Hi everyone, Names Paul. Ive starting living my life without the "what if..." so Im getting a bike! I have a few questions, and wondering if you guys and gals (if any) could help me out. The extent of my knowledge and skill of a bike, is from my moped that had no gears and I had to pedal like a madman to start, from over 14 years ago.

I have no friends that ride bikes, so Im on my own completely. Im going to buy my first bike from Craigslist, but I have no idea what to inspect on a used bike, I can't even test drive one since I dont know how to ride, but I have a plan for learning. Im just looking for a few tips and suggestions.

I'm also a 6'3" 230lbs guy, would I look like a clown on a sports bike? most people say my best bet is a hayabusa, but being a new rider, I know thats the most dangerous thing I could buy, so thats my goal bike for later. Im going to basically sit on the bikes im interested in, and see how comfortable they are, but any suggestions I might overlook? Also, Im only intersted in sports bikes, cant do cruisers, something about asians and a cruiser in my head dont click, so has to be a sports bike.

Last question! Im hearing from friends that I should start off with a 600cc bike to learn, but also that I should start with a 750+cc and just learn slowly. They think, that with my size, a 600cc wouldnt do it for me once im a little more experienced. My questions is, how much of a difference is there from a 600-750-1000cc?? and whats your take on it, Im never planning on being stupid with the bike, no wheelies and no crazy 120+ speeds, this is just a bike to have fun with on my days off.

If you read this whole post, I really appreciate it, and I would love to hear tips from you all, and looking foward to meeting you all once im riding!

~Paul

Welcome to the site Paul!!!

Well seems like you have a good idea of what you want to accomplish however, many here will you that most 600's are very capable machines and are not be taken lightly. And for whoever told you to get a 'Busa for your first bike, slap them for me!. Ok, seriously though. If you are just starting out, I highly recommend you take the MSF Course first. This will definitely help prepare you for real world riding and give you a feel for what to expect out of a modern motorcycle and how they handle. Now as far as your first bike, I recommend a 250. Many here learned on a 250 and then moved up to a 600. Like I said before, 600's are very capable machines. There's a reason people race them. However people still buy them as starter bike. And that's just my opinion. I had a 600 for years before I moved up to a 750. I would not recommend a liter-bike, 1000cc's or above.

The nice thing here though is that there are a lot of guys with different skill levels that you can talk to that will give you their opinions, like me for example, that will help you form your own thoughts. Learn at your own pace, and don't ever let anyone talk you into doing something you are not comfortable with. Most of the rides here include beginners all the way up to trackday junkies, and everyone rides their own ride. No pressure what so ever.

So this is just my $.02, and again, Welcome to the site!!!!!

Welcome to the site, bro! You're doing the right thing by getting information first, sadly something not everyone does. I have one piece of advice for you. If your budget allows ($100) then please please please take the MSF course, take the MSF course, take the MSF course! It is unbelievably important to teach you all the basic, no experience or bike required. I would take the course before you even start looking on craiglist.

As for the 'Busa comment... none of your friends ride a bike so what the f@#k do they know? =P That's like telling a 16 year old who doesn't know what a clutch is to buy a Lamborghini. I kinda have the opposite problem, being 5'6" 120lbs. The only thing I recommend is finding a bike you're comfortable sitting on. When I first sat on my Ninja it felt like slipping on a glove. I'm sure everyone else will have more to say on this than I will.

Glad you joined the site, you seem like you have a very level head. Hope I helped, and I hope to see you out there on some rides real soon,

~Matt
(Oh, and remember MSF COURSE! LINK)

I also recommend taking the MSF course It will definitely help you get your basics down, and give you a starting point on practicing and improving your skills. I started riding on a CBR 600. I never started on a 250, and honestly, I believe most people shouldnt. A 600 is a great size to start on (but not for everyone), and gives you room to grow into your bike. That said, I dont think you should start with a Busa or a 1000cc of any kind. For a beginner, that is quite a bit of power. Take the MSF course, get your license, and go to a few dealerships..NOT to buy anything but to get a feel for the bikes. Sit on them, see how they feel, then go on Craigslist and see whats available based on what you liked.
Welcome to the site, btw! Hope to see you out there soon

__________________
~Nixa

-Well-trained reflexes are quicker than luck.

Im 6'3 265 and i ride a GSXR. There are guys bigger then me on 600's, no you will not look like a clown! Welcome to the site!!

Welcome good people here i would take the msf course first then start looking for a 600 that you feel good on.

+ 1,000,000 on taking the MSF course and welcome. Once you start riding it's an addiction that stays with you forever!

I'm not quite as big as you, 6'1" and 200 but believe me a 600 is more than enough of a bike to get you into trouble and I doubt you would be able to push the bike to it's limits.

Also my advise would be, you might want to look into getting a Sport/touring bike like I did instead of a full out sportbike, to learn on. They have 90% of the same traits (and parts) as a sportbike but a more comfortable sitting/riding position, easier to ride in general (which means you can ride longer and stay comfortable), the problem with a lot of sportbikes is after awhile on real long rides your wrists will start ache, back aches etc because of your riding position. But the sport touring bikes help with that and they still look nice and believe me they have more than enough to pucker the 'ol butthole if you hammer it down. I ride a Yamaha FZ1 (1000cc) which is basically a detuned R1, they also make a FZ6 (600cc). Kawasaki's versions are Z1000,Z750. Suzuki is SV650 etc...


sorry for the big pictures...

Don't worry about figuring out which bike to get. Concentrate on getting your M endorsement first. As others have said, take the MSF BRC from CSN. A successful completion from this course will earn you a pass at the DMV, since all the written and skills evaluation is administered by your state certified instructors at the college.

I will recommend that you purchase your bike used, as it is much more forgiving in the event you drop the bike. And bring an experienced rider with you if you do purchase it from a private seller. There are things that you need to specifically look for. Anyone of us on this forum will be more than happy to help you do this.

To be honest, IMO, liter sportbikes are just a waste of money. Others will disagree, but it's just going to gobble up more fuel meaning you probably have to fill up every 90 or less miles. It cost more money to insure, and most people cannot ride the bike to it's full potential from the first place. Here's an example.

I just came back from a ride in southern california last week. There was a rider I have known for several years, who is a very good rider probably better than me, who happenned to sell his 600 for liter bike. In the past, I could not keep up with him, he was very quick through the turns. This time, he was much slower with his 1000, so slow that I had to make sure that I stayed in front of him everytime the group stopped.

Everyone can ride in a straight line. Get a bike that will you will be happy with. I have a bike that is called the Swiss Army Knife of motorcycles. It can do everything. I didn't want to ride something that was one dimensional, so I have a FZ6. It's a great commuter, it can carve the canyons, and it's a great long distance touring bike too. Best of all, depending on how I ride, I can go anywhere from 200 - 300 miles on one tank. Yes, Vegas to LA on a single tank. So I am not looking for fuel like the rest.

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VEGASRIDER................
Team Yamaha Blue '06 FZ6!

Like this?

I thought we got rid of all of those!!!!


hahaha Awesome

Welcome to the site! ^^^lots of great advice here^^^

+1 on taking the MSF course before you ever look at a bike, it's the best $100 you can spend and will help you out more than any friendly advice or starting on a 250 ever could!

and there is nothing wrong with a 250... it's up to you what you feel comfortable on... a used 600 is a great start starter bike and, depending on what kind of riding you do, may be the only size you ever need.

Welcome to the site! I'm glad to see a potential rider making a thread like this... these are some good questions. Let me throw my .02 in the mix and try to help out here.

Depending on the date/time/location, I'd be more than willing to go with you to look at bikes. Craigslist is a great way to pick up a cheap bike, but it's always good to have a second set of eyes. PM me once you find some potential rides and we can arrange something.

One thing about the 600/750/1000cc sportbikes that most new riders don't realize is that they are ALL approximately the same physical size. I'm 6'3" and about 220 an ALL of these bikes are relatively cramped and uncomfortable.

There are quite a few people who start out on a 600 supersport-class (R6/CBR600RR/GSX600R/ZX6R) bike, but I would advise against this for a few reasons. First, these bikes are so capable that they can get an inexperienced rider in trouble before they are aware of what's happening. Secondly, the extreme seating position on a modern 600 makes learning to ride that much more difficult. And lastly, dropping a 600 is generally more expensive than dropping a typical "beginner" bike.

My suggestion is to buy a cheap "beginner" bike like a Suzuki 650, Yamaha FZ6, or Ninja 250/500/650. After you get some decent seat time on your bike, you can make a better informed decision on what type of bike you would like to buy next. Want to do trackdays? Check out the 600/750/1000 sportbikes. Want a nice all-arounder with power AND comfort? Check out the Yamaha FZ1, CB1000, or Ninja 1000. And the cool thing about buying a used "beginner" bike is that you can ride the piss out of it and then sell it in a year for close to what you paid for it.

Let us know if you have any more questions and good luck in your quest!

__________________
2005 Suzuki Hayabusa Limited Edition - lots of mods
2007 Suzuki GSXR600 - wifebeater and flip-flops optional
2000 Honda CBR600F4 - outfitted with the NRC case cover of invincibility
http://www.gleno.net

Gotta learn to walk before you can run. Nothing wrong with starting off on a 250, especially with the stakes (your life) being soo high. The newer 250's actually look like their bigger brothers the 600's, they're pretty dope...I woulda rocked one. However if you do decide to go with a bigger bike the SV650 is also a great bike.

My first sportbike was a 600RR, but I had been riding motorcycle since I was 7yrs old. And even then I sometimes found myself balancing on the edge of my ablilities.

Remember you can get yourself in trouble on any size bike, it's just the bigger the bike the easier it is to find yourself riding beyond your skill level.

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I've never claimed to be Smart...just Lucky.

Thanks for all the replys guys! I am definitely going to take the MSF course, want to learn from professionals. I heard there was a wait time for a month for the course at CSN. My original plan was to buy my bike from craigs list if I found a good deal, then buy a super beat up, junker dirtbike, or anything with gears so I could practice changing gears and such around my neighborhood, then switch over to the real bike I bought...all this before I took MSF course if there was such a wait. I live southwest side of town, last community, so a lot of empty streets, was going to try and just get used to the bike, never thinking of going past 15-20mph. I want to get a real good feel for my bike when I do the test at the DMV.
I was always under the impression that bikes where $10k+, just realized they have the Kawasaki Ninja 250r for 4,000 new on their website. Im going to head over to some bike shops and look around, I may just end up buying a new starter bike.

What is it that causes the bigger cc bikes to be more dangerous for a new rider like myself? Im just curious. The things Im thinking, are situations where you accidently pull too much power during turns and slide out?? or is it ego-trips and you show off to some girls and plow into the back of a SUV??

All of the above.

It mostly comes from unfamiliarity with the bike, your ability, and conditions at the time. It really doesn't matter if it's a bigger cc bike or not. It can happen at any time.

Forgot to quote this too, but if you take the MSF course, no need for the DMV road test. You get a waiver at the end of the course.

Lots of great responses here!!! And welcome to the site! Most people dont actually learn how their bike operates. Warming up procedures, maintenance, constantly checking tire pressures, CONTROLS... etc. ... Some people think that you can just throw your leg over a bike and go. Its the WHAT IF's that usually get us, and when they happen, most people are unprepared. What if that car turns infront of you. How do I swerve correctly? What if you look at that hot chick and lose the back end. How do I recover? Things you learn either by experience or by proper instruction.

Learning how the throttle operates is one of the biggest things I believe that people misuse and dont understand(which comes back down to learning the controls). You get these guys/girls that get a bike, twist the throttle and think that's all there is to it. This causes high ends, low ends, people spinning out while turning, etc etc.. Next to that is the lack of focus on the roads. Things to look out for when traveling with cars, how to approach intersections, blind spots, oil spots. How to ride in the city vs highways vs track... It goes on and on...

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7+ year member - and still going.

"Sin City Sportbikes was founded by Las Vegas sport bike enthusiasts in response to a desire to promote a positive and safe image of the sport. Riders and enthusiasts from all over the Las Vegas Valley have joined together in an effort to give back to a community that has helped and nurtured us. "

-Sin City Sportbikes

Throttle control is the main concern with bigger cc bikes. But additionally, adding an extreme amount of power to the mix with a new rider makes for a steep learning curve. Starting out with a less-powerful bike allows you to focus on things other than your right wrist.

__________________
2005 Suzuki Hayabusa Limited Edition - lots of mods
2007 Suzuki GSXR600 - wifebeater and flip-flops optional
2000 Honda CBR600F4 - outfitted with the NRC case cover of invincibility
http://www.gleno.net

Well put Eric. I was trying to think of how to word exactly what you wrote.

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I've never claimed to be Smart...just Lucky.

I didn't start out with a Busa...I started with a Hayabusa lol .... Only because I have many years of riding very fast machines. Eric is right, you need a very strong wrist to be able to control a powerful machine plus it takes awhile to learn hand foot eye throttle brake clutch watch out for assholes in the meantime skills. Welcome.

weclome. MSF first thing only thing you should do. dont look at bikes till you do this first.

That's right, learn from the pro's!

I strongly recommend that you wait to get on a bike. You think you are doing yourself a favor by learning on your own, trying to stay a step or two ahead of everyone else, but not advised. Reason why, you tend to develope bad habits.

Imagine learning how to golf for the first time. You decide not to wait, and start practicing on your own, wondering if you are applying the correct technique. Once you develope that ugly golf swing, it's going to be tough for any professional to fix.

If you are willing to take the class at any of the three campuses, you might get lucky and get in. Also, there is also a Fastrack Program at CSN offered once a month, limited to eight students versus 12. Cost is $250, you're paying the premium to expedite. Exact same class as the BRC.

As other members have said, when it comes to sportbikes, throttle control is critical. Not so much on a cruiser. Considering that you can get the front end up with just a twist of the wrist. That is why starting out on a 250 or 500 is much more forgiving. It's also not about your physical skills, but most importantly your mental skills. It takes a while to adapt to riding in traffic. You must have the abliltiy to know how, where and what to look for without concentrating how to control or ride your bike.

__________________
VEGASRIDER................
Team Yamaha Blue '06 FZ6!

Hi everyone, ok, so I went to a few dealerships just sitting on bikes seeing what is nice to sit on. So far, the most comfortable I tried was a 2009 Suzuki sv650 SF. I know this isnt a 250 bike, but Im seeing one on craigs list for 3500, although its a 2004. I like how I felt on the one in the dealership, is this still going a bit out of my league as a start bike...not the new one, the craigs list one. Anyone have any experience with this bike?

Welcome to the site! I must also agree..taking the MSF course is key. Even experienced riders learn a few things from the courses.

As for this... Years ago I took a friend's bike round the neighborhood to "practice" and a guy ran a stop sign into the neighborhood. He hit me and pushed the bike and myself over into another car to where I then got thrown off and hit the ground. This was a fairly low speed accident that trashed the bike and left me with back issues still. I truly believe had I taken the class or been more experienced I would've avoided being hit. I ended up taking the class and learned alot. It would only benefit you to have that extra training and knowledge to help you make it through this gauntlet we call Las Vegas.
Anyway, welcome to the site hope to see ya out there sometime

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the SV is a great bike that is what i ride.. cant go wrong with it and it is an amazing machine and handles like a kinky russian gymnist lol if ur are interested i am thinking of selling my sv give me a call and we can talk. if you are interested 702 556 0243... i am not going to lie i am putting an engine with 4108 miles in this week i fried the original engine. knocks at 4k rpms but still runs. ive put over 20k on it since i got it it was my daily and is in good shape beside a few missing pieces on the left front fairing.

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"To Dream Is To Live"

The SV650 is a great all-around bike which happens to be beginner-friendly. Its v-twin engine has a very manageable powerband. I had a first-gen SV and it served me well... even as an "experienced" rider.

__________________
2005 Suzuki Hayabusa Limited Edition - lots of mods
2007 Suzuki GSXR600 - wifebeater and flip-flops optional
2000 Honda CBR600F4 - outfitted with the NRC case cover of invincibility
http://www.gleno.net

please read this:

advice/rant...

Don't worry nvryder. I'm not going to test out my bike until I do the MSF course.

Welcome!

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"Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death."-Hunter S. Thompson

2011 Sgt @ Arms

I think The SV650 and ninja 650 are two of the best all around bikes for street use. They are comfortable, reliable and plenty fast enough. My track bike is a Hyosung GT650 which is essentially an SV650 and I'm 6' and 290lbs.

Take a look at what a little 650 twin can do. Even when my slow big butt is on it!

‪Trackday with TrackTactics at Buttonwillow‬‏ - YouTube

‪Hyosung GT650 Trackday Bridgestone BT003RS Test‬‏ - YouTube

‪Hyosung 650 chases ZX10 up mountain road‬‏ - YouTube

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http://www.cycleawareness.org

hey i ride a 2011 ninja 650r and its my first bike. like vegasvideo said it is confortable easy to control and fun to ride not to mention it will go fast :)

All right! Talked to a bunch of people, was chatting with people over at sport bikes.net. And from sitting on a few bikes, I went and took the plunge to getting the Suzuki. I got my used SV650, just got all my gear from head to toe. Now I'm just sitting in the garage staring at my bike, day dreaming. Hope I can get off work and take the MSF course August 4th!

Looking forward to meeting you all and saying hi.

Had a good friend test out the bike, he likes it. Only have to replace the clutch and brake levers, then the seat and I'm all set!

Congrats on your new bike.

Nice! It's always exciting getting a new bike! see ya out on the streets soon

Nice looking bike man ! Congrats!!

Nice! Congratulations Paul! Outstanding bike choice!

__________________
2005 Suzuki Hayabusa Limited Edition - lots of mods
2007 Suzuki GSXR600 - wifebeater and flip-flops optional
2000 Honda CBR600F4 - outfitted with the NRC case cover of invincibility
http://www.gleno.net

Thank you! until my safety course all I can do is think about what it would be like to ride...and think of other practical uses for my gear...such as, I think I would feel safer using my motorcycle gear snowboarding than my actual snowboarding gear.



I guess this is what happens when you have too much free time, a bike, and no license...