First bike

[stieny]

I agree with Stieny 1000%. Does this mean I have to quit coming here?

Ouch. Am I really hated here that much?

[ddmi-twin90gt]

I will definitely take a safety course when i start to ride! As for comfort, i actually like the feel of my brothers 06cbr1000rr. I'm really looking for an R6 but if a CBR or GSXR pop up for the right price i won't hesitate to buy it.

That's good but, I would do it before you do. I said the same thing and so did all the others said the same thing and never did LOL. Took me 17 years to do it LOL! but, I did it! Yes! I was riding for all that time with out a licenses.

[Shorty429]

Yes! I was riding for all that time with out a licenses.

that's actually really scary sounding, but glad it worked out for you. lol I'll take one when i get closer to buying a bike. Like i said, it might not be untill next spring...

I don't know if i can wait that long tho..

[stieny]

that's actually really scary sounding, but glad it worked out for you. lol I'll take one when i get closer to buying a bike. Like i said, it might not be untill next spring...

I don't know if i can wait that long tho..

Wait until you buy one. It becomes addicting. I had to sell mine to finish college and now that everyone is talking about buying or riding, I really want to buy another.

[ddmi-twin90gt]

OH, when you go you will be wishing you had one years ago! I been riding bikes when I was in diapers, only thing scary is when people following me and trying to keep up.

[Troll]

I don't think sportbikes are uncomfortable at all

I'm never going to dispute the performance, handling, weight or power of a sportbike. They are grand machines when it comes to a set of tight twisties, but you're kidding yourself to say "comfortable". They are tolerable at best.

Take one to Penn State Harrisburg on the turnpike and come back the same day, then report back to me.

[SonofaBish]

I'm never going to dispute the performance, handling, weight or power of a sportbike. They are grand machines when it comes to a set of tight twisties, but you're kidding yourself to say "comfortable". They are tolerable at best.

Take one to Penn State Harrisburg on the turnpike and come back the same day, then report back to me.

I've been on several trips to potter county, pa and back... total of 4 hours each direction.... with a 2 hour break in between to cut grass at my parent's camp.... No problems at all for me.... The R1 is noticeably more comfy than the TL-R was, but I never had any issues with either one of them...

The only time I've ever had any discomfort on either of my sportbikes was doing the exact opposite... sitting in traffic on a 90* day on a V-twin sportbike, with the rear cylinder baking the backs of your thighs, approaches unbearable ....

I learned to ride as a 16 year old on a cruiser style bike that my dad had... it was much more uncomfortable ... yes you are sitting upright, but for me, this caused me to slouch my back, therefore giving me a very sore lower back after a 1 hour ride..... I've never had a sore back on either of my bikes, and the only time i've ever had sore knees is when I ride in REALLY cold weather... then all of my joints hurt :(

[Shorty429]

Traffic is the worst! Me and my brother got stuck in traffic once in nashville, simply terrible!

[travj31]

Traffic is the worst! Me and my brother got stuck in traffic once in nashville, simply terrible!

Try it on a Buell! Don't get me wrong, I love my Buell, but they are notorious for being almost unbearable in standstill traffic.

As far as a first bike, I think it depends on the individual. I personally started on a 883 Sportster and couldn't of been happier. However, I had no desire to go 160 or drag my knees. IMO, the two most important things are getting something you feel comfortable riding and that is in your budget. You don't want to go out and buy something that is too much for you to handle both financially and power wise.

[scott5]

buy this before i do.. I really dont need a fourth bike
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/mcy/1123096722.html

[Shorty429]

Do you guys think i would be able to make payments on a bike in my price range (no more than 4k maybe 5)? I make 100 a day landscaping and work 3 or 4 days a week so actually MAKING the payments wouldn't be an issue. The real question is Would a dealership even give me the option?

[JH03Cobra]

Keep in mind the price for insurance when you are talking about financing a bike.
As for your original post:
I've been riding about 4 years now. Started on a 2001 R1 with some light mods. I went through the same BS you are goin through with ppl tellin me to start on a 600 and I wont be able to handle a 1000, but lemme tell you it's just that...BS...
It's all about "you". If you put it in your head that a 1000 is too much bike, then it will be, but if you go about with confidence and responsibility than there is no reason not to start on a 1000. They way I looked at it was there was no way I was gonna buy a 600 just to sell it a couple months later when I knew I was gonna want a 1000. Get the bike you want.
As for your price range:
I just recently picked up my 2002 R1 so I've kinda had the price ranges on bikes scoped out a bit. 3k will not get you a decent Litre bike. 3600-4k will get you 1999-2001 Litre bike with mid-High miles. 4500-5500 can get you a 02-04 "nice" litre bike. Then above that you get into newer models which I havent really cared for to tell you the truth except the R1. My buddy has an 06 R1 and it is the shit. Don't get me wrong, you can always find that "awesome deal" out there, but chances are those are the prices you are going to be looking at. I found my 02 R1 with 10k miles for $4300 and to me that was a steal that I couldnt pass up especially because it has alot done to it.

And lastly for those that said a sportbike isn't comfortable at all....Most of the time I agree 100% but........who the hell buys a sportbike to be "comfortable"??
If you wanna be "comfortable" go buy a cruiser or dualsport bike and lemme know what I look like when I blow by you at a buck eighty.. (disclaimer: Do not attempt that without a couple years experience! haha)
Wasn't tryin to offend anyone, those are just my humble opinions. If you get a bike that you didnt really wanna get, you will regret it.

Feel free to Pm me with any questions you got man...and yes I still might be sellin the R1 i just picked up. Terry over at streetlethal has me convinced I need either a blower/turbo combo or a twin turbo on my cobra...haha

[stieny]

600 SS are WAY to much bike for a beginner, let alone a 1K but thats just my opinion as I stated earlier. It looks like the OP is going with a newer SS so to that I'll just say: best of luck, be safe out there and have fun.

[badf250]

The only time I've ever had any discomfort on either of my sportbikes was doing the exact opposite... sitting in traffic on a 90* day on a V-twin sportbike, with the rear cylinder baking the backs of your thighs, approaches unbearable ....

Tell me about it, I have an SV650, cooks you real good.

Back to the origional post, I wouldn't recommend a liter bike as your first bike. some may say otherwise, but it simply is not true. there is way more to riding one than being level headed and responsible. You can inadvertently open the throttle too much, or you can wheely unintentionally , if a sport bike is your thing, I would not start bigger than a 600. Though I don't care for them due to the lack of low RPM performance.

[JH03Cobra]

You can inadvertently open the throttle too much and wheely unintentionally on a 600 as well.......
These can both be avoided with responsibility....Steady confident hands....It really isn't like if you crank the throttle a tad too much you fly off the bike or wheely uncontrollably....I mean cmon.. lol

[Troll]

lemme know what I look like when I blow by you at a buck eighty..

I bet you'll look like an organ donor, though when you hit the broad side of a chevy at 180 you'll probably smash all the good organs anyway.

Anybody with a decent credit report can go buy the brandest, newest, fastest sportbike on earth. Some people ride motorcycles for other reasons than going the fastest they can at all times.

OP, this dude is giving you bad advice. I'd rather be smart a spend a few bucks trading a bike in than be stupid and dead.

[JH03Cobra]

If you read my whole post....I was making a point in saying if you want to be comfortable on your bike, then buy a cruiser. I was stating that no one buys a sportbike to be totally comfortable... In no way, shape or form was I stating that I, myself drive around doing 180 in fact I've never gone that fast nor do I recommend going that fast at all which is why I have never laid a bike down nor been involved in a motorcycle accident in my riding days.
Apparently someone showed you how to copy and paste and make something look completely rediculous. You took a statement that was meant to be funny and tried bashing me for it...

[ddmi-twin90gt]

I bet you'll look like an organ donor, though when you hit the broad side of a chevy at 180 you'll probably smash all the good organs anyway.

Now that's funny!

Some people ride motorcycles for other reasons than going the fastest they can at all times.

Really?

That must be why I want a cruiser to fill a void between 0 and 100 mph

[Troll]

You took a statement that was meant to be funny and tried bashing me for it...

Well, let me ask you this: Do you think that a 16 year-old person should buy a CAR like your Cobra as their first car?

[Shorty429]

haha this has kind of turned into a battle between starting on a 1k bike vs. a 600, which was not intended.

So now let's change the point of discussion, how much would insurance on a early 2000's 600 be for an 18 year old college student? also, would a dealership allow me to finance a bike, or am i going to just have to save this summer and buy it next spring?