alright, this doesn't have too much to do with porsches, but i also think that you guys are a crowd who will generally have good advice on such a matter.

I have developed a bad coolant leak and have decided to decomission my 951 until I can fix it. However, i'm in the process of trying to sell my ford so it's time for some other back up transportation. in short, i have decided it's time for me to own a motorcycle.

i will start by saying that i rode a moped once when i was like 12 and that's it. I have never used a foot actuated transmission and i was surprised to read in the california motorcycle handbook that you have independent control of front and rear brakes on a bike. this is how new to the subject i am.

i am looking to spend $1000 to $1500. i want something that will be dependable (i'm getting a bike so i can work on my porsche, remember) and simple. i don't need anything fast or flashy or sexy or cool... just solid. I am assuming that i should go with something japanese, as i trust american engineers almost as little as i do the stupid american consumers who dictate their designs. what brands should i look at for good value and reliablility? which should i avoid?

what kind of features/options should i look for? ie, if i want to ride from sf to la, will i really want one of those windshield/fairing type things in front? it is only big, expensive, new bikes that are water cooled right? i think i want to go air cooled for less parts and complexity.

what kind of engines are out there? how many cylinders do solid low end bike engines have? what is a good displacement range for someone who has never ridden before?

right now i'm just trying to narrow down my search so i know what to look for in the classifieds... i'll post later asking about what kind of failure points and stuff i should check for on a bike. but for starters, are milages about the same for cars? ie, is 100k about the point where lots of factory parts will start to need replacing?

thanks for your advice guys... i'll keep an eye on this thread while i'm at work today and will bump it again when i get back on monday; i have no computer at home.

 

Just so you know...


Motorcycles are fun, but you will risk your life everytime you ride. Most drivers seem to put motorcycles in the same group as pigeons on the road. Eg: run over them if they dont move.

I would recommend something like a 600cc Yamaha street bike, no crotch rockets. At the price you mentioned, a crotch rocket is gonna need tires, suspension, engine work, ect...

A Yamaha Virago, Honda Hawk, or similar is what you want. Not as sexy as a Hiyabusa, but you might live long enough to learn to ride the fast stuff.

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />


Oh, one last thing, get good insurance and excellent medical/life insurance. I have personally attended 6 funerals since high school of buddies that had more bike than sense or just bad luck with a car.

I hope this scared you a bit, as all riders need more fear and less *****. (Unless you are on a track)

 

Hmm...
For your price range, I would say that anything 'imported' under 750cc will be good... Watch out for some of the throw-away yamahas tho... Try to stick with mid-to-late 70's yamahas, or kawasakis. Anything honda will be good, the name of the game here is parts availability. Stay away from 'crotch-rockets'.. Can be very$$ to repair.
Just for giggles, check out caferace.com/cafepix.html
for some ideas... Oh!--and buy yourself a good helmet too!
daveinphx

 

Stay away from the cruisers, large or small, if you are into performance at all. A buddy of mine recently started on a Suzuki GS 500. Adequate power, decent handling and the price is right. He just traded up to a Ducati Monster and will be selling the GS in a few weeks.

Several points to help stay alive:

Assume no one can see you, even when they are staring right at you. Watch out for cars in the opposing lane turning left in front of you.

Careful in the wet, and on sandy corners. Always keep half an eye on the road surface.

Most people drop it once or twice in their first season, so wear protective gear.

 

I'd agree 100% with Water944t.

To continue with what he was saying it's not a matter of "if" you will crash, but "when" you will crash.
Get a good helmet. If you're head is worth 50 bucks then buy a 50 dollar helmet. Otherwise I'd say 300 on up will be of very good quality. Shoei, Arai, etc.
Also other gear might be a consideration too. A riding jacket with built-in protection. Either leather or a textile material. There is a wide variaty out there. Plus pants and boots if you want to go the whole nine yards and have some serious protection. Because I learned the hard way that road rash sucks.

Anyways as the others say stick with Japanese bikes. I'd stay away from wrecked bikes. Just like cars there could be hidden damage.
If you have any local bike shops it might be worth to ask them what types of bikes they see in their shop a lot in your area.

Of course there's ton's more, but the last thing I'd recommend is a MSF (Motorcycle Safty Foundation) course. You may also get a discount on your insurance from that.

The coolest thing about owning a motorcycle is that you'll be a better driver when you get back behind the wheel of your car.

Like I've heard from somewhere..."If everyone rode a motorcycle this world would be a much better place."

Good luck and be safe!

 

ok, so i have two votes against "crotch rockets"... i have always used this term quite generally to refer to fast motorcycles but it seems like you guys have a more specific meaning in mind. or do you?

no, i'm really not interested in a powerful bike, i am way to agressive of a person. i will save challenging myself for the 951 where the consequences of bad luck or screwing up are a tad less dire.

by a "cruiser" do you mean something big like a goldwing?

yeah, i was just checking out the bikes in the parking lot on my lunch break and amidst all the chrome of the harleys and the flashy fiberglass body panes of the bmw's, one bike caught my eye... i walked over to see what it was that had that look of quality and engineered performance... it was a ducati monster. maybe someday.

 

re safety gear:
i have an hgc open face helmet that i got for a DE... whould y'all consider that inadequate?

so, boots, leather jacket and perhaps pants... am i missing anything else important?

and why do some bikes have hydraulic fluid reserviors on the handlebars? is this a hydraulic clutch where other bikes have a cable actuated clutch? is one kind better?

 

A Gold Wing's a touring bike, cruisers are Harley clones and they come in medium or large sizes. Anything with high bars that come back a long way and a laid back seating position. They all handle like crap and are only good for poseurs that ride on Sunday.

Can't figure out why they are the hot category these days. Like the SUVs of bikes.

The Virago is like a mini-cruiser. My 60 year old neighbor just bought one, when he was telling me about it he called it a Viagra. I almost laughed in his face, but stifled it.

Just get something small to medium size that handles half decent.

 

My first bike was an ´89 Honda CBR 600. I can't say enough about that bike. It'd probably run a bit more than your budget, but not much more. You could get an ´87 or so Honda Hurricane as well, it's pretty much the same bike. Anyways, that bike really instills confidence, has enough hp to be fun but not too much to get you into serious trouble, and was just a blast to ride. Something like 80ish hp at the wheel is pretty fun yet easy to handle. Even my next bike, which was also a 600 (ZX-6R), was much more of a handful.

 

I've been riding for 9 years now, two different bikes, one street crash and one race track crash. I started on a 600cc sportbike, but i wouldn't recommend that course of action. There is a lot of power there and i got myself into trouble a bunch of times. A Suzuki GS500E, Kawasaki EX500 are both good bikes if you like the sporty approach. If not there are a ton of cruisers for cheap. Just get something 600cc's or less.

Get the max amount of medical insurance you can. You will need it. You are more likely to go down in your first 3 years of riding than any other time. I once read that 70% go down in there first 3 years. I almost made it past that...but got hit by a monkey car driver. Also, if you are in california...take the MSF safety course. It used to be just over $120, but they provide the bikes and all necessary equipment, so that you can learn to ride. Its a four day class and is definitely worth it. I'm sure other states have something similar.

Equipment, like everyone has already mentioend. Buy the best equipment you can afford. A $200 pair of boots is cheap if you get in an accident and never walk right again. Always wear gloves(more nerves in your hands than anywhere). Lastly, have fun. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

 

I had a CBR 600 F2. Great bike, but not for a beginner.

Ditto on the gloves. Having gravel removed from your hands is an experience you will not forget.

 

Do you have anything like Kwaka GPZ305 or Honda's CX500, there both couriers dreams and last forever, the GPz305 is cheap and quiet to run, it wont frighten you when you start riding it, it will start every morning, but I don't know if there available over there.

 

[quote]Originally posted by bs:
<strong>i have an hgc open face helmet that i got for a DE... whould y'all consider that inadequate?</strong><hr></blockquote>

This may be more just my opionion here... That would be an "adequate" helmet. I'd recommend a full face helmet though. In a "face plant" accident the more protection you have the better. Plus if you plan on taking it on the highway sunglasses can fly off. Every little bug that you hit going 60mph will hurt. Not to mention if you get a bug or dirt in your eye at speed it could be very dangerous.

On the gear...
The leathers should fit snug, but not tight. These are the outfits that usually make you look like a Power Ranger. But for a begginer a textile setup might be a better setup. Usually a little bit cheaper and you can wear some of them in the rain. At the minium I'd recommend a helmet, gloves, and a jacket everytime you ride. There are outfits that allow a jacket to be zipped up to the pants. So that means if money is tight you could get the pants and boots later if you wish.

..and with the way it looks with everyone else I'll add more if I think of anything else.

 

In response to the question about the fluid reservoir on the handles. That's probably the brake reservoir for the front brakes. Some bikes have a hydraulic clutch(TL1000R), but not many that I know of. The open face helmet....well, let's just say that I consider those safe for bicycles only. LOL! Sorry, open face helmets are good for eating bugs and scraping your chin on the pavement at 60mph. That's it. I wouldn't worry about getting a hydraulic clutch or a cable clutch. Just make sure the bike is in good working order.

 

Bikes are very dangerous but I love them,just gotta have the right state of mind when approaching riding to give you some advatnage over drivers on the street.
So you want a bike?Beg.?
My opnion,take the msf course (as someone above mentioned)( Motorcycle safety foundation) than buy a 500cc or Used 600cc at most.
I used to ride a katana 600cc now im moving up to a gsxr600.Now even though theyre both 600's the katana is a 96 and a new gsxr600 is more than enough fun for me :-D
Unless i become careless and buy a busa,but,that wont happend..right..guys?....
Good luck with whatever choice you make
and do it right
happy riding!