Sportbike owners... question

uncc civilengineer

uncc civilengineer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2006
Location
Pfafftown, NC
Some friends and myself are looking to pick up a few bikes.. just trying to decide what to get..

We're just looking for everyday riding.. crusing at the beach, mountains.. wives on the back, etc... Oh yeah, our wives are all under 120# if that matters :shaking:

My cousin owns a GSXR1000 and is happy w/ it.. I have a buddy w/ a GSXR600 and he's happy with it but says he wished he had purchased a 1000 to start w/.

What's your recommendations for a fun street bike, handles well, looks good, etc. We're not looking to race them or anything. What do you recommend 600, 750, 1000? Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawaski, Honda?

Any info would be great.. post up some pics also if you have them. We also have mostly limited riding experience.. rode dirt bikes, friends bikes, etc... never owned a street bike before.

-Chris

EDIT: for some reason I'm really interested in the flat/gloss black color scheme right now..
 
When I was looking at buying one of these, I was checking out the Ninja650. It seemed to be the best entry level bike, that would last you the longest in terms of power.

From what I read, starting out with a 1000 might be too much to handle for a "newbie" sport bike rider.
 
if it's your first bike before everyone else pipes up..go take the safety course..ok that's out of the way. If you want comfort that can be ridden 400+ miles a day, looks good and will perfrom beyond your skills (I bet anyway) get any year Honda VFR. If it's quick rides with some occasional long ones get a CBR600 F2-3-4-4i depending on your budget. The GSXR's are nice but not too great on a long ride, wrist will hurt, you will constantly be adjusting your ass on the seat on long rides. My .02 I've owned a pile of all makes of sport bikes. Hard to beat the honda for reliablity. ask me about my Ducati 916 that spent more time being repaired than ridden..lol
 
I've owned a number of bikes. Everything from a EX250 Ninja up to a built ZX-11 Ninja. I have to say the best bike I owned was a GSXR 750. Great balance of power, size and handling. I'm only 170lbs and I can handle the big bikes no problem but the smaller ones are alot more fun. I've ridden at some stupid fast speeds on the larger bikes but I could still hit 150+ on my 750 no problem which is more than plenty fast for any kind of street riding. For a beginner I would stick with anything 750 and down. Get comfortable with riding it by yourself before you think of adding a passenger. Just cause it's a smaller bike doesn't mean it's any more safe. It's all in how you ride and the decisions you make. Even more than that it has alot more to do with what idiot in a car doesn't see you.
 
Get a Kawasaki EX 500, learn to ride, and then get a BMW K12S, and smoke your buddies in comfort and style.
 
I'd recommend something like a suzuki SV, honda 919 or superhawk, or a yamaha fz1 for a more comfortable ride.

I like the performance and ergo's of my sv650, but I am also 5'6" and 140#.
 
BIGWOODY said:
if it's your first bike before everyone else pipes up..go take the safety course..ok that's out of the way. If you want comfort that can be ridden 400+ miles a day, looks good and will perfrom beyond your skills (I bet anyway) get any year Honda VFR. If it's quick rides with some occasional long ones get a CBR600 F2-3-4-4i depending on your budget. The GSXR's are nice but not too great on a long ride, wrist will hurt, you will constantly be adjusting your ass on the seat on long rides. My .02 I've owned a pile of all makes of sport bikes. Hard to beat the honda for reliablity. ask me about my Ducati 916 that spent more time being repaired than ridden..lol
Click to expand...

Yeah the saftey class would be taken b/c my insurance company will cut me a better deal... Does something around $40/mo sounds bad for a 8000.00 bike w/ Comp./Col. and 250.00 deductable?

As for the Honda.. I do like the new Honda CBR600RR I also like the GSXR600.. I dont really want to spend much over 8000.00 on a bike.

As for 400 miles trips.. dont think the junk could take that :shaking: but never ridden on that far.

EDIT: Ride comfort doesnt really matter to me in the sense of long trips, etc.... I'm more interested in Honda CBR's, GSXR's, etc.
 
x2 on the Honda VFR or 600CBR F2, F3 or F4. I had rode dirt bikes since I had been 5 and purchased a brand new CBR 600F2 back in 1994. It was a great starter bike being comfortable and very forgiving to ride.

<><Fish
 
I'm a fan of the GSX-R 750. I have a 02 and love it. The biggest advice I can give is leathers leather leathers, and I have scar on my forearm, sholder, and back to prove it. I love my gixxer, I've ridden 3hrs with a 10 min stop for gas and it wasn't too bad, legs were a little stiff but hey, I was on a sport bike for 3 hours. 1000 is a little big, from what ive been told, you can twist the throttle to fast and go over. again what ive been told, if you get a 600 you'll be wanting more power in short time. Ive carried a few people and it didnt slow it down too much but slowing down was a little slower.

As a new rider myself, I have to say on your first bike that will be up to you. It would prolly be safer if you start on a small bike <600cc then buy the bike you want but I did start out on the 750 and did ok I think. Just remember YOU are the only one to blame for ANY wreck you get it. Stay safe and keep the sticky side down:wheel:
 
IMO...A 600 will be more than sufficient for the type of riding you described. Also it can be re-sprocketed to change the powerband around for whatever kind of riding you do. I really like the Honda CBR600F4i.
 
Also, the bigger the bike the more the insurance and taxes will be. I had a GSXR750 a long time ago and liked it. It was the first bike I owned. Now I have a Roadking and love it. The wife also likes it, far as comfort.
 
just get a honda 900 or 929 you can pick them up for a reasonable price and they are very good bikes. i once owned a 929 and it was by far the best riding bike for distance and around town.
 
i have a solid black 954 i picked up awhile back. its got 3600 miles, new back tire. i bought it from the original owner. let me know if your interested. ill let it go for 5800. its really clean, i have pictures
 
What does everyone think about the 2005 CBR600RR - Tribal w/ 3300miles as a good starter bike?

2005CBR600RRTribal.jpg
 
I recommend Suzuki or Honda.....had good experience with both of them, and for a beginner 500-750 is a good size range.

STAY AWAY FROM YAMAHA!!! THEY SUCK. their engines are absolute junk.
 
BIGWOODY said:
if it's your first bike before everyone else pipes up..go take the safety course..ok that's out of the way. If you want comfort that can be ridden 400+ miles a day, looks good and will perfrom beyond your skills (I bet anyway) get any year Honda VFR. If it's quick rides with some occasional long ones get a CBR600 F2-3-4-4i depending on your budget. The GSXR's are nice but not too great on a long ride, wrist will hurt, you will constantly be adjusting your ass on the seat on long rides. My .02 I've owned a pile of all makes of sport bikes. Hard to beat the honda for reliablity. ask me about my Ducati 916 that spent more time being repaired than ridden..lol
Click to expand...
Holy smokes, I could have written this exact same thing. Those two hondas are the way to go and my ducati was nothing but trouble too. It's no fun having a bike that isn't reliable. Mine didn't seem to charge unless it was going over 3000 rpm. :shaking:
 
uncc civilengineer said:
What does everyone think about the 2005 CBR600RR - Tribal w/ 3300miles as a good starter bike?
2005CBR600RRTribal.jpg
Click to expand...

Yes, a very good starter bike. BTW, I can't really see needing a 1,000cc bike unless you're really fat. Compared to a normal car these things are like having super powers. A 600 will go from 0-80 and back from 80-0 in a way that few cars on earth can match.
 
uncc civilengineer said:
What does everyone think about the 2005 CBR600RR - Tribal w/ 3300miles as a good starter bike?
2005CBR600RRTribal.jpg
Click to expand...

Nah... you don't want that. The rear swingarm is about two feet too short, and the chain is far, far too tight.
 
I personally put 18,000 miles on a pair of Honda Superhawks. Absolutely zero maintenance other than oil. Only mod to each was pipes and a Corbin seat. Rode numorous trips for 8 hrs., plus to and from S.C. coast from Hickory NC. Also rode alot with a passenger with a combined weight of 340 and it handle 181 and 221 better with the weight transfer. I'm no racer but I'm no sloutch either; roll on wheelies from a stand still are a no brainer and they are all Vtwin bottom end so a passenger doesn't keep you slipping the clutch around town. I'd go Vtwin regardless. MY 0.025 cent worth! The 0.005 was for the wordiness.:rolleyes:
 
I have been riding for 25 plus yrs and I have rode ALL types of bikes! I really like the SV 650 very nimble and handles great, not the fastes but VERY funn to ride! I have 82 GS 1100E)and really like the OLD style bikes! Make sure you RIDE SAFE HAVE FUNNNNNN!!
Later,
Bradley C
 
I prefer my Hayabusa. It's extended 10" chrome/polished all that crap. Extended bikes ride just fine, cant go around corners as fast but it's not really noticeable. They ride like a dream also, even the ones with struts. Their actually a sport/cruiser bike LOL. The engines are very reliable even built w/NOS on it. Best thing you have a 600, 750, 1000, 1300 all in one it just depends on how far you twist the throttle.
 
id say kaw or suz.
suz. is expensive thou. the 750 sre fast i have a zx9r and the 750 does a pretty good job keeping up. dont get a 600 b/c 6 mos later you will want a bigger one. good luck..... my zx9r is for sale by the way pm if want info
 
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