Okay Motorcycle peeps - help a n00b out...

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Can those of you responding to this thread give me some tips and things to look for when I go and see a private seller and his/her bike?

yeah, take Mike Fenton from skydive burnaby with you!

[tsisson 0]

OK...who's the wiseguy who recommended the Sportster 883?

Harley Davidson - the most efficient way to turn gas into noise without the harmful side effects of horsepower.

Buy a Harley...buy a good set of tools. A friend of mine rides a Buell, and the score from last year was 6 out of 10 rides, he came home in a truck after spending 3 hours screwing around with it on the side of the road.

[Lindsey 0]

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OK...who's the wiseguy who recommended the Sportster 883?

Harley Davidson - the most efficient way to turn gas into noise without the harmful side effects of horsepower.

Buy a Harley...buy a good set of tools. A friend of mine rides a Buell, and the score from last year was 6 out of 10 rides, he came home in a truck after spending 3 hours screwing around with it on the side of the road.

lol....sounds like someone has a burr in his craw....

Peace~
linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[skyminxx 0]

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I am looking at either the Suzuki GS500, the Suzuki 600 Katana or the Yamaha FZR400.

Can those of you responding to this thread give me some tips and things to look for when I go and see a private seller and his/her bike?

hey there.
I owned a FZR 400 and loved it but it was a little like shifting on a two stroke. Lots of up n down the box. I upgraded to a newer faster GSXR and then went back down to an RGV250 (way more fun but you dont get them here so a bit of a moot point)

The GS500 IMHO is an easier ride for a newbie and an easier riding position, especially if you have longer legs. I can't personally comment on the Katana, but everyone that I have spoken to loves theirs.

Look for signs of *tarting up* for sale and signs of it having been raced (or road raced) on the FZR. Ground out pegs and fairings can be spotted easily and wear around engine casing screws that show signs of the lump being taken apart regularly can be seen if you look carefully.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

edited cos I am a terrible typist..

You are led through your lifetime by the inner learning creature, the playful spiritual being that is your real self.-Richard Bach

[AggieDave 6]

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OK...who's the wiseguy who recommended the Sportster 883?

The guy up a few posts that rides a very expensive Fat Boy.

Then again, AMF doesn't make them anymore.


Don't look at me, I ride a metric.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[flyingferret 0]

Yeah, and all skydivers go in because their parachute failed to open.

Your stereotype is completely wornout. Get a new one.

I have 22k invested in my fatboy, not counting accessories, and have never done anything but scheduled maintenance, new rear tire, and new brake pads, in 20K miles.

They are quality built solid bikes. Maybe not in the AMF years or the late 80s, but they are now. Apparenly, everyone just gets jealous and starts throwing rocks.

And the new sporties actually look nice.

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[justinb138 0]

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Yeah, and all skydivers go in because their parachute failed to open.

Your stereotype is completely wornout. Get a new one.

I have 22k invested in my fatboy, not counting accessories, and have never done anything but scheduled maintenance, new rear tire, and new brake pads, in 20K miles.

They are quality built solid bikes. Maybe not in the AMF years or the late 80s, but they are now. Apparenly, everyone just gets jealous and starts throwing rocks.

And the new sporties actually look nice.

I don't know anything about the reliability of them, I just won't spend $18k on a motorcycle.

[flyingferret 0]

Yeah, but you won't sell yours for 75% of what you paid either.

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[jumper03 0]

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Yeah, but you won't sell yours for 75% of what you paid either.

Keep all this coming - I'm learning a lot.

Damn glad I didn't buy anything last night. ho boy was I tempted....

Scars remind us that the past is real

[flyingferret 0]

Despite all the blabber, an HD sportster is the best made cruiser you will buy for under 10K, PERIOD. Research the technology, research the warranty, etc. It just does not get better under the 10K for a cruiser. Sport bike is totally different story.

It all comes down to personal priorities:

What kind of rides will you take? Both duration and mileage.
Ever want to carry another person?
Extra baggage?
Windshield?

Etc, etc.
The aftermarket community for HD is bigger than any other manufacturer. And in my opinion so is build quality and service. Does that make them better? Only if the balance is right for you.

So...here is my advice if you have patience...research a bit online. Then take a saturday and go to each dealer and sit on each bike. If you can wait and demo ride them...even better (this depends on the dealer, some brands want a 'year' of experience). But at the very least know what parts go into them, and how you feel sitting on them. If you do this after riding the MSF bikes for a weekend...I guarantee you, you will notice certain things.

Whatever you get, ride safe, and good to have you.

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[wmw999 2,534]

I had a Sportster for about a year. To me, it was harsh, too loud, and had too high a center of gravity. I didn't have any mechanical problems, but I did only have it for a year. I rode it from Houston to Austin & back once, and it wasn't nearly as comfortable as either my Low Rider or my Honda.

I agree, though, that it's all about what you want out of a bike. Think about the things other people find to be important, and consider if they're important to you.

Reliability, speed, what will it forgive, what won't it do easily, how attractive is it to thieves, will it carry groceries, will it attract and carry members of your preferred gender?

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Lindsey 0]

And if you're truly going for comfort, my thang on the sly has an Electra Glide (electric ride....lol). Comfy. But I am particularly fond of my new Dyna Wide Glide, despite its lack of cruise control and CD player...lol.

I also had an Intruder several years ago. It was a pretty nice bike too, and MUCH less expensive than the Harley. But honestly, and I'll have to admit my vanity here, I REALLY like the attention I get on the Harley...lol. I couldn't go back. I've become a snob....

Peace~
linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[flyingferret 0]

I could not agree more. But this has come a long way from the suggestion of a Rebel.

If you are asking me about the Sportster in general, I think the COG is too high as well. I have had small women tell me they like their Softail better than a sportster because of more weight slung lower.

BUT...if price is a point...might not be, I just assumed from the Rebel...probably bad assumption. Anyway, under the 10K cap, I would do a 700ish metric cruiser or a Sportster.

Now...if all limits are off...whole new world...

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[FIREFLYR 0]

~What am I missing?
Well for one...a motorcycle...seriously buy a scooter if you are concidering a Honda Rebel, You'll get better milage. you will be bored to tears within 3 months if you buy that bike.Becides after you take the first rider class the little trail bikes they train you on will feel like hot rods compared to "The Reber"
Unless you are a 4'10" ,90# woman, keep hunting.
Oh, and when you find a bike...Don't forget Boots.
~J
PS: It only took the last guy 60 miles to trade it in, that should be a hint.

"One flew East,and one flew West..............one flew over the cuckoo's nest"
"There's absolutely no excuse for the way I'm about to act"

[jumper03 0]

well a little more detail then on what I'm looking for -

I like the rebel for two things - price and mileage. Brand new it comes in at $3100 and gets 66 mpg. I plan to use it to commute to work from Eloy to Tucson - about an hour each way and since there is frontage road the entire way I'm gonna use that. The secondary use will be to just tool around in the desert in the evening looking at rocks

Price is a factor so the used suggetion has been very useful (as is the other thread about what to look for). I'm not looking to impress anyone with how much bike I have under me - just get from point A to point B.

Scars remind us that the past is real

[flyingferret 0]

Well, in that case...sounds like a small bike might be ok. But I think the idea of buying bigger used might be a better one. I cannot imagine an hour on a rebel, especially if your size is what dave says. Have you ever been on a rebel?

Anyway, good luck, in the metric end and used end, I am not a lot of help. but PM me if you need anything.

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[kelpdiver 2]

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If this is true, why does the MSF beginners course use 250cc bikes like the Honda Rebel for their classes?

I'm accustomed to seeing 125s at the MSF, and a rare 250. For the drills that they do and at the speeds that they do them at, a bigger engine would allow students to use throttle instead of proper technique.

Doesn't mean I'd want to have one later.

[kelpdiver 2]

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I really am a Noob. And I'm looking for a bike. So far, I have decided that I will buy used, to the tune of 3-4.5 grand CND. I am looking at either the Suzuki GS500, the Suzuki 600 Katana or the Yamaha FZR400.

Unless the price is really good, lose the GS500. While I started on its dad, the GS450, it's a pretty old design and pales next to the EX500. Replace the full faired Katana with the Bandit or the SV650.

[kelpdiver 2]

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I like the rebel for two things - price and mileage. Brand new it comes in at $3100 and gets 66 mpg. I plan to use it to commute to work from Eloy to Tucson - about an hour each way and since there is frontage road the entire way I'm gonna use that. The secondary use will be to just tool around in the desert in the evening looking at rocks

A friend did a daily 90 mile commute with an EX250, a much more capable 250cc bike. Still not a great idea - very buzzy, and a lot of maintenence. I bought a BMW 850R and put 72,000 on it before selling it for $3200. It would be a much better choice than a new rebel.

For a long daily commute, you need something comfortable and reliable. That may disqualify chain drive. Chain wear/replacement/deflection/lubrication issues don't exist with shaft or belt drive. If you're typically going 50+, you probably need at least a midsized windscreen or you're going to hate a full size helmet. When my screen has been off, it takes effort for me to exceed 70, both on the neck and the arms.

Engine size affects your top speed, your ability to accelerate in top gear, and your overall comfort cruising at higher speeds. There are also very few recent designs in the 250 and 500 class - you're buying 90s and in some cases, 80s technology. May be easier to work on, but I don't really want drum brakes anymore.

I thought the Bandit 600 was a very good all arounder for a new rider. Same with the SV650 if your legs are long enough.

[Dumpster 0]

FWIW - -

I've been riding a Sportster for over five years now - - enough to learn that -

I never bothered to get a motorcycle license as a kid, and took my road test on the same Sporty I have now. No sweat.

Most Sportsters do have a high CG - The 883 and 1200 Custom, (which I ride-) though, come from the factory lowered about 2 inches, and it makes a big difference. They also come stock with drag bars and forward controls. Comfy and it looks cool.

They can be as loud or quiet as you like - All depends in the pipe/muffler set up.

Reliablilty - I have had no issues whatsoever. I work on my bike alot when I want to, not because I have to.

They will vibrate like a sumbitch at certain speeds/ RPMs = Shift gears or crank the throttle to compensate. I guess the new models are rubber mounted, which might take a bit of the sting out of the ride.

Sportsters are definitely not a long-haul bike by any means. If you're going to burn more tha a tankful in one long run, you'll probably feel it by the end of the day. But I know guys ride Sporties from New Jersey to Sturgis and back.
Pretty tough hombres for sure.

You can learn on a Sportster then build it enough to keep up with, and even smoke alot of the bigger V-twins out there. There's a ton of stuff out there to bolt-on. They're a (reletively speaking) low-weight bike, and if you start with an 883 and build it out past 1200, you get the advantage of a tranny that was built with lower gear ratios. (there is a signicant difference between the 1200 and 883 gear ratios-) The advantage is quicker off-the-line acceleration, at the sacrifice of a little top-end speed. Put dual disc brakes on the front and that will increase your braking power in good proportion. They can be built to really shit-n-git.

Cool thing is, with a Sportster you can start with a pretty mild ride and get really radical with it if you like. On a budget, too. I see good bikes up for sale around here, many with less than 10,000 miles on 'em for around 4 thousand up to over 9 grand, and in good shape to really tricked-out. Lots of cool aftermarket goodies out there to just bolt-on, too. They hold thier value fairly well to boot.

My opinion in defense of Sportsters as an entry-level bike you can grow with, and it can grow with you, too.

Easy Does It

[flyingferret 0]

Thank you for chiming in!

I have a buddy with a sporter where almost nothing is left stock. He has ridden to Sturgis from Texas multiple times.

The new ones are rubber mounted and it makes a BIG difference. I forgot the c was lowered, good point...that adds up too!

I still stand my as a great first bike if you don't want a full sized v twin.

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[Squeak 17]

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A 800cc-ish bike isn't that much bike in a V-twin and can easily be handled by someone starting out.

If this is true, why does the MSF beginners course use 250cc bikes like the Honda Rebel for their classes?

The bottom line is that for beginning riders, the 250cc bike is a much safer choice to begin riding on... that's why they don't start them off on bigger bikes.

Here in Oz, you MUST start on a 250cc and hold it for at least 12 months.
Whilst most of the comments are correct that 250 can beunderpowered Wendy (as ussual) is the voice of reason. When you are on a 250 you have to change your expectations of what you can and can't do. Learning on a 250 is a GREAT idea, however I would not go for a cruiser, unless you want to ride one later aswell. The riding positions on bike can be VERY different. I started my riding 20+ years ago on a Honda CB250 great bike to learn on, there are many 250s available and you'd be doing the smart save thing learning on one.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[Dumpster 0]

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I still stand my as a great first bike if you don't want a full sized v twin.

Exactly.

Starting out on a 250 isn't a bad idea, but I wouldn't buy a new one. You'd outgrow it soooo fast.

Think back, how many of us (myself included-) started out on 5 horsepower mini-bikes as our first powered cycle?

Easy Does It

[rickjump1 0]

I never rode motorcycles as a kid, and when I finally got the bug, I took a safety course riding a Rebel. It's a nice training bike. I feel you will get tired of running on frontage roads and take the plunge in traffic. When I went to pick up my bike at the dealership in New Orleans, I had this elaborate plan to parallel the West Bank Freeway on some river frontage road to avoid traffic. Never happened. I just pulled out in traffic and drove home to Arkansas. Just my 2 cents.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[judedre 0]

check out a ninja 250 its a bit more respectable if youre not 7 ft tall i had one as my first bike back was a great starter and sold it for MORE than i paid there only 3100$ brand new ive bought 3 bikes on ebay so far and currently lovin this one in the picture