I am looking into my first bike. It needs to be sporty(no harleys or cruisers). Im not buying it to race, do tricks, or excessive speeds. I just want something to get awesome gas mileage, and i want it to be a nice looking bike.

I was thinking somewhere in the lines of a 03-05 R6, or a 00-01 gsxr, but im not sure what i should be looking for. I want to spend somewhere between $3,000 - $4,200.

...Any tips?

check the other thread about the suzuki sv650. probably one of the best starter bikes out there from what I have heard, and it still looks cool, unlike the ninja 250 and such. you can pretty much make it look any way you want. you can get a naked one with no fairings, or the one with the upper fairing, and lower fairings can be added if you want more of the SS look.

check out http://forum.svrider.com for some more info

I was looking at bikes also as my car took a shit on me.

I was looking to get a ninja 250 as you can find a newer one for under 2,000.

But that SV does look pretty damn sick.

i actually found my bike on cycle trader back in 2004. i was home on recruiters assistance and just happened to find it. 2003 honda cbr 600rr with 3000 miles. guy that had it went to school with my mom back in the day and he knew i was in military and about to head back to my base so he took off 1,000 bucks. 5700 flat. so you can always check with private sellers for a descent deal too. like an 02 f4i or 02 r6 or gsxr even, should be able to find one around that year for 4,000 or less. just look around before you buy.

late

I was told it would be a good idea to take a riding class... I havent ridden a bike in about 9 years, i used to have a little dirtbike. I need a bike to take a riding class, correct? Or is it like drivers ed, and they have about 5 shitty bikes ready to ride? I have a buddy that is willing to let me use his 06 raven r1, but i really dont trust myself enough to be borrowing a $16,000 bike...

I dont know about a GSXR as a first bike man, then again, I dont have one myself. Read up on biking forums and see what I mean.

My friend crashed his Yamaha R-1 after getting in some nasty gravel.

Then he went to go take a bike riding class, lol. Costs $150 I believe, and he highly advised it before taking on your own "better" bike. The bikes are all crappy, but $150 is nothing with the knowledge and experience you gain from it.

Originally posted by dsmmyth
My friend crashed his Yamaha R-1 after getting in some nasty gravel. Then he went to go take a bike riding class, lol. Costs $150 I believe, and he highly advised it before taking on your own "better" bike. The bikes are all crappy, but $150 is nothing with the knowledge and experience you gain from it.

But they do provide the bikes?

yes the MSF course provides bikes.

if you can, try to get into state provided classes. there are private providers for the msf course, such as dealerships, that charge hundreds of dollars, but if you go through a state provided one it's cheaper. At least thats how it is in Ohio. The dealership by my house offered the class for like $200-400 and I took it for $20. And yes, they provide the bikes. I don't know about all states, but in ohio completion of the course gets you a certificate that you take to the BMV to get your license, bypassing the motorcycle test that I hear is a real bitch.

ding ding ding!

I went through my states MSF program (free! ftw!) and got my license

I ride a kawasaki KL250-G4 Super sherpa.

Pick you up a Ninja 250. It cruises at highway speeds and gets like eleventy billion miles to the gallon (actually probably like 70-90).

They're cheap, and run pretty good for a 250. If you think the 250's too small, look into the 500cc class. Suzuki has the GS500F (my preference), Kawasaki has the Ninja 500. Those are plenty fast and will still get decent gas mileage.

Insurance will be cheaper than the 600's because they're considered the race bikes.

Originally posted by Nine5eclipse03

Originally posted by dsmmyth My friend crashed his Yamaha R-1 after getting in some nasty gravel. Then he went to go take a bike riding class, lol. Costs $150 I believe, and he highly advised it before taking on your own "better" bike. The bikes are all crappy, but $150 is nothing with the knowledge and experience you gain from it.

But they do provide the bikes?

Yes, they do. My friend complained they were ragged and ugly, but they still work for teaching you to lean into a turn etc.

I just passed the MSF beginner course, it was $235 for me and totally worth it for the skills alone. Plus you get to skip the DMV road/practical skills test, insurance gives a big discount for MSF grads, and I get a 15% discount on gear from my local bike shop.

The Kawasaki Ninja 250r is a great bike, $3-4k brand new, cheap insurance. I'm buying one this week.

http://www.ninja250.info/index.htm

YouTube.com

Originally posted by noboost
I just passed the MSF beginner course, it was $235 for me and totally worth it for the skills alone. Plus you get to skip the DMV road/practical skills test, insurance gives a big discount for MSF grads, and I get a 15% discount on gear from my local bike shop. The Kawasaki Ninja 250r is a great bike, $3-4k brand new, cheap insurance. I'm buying one this week. http://www.ninja250.info/index.htm

YouTube.com

Yeah i dont mind having that small of a motor, i just HATE the look of them :( especially the headlight.

Originally posted by Nine5eclipse03
Yeah i dont mind having that small of a motor, i just HATE the look of them :( especially the headlight.

I agree, I think the kwak's are ugly.

Look into the GS500F.

Originally posted by cougar694u

Originally posted by Nine5eclipse03 Yeah i dont mind having that small of a motor, i just HATE the look of them :( especially the headlight.

I agree, I think the kwak's are ugly. Look into the GS500F.

i think those are ugly too.

Originally posted by CopperEclipse96

Originally posted by cougar694u

Originally posted by Nine5eclipse03 Yeah i dont mind having that small of a motor, i just HATE the look of them :( especially the headlight.

I agree, I think the kwak's are ugly. Look into the GS500F.

i think those are ugly too.

x800

I'm not saying they are not a good bikes though. They have been the same for like 15 years, so Suz and Kaw are doing something right with them.

I know looks shouldn't come into play as much as they do, but well...they do.

Look into the 02 r6's if your dead set. First year of Fuel Injection. My friend has an 01 r6 that is carbed and the powerband is almost unforgiving when the main jet opens up. The fuel injected bikes I've rode are MUCH smoother on the throttle.

I think I have my heart set on this 01 gsx-r 600 I have been looking at. Very clean and relativley low miles. I am somewhat worried about buying a bike with so much power to start with, but I know I can have respect for the bike just like cougar said. I've been tore up enough just from riding dirt for so long and I know that the pavement is going to hurt 100x worse.

Good luck to your bike hunt!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-Ninja-07-GT250-R-GT250R-GT-250-R-2007-HYOSUNG-GT-250R-BRAND-NEW-ZERO-MILES-VIDEO_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50019QQihZ014QQitemZ330104855898QQtcZphoto

Hyosung GT250R

I've read a few decent reviews on them. They seem to be a pretty decent bike for the buck. I'd much rather be rocking one of those than a ninja 250 any day.

Who knows if they are reliable yet though.

Originally posted by ScreaminE
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-Ninja-07-GT250-R-GT250R-GT-250-R-2007-HYOSUNG-GT-250R-BRAND-NEW-ZERO-MILES-VIDEO_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50019QQihZ014QQitemZ330104855898QQtcZphoto Hyosung GT250R I've read a few decent reviews on them. They seem to be a pretty decent bike for the buck. I'd much rather be rocking one of those than a ninja 250 any day. Who knows if they are reliable yet though.

That bike looks awesome. Wish it was in a different color though.

Look into the FZR600 then (if you're going for looks). I prefer the 91-92 because of the single headlight, but the genesis was one hell of a bike.

Granted, they're old-style, but they can be had for cheap, they're still fast, but they'll take a beating.

The GS500 may not be the purdiest bike, but damn it looks better than the 250R.

Hell, you could even go with the YZF600R. Same motor as the FZR with a little extra power, but newer styling. It has more torque than the R6, thus making it more practical for commuting, and doesn't run away from you on the top end.

It's got a long comfy banana seat, unlike the R6 that has a few inches of padding, and the riding position is a little more ergo, allowing you to ride it longer without 'saddle sores'.

**EDIT**
And as far as the Hyosung, I think they're cool, nicely styled, but only time will tell in the longevity department.

My room mate has a 92 FZR 600 that is a terd. He has dumped a ton of money into it to try and make it an r6. r6 brakes, tail, tank, and a few other pieces here and there. With the money he has dumped into the motor/styling/suspension, he could have just bought an r6.

I will never own one, but they still have a HUGE following. I guess he could say the same thing about my 91 GSX.

CBR F4i...good power, looks, all around great sport bike...plus that honda reliability you just cant beat.... nuff said :)

I agree ^^^, the F4's a good bike, about equivalent to the YZF. The F4i's nice because it's injected.

As far as the FZR being a turd, I had one and it was pretty quick, but by no means was it fast. No problems with the low speed wheelies, and it kept up with the SRAD gsxr600's until around 135. After I got my carbs sync'd, it ran worlds better, but I never really got on it after that. I had the liter bike with my name on it just waiting to be funded.

It was bone stock, other than a K&N filter and a modified stock can. I cut the end off, hollowed it out, then welded the end back on cuz I'm a squid. It may have been geared prior to me getting it, though. Best bang for the buck on a bike is gearing.

i really want either an sv650s or a cbr600f4i

if i could find either one used and nearby for a good price, I'd be all over 'em.

I just had a guy offer to trade me, my truck for his honda vfr800 plus 1k. I was about to offer him the trade, but with 2k, until i noticed the clear coat was not quite as vibrant on the left side as it was on the right. I asked. Of course. Salvage title.

All the salvaged title means is an insurance company was involved. I've seen bikes sustain very little damage (sub $1k street parts value) and be totaled by the insurance company.

Insurance company paid the bike off and he got to keep it for a fee. It's a bunch of shit if you ask me.

A guy I know laid his busa down and the frame slider protected most of the bike. It did crack the stator cover, scuffed the front fender, left fairing was cracked where the slider bent into it, upper fairing had a broken blinker and some scuffs, along with the tail section, and the gas tank had some rock ships in the paint, and the fuckin insurance company totaled it.

All you had to do was replace the stator and blinker and it was ready to ride with a few battle scars. Sometimes I just don't get it.

My bikes got a salvaged title, but I basically pieced it together, so it doesn't matter to me.

Originally posted by cougar694u
All the salvaged title means is an insurance company was involved. I've seen bikes sustain very little damage (sub $1k street parts value) and be totaled by the insurance company. Insurance company paid the bike off and he got to keep it for a fee. It's a bunch of shit if you ask me. A guy I know laid his busa down and the frame slider protected most of the bike. It did crack the stator cover, scuffed the front fender, left fairing was cracked where the slider bent into it, upper fairing had a broken blinker and some scuffs, along with the tail section, and the gas tank had some rock ships in the paint, and the fuckin insurance company totaled it. All you had to do was replace the stator and blinker and it was ready to ride with a few battle scars. Sometimes I just don't get it. My bikes got a salvaged title, but I basically pieced it together, so it doesn't matter to me.

I just dont like the idea of trying to sell something with a salvage title, it doesnt sound easy. Other than that, is the vfr800 a good bike? Also, is 26k miles too many for an 02? I have been filtering through bikes on craigslist, and ive heard somewhere, that 20k on a bike is about equal to 100k on a car. How accurate is this? Sorry for all of the newwb questions... but quite frankly when it comes to bikes.. I am a newwb lol.

I think it looks pretty sick, kinda like the RC51 with a smaller motor and a little more ergo. I love the single sided swingarm:



Only problem is it's kinda portly. It weighs as much as a busa does, but is only 781cc. It is a V4, though, so it will be torquey as hell.

As far as the mileage, I know people with more miles on younger busa's. Personally, I think that's kinda high, but bikes of today stand up to longevity pretty well.

With the mileage and salvaged title, assume it's worth around $3000-$3500.

And...

It's got the VTEC POWAH! Seriously, though, that's what helps with the torque (around 60 ft lbs), but only chimes in around 105-110 hp. That's not much more than the R6 of the same year.

Ouch, youre right... 470lbs.. The thing i did like about it, was that the seat height is 31.6", which is lower than the r6, which stands at 33.9. Im not a very tall guy, standing at 5'6, those extra 2" will help me flat foot at stops lol.

There is a dude around here with a '91 cbr600 for sale. I dont much about sport bikes, but I have been looking to get one. Would that make a good bike for an intermediate rider? He wants 2,200 but its in perfect condition and hasnt been laid down.

Originally posted by Nine5eclipse03
Ouch, youre right... 470lbs.. The thing i did like about it, was that the seat height is 31.6", which is lower than the r6, which stands at 33.9. Im not a very tall guy, standing at 5'6, those extra 2" will help me flat foot at stops lol.

Even though it is heavy, that heavier weight will make it more stable on the freeway. Where most lighter bikes get blown around by the wind of an 18-wheeler badly, the heavier bikes are less susceptible to it.

Originally posted by TKI
There is a dude around here with a '91 cbr600 for sale. I dont much about sport bikes, but I have been looking to get one. Would that make a good bike for an intermediate rider? He wants 2,200 but its in perfect condition and hasnt been laid down.

It was my brother's first street bike (both brothers, actually). I like the F2. Smooth power, comfortable, and still pretty quick.

Its a little more powerful than i originally wanted. But a buddy of mine told me something that made a lot of sense. When i said its too much bike for me, he said that any bike is too much bike, its all in how you ride it, and how much respect you give it. So anyway, here you go, ill hopefully be picking it up in the next few weeks. It only about 15 miles away, but i need to get a quick loan.

http://yakima.craigslist.org/mcy/298278524.html

He's right, but it's easier to get in trouble with more power.

With that being said, can I have the chatter boxes? :)

Originally posted by cougar694u
He's right, but it's easier to get in trouble with more power. With that being said, can I have the chatter boxes? :)

Haha, for all of the help youve given me, im sure we can work something out lol. None of my friends that ride use them, so they wont do me any good.