First Motorcycle

[JLCitadel]

Hey everyone, along with building a new pc, I'll be buying a motorcycle.

 

I narrowed my choices down to these based on;

Beginner

Low Price

Reputable Brand

 

If you've got any suggestions or things to note, please let me know.

(cruiser or sports-bike)

 

I'm open to other bikes, and possibly purchasing a pre-owned off craigslist to save money for my first time.

 

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/product-specifications.aspx?scid=6&id=785

http://powersports.honda.com/2013/shadow-spirit-750/build.aspx

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Product-Specifications.aspx?scid=7&id=789

http://www.harley-davidson.com/content/h-d/en_US/home/motorcycles/2014-motorcycles/sportster/super-low.html

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/Boulevard%20M50/2014/M50.aspx

 

Extra Information; Height/Weight 6'2" 240lbs Age:19 (20 in Nov.)

Extremely Safe Driver with Cars

[Guest Kloaked]

Ah man, I thought you were picking dirt bikes. I was going to suggest a KTM 400, haha.

[AddonCustoms]

NINJA 300 !!!  I am currently riding a Honda CBF125, its ok for riding round the UK, keeps up with most roads, for a 125 it is quick to get going. If you aren't planning on speeding and being safe as you say, then I doubt you will need the power of a bigger bike. So I suggest the Ninja 300, it also looks awesome.

[techswede]

Why not go for a classic naked sport bike? 

Something like the CB750 can be quite sexy with a bit of aftermarket massage

[JLCitadel]

Why not go for a classic naked sport bike? 

Something like the CB750 can be quite sexy with a bit of aftermarket massage

 

Not really looking to get into customizing till I've ridden for a while and know more.

[cae]

Ninja 300 is the one I was eyeing prior to my unemployment. Slipper clutch and ABS at that price is hard to beat IMO. I see Honda has a new CBR 300R and Yamaha has the FZ-07 since I last checked. I'm also nearly 90 pounds lighter so I wasn't really checking out cruisers.

[techswede]

Not really looking to get into customizing till I've ridden for a while and know more.

It was more of a suggestion in terms of style of bike^^ There are some sexy classics out there. (And they are ridiculously comfy)

 

If it's not something you're after i'd say go for the ninja 300. It's a light and well handling bike with just enough power

I've never really been a fan of the cruisers myself. I don't really like how they feel in turns

[Tea1337]

Suggestion, If it's your first ever street bike, take a look at the Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS. It's an amazing bike and i'm 16, i've gotten to take one for a test drive, and i was stunned by it. It's got more power than you'd normally need, and the ABS brakes are great for slippery situations and hard braking.

[techswede]

Suggestion, If it's your first ever street bike, take a look at the Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS. It's an amazing bike and i'm 16, i've gotten to take one for a test drive, and i was stunned by it. It's got more power than you'd normally need, and the ABS brakes are great for slippery situations and hard braking.

ABS wasn't standard!? the hell?

Yeah OP go for the ABS version. It'll help a lot if you plan to ride it daily

[Tea1337]

ABS wasn't standard!? the hell?

Yeah OP go for the ABS version. It'll help a lot if you plan to ride it daily

No, I believe it's like $600 more, but it's worth it. I really wish Kawasaki made the base model come with ABS.

[techswede]

No, I believe it's like $600 more, but it's worth it. I really wish Kawasaki made the base model come with ABS.

That's pretty steep for something that's been standard on cars for a good while.

I thought they'd all have ABS on every model..

But i guess it's understandable since it's only just started to become mainstream on bikes.

Im the kind of guy that thinks it was better in the past and only likes vintage bikes.. But ABS is veeeery nice to have. Riding a bike in the rain when it's a bit oily on the road is incredibly tense.

But the 300 seems like a nice beginner bike

[Caincard]

In either case get something that fits you size wise. Make sure you can reach the controls, and support the bike with both feet, check your riding position keep in mind that is how you will have to ride for a while till you decide to get another. If you buy used there are a ton of things to look for before you even think of taking it for a test ride. If you are not mechanically inclined make sure you have a very trust worthy friend with you that is. There are several youtube videos that  i know of about this very topic. Also remember that protective gear (law dependant) should be included in your overall budget along with your insurance. Not trying to discourage you. I love riding but some people forget the smaller things till they already have the bike and can't ride till those things are done.

[JLCitadel]

In either case get something that fits you size wise. Make sure you can reach the controls, and support the bike with both feet, check your riding position keep in mind that is how you will have to ride for a while till you decide to get another. If you buy used there are a ton of things to look for before you even think of taking it for a test ride. If you are not mechanically inclined make sure you have a very trust worthy friend with you that is. There are several youtube videos that  i know of about this very topic. Also remember that protective gear (law dependant) should be included in your overall budget along with your insurance. Not trying to discourage you. I love riding but some people forget the smaller things till they already have the bike and can't ride till those things are done.

 

Way ahead of you.

Been researching gear insurance and watching videos.

I watched a 1 hour video on how to inspect a motorcycle to check for problems.

I'm still trying to find a place to get gear that looks good to my eye and is in my price range. I know visibility is important.

I won't be wearing kevlar pants because i will be traveling on this daily and i can't afford 5 pairs of them.. or wearing the same pair every day.

 

If you have a brand you know is good that sells helmets, gloves, boots, and jackets let me know.

I'd prefer to go with a single brand to look good and be safe at the same time.

Sub 200$ Jacket

100-300$ Helmet

Sub 100$ Gloves

Sub 100$ Boots

[Caincard]

Way ahead of you.

Been researching gear insurance and watching videos.

I watched a 1 hour video on how to inspect a motorcycle to check for problems.

I'm still trying to find a place to get gear that looks good to my eye and is in my price range. I know visibility is important.

I won't be wearing kevlar pants because i will be traveling on this daily and i can't afford 5 pairs of them.. or wearing the same pair every day.

 

If you have a brand you know is good that sells helmets, gloves, boots, and jackets let me know.

I'd prefer to go with a single brand to look good and be safe at the same time.

Sub 200$ Jacket

100-300$ Helmet

Sub 100$ Gloves

Sub 100$ Boots

I would check out local dealers first. depending on what type of bike you get you might want to match the style if not the color. but denniskirk, revzilla, and Amazon are some places you can look. The Icon Variant is good looking for a helmet, definitely different from the normal full face, As for overall gear its mostly preference when it comes to reputable brands.

[Aniallation]

NINJA 300 !!!  I am currently riding a Honda CBF125, its ok for riding round the UK, keeps up with most roads, for a 125 it is quick to get going. If you aren't planning on speeding and being safe as you say, then I doubt you will need the power of a bigger bike. So I suggest the Ninja 300, it also looks awesome.

 

One of my neighbors has a CBR150R and driving down the bigger roads (not even highways, just residential roads) in Canada at 80km/h that thing sounds like a FX 5800 Ultra weedwacker even in top gear. 

[ShadowCaptain]

Personally I would pick up a second hand Triumph Street Triple  (my next bike although will get the Speed Triple myself)

 

I also love my suzuki SV650, cost me £1900 ($3200) Second hand

 

Its your first bike, you might drop it on its stand, or have an incident, forget certain bits of maintenance etc etc. I would rather do all of that to a cheap used bike, than buy a brand spanking new one and something happen to it.

 

Then with 1 or 2 years experience you can look into getting something better/newer/faster

 

My V-Twin SV 650 has been an amazing first bike, thrillingly fast without breaking my neck, very agile and light to manoeuvre on and off the bike, great looks, easy to ride. Great clutch, really easy to ride at slow speeds, but revs high and picks up speed with a small twist of the wrist. Really reliable too!

 

My first bike while learning was a Yamaha YBR 125 naked, it was ok as a learner, and great around town (fuel economy was INSANE) however it just did not have the pull when out on country roads, could barely break 50mph, though its 0-30 time was ok enough for a first rider

 

Also the bandit is a good bike too

 

Look how good the triples look

 

 

 

This is my Suzuki Sv650 Naked, I wanted a street triple but I could not afford one will get a speed triple next because NOM

[lufihengr]

I vote for a supermoto. 

[Ivyk]

Damn that 2014 Suzuki Boulevard M50 looks sexy. 10/10 would buy.

[RatedBlam]

That's pretty steep for something that's been standard on cars for a good while.

I thought they'd all have ABS on every model..

But i guess it's understandable since it's only just started to become mainstream on bikes.

Im the kind of guy that thinks it was better in the past and only likes vintage bikes.. But ABS is veeeery nice to have. Riding a bike in the rain when it's a bit oily on the road is incredibly tense.

But the 300 seems like a nice beginner bike

I'm not sure if it was the 300 or 250, but one or the other was until recently just a really old model in a fancy shell. That may explain the absence of abs.

I thin our "old" carburettor fed Kawasaki had abs.

[DLM_012]

Way ahead of you.

Been researching gear insurance and watching videos.

I watched a 1 hour video on how to inspect a motorcycle to check for problems.

I'm still trying to find a place to get gear that looks good to my eye and is in my price range. I know visibility is important.

I won't be wearing kevlar pants because i will be traveling on this daily and i can't afford 5 pairs of them.. or wearing the same pair every day.

 

If you have a brand you know is good that sells helmets, gloves, boots, and jackets let me know.

I'd prefer to go with a single brand to look good and be safe at the same time.

Sub 200$ Jacket

100-300$ Helmet

Sub 100$ Gloves

Sub 100$ Boots

 

I'm glad to see you have a level head about deciding your first bike. Every bike you chose in the OP is a good starter and should be very easy on the wallet for insurance (especially the cruisers). 

 

Now onto gear since nobody's really addressed it:

• Jacket - At that price range, you'll be getting something that's either textile or mesh. Leather gear starts at $400 at the very least. Depending on your climate, textile is a good balance between protection and ventilation so I wouldn't worry about spending much more on a jacket. Look for a jacket that has a removable liner and inserts for armor (if you decide to add on later). I highly advise you not to buy a white jacket. It's nice for visibility but will be a complete pain to keep clean between bugs, road debris, and general usage. Anything but black should offer you a decent amount of visibility while being rather simple to maintain. I personally choose to wear a black jacket because I can't be arsed with the maintenance of any other color except maybe a red jacket.
• Helmet - Spend no less than $150 here. Once you get lower than that there is a significant degradation in quality and features for price paid. My recommendations are an entry level AGV or BELL helmet. Shark has some decent lids too. Buy something that's flashy because that is a part of being visible. Bright and solid > everything but a really eye-grabbing graphic can be just as good. However, I'd recommend buying a $400 Shoei or Arai. My next lid will definitely be a Shoei. Another thing worth noting is invest in earplugs!!! All helmets are loud (especially ones that flow a lot of air) and it will cause hearing damage in the long term. I recently started doing this and riding is so much more pleasant. You think it distracts you from the road but I can actually concentrate better with them and highway riding is awesome now
• Gloves - Don't spend any less than $50 or you'll want to upgrade in a month or two. Anything cheaper than $50 is flimsy and will begin falling apart on you almost instantly.
• Boots - I'm personally not a fan. I wear a pair of Alpinestar Fastlanes. They look like a regular street shoe but offer more protection than one. At the same time they do compromise on protection a bit compared to an actual boot. I bought them for roughly $120.

Hopefully that was informative. Feel free to ask me any more questions since gear is a very wide topic to discuss and the above is not even a fraction of everything you want or need to know. Selecting gear ultimately comes down to your preferences in style and how much you want to be protected. I wish you the best OP!

[Real_PhillBert]

The SV-650 is a good choice. The other I would suggest is a DR-Z 400 SM if you can find one. You can get parts easily and cheaply, bikes are not expensive and can be sold for almost the same price once you get the desire for a different bike.

 

The real key to being a new motorcycle rider is having a light bike that you ride often. Super Motard's and Dual Sport bikes pretty much always top my list of recommended bikes.

 

I have been riding on the street for 10 years, off road for 15 years, have one Iron Butt Award and a dozen CRA track days in, trust me when I say that lighter motorcycles are more fun.

[Laurysss]

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3165256&cp=2255956.2273442.2255971.3252102.2257759&parentPage=family

 

Suzuki GSX R 600.