Good Starter Bike

[Wytchdctr]

Since I had to turn down getting a real car and keeping the turd I am thinking about getting a bike. (again)

I am 6'2 and don't want to look like a total clown ridding some 60cc moped to learn, but at the same time I don't want to drop a lot of money on a first bike... then drop it. Any suggestions?

Also, where is a good place to take the classes to get a license? Right now the military is paying for that and the advanced safety classes.

[Tony]

well a good place to go get your classes would be at golden triangle powersports. they have classes every other saturday if im not mistaken. you can also do the advanced safety classes there too. but they also have classes in orange or port neches i think.

now to the bike. what kind are you looking for? sport bike? sport cruiser?

for a good starter bike, a 250 def would be good but you're a big guy..some say dont start off with a 600 but..if you arent a complete idiot and romp on it every chance you get then you'll be ok. i personally started off on a 250 because i didnt think i could handle a 600 as my first bike. but a good bike would be a Suzuki GS500, GSXR600, or R6 even. its just all personal preference on what you want. but imo i think the GS500 would be a good starter, its a sports cruiser type of bike and its plenty fun to ride. but you could op for a 600 instead. of course, get a used one because you may drop it and like you said, you dont want to drop a brand new bike. used 500's and 600's can be found for cheap. but common sense tells you that if a 600 is your first bike to not go crazy and to take it easy until you get used to it and feel comfortable to gradually go a little faster.

[Ryan]

I'm 6ft nearly 6'1" and I weigh in at 215lbs. I just bought my 1st street bike when I picked up my 09 Ninja 250r. Its got more than enough "get up" to get me from a standstill to 80+ mph faster than my 08 Si can do it. After 80mph, and especially if you're already doing 80mph on the freeway and you want to pick up more speed is where this bikes shows resistance. The seating position isn't ackward to me and I don't look like a big guy on a little bike. I thinks it's the perfect 1st street bike experience because it will allow you to learn handling, braking, and all the good beginner basics w/out being tempted by the super sport bikes power. Think about it, you make a mistake and crack the throttle to abrubptly on an R6 and you could lose control. You do the same thing on the smaller bike and you'll realize what you did, but I bet you won't lose it. The downside and this is what most people who own the 250r realize, is that you WILL outgrow the bike within a few months. The good thing is that you can sell the bike for damn near what you paid for it so you won't be losing out on but a lil bit of $$. I picked mine up tax and walkout for right at $4200 3 weeks ago and already have 1k miles on the odo. I plan on selling it near the end of summer for 3k. I think the loss in $$ is worth the experience, but that's just me. If you don't want to worry about selling your bike too quickly, then I say try sitting on these 4 bikes and seeing which one feels most comfortable to you. They're great starter bikes that you won't outgrow too quickly.

1. 09 Ninja 650r
2. 09 Yamaha fz6r ( not the fz6 which is a more pwrful bike )
3. 09 Suzuki sv650
4. Sit also on a Ninja 500r, a Suzuki gs500, and the Ninja 250r for comparrison

Also, you didn't mention any prior riding experience. Have you ever owned a dirtbike, rode a friends street bike or ridden anything motorcycle at all? If no, then you will most definitely want to take out of your equation anything like an R6, cbr 600rr, zx6r, or the gsxr 600. These bikes are for experienced riders who know how to react with enough time and skill while riding these things. They are not designed for new riders imo, period. After you sit on all the bikes you want to sit on, just pick the one that you feel most comfortable taking out on the street. You could have the baddest bike out there and feel uncomfortable and ackward as hell on it. How do you think that's going to translate to your riding style once you're in traffic? Good luck!

[alchemist117]

it all depnds on how u look at things

u can start on anything just dont be stupid

ive riddin b4 but my first bike is a 954 i just gotta not be stupid

[Wytchdctr]

Thanks for the advice, I will be buying something used to start out with so it will probably come down to what is available when I am ready to buy. I am waiting to see if I am going back to Iraq before I make the purchase. Don't want it to sit around for a year. If I do have to go back I'll just wait until I return to get one.
As far as my experience on a bike... The only thing besides a dirt bike that I have ridden was a Yamaha cruizer bike with a 600 something under it. Right now the bike I want to end up with is the Honda VTX1800, I didn't get to ride around on it, but I was able to sit on one and it was very comfortable.

[alchemist117]

lol yeah i was pretty retarded for getting mine

only rid it once and wrecked it

but that was my fault ridin on shot tires


oh well it happens

[Tony]

if you get that Honda VTX1800, that'd be badass. my friends dad has something similar to it and its really nice and comfortable but so fcukin heavy.