Noobie.....just saying Hello!!

Hey guys/gals, Just completed the MSF course and passed the DMV motorcycle test. I've been lurking on this forum for sometime and thought I would seek some advice!! I have been riding dirt bikes for 20 plus years and racing MX for the last 3 years. I have always wanted to get a street bike and with recent gas prices (and my 14 year old son finding out about the female gender) I decided to get my licenses. I'm currently looking for a street bike in my area and havent had any luck finding something in my price range (4-5k). Seems like everyone has there bikes over priced in my area. Ok...so let the newbie have it with the STFU so I can ask some serious questions about my upcoming bike purchase:wink:

Hey, good luck with finding a bike that suits you. I suggest buying a used one, but if you're itching to go new (like I was), I'd take a good look at the Suzuki GS500F. It'll run you about 6K after taxes and all, but it's the best starter bike around (or at least it was for me). Good luck, and don't forget to post some pics :cheers:

:welcome:

:welcome: This is the best place to start lookin for a bike. I found a nice used 600 on here and maybe u can find something too.

thanks...I'm not sure what bike I'm getting...but I know it will be used. I plan on starting the tour of local bike shops to do the sitting test. I'm 43 so not sure if I want a sport touring or sport bike. Dont plan on doing any 1000 mile trips but I dont want a bike that is uncomfortable after a few hrs of riding on Sunday afternoon either. Not sure if set'n on a bike in a bike shop for a few minutes will make that decision? Oh yeah....only look'n at 600cc or less. I have a YZ250F and a YZ450F MX bike. I know about the night and day comparsion you guys talk about between the 600 and liter bikes.

thanks...I'm not sure what bike I'm getting...but I know it will be used. I plan on starting the tour of local bike shops to do the sitting test. I'm 43 so not sure if I want a sport touring or sport bike. Dont plan on doing any 1000 mile trips but I dont want a bike that is uncomfortable after a few hrs of riding on Sunday afternoon either. Not sure if set'n on a bike in a bike shop for a few minutes will make that decision? Oh yeah....only look'n at 600cc or less. I have a YZ250F and a YZ450F MX bike. I know about the night and day comparsion you guys talk about between the 600 and liter bikes. The Katana might be something you want to take a look at. It kinda slides into the sport bike/sport touring. It doesn't have fuel injection and is monsterously heavy. Actually the new Ninja 650R is probably exactly what you are looking for. It appears to be comfortable and is set up stock to ride more like a touring bike, but still has the kick of a sports bike. The SV650S and SV650 would be two good bikes to look at as well. You could get them used in your price range.

thanks...I'm not sure what bike I'm getting...but I know it will be used. I plan on starting the tour of local bike shops to do the sitting test. I'm 43 so not sure if I want a sport touring or sport bike. Dont plan on doing any 1000 mile trips but I dont want a bike that is uncomfortable after a few hrs of riding on Sunday afternoon either. Not sure if set'n on a bike in a bike shop for a few minutes will make that decision? Oh yeah....only look'n at 600cc or less. I have a YZ250F and a YZ450F MX bike. I know about the night and day comparsion you guys talk about between the 600 and liter bikes. :welcome: man! Either way you might just find the bike here. If not you'll find lots of info about it. We have alot of sport tourer riders here as well!

:welcome: Good luck with the teenager :D

:welcome: an FZ1 would be a great bike, but that's a 1 liter bike, but not balls to the wall like a 1 liter sportbike. The Katana 600 would be a great bike like Vol mentioned.

SV 650S!!!! :hawk: Not that I am biased or anything... and welcome to the looney bin..er, greatest bike site on the web ;)

:iagree: You can never go wrong with an SV. :dthumb: :welcome: :cheers:

Thanks guys. I see some of you have sports bikes. What part of the body is stress'd more with sports bikes.....forearms, back, etc? Also when I go into a local dealer and test fitting bikes for comfort...what exactly should I look for? Arent most bikes generally the same? You know sometimes shoes feel good after a few walks up and down the isles at a shoe store but hurt like a booger the next day after working all day in them!!

What hurts the most for me after a long day of riding is my wrists, back, and a$$. You can do some things to make them a little more comfortable, but they will still get sore on a long ride. Like a gel seat for the a$$, gel grips and heavy bar ends for the wrists, and taking breaks for the back...

:welcome:

Welcom to the site:cheers: have you looked in the cycle trader for any bikes in your area, you can pick them up in alomost any gas station. and if you can find a bike in there that you like you can always offer a littel less them what they are asking for it. just saying most of the time its really hard to say no to cash even if it a few hundered less then the person wants for it. then you can take the money you saved there and buy some riding gear.:dthumb:

:welcome: LOL just :whore:ing again.

:welcome: to TWF neighbor. :luck: with the search. The big question is, do you want something with full fairings or just sport capability. The naked bikes are usually more comfy but lack just a little when ridden at race pace.

Welcome...:welcome: ...Do a search...this topic gets argued here about twice a month...:dthumb:

:iagree: :welcome: glad to have ya!!! on the pain thing...if you are still wondering, my shoulders always seem the worst after riding for awhile, but I live in a high traffic area and am always sitting in traffic doing the stop and go thing!!

thanks for the reply's. I'm still looking for a bike. Not that many good deal's currently in my area. Everyone wants more than I'm willing to pay but its probably not a good time to be a buyer with temps in high 70's and baby blue sky's. I'm getting ready to go on vacation to Myrtle Beach in a couple of weeks. there seems to be a load of "SALVAGE TITLE" bikes listed from that area and they have really low prices. Are there reason's to stay away from these types of bikes?

whoaaaa there, before you think about buying a salvage title first make sure you can get insurance and a tag in your state, some states dont allow salvaged vehicles... that said, do you really want something that someone else has wrecked without know where exactly the damage was or if somewhere on the bike there was a crack or something and that one day riding down the road it wouldnt blow up on you or fall apart?? I would be very very cautious about that...

Yeah just stay away from those salvage title bikes... ALOT of headache!

You can register a salvage title bike in NC but it has to pass a DMV inspection first. I would steer clear of the salvage or reconstructed titled bikes unless you are very familiar with what to look for and know how to fix'em.:2cents:

Thanks for the reply guys. I believe I will steer clear of the salvaged title bikes. Sounds like you can have alot of hidden problems with a bike that has been layed down hard. Man this sux's. Not sure if I can stand waiting for winter to get a bike:cursin: