[jayse]

I'm looking into bikes right now and was just wondering what would be the best starter sport bike for me.

I like the Honda CBR, Yamaha R6 and Susuki GSX-R.

I don't really know about cc's and actually, anything about motorcycles, so help would be great!

Price wise, I'm thinking if I can get anything under $3000.

Thanks!

[z3german]

with that budget I would go for a 250cc.

if you have taken a course at pacific riding school though, i would try to up your budget to 5g or something so you can get a decent shape 600cc thats not 10 years old.

check out this sub forum! all the riders are there :)
Revscene Riders Corner - Vancouver's Top Classifieds and Automotive Forum - REVscene.net (http://www.revscene.net/forums/revscene-riders-corner_45/)

[BrRsn]

should get the biggest engine you can afford, and don't worry about safety gear. As long as you watch enough youtube videos on how to drive a motorcycle, and practice standing on 1 foot for 1 hour a day to improve your balance, you'll never need safety gear. Just spend that safety gear money towards more CC's! I recommend 950cc as the minimum for a starter bike.


here:
Easy Guide: First Time Motorcycle Riding - YouTube

[Recon604]

Say what? LOOL dont listen to this guy. Watching YouTube videos doesn't teach you shit. Take a motorcycle course where you have instructors there and have hands on experience. The course is about $800 from PRS. Highly recommend you taking a course there
Posted via RS Mobile

[Recon604]

Also get a 600c. No point in getting a 250cc bcz ull get bored of it real fast. And also invest into some protector gear, last thing you want is to hurt yourself or paralyze yourself for life if you get into a crash.
Posted via RS Mobile

[heleu]

should get the biggest engine you can afford, and don't worry about safety gear. As long as you watch enough youtube videos on how to drive a motorcycle, and practice standing on 1 foot for 1 hour a day to improve your balance, you'll never need safety gear. Just spend that safety gear money towards more CC's! I recommend 950cc as the minimum for a starter bike.


lol. You guys do realize he is just trolling right? If you follow the opposite of what he recommends, you will be fine.

[BrRsn]

Ya, plus don't get a honda bike. When vtec kicks in the power spikes way too high .. makes it hard to control.



OP maybe look at getting a Honda F4, carburated. IIRC It was only made in 1999/2000 but it looks exactly like the newer sportbikes, but makes a little less power so it'll be easier to ride but still look cool

2000 CBR 600 F4 (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/mcy/3717052495.html)

[hud 91gt]

My Suzuki SV650 has been a great starter bike for me. Coming up 5 years now and it's been rock solid. Enough pep to scare the shit out of you(For the first year or two :P), and super light so it's easy to handle. Mine is a 2001, but I believe the newer FI model came out in 2004. Nicer bodywork, same badass V twin sound.

I picked it up for $3500 way back when, and i'm sure i'll still get close to $3000 for it today.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/9127_130246505683_3341072_n.jpg

[CharlieH]

for that price range you're looking at an 99-01 600cc japanese sport bike. i'd try to opt for fuel injection (01+ GSXR600 for example) as it'll be much less of a hassle to deal with down the road.

[dinamix]

Sv are so ugly. I hate that half fairing shit
Posted via RS Mobile

[Vale46Rossi]

Invest in gear and riding school before looking for a bike.

[Kayci]

As dhillon09 stated, f4 is a great choice; seating position is slightly less aggressive compared to the other 600CCs. But for a few hundred more, you can get the f4i which is fuel injected so you don't have to deal with carbs.

It's not going to be your last bike, so don't worry sweat it too much. You'll learn things you hate/love and look for those features in your next one

[hud 91gt]

Sv are so ugly. I hate that half fairing shit
Posted via RS Mobile

Get the naked one then :p

[PowerOn]

You can get a used cbr 250r or ninja 250r for ~$3000. Don't start on a 600cc bike like everyone here is "suggesting"

[?NR]

What reasons are prompting you to pursue 2-wheeling?

is it for the freedom of open air motoring?

is it for speed?

is it for cost effectiveness?

all of the above?

answering those will shed some light and help you make the choices when it comes.

In the city, 49cc up to 250cc is enough to commute. Sure, not break neck speeds or exciting, but it is adequate. Ever been on a motorized 2 wheeler before? if not you can try renting out a scooter to get the feel of open air riding. Go from them and slowly graduate yourself to be a safe and efficient rider. Take a course, it will literally save you from sticky situations.

$3000 budget, I'd spend a good majority of it on training and protective gear, then purchase something you can practice on while having some fun. I know alot of people scoff at the 125cc class of CBR, but for the initial cost and operations cost, it makes sense. slightly faster than a 50cc scooter, but lightweight and good platform to practice shifting and dynamics. Go up to 250cc as a comprimise if you think 125cc is not enough for you.

last but not least, leave ego out of it. That ensures your health and longevity.

just as illustration:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/search/mca?zoomToPosting=&query=cbr125&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/search/mca?zoomToPosting=&query=cbr250&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rch/mcy/3719807394.html

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/search/mca?zoomToPosting=&query=ninja+250r&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/search/mca?zoomToPosting=&query=cbr+250&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=

[jayse]

What reasons are prompting you to pursue 2-wheeling?

is it for the freedom of open air motoring?

is it for speed?

is it for cost effectiveness?

all of the above?


Thanks for the great feedback everyone!

And to answer the questions,
Yes for freedom of open air motoring
No, not really for speed
Yes, for cost effectiveness
++ Bikes are cool :)

I have a friend offering me a Honda CBR 125cc with 3000 kms on it for $1500. He says it's in excellent condition, what do y'all think?
Posted via RS Mobile

[Kidnapman]

Wow that's a steal. You should certainly get it, if not I'll take it off your friends hand. :buttrock:

[dn53]

back when i was in gr 10 i was dicking about with pocket bikes with a friend when we got in shit from the police. he ended up giving me a lecture and how if i was patient i'd have so much more fun on a real motorcycle and be street legal. after that, i read on and on about my first bike, gear, and kept hearing about pacific riding school on revscene. years later i finally committed to it after friends/coworkers pressed me on getting a bike

personally, i really wanted an r6, or a cbr 600rr, but i knew what was best for me. I waited for the right deal on a ninja 250r, undoubtedly the best starter bike, still decently stylish, and of course price was important (i spent about 3 grand on the bike -- just like your budget).

i have no regrets taking prs, or buying my 250. i hope at the very least if you jump straight on a 6 you go to a riding school. the other thing is if youre not too tall the learning curve on the r6 n cbr might make things tougher (gsxr the lowest of the 3 you listed). i'm 5'6 and i was glad i could put both my feet down on the 250, especially when i was learning.

good luck!

[bcrdukes]

$1500 for a CBR125 with 3000km? :seriously:

That's a freakin' steal, man!

[!oHenry]

Thanks for the great feedback everyone!

And to answer the questions,
Yes for freedom of open air motoring
No, not really for speed
Yes, for cost effectiveness
++ Bikes are cool :)

I have a friend offering me a Honda CBR 125cc with 3000 kms on it for $1500. He says it's in excellent condition, what do y'all think?
Posted via RS Mobile

In my opinion owning a bike can be just as expensive as owning a car. Aside from the bike itself, there's gear and insurance.

If you're wondering if a 125 is right for you, you need to ask yourself what do you foresee yourself using the bike for. Is it to commute? If so, do you need to take any highways? Also, depending on your build, a 125 may be too small for you. In addition, many people out grow a 125 very quickly, and would upgrade in a few months.

I would personally recommend starting on a 250, as you can still go on the highway, its more forgiving than most 600's and when it comes time to move on, it'll retain it value very well.

[Raid3n]

my bike is much cheaper than my car! lol... but then again i ride old bikes, and my car is a rotary haha.

[CharlieH]

honestly just get a hayabusa and be done with it. i hear there's tons of aftermarket support if you want to turbocharge it as well.

[dachinesedude]

how big are you (weight and height)?

if you're 6'0 200lb forget about the 125/250's, you'll feel like you're riding a mini-bike, just get a 600+

and take the school, it will save your life

[604STIG]

250-300cc is probably the best size you can get for your first bike. The power is manageable, inexpensive to purchase (relatively speaking) and re-sale after a couple of years won't hurt. Also the insurance and fuel costs are low (again comparatively speaking)

But the best thing you can do is take a riding course as recommended above, PRS is very popular and a solid school. Don't be the newb that we have to read about launching a bike into the back of a truck or into a tree.

[falcon]

I learned on a 600cc. And I'm still here..
Posted via RS Mobile

[CharlieH]

i think starting on a 600+ is ok so long as you have a fundamental understanding of how motorcycles work. I didn't know anything when i started on my gsxr750 and almost got into some serious accidents as a result of it. find out why bikes react the way they do when given certain inputs and i guarantee you'll avoid the newbie mistakes. one thing i'll admit is the bigger bikes are a huge pain in the ass to maneuver at low speeds compared to something like a ninja250. everything about a 600+ sport bike is race oriented, so it's very finicky when ridden at low speeds.

[604STIG]

There's nothing wrong learning on a 600cc bike, I did it. But OP's original question stated which bike is the "best" bike to learn on.

[rk604]

just get a litre bike, these guys' don't know what they're talking about. As long as you don't hit vtec you'll be fine

[Raid3n]

lol so much dickery ITT :lol

[BrRsn]

There's nothing wrong learning on a 600cc bike, I did it. But OP's original question stated which bike is the "best" bike to learn on.

if OP is getting a cbr 125 for $1500 i think that just about ends the thread right there lol

[bcrdukes]

just get a litre bike, these guys' don't know what they're talking about. As long as you don't hit vtec you'll be fine

To be honest...if you can ride a litre bike, it just automatically means you can ride anything. :fullofwin:




:ilied:

[z3german]

Buy the CBR125! Learn on it, dont drop it, flip it for profit, buy a 250 or 600 depending on how you feel after getting your hands dirty handling a bike.

[Gwilo]

I have a problem, I watched that video it said motorcycles have 6 gears.

One of mine has only 5 and the other one has 7.

Should I bring them to the shop to have them fixed ?

[Gwilo]

Want to buy a bike.

START HERE

http://wpc.200e.edgecastcdn.net/0020...ome_1_sdhb.mp4

Then sign up here

http://www.revscene.net/forums/663960-riding-lessons-prs-2012-group-signup-23.html

Course $ 800.00

Then helmet $ 400.00

Jacket $ 250.00

Pant $ 150.00

Gloves $ 120.00

( ttl $ 1900 after tax)

License & Insurance $ 1000.00 (new rider .... it can be less ... but you get the point

That leaves you with how much for your bike out of your $ 3000.00

Oh and the tax on a bike is 12 % on a private sale and 7 % from a shop

Motorcycles are not a poor mans sport.

[jayse]

In my opinion owning a bike can be just as expensive as owning a car. Aside from the bike itself, there's gear and insurance.

If you're wondering if a 125 is right for you, you need to ask yourself what do you foresee yourself using the bike for. Is it to commute? If so, do you need to take any highways? Also, depending on your build, a 125 may be too small for you. In addition, many people out grow a 125 very quickly, and would upgrade in a few months.

I would personally recommend starting on a 250, as you can still go on the highway, its more forgiving than most 600's and when it comes time to move on, it'll retain it value very well.


I will be using the bike pretty much to commute from my home in Burnaby to work in downtown Vancouver and vice versa. Other than that I'd be riding mainly in Vancouver downtown and eastside.

I am 5'9, 160lbs with a fit build so I think the CBR 125 would fit me just fine if I do choose to get it.

I don't need to use the highway for travelling and I don't really care about speed.

What I do care about is the look and sound of the bike I choose to get. I don't want to be riding a dinky ass bike so my friends can make fun of me, then again none of them are riders. And I'd prefer my bike doesn't sound like a scooter.. I have checked out pictures of the 2007 Honda CBR 125 and it looks decent, a little skinny but whatever, it's only a first bike.

That all being said, getting the 2007 (BTW, I didn't mention it before, but yeah it's a 2007) Honda CBR 125, colour black, about 3000kms for $1500 is something I'm really interested in. You guys say it's a steal and I just checked CL and they go for about 1800-2000 and so I agree.

So.. Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks again for all the feedback :)

Oh and what's the insurance like for a new rider if I do get the CBR 125? I need numbers :)

EDIT: Yes, I'll definitely be taking the riding school course and getting protective gear.

[kwy]

The 125 will be fun for about 15 minutes, then you'll outgrow it. Get an SV650, ninja 650r, ninja 400r, or at least a 08+ ninja 250r. Rule of thumb: stay away from anything with more than 2 "R"s in the name.

[double0seven]

To be honest...if you can ride a litre bike, it just automatically means you can ride anything. :fullofwin:




:ilied:

Challenge accepted :ilied:

[jayse]

The 125 will be fun for about 15 minutes, then you'll outgrow it. Get an SV650, ninja 650r, ninja 400r, or at least a 08+ ninja 250r. Rule of thumb: stay away from anything with more than 2 "R"s in the name.

Not really into the having fun part, more into the commute part.. getting around the city quickly. 125 be good for that?

[SoNaRWaVe]

i would suggest a 250 then. forgiving and plenty of power for the city. it'll even be good on the highway if you want to go on a nice ride. after a few seasons, then upgrade if you feel like you're ready. i'm personally interested in the ninja 300 but i don't think its in canada yet?

[Retrac]

Holeshot motorsports are listing the 300 ninja as available, I was more interested in the 400 ninja that they can't seem to sell

[bcrdukes]

Oh and what's the insurance like for a new rider if I do get the CBR 125? I need numbers :)

Cheap. I wouldn't even worry too much about it. Your gear and riding lessons might cost more. ::badpokerface:

[rk604]

yeah don't get the 125...you'll get bored of it too fast. try to find a 250 ninja

[kwy]

Not really into the having fun part, more into the commute part.. getting around the city quickly. 125 be good for that?

I think the fact that it has like 13hp is a little scary. Having a little more get-up-and-go has gotten me out of trouble more than a couple times. Having more power helps with merging into traffic, etc as well. Too little power is sometimes a safety issue, I've found. Also, if you ever need to hit the highway or make a longer commute, the cbr125 would be pretty useless. A 250 is at least more practical in that sense.

[kwy]

You can even get the new(ish) Honda CBR250R..which is a bit better(and more refined) than the ninja 250r for under 4k. Otherwise, I don't think it'd be too difficult to pick up an 08+ ninja 250r for ~3k

[Gtrr33]

after PRS my first bike was a 2004 R6. no biggie

[jayse]

What do people mean, I'd get bored of riding a 125cc after a while? Is it the speed?

[SoNaRWaVe]

its the power. it would take less for the 250 to reach a certain speed when compared to the 125. so lets say you take it to the highway, it would probably be more of a struggle to reach 120km/h on the 125 than it would be for the 250. both can reach it, but it just takes more for the 125 to get there. with a 600cc, it would be even easier and faster to reach 120km/h. hope that makes sense.

[jayse]

its the power. it would take less for the 250 to reach a certain speed when compared to the 125. so lets say you take it to the highway, it would probably be more of a struggle to reach 120km/h on the 125 than it would be for the 250. both can reach it, but it just takes more for the 125 to get there. with a 600cc, it would be even easier and faster to reach 120km/h. hope that makes sense.

Well said! But I won't be using the highway, and I don't think I'd be getting bored of my bike because it uses a bit more power. WELL... Maybe after a year or so, but it's all good, $1500 for a starter bike to figure out what I really want later on, am I riiiight? :badpokerface:

[bloodline129]

U will get annoyed by shifting all them freekin gears on 125... I'd suggest to start with 250... All around more versatile of a bike... Imagine shifting 5/6 gears so u can drive 120km/h
Posted via RS Mobile

[SoNaRWaVe]

^ +1 on that. i bought a 06 r6 as my first bike and i think it would have been a better choice to go with a 250 first. i rode my friends 250 and the amount of gears to change seemed like a lot more of a chore than the r6 lol. but the fuel injection, gotta love it.

[CharlieH]

^

get a 1000, and you can hit 140km/h in 1st gear lolol

[corollagtSr5]

My first bike was a 2006 gsxr600. Bought it in 2009. I say go 1000cc and save the trouble of buying and selling. Go big or go home!

[fliptuner]

Don't forget, if you buy that 125 and do your test on it, you'll have a restricted license.

[jayse]

Don't forget, if you buy that 125 and do your test on it, you'll have a restricted license.

Why would I have a restricted license if I used the 125?

[fliptuner]

Idk if the rules changed but when I took my test, 16 years ago, if you did your road test on anything under 200cc's you were limited to <200cc bikes and couldn't carry a passenger.

I don't think much has changed since then, other than how they administer the road test and GLP.

[falcon]

I'd never suggest a 125 to anyone. I've worked at multiple dealers and those bikes come in on trade so fast. Everyone regrets starting with it. Buy at least a 250cc... the new Kawi 300 is a sweet bike. Go find an older ZZR250/Ninja250 from the 90's. GREAT learner bike.

[kwy]

falcon, did you ever work at Ducati?

[Kayci]

Why would I have a restricted license if I used the 125?

http://i48.tinypic.com/fasi1x.png

ICE BOY mentioned it already, but here's the pic out of the learner's book

[brute_4s]

i also learned on a 600... all 600s are so similar that there really isnt one that would stand out over another when it comes to being "easy" to ride. but i found it quite easy to learn to ride with a 600 considering the power. you just have to appreciate and know the fact that this bike can kill you and you will probably never be able to hit its limits before reaching yours.

[Gwilo]

'600 I4' are the cool bike, but for city driving / commuting they are like tits on a bull.

You have fantastic top end power but nothing down low, all the fun starts over 7000 rpm.

They are a very fun toy, but for use a transportation a 650 V2 is a far better bike, you have power in the usable 2- 5000 rpm range and better ergo ride city/commute and longer distances.

The 6000 - 10000 rpm range the bike will do it all.

Also do not get an R6 that would be to much bike start small get the R1 :)

[Gwilo]

There is a good thread to read

Your experience on the feel of different engine configs

Your experience on the feel of different engine configs. (http://www.bcsportbikes.com/forum/showthread.php/146848-Your-experience-on-the-feel-of-different-engine-configs).

[falcon]

falcon, did you ever work at Ducati?

Yeah, I worked at both Richmond Motorsports when they were around and Vancouver Ducati in sales more recently. I'm out of the industry now though.

[falcon]

Gwilo, I dont think there is anything wrong with riding a 600RR, GSXR600 or similar in town. Half the time I never wound it out past 8-10k anyways. Sure not the BEST city bike but definatley manageable without much issue. A liter bike on the other hand is not really a good idea.

Personally if I were to buy a newer bike right now I would get something like a Aprilia Tuono or Hypermotard. Because I am a hooligan and dont really ride long distances anymore. But my two stroke '70 Suzuki will suffice for now.

[dink]

You need at least a 250cc for road test to not get restricted license.
If you take a 200cc or less to a road test and pass, you're restricted to only ride 125cc legally.

maybe a ninja 300 would be nice for you (for commuting)