Thinking of Riding

[DUCKIE07]

Maybe you all could help me decide to move over to riding a bike. I have been thinking of getting a bike. I am not a rider, dirt bike in my younger years, but no road bikes? What kind of bike would be a good one to start out on? I am leaning to a road bike, I don't want a fast one. I am ok taking my time. How much could an average rider save in gas, insurance, ect.? Does anyone know of a good place to get a bike? I'm in Michigan. Any adivice, suggestions thanks, in advance.

[DUCKIE07]

Maybe you all could help me decide to move over to riding a bike. I have been thinking of getting a bike. I am not a rider, dirt bike in my younger years, but no road bikes? What kind of bike would be a good one to start out on? I am leaning to a road bike, I don't want a fast one. I am ok taking my time. How much could an average rider save in gas, insurance, ect.? Does anyone know of a good place to get a bike? I'm in Michigan. Any adivice, suggestions thanks, in advance.

[caddydaddy]

Stick with something small. Like a 250 or 500 at most! And ignore those that say you will quickly outgrow it, and you must get a 600 sport bike!
I have a Kawasaki Ninja 250R. It's one of the best bikes to start out on, but other good ones are the Honda Rebel, which is a 250, and the Honda Nighthawk 250. I've heard mixed things about the Buell Blast, which is a 500. Also the Ninja comes in a 500 and is a good starter bike as well.
The 250 and 500 bikes are among the cheapest to insure. I pay $219 a year for my Ninja 250. As for fuel savings, I'm averaging 57 MPG city on my bike, so I save a lot over driving my car, which gets 15 MPG city!
Whichever bike you do decide on, take the MSF safety course and get the proper riding gear!

[aussieidiot]

Originally Posted by DUCKIE07

Maybe you all could help me decide to move over to riding a bike. I have been thinking of getting a bike. I am not a rider, dirt bike in my younger years, but no road bikes? What kind of bike would be a good one to start out on? I am leaning to a road bike, I don't want a fast one. I am ok taking my time. How much could an average rider save in gas, insurance, ect.? Does anyone know of a good place to get a bike? I'm in Michigan. Any adivice, suggestions thanks, in advance.

it all depends. we need more infomation on you and your experience before we should help you to move over to riding.

how old are you?
how big/small are you?
how much dirt bike riding?
do you like risking death?
are you afraid of pain?
do you realise you will crash someday and chances are it will hurt?

theres more to riding than understanding the controls and doing it.

[DUCKIE07]

Originally Posted by aussieidiot

it all depends. we need more infomation on you and your experience before we should help you to move over to riding.

how old are you? 33
how big/small are you? 5'8" 280LBS
how much dirt bike riding? NOT A LOT
do you like risking death? NO
are you afraid of pain? NO
do you realise you will crash someday and chances are it will hurt? EVERYDAY IS A STRUGGLE

I know there is more to riding than just the controls, I feel I have a level head on my shoulders and can make the right decisions. I would take the riding course and take my time riding, I do not have the attidue that I know it all and can not learn anything, if that was the case I would not be asking questions in here. I am hoping to learn a few things, I thought this may be the place to get some straight up answers.

theres more to riding than understanding the controls and doing it.

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[richtazz]

ridintg a motorcycle is a fun hobby. You have to realize that you could get hurt, and ride expecting cars to not see you. The moment you let your guard down, grandpa in his 74 buick 225 will pull out right in front of you, or cell-phone blah-blah-blah will cut you off. Other good starter bikes are the Honda Nighthawk (up to 650cc), Kawi LTD 450/550, Suzuki GS (up to 650cc) if you like standard bikes, and the Honda Magna V30(if you can find one), Honda Shadow, Suzuki Savage, and Yamaha Seca/Maxim. I like the fact that not only is riding more fun than driving, it also saves gas. Get a bike, take an MSF safety course, and RIDE!!!

[DUCKIE07]

I would like something that I could have a passenger ride with me, but after I feel comfortable with myself riding. The Honda Nighthawk, shadow would like to find one of those. Yes I agree with the MSF class. I know you need to be on the defensive side when driving a car, even more on a bike, always have a way out is my point of view. Thanks for the bike list I will now begin the search.

[richtazz]

No problem duck. In what part of the state is Dorr? I'm from Flint myself.

It sounds like you've got the right attitude about riding. I've been street riding the better part of 20 years (rode dirt bikes since I was 5 yrs old), and being defensive and looking for a way out has saved my ass many times. You never stop learning, and I took an MSF course for the insurance savings after having ridden for years, and I still took some good information from it.

[DUCKIE07]

Dorr is south of Grand Rapids. I know I broke the bikers forum by posting to get someone opinion of what bike to start out on, to tell you the truth I did not look too much I was excited to find a group of people that could acutally give me a strat up answer. I have been looking through some of the other threads on this sit, some really good info. Thanks again for the time and great advice.

Originally Posted by richtazz

No problem duck. In what part of the state is Dorr? I'm from Flint myself.

It sounds like you've got the right attitude about riding. I've been street riding the better part of 20 years (rode dirt bikes since I was 5 yrs old), and being defensive and looking for a way out has saved my ass many times. You never stop learning, and I took an MSF course for the insurance savings after having ridden for years, and I still took some good information from it.

[richtazz]

That's what we're here for Duckie. Since you started this thread with an intelligent question, we are happy to offer you advice. That "rule" is for brain dead idiots that want us to suggest what liter class sport bike they should start on and what is the best technique for doing "stoppies". Intelligent, well thought out questions are always welcome here.

[motorcycle_psycho]

REAL men start off with ZX-14s...but if you're not a real man then I guess you should get something where you live more than a week on..sigh* (shakes head)...just playin....I started with an SV650...awesome bike...kills people in the mountains...a little slow on the highway however...but not bad..I like the nighthawk 650...too...cool little bikes...

[richtazz]

I've had friends start out on bike inappropriate for beginners, and that doesn't always mean a sportbike. A friend of my dad went out and bought a Springer Softail having never swung his leg over on a bike. He was practice riding in the school parking lot a couple of blocks from his house and panicked, whacked the throttle wide open, bailed off and wathced his bike disintegrate against a brick wall. It had 3.2 miles on it and is totalled. Another friend bought a ZX-11 Kawi to go riding with his buddies, and almost got hit head on as he crossed the interstate median doing triple digit speeds and not making a turn. Luckily, in both these cases, they didn't get seriously hurt (other than pride and their wallets), but most aren't so lucky.

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by richtazz

I've had friends start out on bike inappropriate for beginners, and that doesn't always mean a sportbike. A friend of my dad went out and bought a Springer Softail having never swung his leg over on a bike. He was practice riding in the school parking lot a couple of blocks from his house and panicked, whacked the throttle wide open, bailed off and wathced his bike disintegrate against a brick wall. It had 3.2 miles on it and is totalled. Another friend bought a ZX-11 Kawi to go riding with his buddies, and almost got hit head on as he crossed the interstate median doing triple digit speeds and not making a turn. Luckily, in both these cases, they didn't get seriously hurt (other than pride and their wallets), but most aren't so lucky.

Which is why myself (and others) don't recommend a high HP or high torque bike for a beginner! Until they can handle it, something 500 cc or less is all they should ride! And I'm sure the Harley guy wouldn't have been as upset if it was a $3,000 bike he was starting on.

[aussieidiot]

Originally Posted by motorcycle_psycho

REAL men start off with ZX-14s...but if you're not a real man then I guess you should get something where you live more than a week on..sigh* .

thats why you ride a CBR600..??

cou(poof)gh

just playing

[motorcycle_psycho]

Originally Posted by aussieidiot

thats why you ride a CBR600..??

cou(poof)gh

just playing

stupid australians and their........kangaroos and sh**.



but seriously my next bike is going to be a Hayabusa or ZX-14, i need something that can haul ass and go across the country comforably....