- This topic has 58 replies, 21 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 8 months ago by CBBaron.
Beginner bikes you want to hear about
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May 30, 2009 at 9:55 am #19076RabParticipant
Well, I personally don’t think that most of the 650s and the 850s (Triumphs) belong on the list, but so long as they are, the Suzuki GSX650F is missing from your list.
And where’s the old beginner bike mainstay Honda Nighthawk 250?
May 30, 2009 at 2:07 pm #19079DaggerParticipantWell I think it depends on if you’re talking Sport bike or Cruisers.. The 650 cruisers have nowhere near the same power band as the 650 sport bikes… In addition, the size difference of the 250 cruisers make them hard for taller riders to even ride. I know at 6’1″ my 650 was a tad small for me and I had to add forward control extensions to it to ride it comfortably.
May 30, 2009 at 4:41 pm #19089RabParticipantYes, 650 cruisers will generally be slower and less top-heavy than an equivalent standard or sport bike.
As you point out, it also depends on the rider’s height, weight, prior experience (if any) and mental maturity in determining what bike is suitable for them to learn on. Thanks for completing my post.
I still believe that a 250 c.c. is the best way for most folks to go from raw beginner to intermediate rider though, but also understand people’s concerns that they’ll grow out of it in 6 months (which they probably will if they ride with any regularity).
May 31, 2009 at 5:01 am #19103eternal05ParticipantGranted, it’s not in the same league as the gixxers, but it is an inline-four sport touring bike that puts out 80hp. Granted, that’s not that different from the SV650’s 75hp or so, but the SV is a V-Twin, and is undoubtedly easier to ride.
But hell, I’m going to add it anyway.
You know, honestly, this list is just going to end up having everything. There’s no good cap for any metric as there’s always a special case somewhere. A comprehensive list of bikes and their stats will still be useful in convincing the nubblets that certain bikes are ill-suited to their abilities.
May 31, 2009 at 8:27 pm #19120RabParticipantActually, I think that the SV650/S twin cylinder is a little faster 0-60 than the GSX650F four cylinder, and I don’t agree that it’s “undoubtedly easier to ride”.
The SV650 has been discontinued, leaving the SV650S, on which you are forced to sit in a “sports crouch” stretched-out position, which is not an easy way for a beginner to pilot a motorcycle. The GSX650F has you in a much more upright seating position (like the old SV650 (non S version), although you can crouch forward if you later want to. Also, the power delivery of the GSX650F is completely flat, with absolutely no surges or “surprises” anywhere; similar to a twin cylinder. Gearing and clutch are very newbie friendly, brakes are good, not grabby and it literally sticks to the road going round bends.
Although it has a 12,500 RPM red-line, it has enough torque low in the rev range to be ridden between 3,000 and 6,000 RPM like it was a 250 c.c. twin, and the gearing supports that. In fact, if you ride it in that manner, it even sounds like you’re over-revving it if you go over 6,000 RPM. It has a tachometer (rev counter) and an adjustable “time to shift up a gear” light (can be disabled), as well as always showing which gear you’re in; all useful for the new rider.
If you want to ride it in a sportier fashion, just twist the throttle a bit more (past 6000 RPM) and it just starts going faster in the same controlled manner; like turning up a volume control, no drama or sudden power surges anywhere. It just starts going faster and starts sounding like a formula 1 race car (cooooool !!).
So, it’s really a Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde type of a bike and is happy being one or the other. The difference on this bike is, YOU get to choose if/when it’s going to change personalities from mild mannered to something a bit more scary. It’s such a safe feeling and well planted bike that 100 mph on the GSX650F feels like 60 mph on a more basic bike (cough, I’m told).
Sorry if I’m over-enthusing about my bike here, but I did a *lot* of research before getting this (my third) bike as I only have one bike and it has to do everything well (daily freeway commute and two-up at the week-ends), be inexpensive to buy (~$7K) and return good fuel mileage (48-50 mpg on regular 87 grade gas).
The GSX650F is actually a replacement for the Katana and is based on the European market 650 Bandit; it’s not an evolution of the Katana.
These are fantastically popular in Europe where, unlike the U.S.A., many motorcyclists use their bikes as daily transport.
Anyway, I’ve had more than my say here and I’m sure we could all enthuse about our own current bike, so please forgive my self indulgence
May 31, 2009 at 9:05 pm #19122MunchParticipantgoing on and on about a bike you like….nothing to forgive.
June 1, 2009 at 1:25 am #19128Jgrogan91Participanthow about this bike? im considering it for my first.
June 1, 2009 at 1:35 am #19130MunchParticipantit’s up there and good choice
June 1, 2009 at 2:50 am #19131Jgrogan91Participantoops guess i missed it
June 3, 2009 at 12:45 pm #19249AParticipantThe Nevada Classic 750 and Breva 750 are great beginner bikes.
June 3, 2009 at 2:34 pm #19251megaspazParticipantMisleading. The SV650 has been changed to the Gladius. It’s the exact same bike specwise to the SV650 generation except with about 3+HP and redesigned look. You are not left with only the SV650SF and it’s ergos.
June 15, 2009 at 3:40 am #19719owlieParticipantYo! Eternal! Are you procrastinating on your procrastinating?
Let me know if you want help on putting together the comparison… I am now back in the procrastination business…
June 15, 2009 at 5:34 am #19722eternal05ParticipantI was unexpectedly murdered by the end of term. I have a week before I start work again, I’ll get back on it
June 16, 2009 at 3:14 am #19757owlieParticipantI know; you can procrastinate up to a point and then you have to just do it. End of term? Are you a prof?
June 16, 2009 at 6:12 am #19764eternal05ParticipantNo, I’m not a professor. At the moment I’m a grad student, but I was also teaching a course. Double whammy
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