Starter Sport Bike

What's a good starter bike? I want to get a bike, but I have little experience beyond riding dirt bikes every now and then when I was a kid. As much as I want to just get the top of the line badboy I figure it is probably better to get a used 600cc to ride around on for the first year. So what do you guys recommend?

Get a used 600 for sure. Some people may say get a Ninja 250 or 500, or a GSX 500...but you will be tired of it after two months of getting used to it.

 

I would recommend a '04-present GSXR600, '03-present CBR600RR, or a '03-present ZX6R. If you are used to riding a dirt bike with any kind of power, you will be fine. The hardest part is learning to balance the weight on starting and stopping.

 

Also, take a safety course. You could have rode for 10 years, but after you take the safety course you will learn something new. A couple of track days with lessons help too! Then upgrade to the bad boys after a year or so of getting used to the bike. I've been riding 750s and 600s for 3 years now, I'm reading to step up to a liter bike.

GSXR 750 would be perfect. very light and manageable..

You'll want to start with what you are comfortable with. Trying to prove you are a big bad rider and going with something you can't ride is a bad idea to impress people.

 

Sounds like you have the right mentality saying you want to go smaller. I'd say for a sportbike something between a Ninja 250 to something like a 600 probably is good unless you want to go V-Twin and go with something like a monster 620.

 

If you have self preservation and don't plan on riding like a madman there is no reason to rush. I'd say you're about right starting in that range but I prefer to tell people to go small. You said to me over MSN you've ridden enduros so you at least have an idea of how motorcycles work, that's a huge plus.

 

What I would like to bring up is that the modern day 600cc sport bikes are pushing over 100hp which is an awful lot if you're new to the sport... not to say it isn't possible... but one of the more tame early 2000 and late 90s 600 series bikes is a good way to start.

 

Get the right gear, get something you are comfortable with and go from there.

 

A few of my buddies started on the ZZR600. They aren't too crazy and are pretty comfy for touring too if you want to go on a long trip and still get jiggy with it in the twisties. I saw a few guys on Ninja 500s who were having a ball in the twisties locally and were having no issues keeping up with bigger bikes.

 

My personal experience in favorite bikes I could see a beginner on would be a Monster 620, Suzuki Bandits, Ninja 250-500, Ninja 636 if you have good self preservation, ZZR600, ST2 or ST3.

Get a used 600 for sure. Some people may say get a Ninja 250 or 500, or a GSX 500...but you will be tired of it after two months of getting used to it.

 

I would recommend a '04-present GSXR600, '03-present CBR600RR, or a '03-present ZX6R. If you are used to riding a dirt bike with any kind of power, you will be fine. The hardest part is learning to balance the weight on starting and stopping.

 

Also, take a safety course. You could have rode for 10 years, but after you take the safety course you will learn something new. A couple of track days with lessons help too! Then upgrade to the bad boys after a year or so of getting used to the bike. I've been riding 750s and 600s for 3 years now, I'm reading to step up to a liter bike.

 

TOTALLY agreed on the safety course, TAKE IT! you'll be glad you did! lol i can see here we have quite a few riders with a lot of different opinions on favorite bikes good to see so many opinions and riders here.

Boomba's recommendation is great as well. As far as what Lambo-n-it said, I started on a GXR750...but I knew I had the respect for the bike.

 

Most kids in their late teens and early 20s jump on a sport bike for their first one and think they are invincible. You have to first understand the bike, then respect it. NEVER get completely comfortable, always stay a bit nervous and be aware of what the drivers or the surrounding cars are doing.

 

Like I said before, I 250 is good...but chances are, you will get tired of it shortly. Before this year I would have said hell no because they are ugly as sin, there are better bikes...such as the Katana, Bandit, and SV650. But for '08, Kawi has redesigned the 250 and it looks great! I'd like to pick one up eventually and turn it into a track bike. 250's are also great on resale value. Probably the only bike you can buy for $2500, ride it for two years and sell it for the same amount.

 

A 600 super sport is definitely doable as long as you are mature enough, which I don't think that is an issue. Just a little warning, whatever street bike you get on, it is VERY addicting...like a drug addiction.

 

BTW, I have a BEAUTIFUL 2005 Plasma Blue ZX636 I'm selling.

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on an Ducati 848.

Get one of the Japanese 600s and ride it for 6 months or so. Then when you're used to it, get an R1 because they are rolling perfection.

 

Of course, there's always the V-twins.

Back in 1990, my first bike was a new ZX-7. If you can control the speed, it makes no difference what you have (my opinion).

 

 

You can mess yourself up on a 600, as fast as on a GSXR-1000.

I like these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-Kawasa...1QQcmdZViewItem

Sprite buy used you will save money.. not to mention you will drop your first bike so might as well drop a used bike than a brand new one

But here's another word to the wise... Kawasakis resale isn't as good as Yamaha or Suzuki

Stay away from older Kawasaki's, they have horrible transmission problems. An R6, to me, is a perfect starter bike.

A ducati Monster would be a great first bike and is comfortable as well. Tons of after market stuff to customize to your own taste as well. Cool bike.

GSXR 750 would be perfect. very light and manageable..

 

 

 

From what I know about sprite, he isn't a big guy. I was definitely go the GSXR 600 route. He might have a little trouble with a 750. As for me, I just finished my MSF last month, and just recently bought a 2008 GSXR 750. So far, so good . Buy used, as everyone has mentioned. 250's are for pussies . TAKE THE MSF!

 

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on an Ducati 848.

 

Me too! But, I'm not big ballin yet, lol.

What about a Ducati 848? Bad idea?

What about a Ducati 848? Bad idea?

 

If this is your first bike then I would stay away from dumping lots of money on a new one. I would personally recommend a used Honda CBR F4i. Its comfortable, fast and sexy.

848 should be no problem for you. Learning isn't as hard as most people make it out to be! People always advise to get a cheap first bike because, more than likely, you will either drop or crash your first bike. Some say Ducati's are for people who have more money than sense, which can be partially true. If you ever need to get a Ducati serviced, you'll have to wait for months and the labor will be costly. The Japanese bikes are almost on par with performance and are rock solid. Start off with a cheap Japanese bike that you can beat up, then move to a Ducati 1098...not the 848!

I love the 848. Money isn't really a big factor. So the question then remains if I should still go for something cheap and then upgrade later, or go with something I can grow into? I'm used to fast cars, but bikes are a different ballgame, but with that said I do know how to practice self restraint.

If money is no option,

 

Ducati 848....

 

It will be a learning experience for sure!

Also where are the best places to look for bikes? What sort of deals can normally be made compared to MSRP? Are the Ducatis worth the price hike over the Japanese bikes?

*edit* not worth starting a flame war.

Suzuki all the way- i've owned just about every make and size and I'm stuck on the gsxr and will not go back.

Best all around bike would be a new gsxr 600 for comfort and speed- you cant beat it.

Stay away from the ducs for now until you get the hang of riding then move on to what ever- my 1000 is a bit much still and i've been riding for years.

 

Im currently selling my 06 GSXR 600 - send me a PM if you're interested.

this thread is full of terrible advice

 

 

If you want to ride straight and park at starbucks, get an 848. Just be prepared to be made fun of for having 3in chicken strips. You're never going to learn how to ride starting on that.

 

Suzuki SV650 is the best 'starter' bike you could get. If you want to really RIDE, get the SV. The bike is forgiving and easy to ride, yet you will likely never come close to being able to ride the bike on its limit. Not to mention there are a million parts available for it. And they're still FAST

 

Its not about respecting the speed/power, any super sport bike is extremely unforgiving to a newbie making mistakes. Its NOT the same as a fast car.

 

As far as ninja 250's go, I know plenty of riders who destroy super sport riders in the mountains on a 250, let alone a 500

this thread is full of terrible advice

If you want to ride straight and park at starbucks, get an 848. Just be prepared to be made fun of for having 3in chicken strips. You're never going to learn how to ride starting on that.

 

Suzuki SV650 is the best 'starter' bike you could get. If you want to really RIDE, get the SV. The bike is forgiving and easy to ride, yet you will likely never come close to being able to ride the bike on its limit. Not to mention there are a million parts available for it. And they're still FAST

 

Its not about respecting the speed/power, any super sport bike is extremely unforgiving to a newbie making mistakes. Its NOT the same as a fast car.

 

As far as ninja 250's go, I know plenty of riders who destroy super sport riders in the mountains on a 250, let alone a 500

 

Yes, fully agreed. I retracted my previous statement as I was getting too angry at a few of the posts. And you found the one i was looking for, the SV650. It's a v-twin, doesn't have a shitload of torque, is pretty forgiving and easy to handle and I really enjoyed riding one. My 900SS was a torque pit compared to the 650 but my buddy's first bike was a 650 and he loves that thing to pieces.

 

He is correct it is about becoming a SAFE rider through making good choices, not getting a fast bike to impress your friends and learn on something big. Learning on something big does not necessarily make you a better rider. Where do you think Valentino Rossi started?