[nofxman]

Hey guys I’ve been a lurker here for a bit and decided I would ask for some help since I’m looking to buy my first bike in the next couple of months. Little background, I’m 21, I’m 6ft tall, weigh 155lbs, and I have ridden a minibike since I was 8 and then dirtbikes since I was 12. I have also ridden a Vulcan 500 around a bit so I’m not new to riding just never bought a bike. I want a bike that won’t kill me when I first buy it but that I also won’t outgrow in 6 months.

I have narrowed my search down to the Fz6, Er-6n, and Gladius (Sv650). Truth is I would love to have a ninja500 but they are too damn ugly and I don’t wanna wait till 2010 to see if its finally redesigned. What do you guys think? Am I looking at some good bikes or is there one that I’m missing? I don’t want a sporkbike I want something that sets upright similar to a dirtbike and has a decent insurance rate. Thanks for your help.

[Sangria7]

If you have riding experience, the you shouldnt have any problems with any of those bikes. My first question is have you taken the MSF course? If not, I highly suggest you go take it before you make a bike decision.

Many experienced riders have never taken it and the one person in my class that has some riding experience almost failed the course.

[Anonymous]

A great bike missing from your list is the new for 2008, Suzuki GSX650F. It’s what they call a fully faired standard, not a sport bike (although it looks like one).

GXR-based water-cooled, inline-4 engine, but tuned for torque rather than naked aggression (will do 130 mph though). Very smooth and totally linear acceleration. 90 mph feels like 60 mph on this bike and it sticks to the road like glue so it feels very safe. Not a scary bike at all and won’t wheelie unless you try hard to (not my thing).

It’s also a comfortable and very easy bike to ride with an almost upright seating position. It’s quite happy being ridden conservatively, or spun-up if you’re the type that likes to go fast (12,500 RPM red-line). Great budget sport-tourer and doesn’t even notice when you’re carrying a passenger. I get 50-51 m.p.g. on my highway commute.

You should check it out…

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/suzuki/2008-suzuki-gsx650f-review-83478.html

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=819

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