New Rider / Buying 1st Bike

Hey I'm just learning to ride on a friend's stunt bike and also going to take a MSF class. I'm not in a rush, I want to buy in May. Any suggestions on a first bike? I've been on a GSXR-600 and a TL1000 and a stunt bike. Thanks!  

I took the MSF class a while back and let me tell you it's one of the funnest things I've done in a very long time. You'll learn a lot about what to do in emergency situations without learning the hard way. Plus, in some states (I'm from NC) you can get your cycle endorsement without the skills test- just the written- or get a discount on insurance. So yeah, defiantly take the class- worth every penny.

I recently baught an 08 Ninja250r which I've been really thrilled with. It handles like a charm and doesn't have too much power to intimidate you or get you into trouble but enough to have fun on. Plus they're freshly redesigned and look smexy just like the big boys.  

sort of depends what you want to do and how you want to spend.
i'd say go for something older and a little beat up, because you're only gonna beat on it some more.
look at mid nineties fzr and cbr600s...cheap but fun!  

I agree with Dave_sonsky,
i have been riding and Honda Cbr600F4i and it is an amazing bike, its amazing to learn on and fun as well, definantly a good bike to have. you could even get something that is eathier a 600 to 750, GSXR's are good dont get something that you cant handle.  

I agree with Dave_sonsky,
i have been riding and Honda Cbr600F4i and it is an amazing bike, its amazing to learn on and fun as well, definantly a good bike to have. you could even get something that is eathier a 600 to 750, GSXR's are good dont get something that you cant handle. it doesnt matter if its old or not, get something that most depicts you, something that you think is a good bike old or not, i have an 05 and it is just as good as anything else.  

250cc are for girls.   that is that   no arguments.  if u dont get atleast a 600cc ur dumb. and then mod that *** like i did   a 1000 dnt wana c me nigga  
07 gsxr 600 red/white; fender eliminator,black windscreen,ti force exhaust,k&n airfilter,velocity stacks,power commander,pirelli tires,-1/+2 vortex sprockets,d.i.d. chain 520 conv.,keiti tank guard, and some other little secrets 131.4 whp  [ also an 05 r1 with 215 whp] <FUCKING YOUR DAUGHTER SINCE 1998>

^^^ I call TROLL!!!

NO ONE is DUMB for choosing a bike that they can keep on two wheels regardless of its size. And a 250 isnt a girls bike you *** its a bike for someone who wants to BE SAFE and understands the power of a bike. Before you go off burning people and suggesting a bike that is fit for YOUR experience and skill level how bout you try understanding that some people out there care about their skin.


Back to the point though.
You are going to take the MSF class so +100000 on that I know several experienced riders who took the basic course years later and wished they had taken it sooner because they learned so much from it.
Ok so after the class evaluate yourself and how YOU feel you did and how you felt on the bike overall. Dont think about impressing people (like the *** above me probably did), dont think about your scores, think about how you felt moving the bike through the course and how quickly you picked up on the exercizes.

With that in mind look up stats on bikes. Look up the stats on the bike you rode in your MSF class and compare other bikes to that one and how comfortable you feel with those numbers. A honda 250cc nighthawk has 20 hp and 14 lb/ft of torque, achieves a top speed of around 80 mph. But a Ninja 250 has 38 hp, 16.0 lb/ft of torque & goes up to 100mph. A Suzuki Sv650SF has 72.5 hp, 47.2 lb/ft of torque & can get up to about 115mph. But a CBR600RR has 118 hp and so on...See how HUGE of a jump that is?? ALSO do you see how the CC's dont mean *** really when it comes to power?

Your choice is up to yopu but regardless of what you choose, practice, practice, practice and dont ride outside of your skill level or where you dont feel comfortable...thats when accidents happen...ALSO dont try to impress anyone...again accidents can and will happen.

We can suggest the bikes you could ride from sunup to sundown but in the end you need to sit on some, look at the numbers and figure it out for yourself. And please for gods sake dont listen to people like gsxr600cc who rip on you for your choice. At least you and your bike will last longer.  

Sup! I'm sort of new to riding. Last time I rode (and crashed) was like 16yrs ago. I took a MSF course a few months ago and it was the best thing I ever did!!  I then had the same dilema that you are dealing with.  Buying a bike. I didn't want to spend much money on a bike that I might beat up, so I searched for a used bike. I initially picked up an 89 GSXR1100 with 92 fairings for like 2500. I rode it for 2 weeks, loved the power but wasn't comfortable with manuvering it. For me, it was to much for my skill level and the riding I wanted to do.  So I sold it and made some money.  One day I walked in to a used bike shop and found a 93 CBR600f2 for 1900. I rode it and fell in love. I feel very comfortable with it, handles greaat!  I ride it as much as I can to gain experience and increase my skill. So...with all that said get what works for you. Take your time.  No need to buy something that that is too powerful and flashy that you can't handle.  Be true to yourself.  

I've seen more squids on liter bikes get raped in the canyons by people on 250's than anything else.  Start small and learn how to turn, if people make fun of you because you have a small displacement bike, it's because they can't ride for crap and have to be on a big bad 1000 because all they are is talk and looks.  

hey.. so im definitely a newbie to the bike scene. my ex had harleys and street bikes and i was around them a lot when we were together but those days are through and sad to say i miss being around the bikes more than i miss being around him haha   so i was considering getting a street bike my only problem is a. i know absolutely nothing about bikes let alone riding one and b. im a girl, a very little one- i weigh no more than 100 lbs and i doubt id even be able to lift a bike. i have looked into the msf class but before i get my hopes up i wanted to know if it would even be possible for me to ride. if so, any suggestions for the right bike for someone like myself? i really appreciate it!  

Get a used SV650.  Those bikes are very confidence inspiring.  In a couple of months, you'll be able to smoke most of the gixxer 1000/R1 wannabe crowd up Angeles Crest.  Don't worry about the Stunta people, most of them are just posers anyway, and can't ride worth a damn.  

haha alright ill look into those, thanks so much! also i was told to check out the new ninja 250, how does that compare to other beginner bikes such as the one you mentioned?  

Ninja 250 is a great beginner's bike.  Also, makes a great track bike, if you are learning to roadrace.  The only thing though, is they are a little down on power for freeway riding, but in the canyons, they can be awesome.  Just remember, you'll probably going to dump your first bike sooner or later, so, you might want to consider something cheap and used, so it doesn't hurt as much when you do dump it.  

Me and a great friend roll on 250's and although they're small machines, we're always in front in the corners around here. We chose to take the 250 route, and go to a bigger bike. I'm damn sure glad we did because we make the 600's feel bad because they have no idea what they're doing around the corners..

Now, to be fair, they can pull a wheelie 100 times longer than I could think of on the 250.  

"250's are for girls". What kind of retarded comment is that. Anyone that would recommend a litre bike as a first bike is retarded and obviously knows *** all about riding. I agree with the previous post that this clown probably needs the 1000cc to catch up with the smaller bikes after getting out of a corner.
Starting on a 250 is the smart thing to do and less likely to result in trips to the hospital and/or morgue. Start small, master your machine and move up when you are ready. Never worry about comments from *** bags as anyine that really knows about riding will know enough to respect that it has a steep learning curve.
Just one question though, if this is your first bike, why would you want to be learning to do stunts before you have learned to do corners? Wheelies and stoppies are fun, but nothing compared to egtting your knee down or the feeling you get from rolling on the throttle after a perfectly executed corner.