Thinking of Buying a Motorcycle

[SVX PlayBoy]

Yes I am indeed thinking of buying a bike. Everytime I bring this up, it is INSTANTLY **** down by my mom. My dad, however, has owned 3 bikes. He seems cool with it, but my mom always talks him against me. Good news is IM MOVING!! out of the house, and into a college dorm.

My reason for getting a bike, is gas prices. Seriously, nobody believes me when I say that. Being in college, im not going to be going anywhere, except to work and the airport(Aviation Major, gotta find money to fix the SVX ), and the bikes I have been looking at get around 60-70mpg.


The bikes:
1) Honda CBR 600, an older one, pre-2000
2) Kawasaki Ninja 600, also pre-2000
3) Kawasaki Ninja 250, smaller cc, dont need to crash

Just looking for thoughts, and maybe a way to convince my parents to be OK with it.

[Royal Tiger]

The CBR and the Ninja 600 are 4 cylinders I believe. The 250 is too small if you are over 5'10 175. You left out what I consider the best starter bike out there, the Ninja 500. Plus it's only a 2 cylinder so it'll get better milage then a 600, but it's no where near as fast.

[huck369]

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

The CBR and the Ninja 600 are 4 cylinders I believe. The 250 is too small if you are over 5'10 175. You left out what I consider the best starter bike out there, the Ninja 500. Plus it's only a 2 cylinder so it'll get better milage then a 600, but it's no where near as fast.

The Ninja 250 will give you 60-70 MPG......and be plenty if you mostly do around town riding (back and forth to work comuting).....if you're going for gas mileage.....if you want to go fast go with a 600

[Electrophil]

+1 for both Royal Tiger's and Huck's advice. That 250 smacks up a 0 to 60 pretty dog gone quickly in it's own right.

Bring up your driving record to help convince mom.

Unless it isn't good. If it's bad... don't bring it up.

If it's real bad. Don't buy a bike.

[huck369]

Originally Posted by Electrophil

+1 for both Royal Tiger's and Huck's advice. That 250 smacks up a 0 to 60 pretty dog gone quickly in it's own right.

Bring up your driving record to help convince mom.

Unless it isn't good. If it's bad... don't bring it up.

If it's real bad. Don't buy a bike.

Absolutely...a 250 Ninja is quicker than a (stock) SVX in the quarter...

[SubaSteevo]

I've wanted a bike for some time now. Unfortunately both parents are pretty much dead set against the idea, and I need to keep my insurance under their name or else I'll be paying like $eleventybillion a year.

So I compromised with them and got a mini-bike. It might only be 2hp, but when you're 10" off the ground going 25mph it's awesome

[Speedklix]

500 or less is a better option for a starter bike. The weight also makes it easier to learn how they handle. 250 air cooled would be cool. Start small and light weight and then step up to the bigger engines. Goodluck, keep it tankside up!

It'll be a good idea to take a course too, 90% of bike accidents are riders who learn on their own or with friends.

[huck369]

Originally Posted by Speedklix

500 or less is a better option for a starter bike. The weight also makes it easier to learn how they handle. 250 air cooled would be cool. Start small and light weight and then step up to the bigger engines. Goodluck, keep it tankside up!

It'll be a good idea to take a course too, 90% of bike accidents are riders who learn on their own or with friends.

Definitely take a MSF course....not only will it make you a better rider, it'll get you a discount on your insurance too.

[RSVX]

Originally Posted by huck369

Definitely take a MSF course....not only will it make you a better rider, it'll get you a discount on your insurance too.

This man speaks the truth. I took a MSF class some 15 years ago... lots of priceless info there.

On a side note. I am selling my SVX, so I can get a bike myself. For the gas mileage, and the fact that it wont be as expensive to maintain.

[NapaBavarian]

MSF course BEFORE ALL ELSE, those 2 days WILL save your life, just because someone (thinks they can) ride dosn't quallify them to teach, learn from a pro.

Another bike to consider is the first gen Suzuki Bandit 600, they are a bit faster than the 250/500, so if self controll is a problem then watch out, but they are significantly slower than the race bikes, I had a kawasaki ZX6e for a day, then went back to the bandit after passing 8 bcars on a 2 lane road and almost meeting another head on at 120mph, and that was with several years of riding the Bandit, race bikes are way too fast for a first bike.

You won't outgrow the bandit as soon, but then again if you are under 175# or so then a 500 might be better, and will likley get better mpg.

[NikFu S.]

It was actually my mom that bought my first bike at 16. I didn't even care for them until then.
I would not get a race bike for a first bike.

You WILL fall.

I once took a spill at a light because I hit some gravel, and I had to sacrifice my own body to keep from sliding into the morons walking the crosswalk. I call them morons because they stood there watching without trying to get out of the way.
****ing idiots.
Today I can stop on gravel no problem.

DON'T let anyone who is inexperienced try your bike. They WILL fall. 3 out of 3 times I let someone try my bike they fell.

Get to know your bike before taking a rider course. I almost failed because I didn't understand the concept of a clutch at the time. Walk it along slow and get a feel for the balance. 5 seconds after I took my bike under power, I fell.

[Noir]

i thought about getting a starter bike.

i also hear that the sv650's a great starter.

[Noir]

man, all this talk about bikes and stuff has got me itching for a T-Rex.

i'm trying to resist the urge to buy one now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other...QQcmdZViewItem

[huck369]

Originally Posted by Noir

man, all this talk about bikes and stuff has got me itching for a T-Rex.

i'm trying to resist the urge to buy one now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other...QQcmdZViewItem

I saw one at the Dragon a couple years ago.....I would LOVE to have one......now if only I could win the lottery....

[NapaBavarian]

I was looking at one at a local dealer, he ONLY wanted $45,000 and the first thing that went through my head was what else I could get for that and find more usefull, like an M3, K1150RT, and another SVX