Why Beginners should buy a cheaper used bike - Page 4 - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

**Clint** · 03-21-2006, 11:00 PM

That was a good starter bike choice, though a little heavy. Perhaps a lighter bike wouldn't have made you feel that way. I'm not sure how someone with those fears expected to get out of riding, though. At least you made it through.

AZkatana · 03-25-2006, 06:21 PM

i'm 31 and just bought my 1st bike last week - 1999 katana 600 and i love it!
i had considered a 500cc or even 250cc bike to learn on, but i'm 6'4" 250lbs and dont want to be a speedbump. i find the Kat 600 a very easy and forgiving bike that will definately get up and go should i ever need it to.
i purchased my bike after shopping for months (and keeping an eye on the market for a couple years) and what i feel many noobs fail to recognize is that smaller bikes, in addition to being better to learn on, depreciate far slower than larger models. you can buy a ninja 250 or 500 today for $2000 and put 5000 miles on it in a year learning what you like and dislike about bikes in general, then sell it for $1800 and buy yourself whetever you want without the worry of wil-e-coyote - ing your imprint into the side of a dumpster (sorry aajones) learning to control it, and you havent lost virtually any money.
i learned to ride young in the dirt, then at about 17 on the street riding my older brothers Yamaha 750 special around the neighborhood for fun. i had farted around on a friends ZX9R and fell in love with the sportbikes. i fell into a great deal buying my katana and wouldnt change a thing, BUT, i know i'm new at riding, i know the bike has a great deal of power, and i know how capable i am of making stupid mistakes so i'm just terrified i'm going to drop it each time i take it out!
i whole heartedly agree with Inspiron, in that too much is going on around you in traffic to be focusing on how to work the controls of your bike and not to be keeping tabs on your escape routes. legally i only have a learners permit to ride in AZ and that does not allow me to ride on the freeway - which i thought was a bunch of hooey - until i jumped on the freeway.
now, i do have some formal race training in a cage and am uber-comfortable at speed, but i was so unfamiliar with my bike, i found myself making foolish mistakes that could have compounded into a very disturbing ultimate result had i not been able to identify my own idiocy.
everyone wants to play like a rockstar but nobody wants to sit through the lessons and practice the chords. start off smaller and slower to give yourself more of a chance for success.

Jonger · 03-25-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJHowie

I hear ya. Sorry to hear, but happened to me. My first bike, 04 600 Kat, going through town 3 days later, and a lady pulls out in front of me. She caused the accident, then took off. I was PISSED I put 75 miles going around my neighborhood, which is the size of a 1/4 mile track. But yeah, I feel ya man. I've got 1000 miles on it now and still scared to lean in turns to far. Hell, I'm pissing off cars behind me because I am going so slow. Oh well.

No offense to the women of this site, but doesnt it seem like the majority of these accidents involve a female driver?

Jonger · 03-25-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deckard

As long as everyone is discussing new riders, I would like to get a little feedback. I am going to get a streetbike here shortly. I used to ride alot of dirt, and messed around with my uncle's cruiser for a while, but now I want a sport bike.

I am 6'4'' and 220, and after sitting on every single bike at the suzuki dealership, the smallest bike that fit me was the SV-650/SV-650S. I just wanted to know what some people thought about starting on that bike and if they had any alternative ideas.

I'm 6' 6'' and I fit well on my M50 black. I don't know the bike style you are looking for, but the M50 black feels great. It happens to be my first bike and it felt great riding around last night.

RampageRider · 03-25-2006, 09:17 PM

I watched my wife today dump the Rebel at a stop sign while we were out riding. She came up to a stop sign and had a panic attack as she watched a car coming up the street.

In a strange way it was good to see that we can make some stupid mistakes and not get hurt while doing them. I pulled her aside and gave instructions on the proper procedures as she learned in class again. We both went to the local fair grounds and practiced starting and stopping, turning etc.

Now the bad thing is she bent/banged up the turn signals and put a small dent in the tank. The good thing is she didn't get hurt, but I have to get some new signals in the future to make the bike look nice now.

**Clint** · 03-26-2006, 01:45 AM

I'm not sure that someone without control of her emotions should be riding a motorcycle in the first place, bud. I'm worried for both of you. Sounds to me like someone talked her into riding. I'd never do that to my wife because I know she'd have trouble in panic situations. I couldn't deal with the guilt if anything ever happened to her after I put pressure on her to ride.

tlwisner · 03-30-2006, 10:11 AM

My GF wanted to learn how to ride. We took the MSF BRC together and she passed (I passed too, but I already had my license, several bikes, and a few years of riding experience). She did a few practice sessions in a big parking lot, but after she left the parking lot she experienced target fixation and ran my GZ250 into the fender of a parked Jeep SUV. No people injuries, a small crack in the plastic front fender, a broken windshield on the bike and $500 to fix the damage on the Jeep. She does have her M license, but she doesn't want to use it.

Riding is not for everybody, and M licenses are too easy to get in the U.S.

03-25-2006, 09:17 PM	#65 (permalink)
RampageRider Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 05 Red M50 Location: Iowa, riding in the Rain! Posts: 782	I watched my wife today dump the Rebel at a stop sign while we were out riding. She came up to a stop sign and had a panic attack as she watched a car coming up the street. In a strange way it was good to see that we can make some stupid mistakes and not get hurt while doing them. I pulled her aside and gave instructions on the proper procedures as she learned in class again. We both went to the local fair grounds and practiced starting and stopping, turning etc. Now the bad thing is she bent/banged up the turn signals and put a small dent in the tank. The good thing is she didn't get hurt, but I have to get some new signals in the future to make the bike look nice now. __________________ . "Grow up, what a waste of a good time, if Peter Pan can do it so can we............... " 05 Red M50 (mine) 97 Yellow Honda Rebel (her's)

03-30-2006, 10:11 AM	#67 (permalink)
tlwisner Throttle Jockey Joined: Apr 2004 Bike: '05 Boulevard C50 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 3,208	My GF wanted to learn how to ride. We took the MSF BRC together and she passed (I passed too, but I already had my license, several bikes, and a few years of riding experience). She did a few practice sessions in a big parking lot, but after she left the parking lot she experienced target fixation and ran my GZ250 into the fender of a parked Jeep SUV. No people injuries, a small crack in the plastic front fender, a broken windshield on the bike and $500 to fix the damage on the Jeep. She does have her M license, but she doesn't want to use it. Riding is not for everybody, and M licenses are too easy to get in the U.S. __________________ Tim Wisner AMA, SCRC Happiness is something we create

03-25-2006, 06:21 PM	#62 (permalink)
AZkatana Seat Tester Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: 1999 katana Location: AZ Posts: 83	i'm 31 and just bought my 1st bike last week - 1999 katana 600 and i love it! i had considered a 500cc or even 250cc bike to learn on, but i'm 6'4" 250lbs and dont want to be a speedbump. i find the Kat 600 a very easy and forgiving bike that will definately get up and go should i ever need it to. i purchased my bike after shopping for months (and keeping an eye on the market for a couple years) and what i feel many noobs fail to recognize is that smaller bikes, in addition to being better to learn on, depreciate far slower than larger models. you can buy a ninja 250 or 500 today for $2000 and put 5000 miles on it in a year learning what you like and dislike about bikes in general, then sell it for $1800 and buy yourself whetever you want without the worry of wil-e-coyote - ing your imprint into the side of a dumpster (sorry aajones) learning to control it, and you havent lost virtually any money. i learned to ride young in the dirt, then at about 17 on the street riding my older brothers Yamaha 750 special around the neighborhood for fun. i had farted around on a friends ZX9R and fell in love with the sportbikes. i fell into a great deal buying my katana and wouldnt change a thing, BUT, i know i'm new at riding, i know the bike has a great deal of power, and i know how capable i am of making stupid mistakes so i'm just terrified i'm going to drop it each time i take it out! i whole heartedly agree with Inspiron, in that too much is going on around you in traffic to be focusing on how to work the controls of your bike and not to be keeping tabs on your escape routes. legally i only have a learners permit to ride in AZ and that does not allow me to ride on the freeway - which i thought was a bunch of hooey - until i jumped on the freeway. now, i do have some formal race training in a cage and am uber-comfortable at speed, but i was so unfamiliar with my bike, i found myself making foolish mistakes that could have compounded into a very disturbing ultimate result had i not been able to identify my own idiocy. everyone wants to play like a rockstar but nobody wants to sit through the lessons and practice the chords. start off smaller and slower to give yourself more of a chance for success.

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