Training before buying

[wsharp]

Blue is pretty nice, actually, on that bike.

Look around and find one used for a little $$$ and when you move up in a year or two then you can pass it along to someone else looking for a nice bike to ride... then again you may decide that bike is perfect for you and decide to ride it 'til the wheels fall off.

[pug]

Is there a reason why 2 different people who at the dealership. One of which my boss knows cause its his wife's sister. So I trust her thoughts a little more than the other guy I talked to.

They both say I would get tired of the GS5005, not enough power. The GSR600X would be the way to go.

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by pug

They both say I would get tired of the GS5005, not enough power. The GSR600X would be the way to go.

I too felt the same way about the GS500f however I was sinceable enough to know that the GSXR line are full on street legal race track ready bikes. So I went with the much hailed SV650 for its ease of use, bang for the buck, handeling nearly equal to the GSX-R600 and still pretty quick on the street, 11.8s in the 1/4mile and has mod options galore.

So take a look at the SV/S650 and you just might like what you see. I did!!

[pug]

What about this bike?

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products...4/Default.aspx

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by pug

What about this bike?

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products...4/Default.aspx

Yeah I liked the Katana 600 too. Great looking and quite capable too.

??? Katana Planet seems to be offline, too bad you could talk to them aboot the bike and its ride.

==> http://www.katanaplanet.com/

This is just my opinion so you can take it or not but just be safe and happy.

[Uncle Bob]

Katana a much better choice for a newbie, still more bike than I would recommend but a better choice.

Why do some dealers recommend Gixxers to newbies ?

No logical reason, commissions maybe ? Maybe they're so used to being around bikes that they forget what it's like for a beginner ?

Why do MSF instructors and Gixxer.com warn against a newbie on a gixxer ? Because they see what happens to beginners on a daily basis and realise the difficulty of mastering this type of bike.

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Katana a much better choice for a newbie, still more bike than I would recommend but a better choice.

Why do some dealers recommend Gixxers to newbies ?

No logical reason, commissions maybe ? Maybe they're so used to being around bikes that they forget what it's like for a beginner ?

Why do MSF instructors and Gixxer.com warn against a newbie on a gixxer ? Because they see what happens to beginners on a daily basis and realise the difficulty of mastering this type of bike.

I friend on another board got a used GSX-R1000 for his first bike. Not a smart boy to say the least.

[themeatmanlandry]

Ya' know . . . If 'Zuk hadn't dropped the US version of the Bandit 600, which I happen to own (first bike), that'd be my canned answer for all of these questions. 76 rear wheel horsepower is just right (at least for me). I've had it two years, ridden 17K miles, and I have yet to get "tired" of it, and I will most likely never be able to outride it. Also, it has real handle bars (not clip-ons) so it's comfortable on an all-day ride, maintenance and repair is relatively cheap, and insurance is pretty cheap as well (I hear).

[87gsxrnut]

Why do some dealers recommend Gixxers to newbies ?

MONEY. I have seen some pretty unscrupulous things in motorcycle shops over the years, and selling new sport literbikes to beginners is one of them. Selling a newbie a GSX-R 600 or 750 isn't much better.

The most common line I have heard:

"If you'll respect the bike, you will be fine."

Bullcrap.

- Nut

[87gsxrnut]

Ya' know . . . If 'Zuk hadn't dropped the US version of the Bandit 600, which I happen to own (first bike), that'd be my canned answer for all of these questions. 76 rear wheel horsepower is just right (at least for me). I've had it two years, ridden 17K miles, and I have yet to get "tired" of it, and I will most likely never be able to outride it. Also, it has real handle bars (not clip-ons) so it's comfortable on an all-day ride, maintenance and repair is relatively cheap, and insurance is pretty cheap as well (I hear).

Most likely one of the best all-around bikes out there.

- Nut

[DaMaNP750]

Originally Posted by 87gsxrnut

MONEY. I have seen some pretty unscrupulous things in motorcycle shops over the years, and selling new sport literbikes to beginners is one of them. Selling a newbie a GSX-R 600 or 750 isn't much better.

The most common line I have heard:

"If you'll respect the bike, you will be fine."

Bullcrap.

- Nut

my dealer experience was totally different than anything you guys talk about. At least with the younger crowd, you dont go to a dealer and ask him questions and let me sell you a bike. you talk to buddies and you listen to your peers and they tell you the quirks of the different bikes and what they already know. The people i ride with all just talked to others about sportbikes and then went to dealer and bought it. It's not like a car where you need to be sold.

A bike is a toy and it's not "needed." Although I will thoroughly argue that, and so will most of you guys and girls! I mean I knew what I wanted and I called up and he said he could get it. It's not a pressure thing.

EDIT: I mean toy as in something is not a primary mode of transportaion, so no flaming.

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by DaMaNP750

A bike is a toy and it's not "needed." Although I will thoroughly argue that, and so will most of you guys and girls! I mean I knew what I wanted and I called up and he said he could get it. It's not a pressure thing.

EDIT: I mean toy as in something is not a primary mode of transportaion, so no flaming.

I knew what you meant. That's exactly why I bought mine . . . an alternate form of entertainment (albeit a deadly one).

[Phease]

my dealer experience was totally different than anything you guys talk about. At least with the younger crowd, you dont go to a dealer and ask him questions and let me sell you a bike. you talk to buddies and you listen to your peers and they tell you the quirks of the different bikes and what they already know

Yes but you're dealer experience was probably different because your friends advised you to get a gsxr750 so he didn't have to sell it at all, you asked for one and his comission was a given from the start.

(from my personal experience, can't vouch for them all but...) Dealers over here if you ask them will give you constructive advice on buying a bike that is helpful to riders of any experience level. The guy i bought my last bike from said that if he helps a newb buy a good first bike from there then they will come back for the next bike a year on. Which is good sense because then they make more sales etc

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by pug

Yea I was looking at the Suzuki GS500E

If you like that bike and it fits you well, it would be a decent choice. Learning to ride a motorcycle is learning a skill that is not always intuitive. Some people take to it well, some take more time to get to where their confidence is not an obstacle. The tougher to ride your first bike is, the harder you make it on yourself.

Get a Hayabusa if you want (they're pretty cool), but start off on smaller bikes and build good solid skills so you're not one of those guys who rides his big new zoomy bike out of the dealership and crashes it on the way home. Unless you are diagnosed with a terminal disease and have one week to live, assume that you are going to be riding for a long time.

Riding is incredibly great if you build your skills up and do it right. Some people buy great fast powerful zoomy bikes to start on, put about 20 terrified miles on them and then park them, because riding terrifies them. There are lots of bikes like this for sale at dealerships and online. I find it sad - kinda like giving up on sex because your first experience was in jail. If you do it right, it's an incredibly freeing experience that you will always look forward to. (bike or sex...)

Some of us were lucky enough to start out riding minibikes, dirtbikes, mopeds, scooters, etc when we were really young. That made it much easier for me when I decided to get back on two wheels - and even then a Suzuki GZ 250 was a great ride.

Did I mention how great riding is? Damn, it's great. Now I want to go ride, but I've had a few drinks this evening (perhaps why I'm typing so much) so I'll forego it right now.

[m50]

good advice.take a class. I'm 58 y.o 5'7" rode some dirt bikes i my 20's never touched a bike till '07.. took a class . got my license got a yamaha virago 750 for $1k ..great deal after 2k miles upgraded to new m50.. lovin it!!

[womper]

Originally Posted by Clint

I don't know why you'd even say that. The GS is a capable bike, and for those of us who don't ride to impress others with stunting or exhibitions of speed, just about any bike is a thrill. I rode a 1989 Yamaha Radian 600 for several years. It's not nearly as nice as a modern GS, and I loved riding it. The only reason I upgraded is because I was doing a lot of two-up.

There a great deal to be learned on any bike, and the thrill for most of us comes from improving our riding technique and skill set. Upgrading the rider is often a much better move than upgrading to a bike that you can't possibly wring out.

I think that's just plain bad advice.

totally agreed.

i have an 800 cruiser and it was my first bike.
my next bike will have a smaller displacement.

later on i might try to do some track... i'd get a 250 for myself for that...

[Uncle B]

Originally Posted by m50

good advice.take a class. I'm 58 y.o 5'7" rode some dirt bikes i my 20's never touched a bike till '07.. took a class . got my license got a yamaha virago 750 for $1k ..great deal after 2k miles upgraded to new m50.. lovin it!!

Oh my gosh.

09-07-2004, 07:54 PM #34 (permalink) tlwisner
Throttle Jockey




Join Date: Apr 2004
Bike: '05 Boulevard C50 Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 3,208

[kerrtapp]

Originally Posted by pug

I feel it is hard for people to get started unless they know someone who has a bike. I don't know anyone at all...

Also what would you suggest for a person who is 5'7" and around 155lbs

I don't know anyone who has a bike!... And its hard for me!.. And I don't know anyone either.. ALSO i'm around your height and around 155lbs.. Also I probably know half as much about bikes than you! Coincidence much?

[Camp21178]

Is this a record for the oldest resurrected thread?

[kerrtapp]

Originally Posted by Camp21178

Is this a record for the oldest resurrected thread?

Haha I just realised this topic was made 5 years ago.