Teuf wants to buy a motorcycle. Help him!

[teufelhunden]

As the topic states. I'm new to riding and I'm looking to make a purchase sometime in the early spring so I can have a nice long [well, as long as Jersey weather permits] riding season. I know you're going to tell me anyway [thanks ], but I'm doing/trying to do all the right motorcycle safety things; buy decent gear, safety course, don't be a moron, etc. All that stuff I can handle on my own. However, as knowledgable as I am with cars, I don't know much about motorcycles, and hence, in comes AO!

From what I can figure out, I'm looking for something with a standard riding position around 5-600CC. I'm looking for something with the sportier look vs. the classic cruiser look [I guess it's classified as a street bike, but not a sport bike, or something]. I'm bigger, 6'4" 265ish, and iirc, there's a couple riders here around my size. My preliminary searching/poking has come up with the Suzuki GS500F, the Yamaha FZ6, and Kawasaki Ninja 500R. Probably looking late-model used, $2500-4500. But, that's about where my "knowledge" ends. So I come to you, loyal AO information havers, to educate me And naturally, anything other than bike selection that you may feel is important, I'll listen to!

[Tunaman]

How about a 1995 Sportster 1200 in almost perfect shape? My neighbor has one sitting in the garage or the past 2 years and i know its worth alot more....

[teufelhunden]

How about a 1995 Sportster 1200 in almost perfect shape? My neighbor has one sitting in the garage or the past 2 years and i know its worth alot more....

a mere double the displacement that i'm looking for!

[MANN]

You will want to upgrade as soon as you get the bike. I said the same thing when I got mine, three bikes later I was looking at a liter bike.

[teufelhunden]

Would rather upgrade than start off on something too much, methinks.

[punkncat]

I have a 96 Sportster 883 that I could be convinced not to own aymore.....

[Bear_Claw]

Sounds like your looking for a small displacement sport bike or naked sport.

Well the 500ex Ninja is a VERY good bike and has been around for a LONG time. Its got plenty of power and will not have you out growing it in a month or two. Their a fun bike and VERY durable. One of the ladies i ride with owns one and has so for welll over 5 years and trust me it has NO problems keeping up (leaves my cruiser sitting and i got 150cc more).

Kawasaki also has the NEW Ninja 650r that seems to be a very nice starter bike but its too new to compliment mutch farther than that. By the numbers its a pretty impressive little bike built to compete with the suzukis for impressive entry level bike.

Another option id suggest is either a suzuki SV650 or a V-Strom 650. Both share the same drive train but the V-Strom is built for more comfort and touring cabability with some dirt worthyness thrown in. These bikes offer VERY managable power (thanx to the V-Twin) and plenty of it (70hp). They sound great and perform amazing and are still one of the prefered rides for middle weight track bikes. Personally myself my next bikes gona be a V-Strom 650 as it still offers the comfort im used to on my cruiser and the small displacement will keep inshurance down and i still gain huge in performance and will beable to tour the dirt roads.

as for yamaha 600 and 650s it recomed for a new rider you stay away as they are a bit more powerfull and dont offer the smooth power delivery of the twin motors as they are all 4 cylinders.

And if ya want a cruiser well i sell ya my Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic LOL i REALLY want a V-Strom LOL.

[fshrmn76]

i will recomend the sv650. I was new to riding at the begining of the year and picked up a used one for $3000. I made it about 2000 miles before i dumped it. My own fault. Repairs were cheap and the experience I gained was good. At the end of the season I have put 8000 miles on and next year plan on getting a sport bike in the 600 class. The best thing is that i can still get close to what i paid for it when i go to sell it off.

[Tunaman]

Rice Burners...BAH!

[kruger]

You said that you are a bigger guy. You will not like a 600cc bike. If I were you, I would not consider anything less than a 750. A 600 is really too small for you, excluding the crotch rockets. If you are not inot the cruiser bikes, then look at the Kawasaki 750 LTD. Comfort, power, and style, and they dont make them anymore, so you would have to pick up one used. Lots of great deals on them and they are easy to work on and maintain. And, fast as you want

[BeaverEater]

Man people are coming out wanting motorcycles, but where are all the people wanting mopeds. Come on 100 mpg would be amazing. And they are so fast....

[gimp]

I've got an FZ6, it's a great bike for the money. There is a good resource for info on the FZ6 here . I'm really pleased with mine. It's not to powerful for a first bike. It's actually really weak below 8000rpm. There are plenty of riders your size on the fz6 forum I visit. You should be able to find a used FZ6 in your price range pretty easily.


SV650 is a good bike too. Everyone has an SV650. Which is cool because parts are really cheap and there is a huge base of people for technical help. The Vstrom gets a lot of praise from it's owners as well. I just think it's fugly looking.

[teufelhunden]

Thanks for that link, Gimp

[Destructo6]

The Suzuki SV650 would be a good fit.

They're not horribly expensive and they offer pretty good performance. If you want, there is a host of aftermarket parts for them, since they are raced in the "lightweight twins" category.

[Spartan X]

This Post is a bit old, I searched it. But if your still buying.....I was in your same shows. I am 6 foot 4 as well, I was 265 too..but Now I'm down to 250 heheh

Any way I ended up buying a Suzuki Katana 750 (01) I was a little worried that the 750 would be to much power...but heck after 2,000 miles I'm already craving more, although I know it's really is "enough" The katana 600 would also be a great choice, but compared to allot of other bikes the 750 really rides just as fast as most of todays newer 600cc bikes ( if not a little slower)...so I would guess the 600 would be a bit slower as well, and plenty managable. The Katana 750 can really get up and go...but it is VERY hard to get the front end light even if you are revining the engine at 6,00 rpms ands drop the clutch and punch it...I tried and could not do it, but then again it has a super long wheel base, is front heavy, and I'm a very heavy rider. The klatan was also made for large riders..so thats a plus. It's a simple design and very reliable. I'd say get a 750 if you can find a deal, though if you can get a 600 for cheap then thats ok as well.

All the other bikes would be a good choice too...sv650,v-strom,kawasaki 500...all great biukes, but the katana even NEW isa going to be far cheaper and just as good of value.