- This topic has 7 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 5 months ago by DocIbarra.
New rider, new bike problem. please read :)
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October 27, 2008 at 9:37 pm #2298DocIbarraParticipant
Hey everyone,
This is a continuation from my introductory post, but for those just stumbling upon this I will type up my whole problem here.
So i’m a new rider, never driven a motorcycle in my life. I’ve rode passenger, and I rode my bicycle for 2 years. I’m an avid sports car driver, and I LOVE to jump into anything new. Whether it be a Ford Taurus to an Audio TT, I always enjoy riding new vehicles.
Due to my re-location, and rising gas prices I have decided to purchase a Motorcycle. Originally I was looking into the Ninja 250, since it had such great reviews and was an awesome beginners motorcycle. After talking to a few peers at my clinic, one who does off-road and one who actually does track runs, I decided to look into the Suzuki GS500 or SV650 or SV650s.
But here’s the trick, my father found out about my entry into Motorcycle and he took it upon himself to purchase a motorcycle as a wedding present for me.
He is also an experienced rider, he rode for 5 years in the Phillipines during his service time and rode a multitude of motorcycles. He has a V-Star 1100, and loves it.
The motorcycle he purchased me was a Suzuki Katana 750 1997 model, with roughly 48k miles on it. I spoke to him about my research and he told me that heavier is better for beginners, and although the 750 is a beast, he purchased it for my beginning motorcycle since it only cost him $1100. He’s also an engineer and mechanic, so he tore it open and is fixing it up until I get my rider’s permit.
I know the Katana 750 is a fast little beast, and it scares me a bit to hop onto it and learn. Thinking that it’ll smash my face into a wall when I rev it up. When I sat on it, the weight was GREAT, I could easily manipulate it with my thighs and posterior and the height was perfect!
So, I need your opinions. Give the Katana 750 a shot, or spare myself and get a lower end motorcycle?
October 27, 2008 at 9:57 pm #14337WandererParticipantheavier is NOT better for beginners, quite the opposite in fact. lighter smaller bikes are more nimble around turns at low speed where you’ll be doing a LOT of practice till you move up to highway riding speeds and the like. also I’d imagine the katana’d be a lot less friendly on the throttle when you’re just starting out, and that can get you into trouble quick. add to that that it’s heavier and harder to manhandle around, means you’ll have a lot more trouble trying to drag it back in line if things start to go wrong.
the problem with people taking it upon themselves to do what THEY think is right for YOU is they very rarely ever bother to think about what YOU’D actually want/feel comfortable with
I’d say get yourself a smaller bike for your first one and move up to the katana.
keep in mind I’ve zero experience with katanas, and for all I honestly know, they’re cute adorable kittens, but I doubt it
October 27, 2008 at 10:07 pm #14338spiccnspamParticipantI would go with the GS500 to start out and garage the katana and mainten it. After about 6 months of riding you could sell the 500 and start riding ur katana saying you will be a better rider then.
October 27, 2008 at 10:34 pm #14339DocIbarraParticipant@ Wanderer: I’ve done some research and I agree with everything you said. Lighter and nimbler does make a lot more sense when it comes to navigating the motorcycle through the streets. The only time I think it would become a concern is on the freeway. When I roll up next or between two eighteen weelers, won’t I feel the wind resistance?
Completley agree once again with the taking it upon themselves for myself idea.
@spiccnspam: Sounds like a good idea, but there’s only one catch. I live in an apartment, so i’m not sure if I can house two bikes under one covered parking spaceI agree with the idea of just stowing away the katana, and starting out on a gs500, I just gotta find space to put it. I don’t really fancy the idea of renting out space to put it… any ideas?
Thanks for the fast reply everyone!
October 27, 2008 at 10:51 pm #14340WandererParticipantyou’re going to feel the wind resistance regardless of what you’re riding at that point, 2 multi-ton 18 wheeled monsters…a hundred pounds extra isn’t helping much. but yeah the larger bikes’ll be more comfortable and feel more stable at high speed, but before you leap onto the highway you’d better be ready to handle in city riding, and thats where 100lbs or whatever will make a HUGE difference. even so, a ninja 250 can handle highway speeds (one of the complaints about the 250cc cruiser types is that they don’t really do well above 60ish) and several people have done the Iron Butt (or often called “Iron Crotch” for the sportbikers) 1000 miles in 24 hours on the ninja 250.
and if you’ve only got the bikes, you can put both bikes in the same space without problem. my only concern would be vandalizm/theft issues. believe me, if apartments allow me to park my big arse cargo van, they won’t bat an eye at a pair of smaller motorcycles.
October 27, 2008 at 11:14 pm #14341Sangria7ParticipantListen to the wisdom….smaller CC is better unless you have experience already or if you are willing to take the chance on a bigger bike.
October 28, 2008 at 3:14 am #14344BuddParticipantKeep the Katana, but buy yourself a ninja 250 on the cheap. If you FIL asks you tell him that you don’t want to mess up his nice work and you plan on giving the ninja to his daughter. The ninja has great resell value. A few months on the Ninja will make the Katana much more manageable. both bikes will fit in one space easily and your apartment should not have a problem with it.
“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
October 28, 2008 at 6:15 am #14347DocIbarraParticipantI agree with the lower cc bikes better to start with, that’s why I did some research as to which bike’s would be better to start with. I had my eyes set on the Ninja 250, but I was told by more experienced riders than myself that i’d be better off with something with a bit more power since i have a bigger frame.
So I was looking at the GS500 now. For now I suppose i’ll do some research on the GS500 since with my body type I don’t think i’ll get the full benefit from the Ninjette.
I’m not planning on doing freeway speeds any time soon, haha! I’m probably going to take the roads when going to work, keeping my freeway time very minimal. I also agree with your comment again Wanderer, I’m not planning on getting on the freeway without extensive experience on the road ways at least.
My apartment has covered parking and is gated with remote control access. Security has always been one of my concerns with buying a motorcycle, and Wanderer does bring a good point. I can just park my bikes in the parking spots and keep my car outside! The chances of getting my car broken into are probably a lot less likely than someone driving up to my bikes with a u-haul at 3am in the morning.
any idea’s what a GS500 cost used now’days?
– Edit: Upon further research, I think i’m going to stick with my first love. The SV650, I did a little bit of looking around and I stumbled back upon the first motorcycle I set my fortunate posterior on. The minute the salesman pulled the red 2006 SV650 out of the showroom and flipped the ignition I was curious, but when I sat down and compared the bike to the higher end bikes (Gixxers and Ninjas) the thing was lightweight, and easy on the eyes.
So now that it come’s down to it, I think i’m leaning more towards the SV650, or the GS500. Depending on which I like better, too bad there’s no such things as test-drives eh?
Thanks for the suggestions!
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