Hello Everyone I'm A Newbie :-)

[ajones2005]

Hello Fellow Suzuki Riders,
I am 15 years old and in March 2006 or sometime around there I am going to be getting a C50 for my starter bike. As you can imagine I can't wait. Now even tho I'm young I like to think I can learn quickly. I will be taking A MSF safety course. Also in my post just know this from the start and that is that I am not a very good typer on the computer because I type so fast and most of my post will have spelling errors so please forgive me. Well hopefully I can learn alot from you guys. Also alot of people in my family ride. Well I can't wait so lets get it started.

[axel_2078]

You're 15 and you're going to get a C50 as your first bike?? Also, have you taken the cost of insurance into consideration? That can bring you to your knees right there.

[ajones2005]

Originally Posted by axel_2078

You're 15 and you're going to get a C50 as your first bike??

Yes I have a job. I was going to get a Honda Rebel but decied agianst it because my family thought I would be better on this. I don't want a sport bike if that's what your thinking.

[Trapper]

No, that's not what he's thinking (sportbike). Doesn't your family like you ? Stick to the rebel, or a Marauder 250, or at most go with the S40 (savage)

[ajones2005]

Originally Posted by trappercase

No, that's not what he's thinking (sportbike). Doesn't your family like you ? Stick to the rebel, or a Marauder 250, or at most go with the S40 (savage)

Yes my family likes me why do you say that. If its because of the power I dont want a rebel because its underpowerd and you cant really go on the highway. Also you cant go above 70.

[prekarious1]

weight, throttle response.

Do you have any dirt experience?

[Trapper]

Isn't it illegal to go above 70? Why don't you get a used scooter until next year? I was being sarcastic about your family. It's rare that any family would tell a 15 year old to get a large bike that 30 something year olds are a lot of the time not ready for. I know (unless your a freak of nature) you aren't strong enough for that bike.

[ajones2005]

Originally Posted by trappercase

Isn't it illegal to go above 70? Why don't you get a used scooter until next year? I was being sarcastic about your family. It's rare that any family would tell a 15 year old to get a large bike that 30 something year olds are a lot of the time not ready for. I know (unless your a freak of nature) you aren't strong enough for that bike.

I'v rode some bikes. Also im not a freak of nature but alot of my family knows about bikes so they can help me out. They didn't tell me to get it but say it would be ok. They said I would get bored of the rebel. I rode the Rebel and yes I did get bored. I sat on a C50 and it felt nice. Hopefully I can handle it. Better than getting a bike that I would trade in after a year. I can take it in steps. You guys seem to really doubt me and that scares me because I really want this bike. Please add some more feedback.

[Trapper]

It's coming...

Trust me and go sit on the Savage. 99% of the people here will recommend starting small and trading. Get something cheap and used so you don't lose much$ and is not as damaging as it would be when you drop that shiny new C50... and guess what, YOU WILL.

[ajones2005]

Originally Posted by trappercase

It's coming...

Trust me and go sit on the Savage. 99% of the people here will recommend starting small and trading. Get something cheap and used so you don't lose much$ and is not as damaging as it would be when you drop that shiny new C50... and guess what, YOU WILL.

I dont care if i drop it. that just comes with it.

[axel_2078]

Originally Posted by ajones2005

I dont care if i drop it. that just comes with it.

You don't care??? WHAT??? Did I understand this correctly?? You don't mind dropping a brand new bike? That's a pretty poor outlook. That's like saying, "I don't care if I wreck it. It's part of the learning experience." These people are giving you good advice by starting on a smaller bike. It teaches you control and builds confidence. Starting on a bike with too much power when you have little to no experience can land you in trouble real quick. Once again, have you looked into what the insurance on that bike would cost for a 16 yr old? That's another good reason to start small. Lower premiums can help you save for a bigger bike when you feel you're ready to move up.

[ajones2005]

I'm not gonna cry because I dropped it. Im paying for everything. So anyway I just am gonna do it and see how it go's. I have uncles who have harleys so they will help me.

[b94me]

Ah! Sometimes I wish I was 16 and riding a C50. The fact is that bikes like the C50 and Honda, Yamaha, Kawa, and HD sportster equivalents, are becoming more and more the entry level bikes in the cruiser world. Others may disagree but I personally think that youth will be a plus here not a minus. On the other hand, driving inexperience is a minus on any bike you will ride in traffic, so heed all the advice you'll get on safety gear, defensive driving, alcohol, etc ... and you will fare well. Your being part of this forum is a good start. Welcome to the C50 family, even if you end up with a different bike a year from now.

[c50tiger]

I'll pass one the too obvious Harley joke here and head straight into the knee jerk bashing your for getting a C50 as your first bike. First off, you obviously have a better job than I ever had at 15 to buy a C50 and pay the insurance on it. I flipped burgers and worked construction, and I rode a USED Yamaha 250 for a year and a half and then a USED Honda 400 for another year and a half before trading for a USED Suzuki 750. And I rode for 4 years without any insurance. ('Course that was 20 some years ago when you could get away with that sort of stuff.) So what if you'd get bored with a Rebel after a year. Rather be bored than scraped off the asphalt.

Sorry, but that's just my opinion. Unless you've got a number of years riding dirt bikes tucked up your sleeve, you could be making a costly mistake. And your uncles' riding experience is all but immaterial here. They can't make decisions for you while your in the saddle.

This whole thing just reminds me too much of parents who give their 16 year olds high performance vehicles and then wonder how Junior managed to wrap it around a telephone pole.

[edited to add a late occuring thought]

Need further proof? Recent NIH study, which is being replicated and refined at several universities as this is written, has determined that the area of the brain that controls risk-taking decision making is not fully developed until the age of 25. Looking back, based on personal experience I have to concur. Virginia legislature has, partly as a result of this study, enacted legislation to prevent drivers under 18 from using a cell phone. (Small steps). Other states will surely follow, including those that have already enacted graduated drivers licenses and such.

[ajones2005]

Originally Posted by b94me

Ah! Sometimes I wish I was 16 and riding a C50. The fact is that bikes like the C50 and Honda, Yamaha, Kawa, and HD sportster equivalents, are becoming more and more the entry level bikes in the cruiser world. Others may disagree but I personally think that youth will be a plus here not a minus. On the other hand, driving inexperience is a minus on any bike you will ride in traffic, so heed all the advice you'll get on safety gear, defensive driving, alcohol, etc ... and you will fare well. Your being part of this forum is a good start. Welcome to the C50 family, even if you end up with a different bike a year from now.

Thanks For The Advice, I do have years of dirt bike riding under my belt. Also I am going to get on of these. I'm not like the punk kids you hear about getting killed. They usally wind up that way because of trying to impress people which I am not going to do. I think I am very mature and will do ok on this bike.

[Trapper]

What kind of advice are you looking for? What are you looking to learn from the forum? Things that you already "know"? You say please add some more feedback, but you shoot down everything everyone says. I'm done here , I hope you hear what you want from the others here.

[Trapper]

I changed my mind. Just wanted to add this.

I'm not calling anyone an idiot, I just like the pic.

[Louis]

Ajones, almost everyone on this board will try to discourage into getting a C50 for a first bike. One has to learn how to walk before running. Your first bike will not be your last, start with something with less power. The S40 would be a good choice.

As for not caring for dropping it, if you don't care that much about your future bike, why the heck do you WANT to get a C50?

Let us know what you decide. It's a free country but we would hate to see something happen to a new rider (or to any rider for thta matter).

[Uncle Bob]

Seems that somewhere between post 1 and post 7 he gained years of experience riding dirtbikes. That's amazing !

Listen A , we are here to help and would love to answer any questions you may have but I'm getting the feeling you're just a younster dreaming irrealistically about getting an expensive heavy cruiser in a year or two. You've got a job and have figured out thet if you don't spend any of that money in the meantime that you'll have enough to get the C50 by then.

I hope that you will be able to put that money aside for the bike with some left over for proper gear, training, insurance, registration and maintenance. But a used, lighter and less powerfull bike will be easier to attain and make you a better rider in the long run.

You don't want to outgrow it ? What are you buying, the only bike you'll have in your life ?.

Don't care if you drop it! You do realise that dropping your bike may cause hundreds of dollars of damage. This sounds very irresponsable to me and irresponsable people should not be riding motorcycles.

[tlwisner]

Welcome and good luck with your bike plans. The C50 is not the ideal beginner bike, but it is far better than what many others buy. It is a very fun ride, and I hope your riding experiences are all good. You are lucky to have riders in your family, and I'm sure you'll enjoy many good rides with them.

Your choice to take the MSF class first is a good choice, you'll lower your insurance cost and you'll get a bit of practice on bikes that you do not have to fix.

If you were looking at buying a racing replica bike for a first ride (as many do...) you would probably deserve some of the crap that has flown your way in this thread. The C50 is a good ride, but it's not really a high performance vehicle. It has enough torque to get going with the best of them, but you're not going to find C50s doing wheelies at triple digit speeds down the freeway.