What is a good motorcycle to start with?

[austinjt]

I might be moving LA soon, but I hate the traffic there. I was thinking of getting a motorcycle liscence so I could go in between the lanes.

Anyways, I have been looking into some bikes, but I don't know a lot about them. What is a good bike to start off with? I'm looking to spend 5K or less.

[97'Scort]

You can get into almost any 600cc bike, used, for $5k or less. Cruisers are easier to learn on, but tend to be more expensive. Sport bikes are easy to come by, but are harder to learn on. Something like a late 80's Ninja 600 is a pretty good learner bike, and can be had for about $3k if they're in really good shape.

[T-Dubbs]

yea
go buy a fairly used 600cc bike.
not the fastest bike, but great to learn on!

[JGerke]

screw the new 600s. Buy an early 90's kawi, suzuki or honda. Grab one that has been dropped for even cheaper. I'm really suprised no one on here has told you to go and buy a gsxr 1200 and then get a nitrous kit.

[dimi]

What worries me is that you are going to learn to drive a motorcycle for the sole purpose of cutting between lanes. Almost all of the motorcycles there do it but it is dangerous so do consider. As for a motorcycle I would stick to at max a 600cc, anything more than that will get you in trouble IMO. They are fun and quite fast despite what some people might say.

[01RedDX]

.

[Biga Ramrod]

You could always get hooked up with an Enduro for a good price, that way if you do end up dropping it, its not the end of the world. The best part is it doubles as an off-road bike when you want to have some fun. There are tons of places near LA where you can hit some trails and jumps.

[euro_racer]

i heard the cbr f4i is a decent begginer bike, is that true?

[Black Gts]

I started this year on an older gsxr750..
any bike can get you in trouble....
Get something with a little bit of pep that can excite you, so you dont have to have the throttle hammered all of the time. Just take your time and get comfortable....

[sexualbanana]

When I lived in LA, I didn't mind the traffic too much. If you're in a car, you'll at least have AC going, and that should do you fine. I'd be more concerned on a bike with the amount of people (thus proportionately, stupid people) on the roads.

[bobby_lu]

Hayabusa 1300

[CLiVE]

Originally posted by 01RedDX
Well, bullshit aside, a good beginner bike would be a CBR125R.

A good bike to learn how to ride yes....but to actually commute with I disagree with this option for LA. Gutless and would be tough to keep up with the flow of traffic. (yes I have ridden one)

I would recommend something like a Suzuki SV650 to start. One of the best starter bikes IMO.

[D. Dub]

Originally posted by bobby_lu
Hayabusa 1300

turboed with Nitrous :thumbsup:

[Spoons]

Suzuki GS500F... you keep with the looks of a super bike, but not all the crazy power. Yet you still have a little bit of juice to keep up to the flow of traffic.

[Weapon_R]

kawa 250cc

[Kobe]

Originally posted by euro_racer
i heard the cbr f4i is a decent begginer bike, is that true?

Yah the older F4's 99-00 are great

[kevie88]

Here's my short list for good first bikes:

Suzuki DR650
Suzuki DRZ400SM (woot! Urban Motocross!!)
Kawasaki KLR650
Suzuki GS500
Suzuki SV650 or SV650s
Kawasaki EX500
Kawasaki EX250 (ninja 250)
Older 1988-89-90 Yamaha FZR400
Yamaha FZR600 88-93
Honda CBR600F (88-90)
Honda CBR600F2 (91-94)
Any 80's ghetto ride (Fazer, FZ600, Maxim, ect ect)
Big Bore Scooter (Burgman 400, Burgman 650 ect)
Crap small bore Cruiser like Suzuki LS650 or Virago 535


Uh, I can't think of any more right now but there are a million good options..

[JGerke]

Anyone that can proficiently ride either a street or dirt bike will know a dual sport is just a crappy version of both. Useless off-road and geometry is really not meant for off-road. I laugh when I see dual sports on anything but double track...much less jumping...


Originally posted by Biga Ramrod
You could always get hooked up with an Enduro for a good price, that way if you do end up dropping it, its not the end of the world. The best part is it doubles as an off-road bike when you want to have some fun. There are tons of places near LA where you can hit some trails and jumps.

[austinjt]

thanks for your help everyone. I'm going to look into these.

And for those concerned that I just want the bike so I can go in between the lanes... I assure you, I am a safe driver. I have been the passenger in some crazy accidents and I know some people who have taken a spill on their bikes.

This has rattled me enough to keep me on my toes.

[D. Dub]

To the OP. Pro Am on Edmonton Trail has the Ninja 650R on sale for $6500 plus tax no BS setup or other fees. They were ($8600 MSRP)

Gonna pick one up for my wife today.

Comparable to the Suzuki SV650 and many people like it even better.

[cdulm]

Originally posted by Spoons
Suzuki GS500F... you keep with the looks of a super bike, but not all the crazy power. Yet you still have a little bit of juice to keep up to the flow of traffic.

Agreed, I started on an 04 GS500F and it was a great bike to learn on. It does keep the look of a sport bike if that's what youre going for. It also will keep you in the flow of traffic quite well. Just IMO :dunno: , your call!

[redblack]

My First bike was an 02 f4i
i must say it was just perfect, Had enough power and was comfortable too.

[boosted_88_crx]

my first bike was a 07 cbr 600rr

[5.0]

You can really start on any bike you want. Obviously a 600 would be better than a 1000, but I know many people who have started on a 1000 and done just fine.

If I were to choose ANY bike to start on it would be a Daytona 675. And now that they are a couple years older, you can find some good deals on used ones.

[Graham_A_M]

^ thanks for the compliment. I have one, (as in my avatar) and I just absolutely love it to bits. Its a FANTASTIC bike, it really is.
But good luck finding one for sale. Blackfoot has the ONLY used 675 for sale I've ever seen in western Canada. Its a black '07 with 300km's on it. The MSRP on the 675 is $11,999. That used one was $11,400.
how anybody could drive the bike for 300km's (as in the black one) and not be hooked is beyond me, it really is. The 675 has the most wicked exhaust note short of a Ferrari. Along with the mid-range grunt of a liter bike, yet the handling of a CBR125. (I'm being honest)

its just.... sex on wheels.... I can't explain it.

I've had the bike (brand new right off the blackfoot showroom floor) since June, until early Nov, I put on 12,000km's on it... most people dont put that on their bikes in a decade. :rofl:

[rony_espana]

Not sure if your just looking for a sport bike, but I just got my class 6 back in sept and wanted a cruiser.....bought a brand new honda shadow 750, its a great beginner bike, nice cruiser and not too expensive. They had a great sale on them like $2000k off the new 06's. I put over a thousand km's just in september before I put it away.....:thumbsup:

As for sport bikes :dunno:

[Splooge]

cutting in between lanes looks pretty dangerous to me. while cars are stuck in traffic they look like they're flying through doing about 60-70kms :dunno: i think you gotta be pretty experienced to ride like that.

as for a starter bike, i went with a cbr F4. it's got a sporty look but you sit more up-right, so it's a little easier on the back. you could always buy a 250cc for a starter bike as well. those are always a good choice.

[The Cosworth]

Ninja 650R if you want new,

Older 600 if you want used.

600's are FAST as they are, do NOT go higher no matter what someone tries to up sell you on.

that is my personal opinion obivously, I started on a Honda Enduro 185XL, upgraded to an F4, then got a 1998 Honda Firestorm (1000cc V-Twin, torque as shit and hilariously fun, but scary even for someone with 3 years of riding). So I am no expert but I have ridden a few different machines over the last 4 years

[dimi]

Just make sure when you get your starter bike you change the sprockets to like -2 front/+5 rear :rofl:

[maxer900]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Splooge
[B]cutting in between lanes looks pretty dangerous to me. while cars are stuck in traffic they look like they're flying through doing about 60-70kms :dunno: i think you gotta be pretty experienced to ride like that.

Finally someone gets it!!! The guy is going to learn to ride a bike in LA. On the freeway splitting lanes. It doesn't matter what bike you get you're gonna get in trouble.
LA freeways are not a place you want to learn to ride in.

Best of luck... seriously.

[z06power]

It depends on your level of comfort and maturity. I am a first year rider and am happy with my cbr 600rr. I know people who bought 1000's and got in accidents within a month of ownership and others who are doing just fine. So it really depends at what your comfort level is at.

[theken]

my friend just bought a hayabusa for his first bike, I am picking up a 08 blue on goooooold wheels in march, i started on an r1, i rode dirt bikes before hand, and i am large.

If you have ridden dirt bikes or anything before, just go get a 600, or the new kawi 225 or 250 whatever it is if you haven't. i would recommend something light and easy to handle.

[Concept1]

Originally posted by sexualbanana
When I lived in LA, I didn't mind the traffic too much. If you're in a car, you'll at least have AC going, and that should do you fine. I'd be more concerned on a bike with the amount of people (thus proportionately, stupid people) on the roads.

True enough... from what I've heard/experienced (third party) most of the accidents involving bikes are the result of some dumbass in a car/truck not paying attention to wtf they are doing (texting/talking on a cell/reading/putting on makeup/playing with the radio, ect.)

if you are on a bike alot of the time you have the agility to avoid shit.. that said at 250+ your ability to react in time is severely impaired.

Also, man, imo comparing dirtbikes to streetbikes is soo fundamentally flawed... just because you've ridden a dirtbike around a bit doesn't make you a pro at streetbikes...

[theken]

Originally posted by Concept1


if you are on a bike alot of the time you have the agility to avoid shit.. that said at 250+ your ability to react in time is severely impaired.

Also, man, imo comparing dirtbikes to streetbikes is soo fundamentally flawed... just because you've ridden a dirtbike around a bit doesn't make you a pro at streetbikes... im going to go with most people aren't riding around at 250+ on public streets and f you are you deserve to die, and also, dirt bike experience is better then bmx experience, you learn how to shift, how to control a bike that weighs more then 20 lbs, no one said you were going to be a pro street rider but experience is better then nothing

[atgilchrist]

I have an 03 gs500 that I got a few years ago to learn on. Great bike to learn on, and too friggin cheap to justify replacing. Insurance is pennies a year, and it goes forever on a tank of gas. It is quick enough to fly around town, and ok on the Highway. Stable and agile.

[3g4u]

If you like cruisers check out a harley sportster 883 or 1200, nice, cheep and easy to ride or learn to ride on.

[Big Dangerous]

Originally posted by 01RedDX
Well, bullshit aside, a good beginner bike would be a CBR125R. Everything you say is completely fucking ______. No offense.