- This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 9 months ago by gitchy42.
ER-6n….. Good beginner bike?
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July 10, 2010 at 12:18 am #4095kauffe9aParticipant
I have looking around for a starter bike for about a year now. I am a big guy (6’3″; 300lbs) so I have been looking mostly at cruiser type bikes. I’ve always thought sport bikes were cool, but I have always assumed that they would be too small and uncomfortable for me. Well today I went into a dealership and the salesman showed me the ER-6n. When I sat on it I was surprised to find that it was actually pretty comfortable. I know this is technically a standard bike, but it is much sportier than anything else that I have considered before. Granted I didn’t get to actually ride the thing so I don’t have a full idea of how the thing will suit me, but I’m kind of in love right now lol. Does anyone have any experience with this bike? Is it a good beginner bike? Will it suit a guy my size?
I want a bike that I can really learn on, but don’t think a 250 or a 500 will be big enough for a guy like me. Also, I don’t want to shell out a bunch of cash for a bike that I’ll be bored of in 6 months. It seems to me that with it’s standard riding position the ER-6n will be more comfortable than a sport bike, but with better handling than a cruiser.
Any thoughts?
July 10, 2010 at 12:48 am #27424AParticipantAt 6’3″, you might want to consider something with more room than ER-6N, wide handlebar, good amount of suspension adjustment. ER-6N has a great engine, but the ergo doesn’t seem ideal for a tall person, it feels little cramped even for me at 5’10”.
July 10, 2010 at 3:05 am #27425ShamRock229ParticipantI have the ninja 650r (also called the ER-6F f means “fairings/faired”). It’s basically an ER-6N with fairings. I’m 6ft, 220lbs and I have enough leg room and the torquey parallel twin has no problem hauling me around. I’m also a fan of the standard riding position (as are my back and wrists). Its got a very controllable powerband, with most of its power lying in the 5-8k rpm range. I don’t think you will have a problem with it as long as you ride it properly. It wont power wheelie on you as easily as a inline 4, but it definetly has some juice. I can keep up with supersports in the twisties with no problem and unlike them, I dont have to stop after an hour to rest my back and wrists. It’s a great balance of sporty and commuter. I use it to commute everyday. Gets about 42-46 mpg depending on the type of riding that I’m doing. The only thing you may have an issue with is the lack of a windscreen since youre so tall, but there are aftermarket ones available if it gives you a problem.
I hope that helps you out. Feel free to ask me anything else you’re concerned about and I’ll try to help. Good luck with your search!
July 10, 2010 at 11:21 am #27429Jeff in KentuckyParticipantA 6′-3″ tall person would probably fit better on the Kawasaki Versys or a Suzuki DRZ 400cc supermoto, or the Kawasaki KLR 650.
July 10, 2010 at 9:55 pm #27433kauffe9aParticipantYeah I think Jeff is right about the Versys. I went back to the dealer today and sat on it today an it did fit a lot better. I think I’m leaning more towards that one now.
Anybody have anything negative or positive to say about the Versys?
July 11, 2010 at 11:35 am #27440CBBaronParticipantMost of the reviews I have read of the Versys say it is a great bike. Very nimble and quite comfortable. Only minuses have been lack of wind protection form the fairing and some people have complained about the motor being buzzy. As a beginner bike it is the upper range for power and weight. In addition it is tall so feels a little top heavy at slow speeds. This means you are more likely to drop it once. It probably will be one of the more comfortable bikes available for a larger rider starting to ride. However I am really enjoying my Ninja 250r despite being 6’2″ 220#.
CraigJuly 11, 2010 at 7:44 pm #27444eonParticipantI have been eyeing a versys as my second bike for a long time now and there really is not a bad thing said about it (apart from the slight vibration mentioned). Keep in mind it is not narrowly focused on sport or off road so it it necessarily a compromise between the two (though much more focussed on street than dirt). I did a 300 mile 12 hour day yesterday with a new Versys owner. This guy is very experienced across a wide range. Dirt bikes since he was 12, sport bikes since he was 18 with lots of track days. He just sold a KTM Adventure to get the V. After yesterdays ride which included fast twisties and plenty of mountain gravel roads his verdict was a huge thumbs up. Its not a dirt bike but he quickly gained the confidence to thrash it across those mountain roads. His opinion has move the V back to my top spot.
Kawasaki brought oy a 2010 model with minor upgrades and a cosmetic upgrades. This means you can get great deals on unsold 2009 versions (while stocks last!)
July 11, 2010 at 10:39 pm #27447Jeff in KentuckyParticipantThe Versys won an award from this magazine staff below. I like the English bike mags better, but I can buy this magazine a lot cheaper. Their best article was about how the Snell 2005 helmet standard sucks, (Snell 2010 is a LOT better) but it later got the writer (Dexter Ford) fired, because Shoei and Arai threatened to drop their magazine advertising:
July 21, 2010 at 1:46 am #27642kauffe9aParticipantOk so I am still highly considering the Versys, but I have recently found a good deal on Craigslist for a 2003 Suzuki SV650. Again, I am 6’3″ and around 300 lbs (losing weight). I sat on the Versys and it seemed to be a comfortable fit (maybe slightly tall, but it was negligible). Would the SV be a good size bike for a guy like me? Would I be too cramped? I know that I should sit on it to know for sure, but I was just wondering if there were any other big guys out there who had any experience with the SV.
So basically, my choice is between a new 2009 Versys of a used 2003 SV with over 26,000 miles. The SV is about 1/3 of the price of the Versys and I would have to finance the Versys, making insurance a lot more expensive. Is the Versys worth the money?
Also, I am very interested in a bike with a standard riding position. Is the riding position comparable to the Verys or is it more of a sporty kind of bike?
Any advice would be appreciated.
July 21, 2010 at 3:11 am #27647kauffe9aParticipantActually this is a 2004 SV650S
July 21, 2010 at 5:36 am #27656madjak30ParticipantNot quite supersport, but more so than other suggested beginner ish bikes…I found the Versys very comfortable, but I couldn’t quite flat foot with both feet…I’m only 5’11, but my inseam is 33″, if you like that style of bike and want comfort…you need to check out the V-Strom 650…that is the most comfortable bike I have sat on yet…the SV has a less comfortable seat (less padding for your butt), and will be considerably quicker…both the Versys and the V-Strom engines are based on sporty bikes, but have been “retuned for more low to midrange torque”, which is helpful to a new rider…less likely to stall out, and not as peaky power…the V-Strom has been on the market since 2005, so you may find a deal on the net for a used one.
It kinda depends on your budget as to where you will end up, but find a bike shop that carries used bikes and sit on some of the older bikes…they tend to have more padding in the seat and be more comfortable…the new bikes, for the most part, are focused on one segment of the market, and older bikes had a broader appeal…
Good luck…
July 23, 2010 at 12:05 am #27699gitchy42ParticipantThe SV is a little smaller, the pegs are a little back, but otherwise the riding position is basically ‘upright’. The handle bars are at a comfortable distance, the only real concern I would have for you is that it CAN be a little tight for me (6′, 32″ inseam) after about 45mins of riding.
Depending on how much you are going to ride, and how far at any time the SV should be a good bike to start with, and upgrade to the Versys in a year or two when there are more used one’s out there at a better price. You may want to consider the KLR 650 also, a larger dual-sport would probably fit you well, they have good power and handle well.
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