Starter Sport Bike for under 10K

Hey Dino!

I'm a huge sportsbike fan and just recently turned 16, which means motorcycle permit for me! However, I didn't know where to start and money was an issue for me. So the best compromise was the Kawasaki Ninja 250. The price on that bike is around 3k. Now, its likely you will say you can handle a 250 and want a bigger bike than that. Well if you have no riding expereince at all, I HIGHLY reccomend this bike. It does 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, which is not exactly slow. Its lighter than the bigger bikes, so you can outhandle most of them once your experienced. And then moving up to a bigger bike will be even more rewarding. I purchased a 04' GSX-R 600 in a rare color combo after my ninja 250 and its a great bike, but without the prior experience on a smaller bike, im happy I started small.

Also your most likely gunna crash/drop the bike in the first couple months, do you want that bike to be the nice one? Or the smaller one your using to learn on?

Good luck and happy riding!!!!

Remember save up around 1k for gear as well!

 

This is good advice!
Buy the small bike, have fun, buy it used, have fun, wear your gear, and go have some fun.
Take a few riding classes, they're fun.

When you've mastered the small bike, keep it, buy a bigger bike, (600 or so), ride it, have fun. then go back and ride your other small bike, it'll be lot's of fun. Take a track class, and have fun. Make sure to wear your gear. Go have some fun. Congrats, welcome to the group.

 

under 10k???? that's most sportbikes. but as your first bike I'd go with an older 600...NOT a 250. You'll grow outta the 250 so fast. I started with an FZR600. I'd recommend that. It's not nearly as powerful as the current bikes and it's a great starter bike. Once you master that, and drop it, etc...get a newer bike. Trust me DO NOT start with a 250.

 

Buy the fastest bike you can afford and you'll have the best 3 minutes of your life!

The advice I heard was get an older {later 90's-2000} 600 somthing. It will be easier to control than a brand new bike {a new 600 will "kill" and old 600} but you won't outgrow it in 4 months. After the learning curve, everything after that is easy.

 

I second the recommendation for a Ducati Monster- 750 or 900 (now, i think they come in 800 and 1000). I started on this bike after taking the MS Course; i was not a natural, or particularly confident rider at first, but i bought good gear, read alot of books and practiced/rode, largely by myself, rather than in a group setting, and stayed entirely within and below my modest limits for quite a while.
The Ducati is pretty light, it doesn't make huge power, but comes with good bits, Brembo brakes, good suspension parts, etc. For little money, add a more comfy seat and some pipes and you are well on your way far below budget.

It's also a classy ride- no competition for Gxxrs and other japanese sportsbikes, but i think you'd be insane to start with one of those. I still have the Ducati, have continued to work on it- stripping it down and getting rid of the plastic. Granted, there are more exotic bikes, and there are faster ones, but it's a perfect compromise. You'll also be in good company because you can ride with everybody- you aren't a member of either the "jap bike" contingent or the "harley" dudes. There is also a decent market for used Ducatis if you go thru a reputable dealer; BCM in New Hampshire is one of the best. That means you can save more money buying used/and/or trade yours in for decent change if you move to a different bike.
Good luck. BTW, the best book i have read on the subject is Keith Code's TWOW (Twist of the Wrist) Vol. II. It made me think about how i approached the bike as a dynamic part of a moving machine, rather than spouting rules and aphorisms of the road.
Oh, two more things: you are in Canada so i have no clue on good dealers. Also, i don't find the Ducati too comfortable for long runs, even if it is not an extreme bike. I'm a fairly large fellow, 6'1" and 240lbs, so i'm a little scrunched up on the Duc and it's pretty light for me, which means i get pretty hammered on highways at high speed.
Some folks here will call me lame, but i also bought a V-Rod, which is big, heavy and extremely comfortable. Frankly, I couldn't have started on the Harley, though; it's far too big a bike for a neophyte to muscle and balance at low speed. My ass doesn't hurt after 150 miles though, and I can't say the same about the Ducati. I suppose there are bikes that offer a middle ground between cruisers and sportsbikes, but everything is a compromise in one direction or another. That just means you own more than one!

 

The Buell Blast is made with the intention of being a "beginner" bike. And despite a certain website out there that blasts it as unreliable the bikes are very good. Any Ninja 250 or 500 would be good and similar bikes from other manufacturers. Buy used or old and learn how to ride on a bike that you won't care much about banging up. Figure on paying from 1-3k for your first bike. No reason to get a brand new one.

 

I'd recommend a 250, but it's an unrealistic hope that new riders embrace it for what it is.

The fastest bike you should EVER start learning on should be a used 95-99 600cc. TAKE THE FAIRINGS OFF, and keep it in a quiet residential neighborhood for the first 100-200 miles. And take MSF before you EVER go out on public roads.

 

good reply,Martin. Extremely likely the bike will fall while you're learning. SO WILL YOU. Buy good gear, wear it. Have fun. Buy a cheap Jap bike, they are almost bullet proof. Ride it, take the MSF safety course. Have fun.

 

Spend the first 2k on equipment. Leathers with plastic in the spine, hips, forearms, etc. About 1.5k, less if used. A good helmet, not one that's been dropped or otherwise hurt. Good boots, generally the plastic ones have a lot more protection, can protect your feet. I'm broken just about every bone in my right foot, and wished they'd been making the plastic units when I got hurt.

Then, take the course, buy the 250 or a 500 twin, learn how to ride, you'll probably use the safety equipment, then get something a little quicker.

Art

 

I'm in the same boat as you, purchased a clean, low-mileage, well maintained 98 Ducati 900SS/CR as they are good starter bikes (not too much power and excellent low-down torque). They have a 1/2 fairing to limit damage when the inevitable fall occurs. Excellent quality riding gear is a must-buy a $10.00 helmet for a $10.00 head. www.motorcyclegearreview.com is a good place to check out. Make sure your gear fits properly;you don't want to be distracted by uncomfortable clothes because you'll be busy scanning the horizon for soccer moms in SUVs talking on their cell phones. Take the basic MSF courses first, then you can worry about winning the MotoGP championship later......

 

please consider my 98 triumph daytona t595. it is totally as new condition w/5k miles and nevr down. it is flawless and needs nothing but to be ridden.
$4k

the bike is a stunner and is for sale...i have too many other bikes

p.m. if interested.

pcb

 

you guys suggesting he buy a ducati is the most ridiculous advice i've ever heard. They are expensive to maintain...they run dry clutches...it's not a good first bike ever. He's going to drop it...let's face it. And who the hell wants to drop a Duc even if you do have a lot of money. Take the advice of one of the other guys and buy some gear...don't forget frame sliders also. Get an older Japanese bike.

 

The 2 valve air cooled ducs are not as maintenance intensive as the watercooled 4 valve motors. Nobody I know ever wants to drop any kind of bike, be it a Ducati or a Japanese bike. Japanese 4 cylinder bikes are not good starter bikes, and you will outgrow the small Japanese twins quickly as well as taking a depreciation hit.

"Beginning Motorcycling for Idiots" wriiten by a staffer at Motorcyclist Magazine, is an excellent book for a novice biker and they highly recommend the 2 valve Ducatis for the reasons I've previously stated.

 

Suzuki SV650 or Honda CBR600F3, F4, or F4i if you are mature and not just looking to be the #1 stunta.

 

Sorry Mark,
I disagree with you wholeheartedly, I would say, as others have stated previuously, a 2 valve Duc or a Brit bike would be a good choice. They are simple to maintain, and if he chooses to unload it after a while he won't have the all to common loss of value associated with the Jap bikes.

 

Yep, and the 2001 750 has a wet clutch as well...

 

I would say Suzuki SV 650.. something to grow into. Not as expensive as a Duc to fix should you drop it. I.e. tank, rearsets, clip ons/ bars. More bike for less $$$..(I'm not Duc bashing here.. they are great bikes too.. but lets face reality.. the SV is more bike than the M-620, and M-750/800. as well as 620SS and 750/800SS) Tho the 800DS engines are a nice step above the previous 750 engines.

65 HP versus 40-55 HP on the smaller Ducs. Twin rotors up front versus single. Basically just more bike for less $$.

Stay away from the buell blast.. 1 its boring and you need to be between 5'-8" and 6' to ride it comfortably. Also it is under powered compared to most bikes and you would most likely out grow it in a season. Same with an EX250.

Most importantly get high quality gear. Gloves with a full gauntlet, helmet, jacket and boots.. Trust me on this. Your skin/head are all you have and pavement is one hell of a belt sander.

Look for something that is 1, the style you want. 2, can grow into.. enough power to get you both into and out of trouble. 3.Take the MSF riders course near you. 4. Read as much technique stuff as possible in the back of the trade rags.. 5. Once you get settled and comfortable after a season or 2 sign up for a track day. You will learn more at a track day than in any road, or saftey course could possibly teach you. 6. Trust your tires! 7. Practice, Practice, Practice.. ride as much as possible..ride in the rain, beware of sand and use your head.

 

Get some decent kit first and pass your test.Hear in UK if your under 21yrs old you have to have the bike restricted to 33bhp. Test ride a few bike and see what you like, also don't get a bike thats too heavy unless your a strong big guy. Good first starter bike are any 400cc supersports(CBR/RVF/FZR) same goes for 600cc. Do watch out for Ducati's they are more costly to run and do depreciate if you put on mileage. Remember insurance costs, also when you want to sell get a model that is wanted and not one in a limited market. As the next person could be the same as you were at first. I sell bikes for a living and get asked these sort of questions everyday. As a personal 1st bike a Yamaha Fazer 600 is a good all round bike same engine as a Thundercat but Fazer easier to ride due to handlebars and less plastics to break if you drop it. Good luck

 

guys...$4k for a georgous triumph daytona!

acidic yellow paint w/o blemish!
singlesided swing arm
carbor fiber exhaust
3 cyl. howl that is rivaled only by a judd v-10 in sound
never dropped
perrrrffffeeecccttt!!!!!

$4k!!! thats it!

buy it

 

uh, let's not forget the most important advice: Go have some fun! Wear your gear, it works, (I've tested mine ) Be careful, my friend, welcome to the community!

 

I just went through this myself. I learned how to ride a motorcycle when I was 10 years old and rode off road for about 10 years. I have not been on a bike for over 20 years and decided to get something simple, reliable, good looking, inexpensive and fun.

After looking at a lot of bikes I just bought a Yamaha YZF600R. Not to be confused with the Yamaha R6 (which is a pure racing bike), the YZF has more power than you will need, is very comfortable and has an upright driving position. It is also quite light at about 400 pounds. The dealer that I purchased from would not sell me either an R6 or the Honda CBR600RR because they felt it would be too much bike for me at this stage.

I've put about 100 miles on it and I can say that I made the right decision. The other bikes would have been overkill for me because I am just driving around town and occasionally longer rides through the mountains.

This bike design has been around for about 8 years and the engine is bulletproof. The bike lists for $7100 and I bought mine for less. I wouldn't start with a 250CC bike. You will outgrow it quickly. Also, you need to decide if you want a sport bike or cruiser. Two different animals...

I also agree that you should buy high quality safety gear. I spent a lot of money on my helmet (I bought an Arai which I felt are the safest and most comfortable helmets on the market) and I also bought a good pair of gloves and jacket.

I didn't take the safety course because I had previous experience but I would strongly reccommend it for a first time rider.

Good Luck,

Scott