Anyone Know anything about...

[Kyle]

Sport Bikes?...
I'm moving out next year, so i'm gonna need a bike to get around(cheap and don't guzzle gas)
Well, i need to learn how to ride a bike first...I have no idea how a manual works on a bike(someone please tell me)
and i just need to get the feel of riding first...so i'll need fast, but not to fast bike at first...
Anyone know good companys to buy from?...
I'll probably start with a bike from ebay first, then move on to a new bike once i get the feel of everything. And how many cc's should a beginner look for?

keep in mind that i know nothing of bikes yet, so if i need to know something...PLEASE let me know.

[firstgeardude]

ok if you're lookin for a cheap learner bike.. i cant see a 1990 yamaha, suzuki, honda 600-900cc costing too much.. well how much are you willin to spend?

[Kyle]

probably 3g's

[Kyle]

well...less than 3gs would be best...i'd like to spend between 1-2, but if i have to...3 is fine...

[firstgeardude]

oh.. ok.. well check out early 90's sport bikes then... im sure you can get one for $3000... or less

you know that insurance on a sport bike is killer though

[Kyle]

I won't have insurance for a while...shhhhh.
It'll just to get to work an back. I won't be racing...at all

[TonitrusEN]

you dont need insurance on a sport bike in washington. :)

[firstgeardude]

umm.. its really hard hard not to race a sport bike... with a machine goin 0 - 60mph in ~3-4sec....

[Kyle]

lol, well, maybe a little bit...
I won't race or speed too much until i know i can handle it.

[firstgeardude]

what i can see you doing is going all out in straight line

[Kyle]

hell yeah, but i'm a HUGE fan of twisties on bikes too...
Do you know anything about clutches on bike?...how they work and whatnot...

[firstgeardude]

i dont know too much.. but i know that the clutch is the left lever on the handlebar.. and to change gears you got to push down on a thing with your foot.. kind of like in a car with a clutch

[pdiggitydogg]

your local junior/community college should have a bike course that automatically gives you a license at the end of the class. The class at mine even gives you a small bike as a learners. On the first weekend you dont get to drive home in a car...you HAVE to ride the bike...its a crash course (less than 5 weeks)...but hopefully not literally:o

[Kyle]

YEah...i think the local DMV might do a motorcycle course...maybe i can get into that...that'd be sweet as hell

[mt.biker]

can't you ride a regular bike? if so all you are going to have to do is learn to shift and its really not that hard... foot for gear up and gear down and left hand for clutch.


and you'll race it. you're a guy, with a bike there is no way in hell you aren't goint to race it. Heck i was racing my 3 wheelier back in the day... so dont lie to yourself.... you're going to race it

[pdiggitydogg]

^I think we all know this...including him...hes just trying to talk himselve into the fact that he needs to be responsible

[Racing Rice]

Okay, Im going to tell you like Ive been told a million times..

Your first bike should be something small.. No bigger then a 500cc really. For several reasons.

A. They are a lot cheaper on insurance. Insurance on a sportbike can you a brother! Make sure you check it out first.

B. They dont have quite as much power. Which means, you wont get in trouble quite as fast. They can still hurt you, or worse kill you. The bigger the bike the faster trouble can happen.

C. A little better on gas. Always a good thing, right?

D. Most importantly, price. You can pick a nice one up pretty cheap. This means you can get a newer one that will be more reliable.

My suggestion would be something like a Kawasaki Ninja 250EX or 500EX. These sound small, but trust me.. For your first bike they are plenty fast enough. The 500EX will do 13.3 in the 1/4 mile. Thats pretty damn quick.

My personal favorite is probably a Suzuki GS500. I think they look cool. They dont have fairings that you have to worry about cracking if you drop it. Not quite as fast as a 500EX but still fast enough to give you a rush.

There is a saying in the sportbike world...

"There are 2 types of riders, ones that have wrecked, and ones that havent wrecked yet."

Last thing. If your going to buy a bike, take a Motorcycle Safety Course. This is great for a couple of reasons. You will probably get a insurance discount. You can take the beginner class without having a bike, they supply them. And in some states, passing the MSF training course, allows you to get your license without having the take the maneuverability test for the BMV. The course is cheap. Do yourself the favor and take it. Be safe!!

http://www.msf-usa.org/

For more info on sportbikes and such, go to the forums on www.sportbikes.net

Its a nice site with a good n00b section for any questions that you may have. They will help you with all the right information. Thats where I have spent a lot of time researching.