Let's talk streetbikes.

[DavidQ 170]

So here's the situation I'm in. I have been thinking of getting a streetbike. Now so you know, I have never ridden a bike before but wanting to save gas and insurance and a car payment I have considered this as an option. My commute is 14 miles to work. I live in a smaller town and the top speed here is 55 but mostly 45 everywhere. I want to get something that will be great for around town but if I wanted to make a 90 mile ride I could do so at 75 on the hwy. I have been looking at 3 bikes in particular: honda cbr600, kawasaki ninja 500r, suzuki gsxr. What are some of your recomendations on a good all around street bike? Experience on value and reliability is what I'm looking for. Thanks for any advice you can supply to me.

[SmilinEd 364]

Honda hands down as far as jap street bike, just me tho.

 

I don't like the chain drive (shaft) but I am older than you.

 

Dependability and repair cost, IMO Honda.

 

Btw, what do others ride at the shop...?

[patriot 7,197]

Victory 8 ball! American, Fast, Powerful, and GORGEOUS!

 

[DavidQ 170]

I'm on a budget of $2500-$3000 including gear. I have found quite a few bikes in the $2000 range and that's the goal I'm shooting for.

[Tundra1 391]

I would stay away from sport bikes in that price range.  They more than likely have had the snot ran out of them.  I always liked the Yamaha V-Max.  I believe they quit making them in the late 2000's.  Not sure what an older one could be bought for, but they were screamers and fairly comfortable to ride.

[Spikester 93]

Get what I have, Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom. They've been on the market since '04 so plenty of used ones around. Great mileage, about 50+MPG. Upright seating, not a lay down crotch rocket or a lazyboy cruiser.

[XD45 7,124]

You'll be a lot happier day to day with a sit-up bike. I can't tell you a specific model cause I ride an overpriced overweight air cooled American bike.

[SmilinEd 364]

I'm on a budget of $2500-$3000 including gear. I have found quite a few bikes in the $2000 range and that's the goal I'm shooting for.

Great time of yr to be buying motorcycles, after Christmas might give you an even better buying opportunity..

 

I'm still a Honda fan tho in that price range

 

Patience and happy hunting...!!!!!

Edited December 16, 2014 by SmilinEd

[vulcan16 971]

The Honda & Suzuki will eat you alive insurance wise. The Ninja 500 will fit your current need as described, with low insurance cost.

However it will not perform nearly as well as the other two. It will top at around 115 mph, while the other two will hit 135 +.

[DavidQ 170]

I plan on making this transition early next year. I'm not looking for speed, just affordability and reliability. I do not want to start on a 250. I have a spotless record with no accidents or tickets in the 15 years I have been driving. Insurance coat is another factor I'm looking into also.

[vulcan16 971]

The Ninja 500 is more of a sport tourer then it is a sport bike.

You will sit more upright then the other two.

I've been riding well over 35 years and insurance on sport bikes can be high even for me.

The ex wife was looking at a Yamaha 1200 and full coverage insurance was going to cost about $100 a month. Found a nice clean Suzuki Bandit 1200 and full coverage insurance was only $300 per year. The Bandit would do 140mph + but was considered a sport tourer. $900 difference per year.

Some of the younger guys at work are paying $2200-$2500 for crotch rocket insurance.

[SHOTGUN MESIAH 855]

Been pounding the pavement on my Indian Scout since 2001.(bought it brand new in may of 2001) 39,700 miles later and not 1 hiccup.

Although I should change out my lifters real soon. and I mean like now.

Before that I had a Yamahammer XJ-700. Put about 50,000 miles on that one.

Edited December 16, 2014 by SHOTGUN MESSIAH

[Ronin38 2,117]

The V-Strom is very popular for the purpose you're after. I took a slightly different route...

 

I bought a Suzuki Burgman 400 Scooter. Yep, a scooter. The 400cc engine will easily do highway speeds, the full bodywork and windshield protect you from the wind and light rain, and it has a TON of storage space to carry things without having to buy saddlebags,etc.

Once you quit laughing, take a serious look at one. Oh, 55 mpg. ain't bad, either. 

 

Another advantage for a new rider- no clutch or gears to worry about. Just "twist n' go" with the CVT transmission. They have proven to be very reliable, and I can tell you from experience it's a lot of fun to run through twisty roads!

Edited December 16, 2014 by Ronin38

[SmilinEd 364]

LMAO...^^^^^^^^ My dad gave me a phone call tonight before this thread started, He is selling his Suzuki Burgman 650, wanted to know what prices the used market was asking. 06 I think. He loves it.

 

To funny...

 

Damn, also most forgot, when I was going through Cycle Trader. com looking at prices, there was a Burgman Trike, for $5300, he didn't know they built a factory trike

Edited December 16, 2014 by SmilinEd

[HB of CJ 1,263]

Since I am an Old Coot, my likes are probably at odds with the younger set. Out of my two, (2) favorite memory rides, one was a Honda CB350 twin and the other a British Norton 710 Interstate. The Honda would do an honest 80mph with me sitting upright and the Norton would do an honest 100mph.

 

The Norton handled better, but leaked air, gas and oil. The Honda was bone tight and was the faster bike at 9000 feet. As far as todays stuff goes, I do not have a clue. Get some good instruction and consider some race dirt/track bike experience as it will do you well on the street. HB of CJ (old coot)

 

Edited; The Honda 350 was about a 1968 model. The Norton was a 1970 model, if memory serves. Flat out the Honda would do about 95mph @ 10,500 rpm. Geared slightly down. The Norton would do about 110 mph laying down on it and had a very nice low vibration sweet spot at 70 mph. Not that fast. HB

 

T

Edited December 17, 2014 by HB of CJ

[DavidQ 170]

You know, I never thought I would say this but the burgman 650 looks pretty cool. Never thought a scooter was awesome until I saw this one. And it's automatic. Makes life a whole lot easier. I think this might be the one. Doing some searches currently for them. Insurance should be great too.

[Redrum4u 125]

 

Speaking of scooters or mopeds, check out this bad boy;)

83' jawa. This is when the ol scrap lady dropped it off.

I get a million miles per gallon and about 35 mph if the winds right!

[Ronin38 2,117]

The B650 is better if you plan on doing a lot of highway riding or carrying a passenger, the B400 is lighter, gets a little better mpg's and is more "tossable." I went with the 400 for the "fun factor." Both have LOTS of storage.

Check out burgmanusa.com.

[DavidQ 170]

The only hwy I would be driving is 45 mph and I wouldn't have a passenger about 90% of the time. Will definitely be checking these out.

[storm6490 2,768]

Everybody has a different style and taste in bikes. Before you get a bike, PLEASE take this course. Not only will you learn a lot, you will get a feel for a bike and after your training, will know what to look for in the feel and fit of the bike.

 

This course kicks ass no matter how bad ass you are and how long you have been riding. Everybody will gain from it. There are three levels of courses too and you meet a lot of good people.

 

I lost my motorcycle endorsement years ago in wisconsin and took the montana course which is the same as below. I thought i knew how to ride. My dirt bike instincts could have gotten me killed on the harley. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun.

 

Seriously, take this course and it will save your life.

 

[patriot 7,197]

Been pounding the pavement on my Indian Scout since 2001.(bought it brand new in may of 2001) 39,700 miles later and not 1 hiccup.

Although I should change out my lifters real soon. and I mean like now.

Before that I had a Yamahammer XJ-700. Put about 50,000 miles on that one.

Beautiful Indian. That would have been my other choice.

 

...I won't have a bike. I'd hurt myself with it, and I know that. I still love to look at a really nice bike though.

[vulcan16 971]

Riding a scooter or a fat girl may be fun.........but you don't want your friends to see you riding one.

[DLT 1,646]

I miss my flhp.

[XD45 7,124]

Everybody has a different style and taste in bikes. Before you get a bike, PLEASE take this course. Not only will you learn a lot, you will get a feel for a bike and after your training, will know what to look for in the feel and fit of the bike.

 

This course kicks ass no matter how bad ass you are and how long you have been riding. Everybody will gain from it. There are three levels of courses too and you meet a lot of good people.

 

I lost my motorcycle endorsement years ago in wisconsin and took the montana course which is the same as below. I thought i knew how to ride. My dirt bike instincts could have gotten me killed on the harley. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun.

 

Seriously, take this course and it will save your life.

I've done up to the Advanced Rider course and highly recommend their courses. I sent my ex wife there when she wanted to learn to ride, and several friends over the years. Everyone has a positive experience (except the one guy who failed the basic course but he doesn't need to be on 2 wheels, and it's best he knows that).

[DavidQ 170]

Thanks Stryker. I definitely will be taking a rider course and maybe this one. Vegas is closer to me by 2.5 hours than phoenix so when and if the time comes I'll be looking into it.

 

Now a question for all of you experienced buyers and riders out there. Would you buy a bike that has been sitting for a while but only has 93 miles on it?

[gunfun 3,931]

Victory 8 ball! American, Fast, Powerful, and GORGEOUS!

 

 You mean Canadian, right?

p.s. I'd vote for a standard in the inline 4 600-800 cc range. Light and trim is always more fun to ride. Like the yamaha FZ models or similar Kaw bikes. BMW even used to have some nice boxer light touring bikes, with a comfortable nimble stance. Now it seems like everything is getting big fat and heavy, costing 3x what it should and being less fun than something simpler.

[patriot 7,197]

 

Victory 8 ball! American, Fast, Powerful, and GORGEOUS!

 

 You mean Canadian, right?

p.s. I'd vote for a standard in the inline 4 600-800 cc range. Light and trim is always more fun to ride. Like the yamaha FZ models or similar Kaw bikes. BMW even used to have some nice boxer light touring bikes, with a comfortable nimble stance. Now it seems like everything is getting big fat and heavy, costing 3x what it should and being less fun than something simpler.

 

From their web site:

 

 

"Corporate Locations

Polaris Industries Inc. is headquartered just outside of Minneapolis in Medina, Minnesota. Polaris engineering, manufacturing and distribution facilities are located in Roseau, Minnesota; Osceola, Wisconsin; Spirit Lake, Iowa; Vermillion South Dakota."

 

Victory and Indian are Polaris.  BOTH are excellent bikes.BOTH are American.

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/company/locations.aspx

 

Thank you for the "correction"

[Spikester 93]

 

 

Now a question for all of you experienced buyers and riders out there. Would you buy a bike that has been sitting for a while but only has 93 miles on it?

 

Depends on how long a while is. May only need a new battery and carbs cleaned out but could need fork seals and rusty tank cleaned, dry rotted tires replaced and on and on.

[Carsner86 18]

I'd pick the 500 if I were you. Insurance will be less. It'll have plenty of usable power as well for gear get a shoei or arai. shoeis have saved me a few times I like leather gloves cause u can crash a few times in them unlike textile which are usually toast after one fall. Same goes for jackets.

[DavidQ 170]

The bike in reference is a 2001 ninja 500r. It has been sitting in storage for 5 years and is in mint condition. Female owned. The guy is asking $2200 for it. It will need some loving to get it road worthy. It is high on my list of bikes to buy. Even if I need to put $500 or more it would still be like a brand new bike.