Hey, new poster, been browsing this site and a few others for awhile; about me, 19, inc. sophomore CE student, and I have had a bike fetish for awhile now. I have done some research (mainly the post above about why not to get a 600cc+ bike). I have maybe casual mechanical experience with automobiles, (my previous fetish) and am now interested in getting a bike. Soon I will be taking the BRC and getting a license, and now to get a bike! I have always been interested in the sport/street bikes (mostly buell's but am straying away from buying one as Ive been hearing their reliability is sketchy/hit or miss) and have seem the yamaha 250s pop up over and over. If i were to purchase a bike it would be my only form of transportation (2-2.5hours of riding/day on average, mostly on interstates and congested chicago traffic). I have never ridden a sportbike, and I don't know anyone who owns one, all I have ridden are dirtbikes (in the countryside). Would one of these bikes be suitable? I am an athletic guy and into 'extreme sports" and would like to be able to race casually and accelerate quickly. Also, I don't see many younger riders around, is there any reason for this? I have only met one person in their early 20s who rides a bike, and it was a dirtbike. I am just looking for any beginner tips, what to check for when purchasing a used bike, as well as any recommendations on the pros and cons of sportbike ownership (also what is the difference between a sport and streetbike; they both seem fast powerful, and lean racing machines.)
07-26-2008, 03:04 PM
Thinking of getting a bike 
