with the way gas prices are and insurance being so expensive, i thought getting a motorcycle might be a good idea. i have never drien one before so i need something small i guess ... even a scooter or something lol ... Consider the Kymco People S200 scooter. A 150cc scooter has a top speed of around 55-60 mph (on level ground) which is suitable for metro traffic, but not freeway traffic.
http://www.strmotorsports.com/showroom/s...
Don't forget to budget for proper riding gear . . this is why.
http://real.ksl.com/video/slc/sid_video/...
http://dynamic.cnn.com/apps/tp/video/us/...
http://www.urbanscootin.com/forum/viewto...
Modular or full-face helmet, jeans (with knee armor), jacket, boots, and gloves.
http://www.newenough.com/
http://www.dragginjeans.com/Jeans.htm
http://www.dragginjeans.com/Armor.htm#
http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Boots/V...
Always "snug-up" jacket wrist straps or zippers.
http://www.urbanscootin.com/forum/viewto...
Helmet function video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOaSIeEl8...
Motorcycle Safety Course
http://www.msf-usa.org/ Don't just get one to save gas without experience. They money you save in gas you could be spending on an ambulance ride or your life. Take a rider's safetly course and learn to ride first. It isn't like buying a new car. Without hesitation, I agree with Bad Mother Clucker. Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Beginner rider course (there will be someone in your area giving this training). You will learn on beginner motorcycles that are around 250cc in size. If you are looking for a commuter and gas mileage, you cannot beat this size of bike. You can get from 55-70 MPG. First, take the class, get your license, and start by riding around your neighborhood. Then side streets, light traffic, while gradually assimilating into regular traffic. Motorcyclist need to be hyper-vigilant when riding. People who drive DO NOT pay attention to the road. Cell Phones, Sidekicks, Loud Radios, kids. These all take away from a drivers focus, and it means trouble for us on MC's. Start small and learn and you will be fine.
Look at Kawasaki Ninja's, Yamaha Virago's, Honda Rebels/Nighthawks for good starter bikes.
Hope this helps. A good inexpensive one might be a Honda 250 rebel. Check the size of it to see if it's too small. eventually, you will want a bigger bike and these seem to hold their value. You can muscle this one around until you are more sure of yourself and think you can use the the bike dynamics to help control the bigger bikes. I agree 100%. I'm a beginner myself, and I just finished a Motorcycle safety course. They even provided the motorcycle and protective gear. After taking the class, I feel much more confident on the road.
Just two months in and I've been cut off in traffic about three times. One time, the lady was so close to my bike, I could have kicked her car. She saw me and entered my lane anyway. Her window was rolled down so I yelled at her to make her aware I was in the lane she was trying to cross into, she remarked... "There's room, move your bike over and we'll share the lane, I need to turn left."
The class will give you ways of dealing with those types of situations and an idea of what kind of bike you should buy later on.
The general range of an engine size is 500cc - 750cc. If you're new to motorcycles, stay close to the middle range.
The type of bike also plays a big part, sport bike, cruisers, touring, etc, so don't just go by engine size.
I know most about sports bikes, they are geared to run fast, and a 600cc is all you need to start out with. I own a 2000 Yamaha R6 which retails used around $5 - $6K. You can buy smaller bikes and even spend about $3K to get yourself a really nice starter bike.
As a good friend of mine told me, buy a bike that you're not going to mind dropping... and that when you do drop, you can actually pick up on your own.
Motorcycles are heavy, and if you tip one, believe me, it's difficult to lift it back up, especially if you're new to bikes and in traffic. You want something with enough power that you're not going to grow out of it in a few months, but not so much power that you'll kill yourself on it. For me, that was the Yamah.
A scooter actually isn't a bad idea, a friend of mine drives one, she loves it. She's actually used to it get to and from work for a couple of years now. She's thinking of getting a motorcycle, and if she does, she's already an experienced two-wheel driver. The limitation - of course - is that you can't go on the highway, so in-town driving has to be okay. I'd recommend starting with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation class, or other lessons from a professional instructor. You'll learn a lot about riding, on the school's bike. It's well worth the money, and the best way to get started in riding.
I'd also recommend getting a full set of gear. You can wear a mesh motorcycle jacket in the hottest of weather without overheating, and you have to deal with all sorts of hazards from brain dead drivers to gravel. Wearing full riding gear will give you an added margin of safety.
I would say to start with something 50 hp or smaller. These will be expensive, easy to ride, and the most economical choices. A 600 cc supersport bike is over 100 hp, not the easiest way to learn how to ride. A 500 cc sportbike may not seem much smaller, but they typically are around 50 hp and more beginner friendly. My GS500F is getting 60 mpg in hot weather, and some of the 250 cc bikes get 70 to 80. I'd probably pick a 500 if you want to do lots of highway riding, or a 250 if you plan to ride almost always around town as they're maxed out at freeway speeds. There are some 125 cc bikes and scooters that generally aren't freeway legal.
Other than engine size, you'll want to pick a bike where you can get both feet flat on the ground while sitting on the saddle, and one that's light enough that you can pick it up when it falls over. Usually you'll have plenty of choices to pick from that meet these criteria, so go with one where you like the riding position and the style. |
