[eternal05]

As everybody’s said, parking lot practice is not something for beginners, nor is it something to laugh at. It is a MUST. Do it, and don’t be ashamed

[eternal05]

…was just over 300lbs (I’m 180-190 lbs depending on time of day).

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I’ll let you know as soon as it all gets done, but just to warn you, it will probably be at least a month before I’ve gotten that far.

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I’ve done it, but the biggest issue is comfort and bike handling. The engine doesn’t really suffer much in my experience, but that’s with a 120lb passenger.

[eternal05]

Don’t get a bigger displacement bike. Their bottom-line of 650cc should be at the very top of the range you consider. As a fellow sportbike rider, you need to take your peers’ advice with a whole shaker’s worth of salt. Even among expert racers, advice varies widely from useful to macho bullshit. (It’s not uncommon for racers to tell me that I just need to “whack open the throttle” coming out of each corner. Even professional racing instructors will tell you that this approach is idiotic.) The most important thing to consider as a beginner is power-to-weight ratio, as well as total weight. You want a smaller power-to-weight ratio, but you also don’t want a heavy bike when you’re just starting. The low-weight requirement rules out a lot of the big cruisers and tourers as good beginner bikes.

Weight is not an issue. Unless you are a small planet (and I really do mean that), just about any motorcycle will carry you without any problem. If you are on the high end of that weight range (which you’re nowhere near), you begin to run into suspension issues, and some smaller bikes will start to struggle, but that’s not an issue for you.

Height may well be an issue for you, though at 6 ft, you might not have the same problems I do at 6’4″. The real issue is your inseam, as your height might not be as much in your legs as you think. If you do have trouble sitting on the usual 250 cruisers (Virago/V-star, Rebel, etc.), I’m sure our fellow member Munch would recommend the now defunct Kawi Vulcan 500. It’s a great starter bike, especially for a bigger guy like you.

[eternal05]

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks a lot. I’ll give these guys a shot in the next few weeks and let you guys know how it turns out!

[eternal05]

Great suggestions guys! Feel free to keep ’em coming

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Great advice from CBBaron.

Stay the hell away from a 600cc sportbike…at least until you can make a beginner bike your B#$% Good reasoning there, though I feel you on the good looks thing. It’s hard to turn away from that, to be sure.

So of all the other bikes that you listed, I have ownership experience with two and riding experience with another two. I started on a 250R myself way back when (still own that), then got a 600, and most recently picked up a DR-Z400sm. I think both the 250R and the DR-Z are fantastic beginner bikes. With your height and weight, and especially if you’re into dual-sports, the DR-Z might be the way to go. It has more pep (though the same top speed thanks to low gearing) and will be less cramped than the 250R. I’m 6’4″, so I needed to get lowered footpegs to even be able to ride the 250. You may have the same problem. Note that the size issue won’t exist if you get a pre-’08 250R, since they didn’t have the same gas tank shape.

I’ve also ridden the GS500 and the Ninja 500R and believe them to be solid beginner bikes as well. The only thing that differentiates them from the other two bikes is a bit more power, and I think both are in need of serious updates to their appearance. That damn 500R looks like it’s from 1987…oh wait, it is!

The money issue is legit, though if you want a new generation (’08+) 250R, you’re probably going to pay about the same as for a used DR-Z400sm. Honestly, go sit on all the bikes, think about the kind of riding you’re going to do, and based on what’s comfortable and fits your needs, make your decision.

[eternal05]

Basically, with a 2-stroke, you’re doubling the number of power strokes (actual gas combustions) per number of engine revolutions, so you get twice the oomph for the same number of revs.

When MotoGP first allowed 990cc 4-strokes to compete with the traditional 500cc 2-strokes in 2002, they were expected to perform about evenly. Unfortunately for the 500cc riders, the 4-strokes ended up with more horsepower and, thanks to their more even power deliver (2-strokes can be…unpredictable), more power to the wheels out of turns. The 4-strokes ended up dominating with horsepower figures approaching 250hp, despite being MUCH heavier than the 2-strokes (though still lighter than my DR-Z…mindblowing innit?). The 250cc GP class has been replaced in the coming 2010 season by the 600cc 4-stroke “Moto2” class. So the 2x 2-stroke to 4-stroke cc conversion is only a rough “guesstimate.”

Incidentally, since 2002 when they switched to 4-strokes, engine displacements have been reduced to 800cc (2007-present), and are going to be increased again to 1000cc in 2012.

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It’s a track bike, purpose-built. So you’re right, but the RS125 is available in the US…just not for street use.

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I know what you mean. I drive an ’06 2.0T I4 A4 Quattro and I love it to just as many bits. It was the replacement for the 1.8T I4 Jetta FWD that I had before that, and the A4 is just better in every way.

Have you heard about the new, 2009+ 2.0T engine? I had to take my car in for service and they gave me a loaner Passat with the new 2.0T. Until I got out and looked at the rear badging, I could have sworn I was in the V6. It’s insane. It makes 211hp and 265 lb-ft of torque! AND it gets better fuel economy than my earlier version of the 2.0T! It now makes more torque than the V6, so there’s really no point in getting the extra 2 cylinders, especially since it ruins your fuel economy.

[eternal05]

I’d never own one…for a number of reasons, but they’re definitely fun. Back in high school, one of my friends got an old 4-speed Nova (350 cu in. or 5.7L V8), practically falling apart, and refurbished it. Sitting at a stop light idling in that thing was like riding the mechanical bull at a carnival. It was insane. The sound it made was absurd, and the pull from a red light seemed out of this world to me at the time.

But god forbid you try to turn…heh…

[eternal05]

I don’t even bother posting on other forums. I lurk my way through about 4-5 other motorcycle related forums, but it’s not worth posting over there. Too much idiocy and not enough courtesy.

[eternal05]

Be sure to post up pictures when you get it…I’m interested to see how they look.

[eternal05]

I looked into this myself when I was first starting, but the big deal is that the RS 125 has a two-stroke engine. That means you can just fill up at your local gas station. You need to have the appropriate amount of 2-stroke oil to mix in with your fuel. It’s also going to be loud and sound like a chainsaw. Also, it’s got a really short range thanks to its small tank and fuel consumption.

In addition to being a 2-stroke, it’s considered by insurance companies to be a race replica bike, so you’re going to be paying through the ass to insure it.

Other than that, I hear this bike is really fun to ride…just not too convenient for around town.

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