

4/14/2008 1:50:32 PM

^your sir at too nice.

4/14/2008 2:04:58 PM

AntecK7 gave some pretty good advice.

Make sure you take an MSF BRC (Motorcycle Safety Foundation Beginner Rider Course) before you buy a bike. You don't need any gear for that (just over the ankle boots, any type of gloves, glasses of some sort, and long sleeves and pants) and if you take it at Johnston CC, you'll wait months less than Wake or other major cities and its only $110 for a whole weekend of riding. They also provide beginner bikes and helmets.

Get gear. Full face helmet, jacket and gloves made for motorcycling, pants and moto boots if you want complete protection. Otherwise some thick leather over-ankle boots will suffice.

You can ride any bike you can squeeze on to. The only ones that might be a problem would be a GZ250, Eliminator 125 or Rebel 250. The Rebel only because fitting on to it would be a pain for your height. If you want to go cruiser route, i would suggest the Yamaha V-star 650. I've heard nothing but great things about them. If you want a sport bike, I would suggest the Kawasaki Ninja 250 or 500. Don't listen to what others says about the 250, it will do just about anything you need. If you can fit on it anyways. I've heard of lots of 6 footers, but 6'6" is tall. Sit on one at a dealer and see. If you are over 250 lbs, you also might have a problem with its power. Otherwise, check out a 500. Those are also very newbie-friendly and it has a bunch more power. Any sport bike bigger than that will probably just get you into trouble. The SV650 is an ok beginner bike from what I have heard. The GS500E/F is also great as a first bike and is a bit bigger so it might be more comfortable. Check out dealers around you and sit on bikes. Make sure to only buy a bike after you've taken the MSF class. You will know so much more about what you want after that that it is almost a waste to shop before.

Check out http://www.totalmotorcycle.com if you need any detailed info. Its a very good website with a great forum community (albeit a bit conservative when it comes to being safe, but that isn't a bad thing) or http://www.ninja250.org. That site has a HUGE amount of info about bikes in general along with everything you'd ever want to know about a 250.

I would only imagine the learning curve would get bad if you got a bike that was too heavy for you, or had too much power or a nasty throttle (super-sports).

Good luck getting started.

4/15/2008 8:49:32 AM

There is no way in hell you'd fit on a Rebel at 6'6"-- moparnum5 could barely ride mine without taking out his kneecaps constantly & he's at the upper end of 5'. I'm 5'2", I fit it perfectly.

If you're 6'6", I wouldn't suggest going below a 500. If you have a decent amount of strength, you should be able to man handle the smaller bikes and they won't give you any problem (and atleast you will be able to comfortably touch the ground all the time!! )

Like AntecK7 said, do a lot of sitting around on bikes. Put your feet up on the pegs, don't just sit on the bike casually... feel what it will be like when actually riding. Make sure you allocate a good amount of money to gear-- finding a good helmet that fits well is crucial, don't be afraid to spend a little more here. Get a helmet that is DOT & SNELL approved for the most protection... Scorpion has a nice line, and when I bought my helmet they were the cheapest and most comfortable also SNELL approved helmet I could find (EXO700). I know they have made some changes to the line lately, and have become more popular so prices have risen, so you'll have to look for yourself-- and don't forget the extra dough for insurance, too.

When you buy a bike, if you get one off craigslist or otherwise used, look up important things to look for or take someone who knows with you. People around here sell some great deals and they sell some really expensive shit. Make sure you don't get the latter

Good Luck!

On a side note-- I'm not sure why Ryan said an SV650 might be too small-- It's hella heavy, but totally worth it. You can find a decent older one in the $2500 range and it is good solid bike (and COMFORTABLE!!!). I have to ride it with a shaved seat to reach the ground semi-comfortably. The stock seat height is atleast 2" higher than the way mine currently sits. If you're careful I don't see why it wouldn't be a great bike for you. It really depends on the type of bike you are wanting (street, cruiser, std) and what is comfortable for you. Also, I like my naked version of the SV, but if you're planning to do extensive highway driving after you get comfortable, I'd suggest getting the fairing/windshield version (I'm pretty sure that's the SV650S, but I always get them backwards).

[Edited on April 15, 2008 at 11:01 AM. Reason : no more editing ]

4/15/2008 10:50:44 AM

I would recommend a honda 599 or an sv650 ... almost any naked 600 is a good learning bike.
any 600 with an R tacked on the end.... is going to tempt you to be stupid yes "its only a 600"
but they have more hp than many non "r" liter bikes Cbr f4i is also a good bike to learn on and kinda falls between the 600 nakeds and the 600 R series bikes.

Disclaimer... this is 2nd hand info... i've been looking at getting a bike for ages but never have i've sat on tons and test drove a few but i am no motorcycle expert i've just read a lot. but at least i'm not being a sarcastic douche.

4/15/2008 10:51:37 AM

sv650 not small on power, im just trying to imagine how folded up hes going to be on that bike. (a 600 race replica would be worse)

4/15/2008 11:14:44 AM

and I am completely serious about selling my SV650!!

pm me

4/15/2008 11:28:29 AM

Quote :

"buttseks is just jealous he cant ride a proper wheelie."

nobody said anything about that, i tend to not do them on streets highly populated by foot and vehicle traffic, you hit some dumbass that just walks out in the street because you have to get your front wheel down to stop, and guess what, that reckless endangerment misdemeador just turned into a felony, manslaughter

4/15/2008 11:30:47 AM

Wow that seems lots and lots of advice... Need a summary? Heres a check list:

- Take the MSF course! Most of us have and thought it was well worht it; not to mention you don't have to take the riding test at the DMV
- Decide whether you want a cruiser or a speed demon
- a 600 is plenty big for anyone and once you get use to it, will always be plenty fun! (There are motoGP races that use 250cc and they look like they're haulin ass and look alot of fun!)
- Make sure you have gear: leather is better, but textile will work; gloves, a nice helmet like Shoei or Scorpion,
- When you start riding, try to ride in large groups. Sometimes we have TWW group rides, there is NCsportbikes.com ? They are always riding esp on Thursdays and they're a great bunch! groups make you larger than you are and easier for cars to see you. You can also pick up good riding habits too
- Ride to your limit; don't let somebody push you into riding beyond what you can handle: take that mess to the track.
- Good luck

Quote :

"or just become so fucking fat that the only bike ur gut can fit on is a fjr1300"

Looks like somebody is jealous that they can't handle a bigger bike like BUTTSECKS can. Not to mention he rides a hell of alot better than SOME people that think drinking and riding wheelies i s cool

4/15/2008 11:41:59 AM

^ i missed that, guess he's still jealous he can't afford anything nice since everything he rides ends up on its side half a dozen times

4/15/2008 12:00:51 PM

hey guys, thanks for the advice!

I'm definitely looking for more of a cruiser, as my bike will be for sundays down at the beach and the occasional pretty day commute to school/work. I'm not really the speed-demon type.

i'll go ahead and sign up for the MSF course ASAP.

as far as sizes go, i'll just sit on as many bikes as possible. the important thing i'm looking for is a seat big enough to fit someone riding along, but not a Gold Wing or anything (because i'm just not that old yet)

And for gear, will combat boots work for beginners until i can get a good pair of riding boots? I have my old ones around, and they cover the ankle well.

[Edited on April 15, 2008 at 12:17 PM. Reason : k]

4/15/2008 12:10:55 PM

the problem is that the toe can be too thick to get under the shifter to upshift well

4/15/2008 12:12:11 PM

depends on the boot but they should be good as far as safety, i think the major thing is ankle support, and you don't wan them to be able to be ripped off.

Import (read Japaneses) cruisers will be much cheaper on maintance then a harley

4/15/2008 12:30:38 PM

yeah i'm looking at Yamaha's right now. the xvs650 looks to be exactly what i'm looking for, but i won't know until i sit on it.

one step at a time though... for now, i'm just gonna take that course.

4/15/2008 12:40:55 PM

if i was in the market for a bike (read: didn't just give the irs all my money ) i would love to get an sv650.

4/15/2008 1:00:47 PM

Quote :

"the problem is that the toe can be too thick to get under the shifter to upshift well"

This was the exact problem I've been having. My combat boots are about 1-2" longer than my toes and the leather is thick as all hell. I can get my foot under the peg, but its a pain to get it under any farther than just toes. I was thinking of trying to find some smaller combat boots with thinner soles. Or can you recommend any boots that are under $100 that'd work well?

4/15/2008 1:26:49 PM

Quote :

"buttseks is just jealous he cant ride a proper wheelie. im sorry for you "

4/15/2008 1:37:07 PM

Have you looked at any Honda Shadows? They're a pretty decent size bike & although they take a bit of coaxing in the winter, Hondas are wonderfully reliable I was actually looking into getting one pretty seriously last year as an upgrade for my Rebel, but never came across a good used one in my price range (and at the time the size/weight was a bit daunting).

Good looking bikes, IMO:
(although I'm having a hard time gauging your size since you're a far cry from my own)
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/642175178.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/640660332.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/613789984.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/608402068.html

Might be a bit more $$ than you're looking to spend, but they're just ideas.
Also, if you're going cruiser-- I don't see why you couldn't go up to something in the 750 range or even a little higher as long as you're comfortable with the overall weight & the bike's particular weight distribution/center of gravity (i.e. for me-- a Honda and a Harley are lightyears apart in weight dist'n... not necessarily so for everyone, though).

[Edited on April 15, 2008 at 4:13 PM. Reason : ^GTFO]

4/15/2008 4:13:00 PM

Quote :

"- When you start riding, try to ride in large groups. Sometimes we have TWW group rides, there is NCsportbikes.com ? They are always riding esp on Thursdays and they're a great bunch! groups make you larger than you are and easier for cars to see you. You can also pick up good riding habits too"

I disagree with this. If you have a good group, this can be good advice. But having ridden with TWW and NCSBs, I've seen a couple riders go down now. Both were due to trying to keep up and getting in over the riders ability (both with NCSB). IF you take this advice and go with a group, DO NOT TRY TO KEEP UP FOR ANY REASON and watch the road and your line, NOT THE RIDER IN FRONT OF YOU. Honestly, I think it's better to learn on your own, then join in on some smaller group rides. You might be more likely to have a car pull out in front of you, but I think the odds of that are still more in your favor than the odds of low siding into a field or fence.

There have been a bunch of crashes on NCSBs lately too... I love those guys, but damn they know how to tear up some bikes.

4/15/2008 4:42:28 PM

ok, i just registered for my class, starting on may 8th.

4/15/2008 4:47:18 PM

The key is to ride with people who know you're a new rider & aren't going to push you beyond your limits. Riding in groups is definitely safer for visibility. But since you're not out to be a speed demon, I think you will be OK.

4/15/2008 5:40:05 PM

well on most days i'll be riding to work (3 miles) or to the oceanfront on weekends (11 miles)

I won't be hitting highways but for maybe after a few months of riding and some experience under my belt.

I really like the look of the old Honda Magnas and the Yamaha V-Stars...

4/15/2008 6:04:10 PM

I just bought a Suzuki V-Strom DL650 about two weeks ago.
It's my first bike and I cant complain. I'm tall too (6'3'') and I was never really comfortable on the SV650 or other smaller sport bikes. The Vstrom is a sport touring bike with a more upright sitting position, bigger seat and plenty of power (in my opinion)

4/15/2008 7:38:31 PM

Quote :

"the problem is that the toe can be too thick to get under the shifter to upshift well"

have you ever ridin a bike ever. just change your footing. there is like a good 8" gap and the shifter is raised

4/15/2008 7:39:15 PM

god you are a fuckin idiot, sure there's 8" of room, if you don't mind your toe ragging the road and getting ripped off

4/15/2008 8:16:04 PM

most any cruiser is gonna be fine for you, size-wise. really, even a 600cc cruiser will be fine power-wise, too. no cruiser is gonna be overpowering for you (other than maybe a V-max or something crazy like a Boss Hoss), but the bigger ones will be intimidating in terms of size and weight if you're not used to riding (and they'll cost more, while be completely unnecessary for your purposes).


as far as riding gear and leather vs. textiles, it depends on what you want. leather is more durable and crashworthy (and is generally good for crash after crash after crash--ask me how i know!). Textiles are more comfortable and cheaper. As a sportbiker, I'm partial to leather (esp since i doubt many tracks will allow textiles). If I owned a cruiser and didn't intend to do much riding on a sportbike, you can bet your ass I'd just get a decent textile suit, especially in a warm climate like NC. A decent textile suit will be totally adequate for a cruiser rider.

Quote :

"(There are motoGP races that use 250cc and they look like they're haulin ass and look alot of fun!) "

Not for the last 5+ years or so. There is a 250 GP class, but it's not the same thing as MotoGP. At any rate, the 250 GP bikes are all 2-cycle, and COMPLETELY different animals from, say, a Ninja 250. I would suspect that they're approximately comparable to a 600cc 4-cycle sportbike (which is to say that they will fucking fly).

4/16/2008 12:28:33 AM

Quote :

"I disagree with this. If you have a good group, this can be good advice. But having ridden with TWW and NCSBs, I've seen a couple riders go down now. Both were due to trying to keep up and getting in over the riders ability (both with NCSB)."

absolutely 100% the fault of the rider who crashed. The group is not to blame at all. When I ride in groups with people I don't really know well (or with people I know to be not as fast), the last thing I tell them before we hit the twisty stuff is to absolutely under no circumstances try to keep up if we're going faster than their comfort level. Ride your own pace, and if it isn't as fast as ours, it's no big deal. We fully expect to end up waiting to regroup at every intersection, and don't mind in the least.

I've had people crash trying to keep up, too. Sucks for them, but I fucking told them, so it's their fault. Riding in groups is the way to go--it's being an idiot that causes problems.

Quote :

"I really like the look of the old Honda Magnas and the Yamaha V-Stars... "

I've always liked Magnas, too. If I got a cruiser, it would prob either be a Magna, V-max, or Valkyrie (dad had one--liked it for a gigantic cruiser). 750 Shadow is also a lot of bike for the money.

Quote :

"I'm tall too (6'3'') and I was never really comfortable on the SV650 or other smaller sport bikes."

Nobody is comfortable on any sportbike! the two are mutually exclusive (although an SV-650 is only a borderline sportbike, at most...though definitely a neat motorcycle).



As far as riding in combat boots...I've done it a fair amount. It's ok, though not optimal. I wouldn't mind doing it on a cruiser--they're certainly better than running shoes or boat shoes. On a sportbike, I'd prefer my Teknics, as the combat boots do get in the way more noticeably with little sportbike pegs and shifters, especially if you're leaned way over gettin' some.

4/16/2008 12:40:41 AM

Quote :

"god you are a fuckin idiot, sure there's 8" of room, if you don't mind your toe ragging the road and getting ripped off "

ha sorry if you have big fucking clown feet stoop's

4/16/2008 9:09:22 AM

^

once again, everyone knows you're wrong, arguing is useless

^^

Quote :

"As far as riding in combat boots...I've done it a fair amount. It's ok, though not optimal. I wouldn't mind doing it on a cruiser--they're certainly better than running shoes or boat shoes. On a sportbike, I'd prefer my Teknics, as the combat boots do get in the way more noticeably with little sportbike pegs and shifters, especially if you're leaned way over gettin' some."

4/16/2008 10:23:59 AM

so shoe size can really be a problem? shit... i wear 13s

4/16/2008 10:40:51 AM

yeah i wear 15's...

4/16/2008 10:44:48 AM

they make adjustable shifter lever and rear set crap for all sorts of bikes so you dont have to change your riding style. i boutgh my first R1, he had a size 13. he didnt have a problem

4/16/2008 10:48:07 AM

Yea try not to ride with retards, go your own pace, and wear equipment and keep your shit in shape.

Ive seen a few wrecks last season where you could almost point to the idiot who was going to loose it because their shit was fucked.

4/16/2008 11:28:03 AM

Quote :

"i boutgh my first R1, he had a size 13. he didnt have a problem"

speak english you ignorant mother fucker

4/16/2008 11:43:34 AM

where's our brah in the jeep?

4/16/2008 12:16:46 PM

sup brah

4/16/2008 12:20:09 PM

Quote :

"speak english you ignorant mother fucker"

it does make sense, the dude b4 him had a size 13 shoe. and didnt have a problem with the rearset/shifter setup on the r1 that slowblack96 had.

4/16/2008 6:44:52 PM

Quote :

"[quote]i boutgh my first R1, he had a size 13. he didnt have a problem"

[/quote]

Quote :

"it does make sense, the dude b4 him had a size 13 shoe. and didnt have a problem with the rearset/shifter setup on the r1 that slowblack96 had."

glad his insignificant other could interpret

4/19/2008 6:38:09 PM