[madjak30]

I really liked the informal – between two friends- type of review. Very well done and nice questions to prompt Brittney to give a little more info in the direction you wanted to go. I think reviews always work better if you have both a guy and a girl…seems to give an appeal to both…If you are thinking of doing this for bikes, I would maybe suggest getting friends that are realative newbies to try them, both guy and girl, to support the message of the web site. It would be nice to get a “peer review” so to speak. It was also good that you joked around a little, kept it lite…

Thumbs up from me.

[madjak30]

The Ninja 500 is no longer available new, but neither is the GS500 naked…as for comparing the bikes, the GS500 is more of a standard bike, even with the fairings, than the ninjas…other than that, it will be personal preference..

The Ninja 500 (55-60) has about 10 more horse power than the GS500 (47-50), and the Ninja 250 (37ish) has about 12 less than the GS500. But they are all good beginner bikes.

Good Luck!

[madjak30]

I would wait until you have done your riding course as well, but if you are like me and can’t wait…I was told that if you must get one, get the bike with the most standard riding position since most people will have better control in this position…so if you sit more upright on the 250, that is probably the way to go. It will also be a lighter bike which will help you in the learning curve.

And as a Canadian, I would like to thank you for enlisting and serving your country, and really, the whole continent. I salute you. Good luck.

[madjak30]

I finally bought my first street bike on Friday last week…Everyone told me that I would need atleast a 650cc, probably 750cc or more…but I decided to listen to you guys (and gals). I bought a 2003 Suzuki GS500e. It has 23000kms, a windshield or deflector (kinda looks like a shield from a Versys) and the common blue. I can’t wait to take the course and the test, then insure and register the bike…then ride time…just have to get the gear now…good helmet, decent jacket and gloves…money, money, money…I’m pumped…lol

[madjak30]

I should have done this earlier…I am booked in for May 12-14th…I have to take a couple of days off work…weekend courses were already booked up to June…oh well, I am pretty much out of town until May anyway…

I have come across a pretty good deal and want your input…it is outside of the “beginner bike” size recomendations, but most reviews of the bike call it the beginner for “bigger guys”…the Hp and Tq is similar to the SV650 (70HP and 46TQ)…should ride similar, but with a more upright position…

I do expect you to shoot it down, but being 275lbs I want to be able to do hi-way speeds safely…

2003 Kawasaki ZR-7S…has 20,000kms and he wants $2900…I have been looking for a GS500, but they start at $3500 and go upto $6100 for a 2008…??? New they are $7199 with out the discounts that most dealers offer…

Anyway, your input would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[madjak30]

There are the Kawasaki ER-6N, Suzuki Gladius duo…but have you thought of SuperMoto? Enduro machines with 17″ sport rims and tires…various suspension and braking tweaks as well…all new bikes seem to be getting pricy…the Ninja and the FZ6 are a little racier…Honda has the CBF600 with a half fairing…Kawasaki Versys is a very comfortable bike that has a small, if different looking, fairing…

Good Luck

[madjak30]

I took the “BOSS” out for dinner tonight, and we were talking about our plans…etc…and I told her that I would like to do one of three things…get a muscle car, but the budget is up to $5000, so you can see that may limit the choices…eighties or nineties car…a couple of dirt bikes for my daughter and I…or a street bike for me…I provided her with some examples from Kijiji, and also handed her my bonus check that we didn’t know I was getting…that of course killed the “we can’t afford it right now” argument…but then she said something that made me almost fall out of my seat…”I would rather you got yourself a street bike than the car…”, she didn’t even talk about the dirt bikes, but even if she did…I don’t know if I would have heard her…

HOLY CRAP!!! I think today was one of the best days…EVER!!! Now, I just have to decide on a bike…I have found a few GS500 and GS500F on the web…they all seem to hover around $3500 – $4000…or there are a lot of super sport 600cc on the market for $3000 – $3500…wow, does no-one want them or what? Definately not for me, and not just because I am starting…just don’t feel comfortable…Katana 750s aren’t bad and are in the same price range as the GS500s…but all of the “naked” bikes are either too old, or too expensive…I talked to the guy in the Suzuki shop Friday, and he said that he used to prefer the “naked” bikes as well, but after he rode a few fairing bikes…he prefers them now…is there much difference in riding a bike with the fairing vs naked?

I will be booking my training course on Monday…looks like I won’t be riding until May, looking at the online schedule, but I was told to call them anyway…people may drop out or if they may squeeze in one extra person to the class…Suzuki guy used to be an instructor…I just have to get my written done before the class, but that shouldn’t be a problem.

I’ll keep you posted…WOO HOO….

[madjak30]

The guys that put on the course here offer an introductory course, just to let you get a taste for motorcycles to see if that is something that you are really interested in ($150). And if you decide that biking is for you they give you a $75 discount on the normal beginner motorcycle course. That is what I would like to talk my wife into taking…but first I have to get her to sit on a few bikes so that she can maybe start thinking about it…this may take a while, hence the beg for forgiveness course of action…I don’t want to be 50 before I get my first bike…

I will be trying to get her to sit on a few bikes and explain that it would be a nice way for just the two of us to take off for a weekend trip to the mountains…only a couple of hour ride, with some scenic stops on the way…maybe she will like the free feeling and the views better than the excitement of riding itself…??? who knows, I just know I want a bike but don’t want to piss her off in the process….

There are some GS500F Suzukis in the paper for $3200, so I am itching to pick one up…or maybe two, but I think she is more of a Burgman type of girl…doesn’t like shifting gears (can’t drive a manual and has no interest in learnig)…

Thanks for your input.

[madjak30]

I think that may be the way I end up going…as for the dollars and sense, she was okay with me getting a new Dodge Challenger, but not a bike?? Although after I told her how much an R/T or SRT-8 was she wasn’t so supportive…lol…you see, she likes the Challenger, so is all for owning one. (maybe we should trade in her SUV for one???) I do think that would be a fun car, but talk about payments…here in Alberta, a Chellenger R/T averages around $40,000, and an SRT-8 averages over $50,000…not really a toy that I would concider “in my price bracket”…so if I pick up a used 500cc bike for about $3000, I think that is a more logical choice…similar acceleration, better handling and braking…no payments would be involved, and I am sure the insurance would be cheaper, not to mention a third or less in fuel bills…my 12yr old daughter is pumped for me to get the bike, she loves going to the local bike shops and bike shows to sit on them…it’s only the “boss” that will be the hard sell…I think my next step will be getting her to the bike shop and sitting on a bike, or scooter, for her maybe…???

Fingers crossed…lol

[madjak30]

I recently got a flat “NO” from the “Boss” on getting a bike, so I like your “can I have a dog?” analogy…she just doesn’t seem to get why guys want to have toys. To be honest, I don’t understand why either. Having a second vehicle, paying for insurance,fuel and maintenance doesn’t save you money…but, I know it gets my heart racing when I hear a tuned “muscle car” or a bike go by. For the dollars and cents argument the bike will work better. The purchase price alone is a pretty good argument, never mind that you would only use a third of the fuel on a bike. But for her, the bike is scary because she has no experience with them. I don’t know if I will be able to “win” the argument, so maybe begging for forgiveness????

My plan of action may be to get my liscence and training this year and make my purchase in the fall or early spring next year. The trip to Disneyland this spring will eat most of our spending money for this summer….

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