|
Slavvy posted:Are you in a LAMS state? Yes. I had a look at it and all 250s bar 2 or so are approved, loads of other stuff too. I just don't know what's good and what's not.
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 02:02
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 21, 2024 11:49 |
|
|
A Saucy Bratwurst posted:Yes. I had a look at it and all 250s bar 2 or so are approved, loads of other stuff too. I just don't know what's good and what's not. In that case: GS500 Any 400 from the 90's or newer Pregen SV650 DRZ400 Ninja 500 Nt650/400 bros/hawk Hyosung 250 Your first bike isn't your last, what you want is a comfortable reliable bike with neutral handling and not too much value for when you fall over in your driveway.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 04:26
|
|
|
 ...which Buells am I not supposed to like again??
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 07:04
|
|
|
A Saucy Bratwurst posted:Yes. I had a look at it and all 250s bar 2 or so are approved, loads of other stuff too. I just don't know what's good and what's not. Having had a quick check ; 2006 CB250F http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/aitkenvale/motorcycles/honda-cbf250/1082141097 Ghetto CB250rr Honda cbr 250rr lams approved., http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/wishart/motorcycles/honda-cbr-250rr-lams-approved-/1082087564 NICE Ninja 250 URGENT SALE! Kawasaki Ninja 250R with helmet, jacket and gloves, http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bentley-park/motorcycles/urgent-sale-kawasaki-ninja-250r-with-helmet-jacket-and-gloves/1082071138
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 07:12
|
|
|
I'd avoid the 4 cylinder CBR250's because they were THE FASTEST LEARNER BIKE YO before LAMS and are all completely hosed after 40-odd thousand km's thanks to a combination of learner riders and an extremely high-strung engine.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 08:49
|
|
|
That's the same area I live - check Gumtree.com.au as well as Bikesales.com.au. There's plenty of stuff out there. Brisbane Motorcycles Spares & Repairs has a bunch of cheap LAMS bikes for sale for under $2000. They're at Sumner Park. Check them out.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 09:02
|
|
|
Slavvy posted:I'd avoid the 4 cylinder CBR250's because they were THE FASTEST LEARNER BIKE YO before LAMS and are all completely hosed after 40-odd thousand km's thanks to a combination of learner riders and an extremely high-strung engine. To be fair, those aren't without their appeal. If you're deadset on a 4-cyl 250cc that revs to 20,000 you can generally pick up a Kawasaki Balius / Suzuki GSX250FX for $2k or thereabouts. They're naked versions of Kawasaki and Suzuki's CBR250RR equivalents and tend not to have been abused as much / have lower k's. Parts availability isn't fantastic, but it ain't dreadful, and they're pretty fun bikes. Where "fun" equals sitting on a bike as big as a clown tricycle that makes less than 10 horsepower unless you're well over 10,000 RPM.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 09:03
|
|
|
My first bike was a GSXR250 
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 10:18
|
|
|
Slavvy posted:
Yeah exactly. It's not like driving a car, I know I'm going to gently caress up a lot and damage whatever I buy. I'm not completely new to bikes, I've played around a bit on little dirt bikes and I nearly killed myself on a mates big dirt bike, not sure on the displacement, but that thing was proper scary to ride. I'll check out the bikes posted here, thanks. E: Isolationist posted:
I saw this, thought awyis, then realised its a 4 day round trip away.  Queensland is pretty big  . The blue dot to where it says gold coast is ~30-40 minutes.
underage at the vape shop fucked around with this message at 11:20 on Jun 23, 2015 |
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 11:08
|
|
|
Revvik posted:
Those are cool but you're just as likely to light on fire as you are to get where you're going.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 16:30
|
|
|
What is the goon opinion on the Ninja 300? On a $3k budget, is a second gen SV or the ninja a better deal? Something about riding the ninja hard and still not being too crazy speed-wise sounds fun. Edit: would this be worth a fly and ride? http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcy/5053633241.html Dutymode fucked around with this message at 21:12 on Jun 23, 2015 |
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 20:48
|
|
|
They're a lot of fun and leave you room to grow. The sv is alright too.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 20:50
|
|
|
If you can spring the extra $ for a 300 do it.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 21:15
|
|
|
Dutymode posted:What is the goon opinion on the Ninja 300? On a $3k budget, is a second gen SV or the ninja a better deal? Something about riding the ninja hard and still not being too crazy speed-wise sounds fun. Yamaha and Honda also make 300's (YZF-R3 and CBR300R) but both are first year models so you would probably have to buy new. How far of a fly and ride? SV's are pretty common so I wouldn't go out of my way unless you are just in it for the adventure (which is totally cool and awesome).
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 21:29
|
|
|
Chicago, so it could be done in one (long) day. I think I could probably find the Ninja for $3k if I'm a little patient, though, so if that's a better deal I might just wait.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 21:34
|
|
|
Gorson posted:SV's are pretty common so I wouldn't go out of my way unless you are just in it for the adventure (which is totally cool and awesome). Yeah I don't think an SV is worth traveling far for. If they're not popping up in your search, try out a Craigslist want ad. Nice thing about doing that is you can start the negotiation where you want rather than the unrealistic number the seller pulls out of their optimistic rear end.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 21:36
|
|
|
Dutymode posted:Chicago, so it could be done in one (long) day. I think I could probably find the Ninja for $3k if I'm a little patient, though, so if that's a better deal I might just wait. There are a ton of used SVs that pop up on CycleTrader near Chicago too, especially if you don't mind the S-series with the fairings and the clip-ons.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 21:55
|
|
|
clutchpuck posted:Yeah I don't think an SV is worth traveling far for Unless you want an SV with ABS. The price is similar but they're super rare.
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 22:16
|
|
|
captainOrbital posted:There are a ton of used SVs that pop up on CycleTrader near Chicago too, especially if you don't mind the S-series with the fairings and the clip-ons. Oddly the S always seems to sell for less. The gen 1 S is goofy looking but I like the look of the gen 2. Dutymode posted:Chicago, so it could be done in one (long) day. I think I could probably find the Ninja for $3k if I'm a little patient, though, so if that's a better deal I might just wait. You can get a 08-12 Ninja 250 for under $3k easy, but the 300 has only been out for a year. $3.5k, maybe, with a little haggling. This is as low as you're going to see, and it's been dumped: https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/mcy/5041614782.html
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2015 23:00
|
|
|
Hello CA, although I haven't posted here I've been obsessively reading this thread and the many others in this sub forum for the past few weeks and I'd like to thank those people who go out of their way to help newbies out. I'm brand new to this, and this thread helped steer me away from making a stupid(er?) decision for my first bike. Anyway, just posted to say I bought a slightly used CBR500R today (4900.00  out the door, it seemed like a pretty good deal), and now I'm looking forward to my safety classes.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 01:27
|
|
|
LCdr. Jebus posted:Hello CA, although I haven't posted here I've been obsessively reading this thread and the many others in this sub forum for the past few weeks and I'd like to thank those people who go out of their way to help newbies out. I'm brand new to this, and this thread helped steer me away from making a stupid(er?) decision for my first bike. Uh, that's not a super Duke... Welcome! Nice choice. How does it work in Canada? Do you get your license first or do you take the safety classes and then get a license?
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 01:37
|
|
|
builds character posted:Uh, that's not a super Duke... It varies (sometimes greatly) from province to province, but for BC where I am now you write a multiple choice test to get your learners, do a basic 15 minute skills test 2 weeks later (after which you can ride without a buddy with a full license following you) followed by a road test two weeks after that for your full license. Government sanctioned safety courses are highly recommended, but optional and take the place of the skills test. I'm moving to Ontario shortly which has a full graduated plan where it will take me 2 years to earn my full license and doing my safety course there, which counts for their basic skills test.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 01:53
|
|
|
http://dothan.craigslist.org/mcy/5075361288.html At first glance this looks pretty good. If I go look at it, what should I look for? This would be my first bike and it would be a daily commuter for 60 miles round trip on a highway. I'd need to go at least 70 comfortably. There's also this one. I really dig it's look. http://dothan.craigslist.org/mcy/5029999071.html For reference, I'm 6'4" and 317 (and shrinking!)
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 13:30
|
|
|
Diggie posted:http://dothan.craigslist.org/mcy/5075361288.html For your first bike please don't get a bike from 1982 unless you know how to wrench things.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 14:37
|
|
|
Diggie posted:http://dothan.craigslist.org/mcy/5075361288.html Those Vstars are decent bikes, if a bit boring. They are good beginner bikes due to the low seat height and low CG and predictable (read: not much) power. They are certainly capable of 70mph, but whether or not that is "comfortable" over a 60 mile commute depends on the rider's ability to put up with superslab traffic and boredom. Me? Not so much. Offer $2000 on it, with the intention to haggle a bit, and see if he bites. As for the Ascot, as far as 80's bikes go they are easy to maintain (thumper) and reliable. It also appears the PO has done some maintenance on it. However, it is still 30+ years old and any bike of that vintage needs restoration in the form of new shocks/springs/rubber/gaskets/wheel bearings/calipers and master cylinder rebuilds, etc etc unless it has been babied it's whole life, or has already been restored. Those new shocks also look like ebay Chinese poo poo, emgo probably, and I don't trust PO's who replace the tires one-at-a-time. The FT500 actually makes a pretty good little track bike or around-towner but wouldn't be good for interstate commuting. Honda did make another Ascot, the VT500, which is a vtwin and has shaft drive. That would be a better freeway bike but again, they only made them in 83-84 so the same rules about old bikes apply.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 16:09
|
|
|
Question to anyone: Which bike would you choose between the TW200, XT225, XR250, and KLR250 and why? I'm looking for one of those to be a street-legal (stock, so I don't have to deal with some dummy's hack conversion) gravel runner for Forest Service roads. I'm already familiar with a KLR250 and love it but have never ridden any of the others.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 18:28
|
|
|
Gorson posted:Those Vstars are decent bikes, if a bit boring. They are good beginner bikes due to the low seat height and low CG and predictable (read: not much) power. They are certainly capable of 70mph, but whether or not that is "comfortable" over a 60 mile commute depends on the rider's ability to put up with superslab traffic and boredom. Me? Not so much. Offer $2000 on it, with the intention to haggle a bit, and see if he bites. By comfortably I mean like not having to go full throttle the whole way. I didn't think a 30 year old bike would be a good idea, but I love the look. Between friends and family, I have no problem getting access to tools and a wide knowledge base, but I don't want to constantly tinker with it like I have to with my 25 year old truck. I should mention that my ride to work takes 30 minutes and traffic isn't an issue until I'm around 5 minutes from my office. Very little congestion in the mornings or afternoons. Diggie fucked around with this message at 19:55 on Jun 24, 2015 |
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 19:53
|
|
|
You'll have a 650 wound up pretty good on the freeway but it will do it. If you're shopping cruisers, the vtwin cruisery engines make a lot less power per cc because they're designed to operate at lower revs. You'd probably do fine on anything 1300cc on down. Vulcan 800s are solid, cheapish, less-ancient options. I usually recommend against Honda cruisers though. Their two-pin cranks make the engine sound 100% broken and their geometry is best described as "clumsy" or "terrifying".
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 20:01
|
|
|
Hey Diggie I'm your weight and a GS500 was enough to get me to 80+ and up comfortably. With that bike you're talking 45~50 hp and just under 400 lbs for the bike. Any bike with that much power or above should be able to hit those speeds easily.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 20:05
|
|
|
I'm still looking around on Craigslist. Thanks for the advice. I'll look for at least a 750 on a cruiser. I don't know about the sport bike option, though. I need to ride one and see how it feels. The GS500s with the farings off don't look bad. I just don't care for the plastic stuff everywhere. Diggie fucked around with this message at 20:32 on Jun 24, 2015 |
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 20:30
|
|
|
Diggie posted:I'm still looking around on Craigslist. Thanks for the advice. I'll look for at least a 750 on a cruiser. I don't know about the sport bike option, though. I need to ride one and see how it feels. The Suzuki M50 (800cc) and the Marauder (its predecessor) are other options. They also made the Volusia (sp?) cruiser. Since they are Suzuki's they are common and cheap. Diggie posted:I didn't think a 30 year old bike would be a good idea, but I love the look. Between friends and family, I have no problem getting access to tools and a wide knowledge base, but I don't want to constantly tinker with it like I have to with my 25 year old truck. Old bikes are fun to ride and tinker on, but not much for reliability. The best way to own one is to have 2 bikes, one that won't let you down and one that you can wrench on. It's my opinion that many new riders get turned off motorcycles because they bike an old bike for the retro look, they overpay for it, then it breaks down on them in the first week and collects dust for years. I know, I wanted a UJM when I first started riding, and have 2 friends who are thinking about riding who both want old bikes. I'm trying to convince them they don't. HenryJLittlefinger posted:Question to anyone: One of these kids is not like the other. The TW200 is more of a slow speed, rough terrain hillclimber than for gravel fire roads, though it can do that too. I would get the KLR250 or XT225/250, because they are common and cheaper than the XR. The Super Sherpa should also be on your list, if for no reason other than it has an awesome loving name.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 21:24
|
|
|
Exactly everything that has been said about old bikes. I started with an abandoned 82 Magna and I'm amazed that I didn't light myself on fire out of frustration. If you're sick of tinkering on a 1990-ish pickup, you don't want a 33 year old oddball bike that's only done 10,000 miles.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 22:00
|
|
Boys who love boys
|
Yeah my first bike was a then-28yo XS750. I put maybe 50 miles on it before it started sucking to own. I'm still riding despite it. It's a basket case now if someone wants a free project come get it.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 22:16
|
|
|
Gorson posted:
Right on, thanks. I consider the Super Sherpa just an extension of the KLR250. They're kind of rare on CL around here, but if there was one of those on at the same time as a regular 250, I'd go for it first. edit: Although, now that I look into it, the Sherpa is not a KLR250. I guess I've been carrying that misconception for a while now. Sherpa looks like a better bike to me. HenryJLittlefinger fucked around with this message at 22:50 on Jun 24, 2015 |
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 22:46
|
|
|
If you're looking at a Vstar, take a look at the Honda CTX700. It's also a 650 but very smooth on the freeway.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 23:02
|
|
|
HenryJLittlefinger posted:Right on, thanks. I consider the Super Sherpa just an extension of the KLR250. They're kind of rare on CL around here, but if there was one of those on at the same time as a regular 250, I'd go for it first. I'm not sure what the difference is between them, probably not much if anything, but the Sherpa does have a different designation from Kawi (KL250G).
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 23:06
|
|
|
Gorson posted:I'm not sure what the difference is between them, probably not much if anything, but the Sherpa does have a different designation from Kawi (KL250G). A little Googling says the Sherpa is about 20 lbs lighter, lower gearing, stainless steel muffler, and is air cooled. I think those are probably the most important differences, but they're not so huge that I'd refuse a KLR.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 23:16
|
|
|
I don't know if newer KLR250s are the same, but the super sherpa is electric start, where as my 90's klr250 was kick only. It wasn't too bad when it was running perfect, but as a fat old man I would have liked electric start better. Air cooled would have been awesome too as I had a hose get cut while in a trailer and all my coolant fell out.
|
|
#
?
Jun 24, 2015 23:29
|
|
|
Here's a totally academic question. What are some good bikes to look at for long-legged passengers? My girlfriend has a 34" inseam and my VFR800 kills her knees (and she leans on me hardcore, sliding me into the tank). If got a feeling the answer is FJR, ST, Goldwing or cruiser but maybe I'm missing something (UJM?) good.
|
|
#
?
Jun 25, 2015 00:07
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 21, 2024 11:49 |
|
|
Any adventure bike ever. Or a dual sport.
|
|
#
?
Jun 25, 2015 00:16
|
|