So I've shopped around and looked at a few bikes both in person and on Craigslist. So far, I keep coming back to both the Suzuki SV 650 (which I read about in an older thread on tww). I also found a new (2007) Ducati Monster for $5900 which seemed to be a steal. I really love the way this bike sounds, looks and feels to sit on (didnt get a chance to ride it though).

Basically what it boils down to is that I dont want a giant Harley or cruiser but I also dont want a 1000cc race-ready crotch rocket. The Buell's and Ducati's have an appealing look and are comfortable to sit on (in my opinion).

Any other first bike recommendations? Keep in mind I have ridden a bit before and Im a large individual so I'm looking for no less than 600cc. I'd hate not to buy enough bike and then want to upgrade in a few months. Just a good neutral bike that I can comfortably drive for a couple hours down to the beach or just around town. Something with enough power, but not too much.

Thanks Tdub and I apologize in advance if this is a heavily repeated thread topic.

3/26/2008 8:01:53 PM

sv650

3/26/2008 8:02:27 PM

I will sell you my 2001 SV650, seriously

EXCellent condition, ~7500 miles

PM me



[Edited on March 26, 2008 at 10:19 PM. Reason : -]

3/26/2008 10:18:43 PM

hayabusa

3/26/2008 11:21:10 PM

ima miss wheelies. best part of motorcycling, period.



[Edited on March 26, 2008 at 11:36 PM. Reason : .]

3/26/2008 11:34:14 PM

Get a 2000 or 99 Hayabusa

3/27/2008 9:15:47 AM

Everyone starts out on a 600 , but I would advise against it . Alot of guys I ride with in concord

started out on a GSXR 600 or 600 RR. The problem is after 2 months you get tired of it .

Last summer 5 ppl traded in new 600 with less than 2000 miles because 600 get old .

I started riding in 2002 , I bought a 01 GsxR 750 , this is a great all around bike.

It holds the corners good and it has enough balls , when you ride everyday like I do in the

summertime. You wont get tired of it. You can find 03 and 04 750 for around 4000.

3/27/2008 11:04:14 AM

O and 1 more thing dont buy a busa . They are 2 bulky

3/27/2008 11:05:43 AM

Any modern 600cc bike will have more than enough power to haul your ass. SV650 is a good all around bike, specially if you haven't ridden in a while. They are comfortable and forgiving. The gsxr750's are great bikes as well.

Oh, if you start out on a 600 and get bored of it in a few months... you are doing something wrong.

3/27/2008 11:29:57 AM

Yeap , but riding a 600 with 750 s and 1000 s , blows . Stoplight to stoplight you cant keep up

you get tired of a 600 cause you dont have the low end a straight road . I see a few 600 s

3/27/2008 11:35:04 AM

do us a favor and use the search button, Bman.

this very thread/idea has been beaten to death more times than I can count.

The Garage dont give no shit about stoplight racing, me included. twisting throttle doesnt equate to riding skill.

3/27/2008 11:59:49 AM

If you "get tired" of a modern 600 cc superbike, you can't ride for shit.

3/27/2008 12:04:29 PM

Ive got an 04 600rr ill sell to ya with just over 7000 miles. Ignore the comments about the 600's being slow, bike is more than fast enough to scare the hell out of you. Ive riden it around with plenty of 1000's and unless they are hammering it WOT youll keep up.

Only question becomes if your physcially too large and make the bike look tiny. That would be the problem I have.





[Edited on March 27, 2008 at 12:05 PM. Reason : pic]

3/27/2008 12:04:44 PM

anytime you guys want to come ride you let me know , we can show how skilled you are

3/27/2008 12:30:56 PM

Quote :

"Bman:Yeap , but riding a 600 with 750 s and 1000 s , blows . Stoplight to stoplight you cant keep up you get tired of a 600 cause you dont have the low end a straight road . I see a few 600 s"

you are such a fucking idiot.

[Edited on March 27, 2008 at 12:32 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2008 12:31:46 PM

Like I said anytime you guys want to ride

3/27/2008 12:38:54 PM

get the fuck out of the garage with this shit

3/27/2008 12:41:47 PM

Sorry guys I should have kept my mouth shut , I dont ride with a bunch of pussies !

3/27/2008 12:45:56 PM

Quote :

"Yeap , but riding a 600 with 750 s and 1000 s , blows . Stoplight to stoplight you cant keep up you get tired of a 600 cause you dont have the low end a straight road . I see a few 600 s "

you have no idea what you're talking about.

also, for my 4th motorcycle, i'm stepping back DOWN to a 600. They're more fun, I think.

[Edited on March 27, 2008 at 12:47 PM. Reason : ^let me get back in practice and I will absolutely leave you for dead with a 600.]

3/27/2008 12:47:07 PM

katana 600 are good start up bikes

3/27/2008 12:49:12 PM

yeah, you right

3/27/2008 12:50:59 PM

katana 600 would be a good starter bike, but i'd personally rather have an SV650.

of course, the BEST option is to ride a beater for about 6 months, then get a several-year old 600cc sportbike. if you really want more power after a couple of years, get whatever you want then.

3/27/2008 12:53:57 PM

+1 SV650

3/27/2008 12:54:28 PM

I may be biased, but I will say that the SV650 is a wonderful bike. Infact, for comfort, all the Suzuki's I have had experience with (an older GS500 and my SV650)-- in a comparison with other makes they win hands down. It amazes me every time I ride how comfortable they were able to make the SV650.

Even though you have ridden a bit, my opinion would be to not go straight for the Monster. Granted, I can't argue that they aren't beautiful and don't sound great... but for the price, I'd get a little more seat time before dropping 6k on a Monster.

When I was looking for a bike, I was actually avoiding the SV at all costs because so many people on the forum already had it-- and it was kind of the 'token tww chick bike' at the time. However, I'm really glad that I chose the SV. Also, the aftermarket exhaust you choose for an SV can make it sound very different. I love the Two Brothers exhaust on mine-- but I like loud bikes

Send me a PM if I can share any more info about the SV.

3/27/2008 2:29:38 PM

miy SV spits fire

3/27/2008 2:34:40 PM

You could get a couple years old Dodge Tomahawk. They're pretty beginner friendly.

3/27/2008 2:36:29 PM

Bman should ride a gasgas...

3/27/2008 2:36:57 PM

I loved my SV 650 to death! It sounded very loud! and like Jamie, I loved that! But I also really like my R6... I changed my Micron (POS) exhaust for a Blue Flame and it has a little growl at lower RPMs

3/27/2008 3:28:11 PM

If your not Riding the Ducati RR Desmosedici , you arent starting off right.

3/27/2008 3:56:08 PM

BUSA!

3/27/2008 4:26:15 PM

I bet Bman goes to the BP gas station on Capital.

3/27/2008 6:15:02 PM

I ride in concord on speedway Bvld , 485 towards pinville and 77 toward statesville

I twist the throttle , you guys have fun with sv 650 . Dont ride too long might make your vagina sore

3/27/2008 7:33:22 PM

^ What the fuck is stuck up your ass?

3/27/2008 7:37:31 PM

Nothing , but when JBaz says me at the Bp on capital . I came by that place last summer

it looked like TI was about to go on stage .

3/27/2008 7:52:54 PM

Quote :

"I ride in concord on speedway Bvld , 485 towards pinville and 77 toward statesville "

HAHA, you must be one helluva rider to be able to grab a big handfull of throttle on a fucking highway.

What kind of leathers, boots, and gloves do you wear when you're ripping it up on a 4-lane?

3/27/2008 8:01:39 PM

Y2K FTW

3/27/2008 8:07:24 PM

Bman needs to hit the twisties up in north iredell

3/27/2008 8:55:51 PM

Quote :

"Nothing , but when JBaz says me at the Bp on capital . I came by that place last summer it looked like TI was about to go on stage ."

what?

Quote :

"I twist the throttle , you guys have fun with sv 650 ."

Apparently Bman has never seen a sv650 in action.

3/27/2008 8:55:52 PM

Fuck you Bman, I ride a 970000cc bike and only ride with gang members and astronauts. You aren't tuff enough to roll with us.

3/27/2008 9:00:11 PM

I bet Bman is the type of jack ass to do 100mph down the highway, in traffic, while weaving.
The one who is going to kill himself because he thinks he knows how to ride his bike.

3/27/2008 9:02:27 PM

or the guy doing wheelies nonstop in inopportune places while riding with my friends and me out to the twisties, wearing jeans...after talking a huge game before we met up for the ride.

and when you tell him "Hey, don't worry if you start falling behind. We'll wait for you at every intersection. Just ride your own comfortable pace", replies "Oh, don't worry about me, I'll keep up."

and then when we turn off onto the first twisty road, falls behind by a couple hundred yards out of the first corner...and is completely out of sight when I exit the 2nd corner...and after about 5 minutes, is so far behind that when I pull over and shut my bike off to wait for him, STILL takes about a minute to catch up.



or another guy who did pretty much the same thing minus all the mouthing off, and then ended up balling up his 3-day old 636 while overriding his abilities to try to keep up, by grabbing a bunch of front brake mid corner because he saw some gravel in the road.

[Edited on March 27, 2008 at 9:19 PM. Reason : asdfasasdf]

3/27/2008 9:18:01 PM

^or wipe out in the 2nd turn...

3/27/2008 9:28:38 PM

man dont u fags know it's not the bike u ride. it's the cc's.

i see zx14's and im like fuck, that guy can outride me

[Edited on March 27, 2008 at 11:04 PM. Reason : d]

3/27/2008 10:58:06 PM

central NC roads favour a literbike. hell, they favour a 1300 open-class even more.

i had a 1000, a 650 twin, and a 50cc 2 stroke scoot once at the same time. 1000 was useless for anything except for pushing my eyeballs against the back of my head, 650 was the most fun, and the scoot i rode the most. but that's back in college when i still had a drinking problem

this past weekend i was coming thorugh NC and i took US1/capital through Raleigh. it reminded me how shitty central NC rides really were

3/27/2008 11:11:05 PM

Quote :
"Nothing , but when JBaz says me at the Bp on capital . I came by that place last summer

it looked like TI was about to go on stage ."

what?

Quote :
"I twist the throttle , you guys have fun with sv 650 ."

Apparently Bman has never seen a sv650 in action.

3/27/2008 11:13:47 PM

Bman, You sound like the sort of squid that makes a lot of people despise sport bikes, drives up insurance rates and wrecks your shit while showing off wearing shorts and flip-flops. I have seen a dozen riders that could outrun you on a 1974 Kawasaki 500 triple with the plug wires crisscrossed if you were on the bike of your choice. That's because they know how to RIDE rather than how to point the bike straight and open the throttle. Learn how to spank a small bike and you will really know how to ride.

3/27/2008 11:34:12 PM

thanks for the input guys and gals. The sv650 is shaping up to be a likely candidate but I need to check with my insurance company and plan out my finances a bit.

Does your insurance go up if you only have the learner's permit rather than the endorsement? I called the DMV to schedule to get my endorsement but she said that a lot of people just renew their learners permits. The endorsement allows you to have a passenger on the bike. A permit lets you do whatever you'd like, just no passengers.

I am however taking the safety course at wake tech but with a learners permit I can buy a bike and get some practice in. Practice, in combo with the course seems like a good plan of action.


thanks again

3/28/2008 6:33:34 AM

no change in insurance b/t permit and endorsement.

SV ftw

3/28/2008 7:04:30 AM

does NC let you use the course as your "driving" portion of the test for getting your regular license? seems like I remembered reading that it did one time, but that could have been for another state--just something to think about if you aren't already

3/28/2008 7:13:51 AM

When I did the skills test it was just negotiating some cones in the DMV parking lot, not hard at all. I think the motorcycle hand book they give out has a course diagram.

[Edited on March 28, 2008 at 8:32 AM. Reason : ]

3/28/2008 8:31:26 AM