- This topic has 6 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 15 years ago by Jay T.
Prospective bike buyer with questions, and need reccomendations
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April 11, 2009 at 2:44 am #2695tyler515Participant
Alright so this might get a little long but bear with me, I’m thinking of getting my first bike and definitely need the help.
So this summer I go off to Boot Camp with the USMC, and I’ll have a decent chunk of cash afterwards with which I would like to purchase a bike. I’d really like a sportbike and am pretty set on getting one (but if anyone can suggest a good looking bike that isn’t one maybe I’d be interested).
I’ve never owned a bike before, so of course i will go through all the proper safety stuff, my parents would kill me otherwise….
Here’s my situation, I’ll be a college student who is looking for a good bike to transport me around town near college every so often, but mainly I would like a bike for easy storage and good transportation at least once a month to Base for my reserve duty through out college, and the occasional ride home.
I was pretty convinced that the ninja 250 would be great until i realized that the drive to base and home would both be on highways, fairly busy ones too. I’ve seen a few posts complaining about how light the 250’s are with wind on the highway and am a bit weary of the idea…
So i was thinking maybe a ninja 500 would be good, but i’m a bit scared to just start out on a larger bike, even with seeing many posters saying something like “i had a 500 for my first bike and it was great”. I recognize i am a complete noob, and honestly would like to get really good at riding before doing anything crazy.
Recommendations pertaining to the highway driving? It would be about an hour commute, both to the base and home, almost exclusively highway.
And now for a few quick questions i was hoping i could get answered.
Storage? Obviously on a sport bike there isn’t any i can think of… but anyone have a good backpack or something, i believe i wont need to bring much to Base for my weekends, so it should all fit in a fair sized backpack, i just dont know if any old backpack works or if it can mess up the aerodynamics of riding.
Aftermarket mods? I’ll probably have some extra cash if i happen to get a 250 and adding some mods that give it some more pep would be nice.
Finally, a good cover for the bike, any recommendations? I’ll probably park it at a friend’s house nearby campus which may or may not give me access to a garage, if not a cover is a definite must i think.
Thanks for reading the long post….. any response is greatly appreciated.
April 11, 2009 at 3:02 am #17682briderdtParticipantI’ll answer the question about storage first. ANd ask another question along with it… Just how much do you need to carry (volume-wise)? A backpack with more than a few pounds in it will get pretty heavy pretty fast on a sport bike. Just this week I carried a halfrack of Mt Dew 4 miles in a backpack… Four. Miles. And I was ready to get off. I don’t recommend it. Tank bags can be pretty spacious, and add a tail bag (or even some smallish saddle bags) should do it. Traveling light is the thing to do.
Good looking bikes? I really like this one (in the “money is no object” category):
But seriously, I see a lot of things going on with the SV650 (both the faired “S” version and the naked) in sport touring, modding, race. Seems like an extremely versatile bike. Maybe I’m biased because I have one… And on another note, I just tracked my mileage and came up with 54.6 mpg on my last two tanks (I just started tracking it).
Aftermarket mods… start with frame sliders, then comfort items. For sport bikes it might be different rearsets or rearset risers (upside down), an aftermarket seat, or the like.
As for a cover, just make it generic. Nothing that will draw attention to the fact that you’ve got a nice bike under the cover.
Can’t help you on the highway manners, as I’ve yet to get on the slab (I’ve only been riding since October). I’ve done highway speed, just not on the highway.
Hope some of that helps.
April 11, 2009 at 3:49 am #17687tyler515Participant92 day reservist at paris island oorah, 0311 rifleman. i train the next 2 summers, do one weekend a month thru college, i may go active after, if not it’s a 6 year on 2 off commitment 3 of which will be during college. and i understand i can get shipped out, i just cant go active on my own terms, out of respect for my parents wishes (if there’s an opportunity to go out though…. well lets say i look forward to it.)
thanks for the advise on boot camp, i’ll need all i can get. thanks a lot elwood, i’, looking forward to boot, i don’t know if you experienced college, but dorm life and classes make me feel useless at times, that’s why i signed the papers.
as for the bike, I will have a place to store it if i were called up, so there isnt an issue there.
I didnt know there were saddle bags, good stuff that’s all i’ll need as far as i know. i’m not going to lug stuff around on the bike like water, probably just clothes, toothbrush etc.
So to be clear once i’m skilled enough wind wont be a big issue on the 250? and the fact that i’m a college kid i wont have the cash to upgrade for a while, is the 500 a reasonable starter bike (erring on the conservative side here)?
April 11, 2009 at 3:51 am #17688MunchParticipantBest cover out there and for storage too.
http://www.thebikebarn.net/
next spare cash I am getting one… I rent my house so I don’t have a garage… and am not paying for them an upgrade that I can’t take with me… this bad boy is #2 on the wishlist!April 11, 2009 at 3:58 am #17685tyler515Participantmunch you’ve just solved one issue for me thanks!
April 13, 2009 at 2:20 pm #17714Clay DowlingParticipantDon’t walk into a dealership. Stay way clear of them. They just love to see young guys with an enlistment bonus burning a hole in their pocket. They’ll sell you something shiny and fast that will cost you too much. And they can smell you coming from a great distance.
My sister’s brother in law is a very successful recruiter, and he sees young guys get sucked into this all the time. They buy fast cars and fast bikes, they’re the king to their friends and there’s always a girl or two around. And pretty quickly all that money is gone and they’re back on hard times.
You might want to check on your school’s policies about reservists called up for duty as well. Some schools are good about it. They’ll refund your tuition and won’t count the time you miss against you. I’ve heard of others that aren’t so good about it, and you’ll get screwed for doing your duty. Might want to consider a transfer if your school doesn’t have a good policy.
April 13, 2009 at 3:01 pm #17718Jay TParticipantis very reminiscent of the original Buell XB. The one with the Sportster motor not the one with the Rotax. I am so anxious to see what those will cost in the states. I love the idea that they made that motorcycle with the mechanic noob in mind. The will even be doing factory workshops to show owners how to work on/maintain their own bikes. What a Godsend. Even with that sport riding position (which tears my old, fat, knees and back up), I would consider it at a higher price. I hope they consider a cruiser at some point. WOW, am I impressed.
Oh yeah, that is not what this post is about but, this is one of those pages where I have to write a little and then scroll back up and drool. I would say to the original poster to get through the class first. You may find (from taking the class) that motorcycling is not for you. Once you have passed the class and gotten your motorcycle endorsement, go to the dealers and look at everything. Even look at the most “dorky” looking motorcycles. You never know where your ride might arise. Depending on how you do in class, you may want to start with a motorcycle that you will not be depending on as your ONLY means. You may want to hang around town and hone your skills on a smallish motorcycle and then jump up to something highway worthy. Point is, you will have a better idea of the displacement level that you want to start out at, after the class. -
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