ok so around next spring i have been tossing the idea around of maybe buying a bike. now before everyone jumps on me . let me explain why. i can ride the bike to school and work. on days i do not need a truck i can ride the bike and save some gas and i know ill enjoy it. i plan on giving my wife my saturn and selling hers. ive never owned a bike and i dont have much experience riding one. ive ridden dirt bikes some but i am by no means a pro. i want to spend around 1500 bucks. maybe 2k . is that possible what can i expect? please give me any info you have my ears are open. my dad rides a harley and so does my mom and her bf. it would be cool to be apart of that and do some of the charity runs and stuff to. i am not brand particular i dont know enough to be. please give me pros and cons. thanks guys
needs some info
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$2K for a starter bike is definitely doable. It may require some light elbow grease to get it in tip-top shape, like most used bikes.
If you'll be doing hwy driving, you'd want something with at least 500cc engine to be able to keep up with traffic. I would also suggest something that's not too light (say at least 400 lbs) so that you don't get blown around by wind gusts on the hwy.
Make sure to set a good chunk of money aside for proper riding gear (clothing, helmet, etc.). Also take an MSF course, either a free one offered in some states or a private paid one, preferably before you get a bike.
Also, don't buy it strictly for money saving reasons - that is one big fallacy as the added cost of insurance, maintenance, etc. will chew up any kind of gas savings that you may realize. Buy it if you just enjoy riding.
If you'll be doing hwy driving, you'd want something with at least 500cc engine to be able to keep up with traffic. I would also suggest something that's not too light (say at least 400 lbs) so that you don't get blown around by wind gusts on the hwy.
Make sure to set a good chunk of money aside for proper riding gear (clothing, helmet, etc.). Also take an MSF course, either a free one offered in some states or a private paid one, preferably before you get a bike.
Also, don't buy it strictly for money saving reasons - that is one big fallacy as the added cost of insurance, maintenance, etc. will chew up any kind of gas savings that you may realize. Buy it if you just enjoy riding.
i may just do that. i figured i would at the very least learn how to ride from my moms boyfriend he has been riding since he was a kid. i am fairly sure i could get on and go if i had to but i wouldn't want to. whats a good brand of bike to buy that's not ridiculous in cost or to fix just an avg bike.
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
...i figured i would at the very least learn how to ride from my moms boyfriend he has been riding since he was a kid. ...
Do notlearn from you moms boyfriend, take the MSF course. ONCE you get a bad habit it is much harder to learn/teach the correct way. This should be the VERY first thing you do.
Honestly I figure if you take the needed safety equipment and set aside a reasonable "fix it" budget for stuff a used bike is going to need, you have maybe 1200.00 of your 2000.00 budget left for the actual bike.
...i figured i would at the very least learn how to ride from my moms boyfriend he has been riding since he was a kid. ...
Do notlearn from you moms boyfriend, take the MSF course. ONCE you get a bad habit it is much harder to learn/teach the correct way. This should be the VERY first thing you do.
Honestly I figure if you take the needed safety equipment and set aside a reasonable "fix it" budget for stuff a used bike is going to need, you have maybe 1200.00 of your 2000.00 budget left for the actual bike.
Don't learn from anyone but an MSF course. Don't learn other people's bad habits. If your criteria for success is that they aren't dead... well... you can do a lot better.
2000 is plenty of cash. You won't save any money with a bike, though. To be honest any money you save on gas is spent on tires, which on most bikes only last 5000~10,000 miles. Then add the cost of insurance and a decent coat/helmet.
Still, a lot of fun. If I didn't have three kids I'd still be commuting on a bike.
2000 is plenty of cash. You won't save any money with a bike, though. To be honest any money you save on gas is spent on tires, which on most bikes only last 5000~10,000 miles. Then add the cost of insurance and a decent coat/helmet.
Still, a lot of fun. If I didn't have three kids I'd still be commuting on a bike.
As DuckRyder suggested, I also would recommend that you first take a motorcycle class (mmsp.org) before you buy anything.
The class provides some training tips that can also be used for car driving, such as accident avoidance, and steering with your eyes.
Also, if you pass the class, you skip the DMV driving test, and only have to do the written part of the DMV license test.
After class, look for an older Honda (like a 750 Shadow) with a carburetor.
The class provides some training tips that can also be used for car driving, such as accident avoidance, and steering with your eyes.
Also, if you pass the class, you skip the DMV driving test, and only have to do the written part of the DMV license test.
After class, look for an older Honda (like a 750 Shadow) with a carburetor.
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i will look into the class. it cant be a bad thing to be apart of. mark (moms bf) is pretty good though very professional and well regarded. hasn't ever wrecked either. kinda unrelated but he drives a semi for a living so the rules of the road and stuff he is very good on. which is why i would rather learn from him than my dad who has the attitude of i have an ultima racing engine on my harley so i can go fast lol
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Originally Posted By: bepperb
ve any money with a bike, though. To be honest any money you save on gas is spent on tires, which on most bikes only last 5000~10,000 miles. Then add the cost of insurance and a decent coat/helmet.
Quoted for truth. I had a yamaha virago that I got for $250 and its fixed costs were $52/ year to the state and $75 for insurance. Tires are expensive, even more sticker shock to me as I run $10 used tires on my cars and wouldn't dream of that on a bike.
What I saved on gas over a 40 mpg saturn with a 50 mpg virago I paid to "the man", and I commuted from March-Nov, no small feat when I parked next to snow banks.
ve any money with a bike, though. To be honest any money you save on gas is spent on tires, which on most bikes only last 5000~10,000 miles. Then add the cost of insurance and a decent coat/helmet.
Quoted for truth. I had a yamaha virago that I got for $250 and its fixed costs were $52/ year to the state and $75 for insurance. Tires are expensive, even more sticker shock to me as I run $10 used tires on my cars and wouldn't dream of that on a bike.
What I saved on gas over a 40 mpg saturn with a 50 mpg virago I paid to "the man", and I commuted from March-Nov, no small feat when I parked next to snow banks.
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/3302823551.html
is a bike like this reasonable priced? its an 88.
That's a bit old, although from the pictures, it does look to be well taken care of. It doesn't say how many miles. 25-year-old rubber (hoses, etc.) can often be problematic if not recently replaced. I'd look for something younger.
If I'm not mistaken, that particular vintage of the 600 only had a 4-speed trans. It may make the engine very strung out when hwy cruising. It also has a tiny tank.
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/3302823551.html
is a bike like this reasonable priced? its an 88.
That's a bit old, although from the pictures, it does look to be well taken care of. It doesn't say how many miles. 25-year-old rubber (hoses, etc.) can often be problematic if not recently replaced. I'd look for something younger.
If I'm not mistaken, that particular vintage of the 600 only had a 4-speed trans. It may make the engine very strung out when hwy cruising. It also has a tiny tank.
what years should i be looking at.
Are you looking for a cruiser or does not matter?
I now own a 2012 kawasaki KLR 650. It's a dual sport dirtbike, with a long history. They have updated the plastics 2008-on and the front looks like a police bike or the ninjas. In your price range you can go much older and they are pretty much the same as the current ones. They run 87 octane which is also nice.
I now own a 2012 kawasaki KLR 650. It's a dual sport dirtbike, with a long history. They have updated the plastics 2008-on and the front looks like a police bike or the ninjas. In your price range you can go much older and they are pretty much the same as the current ones. They run 87 octane which is also nice.
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/3302823551.html
is a bike like this reasonable priced? its an 88.
Looks like a very nice bike. Can't hurt to check it out. I don't know about pricing anymore. I bought my only bike, a 500 cc Suzuki, brand new in 1979 for all of $999 on a special clearance. They were $1299 regular price.
So how many miles to school? To work? Depending on the answer, a bicycle is a whole lot cheaper. Ha, I can get very nice bicycles for $10 at garage sales.
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/3302823551.html
is a bike like this reasonable priced? its an 88.
Looks like a very nice bike. Can't hurt to check it out. I don't know about pricing anymore. I bought my only bike, a 500 cc Suzuki, brand new in 1979 for all of $999 on a special clearance. They were $1299 regular price.
So how many miles to school? To work? Depending on the answer, a bicycle is a whole lot cheaper. Ha, I can get very nice bicycles for $10 at garage sales.
a cruiser would be nice. i dont need a crotch rocket lol or anything just something to enjoy. my work is about 18 miles and the nights my mom babysits for us usually 3days a week. is an extra 9 miles there so 18*2=36+36=72 + school each day = about 102 miles a day. i think for me a bike would be beneficial. so 102*3=306 + 36+30+36+30=438 miles a week.
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/3302823551.html
is a bike like this reasonable priced? its an 88.
Looks like it has been dropped on both sides.
Judging from the plastics, particularly in the close up of the tank and the discoloration on the cases it has spent a lot of time sitting outside. I would subtract value for the non stock parts.
But with your budget this may be all you find...
A better strategy would be to figure out what kind of bike you want research the known issues with that particular make and model and then go find the best one you can afford. Like buying a decent used car, you will probably look at a ton of dogs before you find a nice garage kept one.
And I'm sorry but I don't care if your moms boyfriend is Willie G Davidson unless he is a current MSF instructor you should not learn from him.
You might consider Kawasaki EX500's, Suzuki GS500e's, Honda Rebels, Honda Nighthawks/CB's, Yamaha Viragos and FZ's, Ducati M600's (unlikely to find one in your $ range but you never know) and Sportsters (see Ducati M600).
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/3302823551.html
is a bike like this reasonable priced? its an 88.
Looks like it has been dropped on both sides.
Judging from the plastics, particularly in the close up of the tank and the discoloration on the cases it has spent a lot of time sitting outside. I would subtract value for the non stock parts.
But with your budget this may be all you find...
A better strategy would be to figure out what kind of bike you want research the known issues with that particular make and model and then go find the best one you can afford. Like buying a decent used car, you will probably look at a ton of dogs before you find a nice garage kept one.
And I'm sorry but I don't care if your moms boyfriend is Willie G Davidson unless he is a current MSF instructor you should not learn from him.
You might consider Kawasaki EX500's, Suzuki GS500e's, Honda Rebels, Honda Nighthawks/CB's, Yamaha Viragos and FZ's, Ducati M600's (unlikely to find one in your $ range but you never know) and Sportsters (see Ducati M600).
For your budget, you won't find much that is both low mileage and cosmetically nice. Now in my area I have seen some decent bikes like Kawaksaki Vulcan/Ninja 500 bikes. You might also find some standards that are older and low mileage like Suzuki GS, Kawasaki KZ, Honda CB series bikes.
One cruiser I have seen a lot of that go for cheap are the Suzuki 800cc Intruders. But like most mention, you may need to do some fixing up at that budget. An extra 1k sure gets you a lot nicer bike in my market. My friend bought a 2003 Yamaha V Star 650 custom with 8k on it for 2,800 bucks that was almost new. Just needed tires.
One cruiser I have seen a lot of that go for cheap are the Suzuki 800cc Intruders. But like most mention, you may need to do some fixing up at that budget. An extra 1k sure gets you a lot nicer bike in my market. My friend bought a 2003 Yamaha V Star 650 custom with 8k on it for 2,800 bucks that was almost new. Just needed tires.
I've heard of those. I can probably get one cheap because my family knows so many bikers . How cheapband easy are Suzuki parts to get?
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
a cruiser would be nice. i dont need a crotch rocket lol or anything just something to enjoy. my work is about 18 miles and the nights my mom babysits for us usually 3days a week. is an extra 9 miles there so 18*2=36+36=72 + school each day = about 102 miles a day. i think for me a bike would be beneficial. so 102*3=306 + 36+30+36+30=438 miles a week.
So are you planning to take the baby to your mom's on the bike?
a cruiser would be nice. i dont need a crotch rocket lol or anything just something to enjoy. my work is about 18 miles and the nights my mom babysits for us usually 3days a week. is an extra 9 miles there so 18*2=36+36=72 + school each day = about 102 miles a day. i think for me a bike would be beneficial. so 102*3=306 + 36+30+36+30=438 miles a week.
So are you planning to take the baby to your mom's on the bike?
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
I've heard of those. I can probably get one cheap because my family knows so many bikers . How cheapband easy are Suzuki parts to get?
Easy enough and about the same as other japanese parts for price. If you don't have a reasonable dealer around, bikebandit is always an easy place to get parts. The trick to buying any older bike, especially Japanese, is to buy one that was popular and produced for a long period of time. That means there will be more parts support for them.
I've heard of those. I can probably get one cheap because my family knows so many bikers . How cheapband easy are Suzuki parts to get?
Easy enough and about the same as other japanese parts for price. If you don't have a reasonable dealer around, bikebandit is always an easy place to get parts. The trick to buying any older bike, especially Japanese, is to buy one that was popular and produced for a long period of time. That means there will be more parts support for them.
My first bike was a 1978 KZ400, I paid $500 for it and spent several hundered more on it. Good carbs are impossible to find now and the only kits available are junk, one day I am going to convert it to a single carb. It needs probably another $500 to put it back on the road.
My point is it is easy to put double or tripple the value of a older bike into keeping it road worthy.
I would look for something less than 10 years old and well maintained for a daily driver. If it needs tires thats about $200+, new chain and sprockets $200+, fork seals $50+ (and not a easy job), master cylinder rebuild $50+, brake pads $50+, wheel bearings $50+, clutch $50+, cables $25+. These are just general parts prices for normal upkeep.
My point is it is easy to put double or tripple the value of a older bike into keeping it road worthy.
I would look for something less than 10 years old and well maintained for a daily driver. If it needs tires thats about $200+, new chain and sprockets $200+, fork seals $50+ (and not a easy job), master cylinder rebuild $50+, brake pads $50+, wheel bearings $50+, clutch $50+, cables $25+. These are just general parts prices for normal upkeep.
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