,I've been riding on the back of bikes for 15 years and now im finally purchasing "my own". the problem is i dont know what to get?? i found one that i really like which is a 2004 R1. Its a steal and i cant stop thinking about it.....but not sure if its right for me?....other than that i would love a CBR600. btw............I am a female (shouldnt matter) and Im 5'7 which i know height matters!! LONG LEGS!
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Whats the best bike for me?
- Thread starter jojo
- Start date
atvrider08150
New member
I dont know all that much about bikes...but my brother has had them all his life from 600's to hayabusa's and i asked him what a good starter bike would be..and he said a 600 is a good size...i asked him what make is reliable he told me to try to get a gsxr 600 because they are light, good handling but if u want.. they can really move!
hope it helps...CBR...good bike also..i like honda's
hope it helps...CBR...good bike also..i like honda's
Definitely not an R1 as a starter bike, they're enormously powerful track missiles and not the kind of bike you want to be learning on. You'll do fine with any 600 cc bike - r6, gsxr 600, cbr 600 or zxr600.
Three issues with the 600 cc sports bikes I just mentioned (and any sports or "race replica" bike): -
1. They tend to be expensive to insure
2. If you do ever have any spills, even low speed spills, the fairings are expensive to replace
3. They have a lot of power kicking in at around 5k revs, but are low powered below that. If you're doing lots of town riding, it's nice to have some low end kick, instead of just feeling it higher in the rev range. This makes getting your biker wings more difficult. Not only are you developing skills in basic machine handling, but you're also trying to compensate for the non linear power delivery of the bike.
4. They're not always so comfortable. The newer CBRs have their bars raised, so you're not carrying so much weight on your wrists, and the seats are softer. And they include other gadgetry and features, such as electronic steering dampers, to make your ride more enjoyable. The older cbr 600 F I hear is a decent machine that has a more balanced power delivery and a more comfortable riding (and pillion) position. The cbr 600 rr I hear is a maniacal racing machine.
Have you thought about some kind of nakd bike? A kawasaki z750, a kawa er6n (or er6f), a suzuki gsr600, a honda hornet, or a yamaha xj600? How about a ducati monster? These are low down, easy to ride and nice looking.
Many are these bikes are more rider friendly, cheaper to insure and more comfortable. Of course if you're doing lots of speedy high way travel the lack of a screen can cause some discomfort. In these cases you can usually get a fly screen, to disperse some of the wind.
A yamaha fazer has a yam r6 engine in it and revs like crazy and develops 100 bhp. It's a best of a machine, but in an altogether more practical package.
I think it's important to not be dogmatic and to realise that most of us bikers are vain and are buying into the style and image of the bike as much as the bike itself. I think if you're moderately careful, you can make most bikes work as a first bike, and you'll overlook some o the other issues (hard seat, awkward riding position, lack of torque etc.) if you really like how the bike looks and sounds.
So ideally you'd steer clear of all race replica type bikes, but if you want a sporty RR then a 600cc would be acceptable. But, I would definitely steer clear of a raced 1000cc bike. r1, zxr10, gsxr1000 etc. are just too f-kin fast. A bike that is capable of 170mph plus and develops those speeds in record time is not suitable for a beginner. Hell, the 600 cc versions of these bikes will outstrip pretty much every car on the road -- and many of the bikes -- but by virtue of their lower power they are more forgiving.
Being 5'7", which is a decent height, you need to sit on some of these bikes and get a feel for what is good and what isn't. Do you feel comortable and balanced sat on it? Do your feet touch the floor etc.?
Three issues with the 600 cc sports bikes I just mentioned (and any sports or "race replica" bike): -
1. They tend to be expensive to insure
2. If you do ever have any spills, even low speed spills, the fairings are expensive to replace
3. They have a lot of power kicking in at around 5k revs, but are low powered below that. If you're doing lots of town riding, it's nice to have some low end kick, instead of just feeling it higher in the rev range. This makes getting your biker wings more difficult. Not only are you developing skills in basic machine handling, but you're also trying to compensate for the non linear power delivery of the bike.
4. They're not always so comfortable. The newer CBRs have their bars raised, so you're not carrying so much weight on your wrists, and the seats are softer. And they include other gadgetry and features, such as electronic steering dampers, to make your ride more enjoyable. The older cbr 600 F I hear is a decent machine that has a more balanced power delivery and a more comfortable riding (and pillion) position. The cbr 600 rr I hear is a maniacal racing machine.
Have you thought about some kind of nakd bike? A kawasaki z750, a kawa er6n (or er6f), a suzuki gsr600, a honda hornet, or a yamaha xj600? How about a ducati monster? These are low down, easy to ride and nice looking.
Many are these bikes are more rider friendly, cheaper to insure and more comfortable. Of course if you're doing lots of speedy high way travel the lack of a screen can cause some discomfort. In these cases you can usually get a fly screen, to disperse some of the wind.
A yamaha fazer has a yam r6 engine in it and revs like crazy and develops 100 bhp. It's a best of a machine, but in an altogether more practical package.
I think it's important to not be dogmatic and to realise that most of us bikers are vain and are buying into the style and image of the bike as much as the bike itself. I think if you're moderately careful, you can make most bikes work as a first bike, and you'll overlook some o the other issues (hard seat, awkward riding position, lack of torque etc.) if you really like how the bike looks and sounds.
So ideally you'd steer clear of all race replica type bikes, but if you want a sporty RR then a 600cc would be acceptable. But, I would definitely steer clear of a raced 1000cc bike. r1, zxr10, gsxr1000 etc. are just too f-kin fast. A bike that is capable of 170mph plus and develops those speeds in record time is not suitable for a beginner. Hell, the 600 cc versions of these bikes will outstrip pretty much every car on the road -- and many of the bikes -- but by virtue of their lower power they are more forgiving.
Being 5'7", which is a decent height, you need to sit on some of these bikes and get a feel for what is good and what isn't. Do you feel comortable and balanced sat on it? Do your feet touch the floor etc.?