[WeaponZero]

Though it may have kept me off that bike, my mom losing everything she owned when a hurricane destroyed her home wasn’t a good thing. In fact, One of the things lost was a comic book collection of mine I had been keeping at her house that was valued at over $2 grand

[WeaponZero]

Bear in mind that when you have feet forward as in a cruiser, you actually have LESS control over the bike because you can’t transfer your weight to the balls of your feet as well.

[WeaponZero]

All I can tell you is this. At one point, before I bought my first bike, I was considering getting a used ’98 Honda CBR900RR for my first bike. The CBR900RR of that generation, just so youre aware, makes 123hp at the crank; more than most budget oriented 4 cylinder cars, on a bike that weighs roughly 400 lbs. The only thing that stopped me from getting it was the fact that my mom’s home and everything she owned had just been destroyed in a hurricane and I chose to spend the money I’d been saving on helping her out instead.

I do know now that if I had bought that bike, I may not be alive now because it is definately NOT a beginner bike. I congratulate you on your bike purchase but I just hope you understand that, as Ben as pointed out in other posts, if you start out on a bike that’s too powerful and too heavy, there are skills fundamental to motorcycling that you may not ever be able to master.

Now, I do disagree with the “all beginning riders must start out on 250s” mentality that gets tossed around on this forum, but I still do draw a line somewhere. And I do believe that you have not only crossed that line with your bike purchase, but did a 100 yard dash past it.

Do I know people who started out on 1000s and lived to tell the tale? Yes. And Many of them are still riding today and are expert riders, one of them is even a riding instructor now. But they all regretted it in the long run.

There are people who will tell you that “a 250 has all the power you will ever need.” I disagree with that because I understand that motorcycling itself is not about needs. It is about wants, and desires, and being passionate about a hobby. It is about getting an adrenaline rush that some people may not be able to get on a bike that has “all the power you need.” Just be careful. You bought a bike that someone with your skill level has no business on. You may be fine, you may have to pay for extensive damages to the bike, and you may be injured. Only time will tell. But maturity has nothing to do with the bike you should start out on.

The bottom line: Learning to ride on that thing, you WILL develop “bad habits” to compensate for the fact that you can’t learn to do things the right way. Those “bad habits” may get you killed or discourage you from motorcycling alltogether. A confident rider is always having fun. You may not ever be confident on it.

Take the MSF beginner course using their bike, then go take the advanced course using yours. You will see a difference. You simply won’t be able to perform some of the techniques they teach you on your own bike.

[WeaponZero]

Learn on a car first, wait until you’re a good enough driver to where things become “automatic” to you before you worry about getting on a bike.

[WeaponZero]

Learn on a car first, wait until you’re a good enough driver to where things become “automatic” to you before you worry about getting on a bike.

[WeaponZero]

a 250cc single WILL have trouble on highways, regardless of what the people who ride 250s here say. single cylinder engines sacrifice top end for more bottom end, and you may not be able to accelerate past 70mph. If you’re dead set on a 250, then the Kawasaki KLX 250S or Suzuki DR200SE are probably your best bets.

Personally i recommend the Suzuki DR-Z400 as the perfect dual sport starter bike. After riding around on the dual sport I realized they are EXTREMELY fun bikes and am even debating trading in my SV650 for a DR-Z400SM.

[WeaponZero]

One of the biggest problems I’ve read about facing Hyosung is that the warranties aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on because the dealerships can’t get the parts they need to perform necessary repairs.

I guess the biggest thing I can say about Hyosung would be to read the post on this forum that has a link to a video comparison between the GT250R and the ’08 Ninja 250R. The reviewer stated in the review (which was taken from some british tv show) that while they performed similarly well, the build quality on the Hyosung was absolutely horrible compared to the Kawasaki and he wouldn’t trust it not to fall apart on him within a year’s time.

[WeaponZero]

The SV650 is perfectly fine power-wise on the highways. I would say any bike 500cc or bigger can comfortably cruise for extended periods of time on the freeway at speeds in excess of 80mph. Considering your history, I would say there’s no reason for you to have to go with a bike as small as a 650 however unless you like smaller bikes, which is perfectly understandable. Based on what YOU want I would say the Bandit 1250S would probably be the better choice.

[WeaponZero]

Hyosung is the motorcycle equivalent to Kia. Kia may be good now but if you recall they were horrible when they first came out.

Many reviews say their engines have strong motors but the build quality is just horrid and according to motorcycle technicians I know who have worked on them, they are plagued with electrical problems (specifically pertaining to the gauge cluster) that simply cannot be fixed properly due to lack of parts availability. They come with good warranties but they cannot honor the warranties due to lack of parts.

I anticipate the brand will eventually get its act together like Kia did but until then, I would say steer clear of them unless you plan on replacing your bike within a year of purchasing it.

[WeaponZero]

Congratulations on purchasing an awesome bike! Have fun and keep the rubber side down (though off to an angle )

[WeaponZero]

The SV650 is known for having one of the lowest seat heights of any bike on the road. I don’t know how it compares to the Comet, but if you have trouble on an SV, I reckon you’d have trouble on just about any bike.

Yes, I do love the Jacket. It fits beautifully and I love how it opens up for hot weather. It was a bit of money but worth it. My only regret about it is not getting one that’s waterproof, like the Fieldsheer jacket that my dad has.

[WeaponZero]

The bottom line when it comes to motorcycles is that the things that make a bike handle better at lower speeds and fun in the twisties (low weight, short wheelbase) work against you when travelling at highway speeds. It’s why bikes that are badged as “touring” and “sport touring” bikes weigh in excess of 500 lbs and have longer wheelbases. Any bike you get (short of a 250cc cruiser or possibly the nighthawk) will be ABLE to do freeway miles at 80mph with headroom to spare, it’s just a question of how comfortably and how effortlessly they can. Long wheelbase equates to better straight line stability at the cost of handling prowess. Weight helps the bike ignore the effects of wind gusts which can be pretty treacherous at highway speeds.

I have an unusual stance on motorcycle weight, being a big guy. You’re always told lighter is better throughout your learning years, but I have discovered that there IS a point where it’s too light. And when the rider is as heavy as or heavier than the bike, that point has been reached. I ride a bike that weighs only a little more than I do and it creates a very “top heavy” bike. This no doubt contributes to why the bike feels unstable and unsafe at highway speeds due to the effects of wind.

[WeaponZero]

The nighthawk has the worst brakes of any bike on the market. It’s the only streetbike being sold that still has drum brakes in both the front and the rear. Even its competitors in the 250cc class at least have a disc up front. So any bike you get will have much stronger brakes.

So what you want is a touring bike that’s comfortable enough with its off-road prowess to tackle very light off-road duty such as torn up roads, dirt and gravel roads. The Tiger definately fits that bill but I don’t know if jumping from a 250cc bike to a 1000cc bike is all that great of an idea, but only YOU can decide for yourself.

Other bikes to consider based on what you’re looking for: Suzuki DL650 V-Strom, Kawasaki Versys, Triumph Scrambler (essentially a bonneville that comes with suspension setup for off-road and knobby tires). Any of the bikes in BMW’s GS series work as well. Aprilia used to make a bike called the Pegaso that would also suit your needs but it is no longer being produced.

[WeaponZero]

I own an SV650 and while I’ll agree that it’s no Duc, I’d hardly disagree with “soulless”. I think that the whole “soulless” thing comes from the natural power delivery characteristics of an inline four, which Japanese manufacturers use in nearly all their sportbikes. I think you’ll find that if you get a V-twin powered bike, regardless of brand, it’s nothing like that and does have “character” as you put it.

[WeaponZero]

Older Honda Nighthawks from the ’80s (back when they were shaft drive) would be an excellent choice for you I think. They ranged anywhere from 500-750cc depending on year and model. The 650 ones are regarded as the best from that era, I think.

There is also a Nighthawk 250 that has been made since 1991 and is still currently being made today. It’s a fine bike for what it is but I’m a little bit weary of the fact that it has drum brakes in both front and rear, when the Rebel gets a disc up front…

The older, pre-fairing Suzuki GS500s would be an excellent choice.

Also, I might add that I bought my 2000 SV650 used for $3000. If you’re considering an SV650, they came out in 1999 and the first generation models (1999-2002) were carbureted rather than fuel injected, but had better brakes and SUPPOSEDLY a better frame, though I cannot confirm this. Newer ones (2003-current) are fuel injected and many suspension components built for the GSXR line of motorcycles will bolt right on to the new chassis with no fabrication needed of any kind. So if all you’re after is a sporting ride, you’ll likely never feel the need to upgrade from an SV650 to a bigger bike unless you clock a lot of highway miles.

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