New Rider From Columbus

[Wojo72]

Hi Everybody

 

I am brand new to riding.  I probably have ridden a motorcycle three times in my life.   I am signed up for a new riders course in July.  We'll see how it goes from there.   I have to get my permit this week.  Any tips on passing the first time?  

 

I have always been a "car guy".   I'm not sure why I am on a motorcycle kick all of the sudden.  It must be a mid life crisis thing. LOL   Any suggestions on a good starter bike?  I want a VMAX but that's probably not a good idea.  I want something that isn't too hard to handle but I also don't want to get the upgrade bug after one season.

 

 

Thanks

 

Wojo72

[Dying Shadow]

Ello

[JackFlash]

[JackFlash]

• I am brand new to riding.
• Any tips on passing the first time?
• Any suggestions on a good starter bike?
• I want something that isn't too hard to handle but I also don't want to get the upgrade bug after one season.

 

The MSF course will be a breeze, and you will learn

a lot.  But, your learning doesn't stop there.  They make

you "Parking Lot" safe.  It's up to you to apply what they

teach you, on the streets.  Search Google for riding tips

and safe practices, then ride with some experienced

riders.  You will learn a lot just riding with others.

 

The Buell Blast and the Suzuki GS 500 are both great

starter bikes.  You don't need to upgrade from them, but

will probably want to after riding for  two or three years,

and once you've become a better rider.  Don't be in a

hurry to get a hotter bike.  It's all about the journey.

 

The Kawasaki Ninja 250, and the newer 300 are both

great bikes to start with, and also highly recommended.

Many others will tell you you'll be fine starting on a 600

if you keep your senses about you.  The 600's are much 

closer to racing bikes than an auto off the showroom

floor is to a race car.  Those things will kill you before

you can blink if you are careless and overly confident.

 

Do yourself a favor and start on something  similar to

what I suggested, for the first couple of years.  They will

also be much cheaper to insure.  For example, my 500

is a couple hundred a year.  The Ninja 1000 would cost

me $750 a year, and I'm no young pup. 

 

Before I forget, start on a used bike.  You are going to

find your first bike laying on it's side on the road or

parking lot, maybe more than once.  It happens.  Don't

scuff up a bike you are making payments on.  Dents,

scuffs and scrapes, and broken plastic happens.  We

all have had to pick up a bike from the ground at one

time or another.  For any that haven't, they haven't been

riding long enough.  Get a bike with some wear so that

you won't cry when you scratch it.  The less plastic, the

better, unless you just want to learn how to fix it later.

How do I know?  Don't ask. 

 

 

One more thing.  Post a new question, asking about

riding gear for a beginner, helmet, pants, jacket, gloves,

etc.  You will get professional level advice from those

who have forgotten more, than I will ever know.

 

.

.

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Edited June 30, 2014 by JackFlash

[Calinazaret]

You could try a honda shadow. It's big enough not to get laughed at and still manageable. I learned on a honda rebel, which is about half the size of the shadow, and I outgrew it fast but I don't regret starting small.

Everyone is going to have a different answer on here. If you have any friends who ride, take their bikes for a spin and see what feels right. Your tastes will probably change over time as you learn what kind of rider you are, so don't spend too much on your first bike.

[Connie14]

Welcome to OR

[bloodninja420]

Welcome.

You might try looking into an SV650 if you're not dead set on the cruiser style.

[snot]

Welcome.

Ask about a Starter bike here you will get a lot of opinions. Take the course, you will pass as long as you listen to the instructors. Then sit on a few bikes and decide what position you prefer. Then select your bike. If you like the feel of a sport bike try ninja 250, CBR 250 or Yamaha YZF-R3. Cruiser well, anything but a Harley (bit pricey) is good to start on.

Oh and a ninja 300 is $60. A year for full coverage insurance including under/uninsured motorist.

Edited June 30, 2014 by snot

[Josh1234]

Welcome aboard!  The Buell Blast is what I learned on, and someone had one listed in the for-sale forums here a couple of days ago.  Check it out.

[Casper]

[Cdubyah]

welcome aboard

[2talltim]

HOW-D!

Edited June 30, 2014 by 2talltim

[silentcropduster]

first bike was a 2005 SV650S - has enough power where u wont get bored easily, very easy on insurance considered "sport touring" cost me $18 for full coverage (25, no accidents/tickets), is very easy to handle at low speeds, u can get one for the low end of 2000, higher end of 3500  - which is the cost of a 250 btw.

 

Here's one for $3000, which u could talk him down to $2750 most likely.

http://columbus.craigslist.org/mcy/4538987191.html

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2014 by silentcropduster

[tall_tracy]

welcome

[baptizo]

Welcome and seriously consider the SV650....learn on it before you step up to something like a V-Max.  

[Wojo72]

I am one step closer. I passed the written test today. It wasn't too bad. Next step is class next week.

[Helmutt]

Step 1 - Run right out an buy the new Busa. Learn the hard way the first time, just to get it out of the way.

Step 2 - Master wheelies early on since it looks way cooler on an episode of Cops than just the typical eluding.

Step 3 - Burnouts, burnouts, burnouts! Because they're just a cool way of asserting your dominance over all other riders.

Step 4 - Once you can safely wheelie out of a burnout, only then upgrade to the Vmax.....should be the following week.

In all seriousness, you're going about it the right way. SV650 is my vote too. Great all around machine

[Anden]

Welcome.