Real cheap bike

[Celtic1982citleC]

if its your first time EVER riding i'd disagree. i think you'd be better off with a 250 or 400, etc...something smaller. a 600 as a first bike is quite a lot to handle, despite what some people will say.

[Celtic1982citleC]

eBay Motors: Kawasaki : Ninja (item 140120004749 end time May-26-07 12:00:01 PDT)

If you could find something similar to that locally it would be ideal to learn on. Lighter, easy to handle, easy clutch, great bike to learn the dynamics of riding on. You won't be zooming around at 100mph and it won't have "oh my god this is crazy" acceleration but you don't need/want to when you're just beginning.

[xceebeex]

Originally Posted by MYIX8UR8

if its your first time EVER riding i'd disagree. i think you'd be better off with a 250 or 400, etc...something smaller. a 600 as a first bike is quite a lot to handle, despite what some people will say.

I rode an old Honda road bike a LONG time ago. I was probably 11 or 12 and was riding that by myself without any problems so I don't think I will have too much trouble handling a non racer 600.

[mikecentola]

Originally Posted by MYIX8UR8

if its your first time EVER riding i'd disagree. i think you'd be better off with a 250 or 400, etc...something smaller. a 600 as a first bike is quite a lot to handle, despite what some people will say.

That's incorrect. I started on a 600, and I know many people that have started on a 600, one that started on a liter bike. There are plenty of bikes in the 600 class that would be fine to start with. 600F4i, yzf600, fzr600...

250 or even a 500 are such complete wastes of time for someone who is in the know about fast cars, handling, etc.

I definitely think Ceebee would have no trouble starting on a 600. He's got clutch control and throttle control down from cars and autocrossing, and he's not a moron, so I doubt he'd be driving like an idiot.

It all comes down to how well your head is connected to your right hand.

[xceebeex]

I really don't think I will have a problem handling a 600 at all, as Mike said, I am not a moron. I know my limits, and although it would take me a while to understand my limits on the bike, I would obviously take it easy long enough to understand those limits. The SMALLEST that I would ever go is a 500, I think a 250 is just a waste of money because I would get bored with it too quick.

[2panther]

Originally Posted by mikecentola

I think you would be much happier getting something nicer in the 3-5K range. 2panther just picked up a 03 R6 for like 5K, and its real nice!

wow, that must be the hottest bike on this site........

xceebeex - keep looking, I almost gave up holding out for a liquid silver R6 and pulled the trigger on a white/silver 06 GSXR then the R6 popped up on the SFX forums. Hold out for what you want, you'll be happier in the end!

[Celtic1982citleC]

I was unaware of your riding experience. You hadn't clarified in previous posts . In any regard I was careful to word that if it were your first time riding, that would be my recommendation. Since now you've made it clear you have experience, a 600 should not be an issue.

Mike-comparing clutch and throttle control from cars to bikes is like comparing...well there is no comparison. There are no circumstances (autocross, road racing, drag racing, etc) that would even be relevant to ones ability to ride a bike. Operating a motorcycle is far more involved than operating an automobile in any circumstance and requires 110% of your attention at all time. You can correct a mistake in a car. Bikes are far more unforgiving.

[xceebeex]

Originally Posted by MYIX8UR8

I was unaware of your riding experience. You hadn't clarified in previous posts . In any regard I was careful to word that if it were your first time riding, that would be my recommendation. Since now you've made it clear you have experience, a 600 should not be an issue.

Mike-comparing clutch and throttle control from cars to bikes is like comparing...well there is no comparison. There are no circumstances (autocross, road racing, drag racing, etc) that would even be relevant to ones ability to ride a bike. Operating a motorcycle is far more involved than operating an automobile in any circumstance and requires 110% of your attention at all time. You can correct a mistake in a car. Bikes are far more unforgiving.

Yea, I agree with a lot of what you said about riding a bike requiring more attention and whatnot, but I also understand what Mike was saying. (A clutch is a clutch, just like you have to adapt between vehicles because clutches are different, it’s the same way on a bike. Its not like I can ONLY drive one vehicle with a clutch, most people can easily adapt to the response on any clutch. Throttle again, is very similar except you use different appendages to control it)

All that being said, I learned how to ride a motorcycle before I knew how to drive a car that was a standard.

[Celtic1982citleC]

I have to find the article...but there was a VERY good article in Bike (European Publication) that featured a "how to" on motorcycle riding and explained the only vehicle that requires more human interaction with mechanical parts in order to operate is a helicopter. I thought that was pretty cool.

[xceebeex]

Originally Posted by MYIX8UR8

I have to find the article...but there was a VERY good article in Bike (European Publication) that featured a "how to" on motorcycle riding and explained the only vehicle that requires more human interaction with mechanical parts in order to operate is a helicopter. I thought that was pretty cool.

I would like to see that because I find that very hard to believe.

[mikecentola]

I think bobcats require alot, at least both hands and both feet, in order to move and lift/dump at the same time.

I wasn't comment on the amount of attention or involvement needed to safely ride a motorcycle, but as far as operating the controls goes, I found it was extremely similar to driving a car, conceptually.

Clutch, friction point feel, etc is in your hand instead of your foot, but conceptually its much the same. Again with throttle, conceptually its the same.

I definitely think that someone who has driving manual transmission vehicles, is interested in cars more than just body kits, etc, would have an easier time learning to ride a motorcycle than someone who might be coming from an automatic malibu or something.

[waltbabyluv]

my first bike will be a 250 or 400, ive never been on a bike