Noob looking for advice on my first bike

[sharkfin25]

Hi all,

I'm new to the board and new to (street) motorcycling. I was looking for opinions on which bike might be good for me to learn on. I have ridden dirt bikes and ATV's, but nothing street legal. I will be taking the MSF course very shortly and after that I want to get a bike that I can eventually use to commute back and forth to work. I'm not looking for speed or anything crazy. I'm 34 with a wife and 3 little one's at home, so my bike won't be traveling too much over the legal speed limit. 

A little about me, I'm 6'1" tall and weigh about 250.

So the 3 bikes that I have narrowed the choice down to are the GS500F, the Kawasaki Ninja 500R and the Yamaha FZ-6. Right now, I'm leaning toward the FZ-6, but everything I've heard about the GS500F says that it's a great bike to learn on. Really, the only reason I'm leaning toward the FZ-6 is because it's fuel injected and liquid cooled. And, it has a fuel gauge. Don't ask me why, but that's a big deal for me. I've heard good things about the Ninja as well, but I think it may be a bit small for me, riding position wise.

Anyway, any opinions are appreciated. Is a 600 to much to start with? Does the EFI and liquid cooling make that big of a difference?

Thanks,

Joe

[dracflamloc]

I can tell you right now (as a fellow beginner) I test rode a FZR600 and that was a 97 model. A typical 600 is probably way too much for what you're looking for. I too plan to commute to work on my bike (just bought a GS500). Based on what I've read here the GS should be able to easily sustain 80mph routinely which is about the speed i95 moves on a normal day for me.

[TragicImage]

in the end, it'll be what you're comfortable with.  I love the GS500... and its true, its one of the best beginner bikes out there.

Riding position and Comfort are important, you don't want to buy something that isn't comfortable to sit on if you plan on commuting.


Fuel injection would be a nice feature on the GS, but the carbs aren't exactly unreliable.  And my GS does have a fuel gauge on it... Its called my "Trip Odometer".  You've just gotta learn how to read it.

Liquid Cooling is nice, but unless you plan to sit in traffic, or let it idle for a long time, there is nothing wrong with Air Cooled... Hell, Porcshe's were air cooled for the majority of History.

[vtlion]

If you are considering the FZ6, put the SV650 on your shortlist as well.  It is also fuel injected and liquid cooeld.  Nice power-band that is very amenable to rational , "i want to live" style riding.   Lots of great support online (svrider.com).

Of course, you also can't go wrong with the GS.   

[My Name Is Dave]

Word is that the tank on the Ninja 500 is ill-shaped for people your size. I haven't sat on one, but that's what people say. I sat on a coworker's Ninja 250, which felt fine.

Dave 

[sharkfin25]

If you are considering the FZ6, put the SV650 on your shortlist as well.  It is also fuel injected and liquid cooeld.  Nice power-band that is very amenable to rational , "i want to live" style riding.   Lots of great support online (svrider.com).

Of course, you also can't go wrong with the GS.   

I actually was thinking about the SV650 as well, but I read somewhere that the insurance on that bike was astronomical. I have a clean driving record, no tickets in over 10 years. Has anyone else heard that.

By the way, thanks for all the great responses. I'll be sure to post which one I picked when the time comes.

[sharkfin25]

Word is that the tank on the Ninja 500 is ill-shaped for people your size. I haven't sat on one, but that's what people say. I sat on a coworker's Ninja 250, which felt fine.

Dave 

When I first decided I wanted to start riding, I thought about the Ninja 250 because the the price, fuel economy, etc. But you're right, for someone my size it's not a good option.

[ajgs500]

If you are considering the FZ6, put the SV650 on your shortlist as well.  It is also fuel injected and liquid cooeld.  Nice power-band that is very amenable to rational , "i want to live" style riding.   Lots of great support online (svrider.com).

Of course, you also can't go wrong with the GS.   

I actually was thinking about the SV650 as well, but I read somewhere that the insurance on that bike was astronomical. I have a clean driving record, no tickets in over 10 years. Has anyone else heard that.

By the way, thanks for all the great responses. I'll be sure to post which one I picked when the time comes.

Never heard that about the SV in particular.

[corndog67]

I had an SV. in my opinion, a perfect beginner bike, yet when you get better and more confident, it won't need to be replaced, as it is a very competent bike.  But, an FZ-6 has, I believe, around 100 HP.  How is your self control?  A GS has around 40.  An SV, 55ish.  The FZ is a genuinely fast bike.  If you don't crash before you get to be a confident, competent rider, you probably won't ever need an upgrade.   If you are confident that you could keep out of the throttle, at least until you get enough seat time, it is probably a good bike.  Only you know yourself. 

About the insurance, make a few calls and find out for yourself.  Progressive, State Farm, McGraw, there are several others, also.

[Alphamazing]

I had an SV. in my opinion, a perfect beginner bike, yet when you get better and more confident, it won't need to be replaced, as it is a very competent bike.  But, an FZ-6 has, I believe, around 100 HP.  How is your self control?  A GS has around 40.  An SV, 55ish.  The FZ is a genuinely fast bike.  If you don't crash before you get to be a confident, competent rider, you probably won't ever need an upgrade.   If you are confident that you could keep out of the throttle, at least until you get enough seat time, it is probably a good bike.  Only you know yourself. 

About the insurance, make a few calls and find out for yourself.  Progressive, State Farm, McGraw, there are several others, also.

An SV has over 70HP, an FZ6 about 90HP.

[scratch]

Addressing the fuel guage issue, all bikes come with a tripmeter, knowing the average mileage a bike gets (leaning towards the pesimistic side to be safe), and the size of the main tank, you can safely guage the number of miles you can go before having to fill up again, or switching to reserve (on most bikes).  Zero the tripmeter whenever you fill up, and check the tripmeter whenever you stop.  Example: Our bikes ('01+) have a 4.8 gallon tank with a 0.8 gallon reserve.  The average fuel mileage our bike gets is 55-65mpg, taking the 55mpg, multiply that by our 4 gallon main tank, we should be able to go 220miles between fill-ups.  Fill up, set your tripmeter to zero and ride til the tripmeter reads 200 miles and then either start looking for a gas station and go fill up, or wait until you hit reserve (the bike (any bike) will begin to hesitate and buck), then switch to reserve and look for a gas station.

Also, check insurance on all the bikes you're looking at.  Have you priced tires?  And, how often you will have to replace them, between the different models of bikes?

[pandy]

My boyfriend and I both started on the GS500E (we shared in the beginning). He now rides an FZ6, and I ride an SV650S. He made some good points: the SV650S has torque in the low end...the FZ6 is mellow down low, but a tiger over 6 or 7K. He upgraded after about 3 months of riding, and he's been a very happy camper ever since. I upgraded after about a year, and I'm a happy camper, too. He reports that if you have a level head about you, you'd likely do just fine with the FZ6 as your first bike. His suggestion is to take it easy in the beginning, get comfortable, and then you'll have PLENTY of bike later when you're more experienced, all wrapped up in one bike.

I was very happy with my decision to stay with the GS a bit longer. I'd still be riding him if he were fuel injected.   But I *really* love my SVS. I'd probably have killed myself on my SVS if I'd gotten him before the GS. I think we just need to know ourselves and what we can handle. 

If I had it to do over again, I'd still start on the GS. The GS could keep up at highway speeds, and he was built like a tank. He took a LOT of punishment from me.... I may have dropped him...once...or....uh...twice....    I've dropped my SVS er...once or twice..too....he's quite a bit taller than my GS was... (that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!)  I think my boyfriend might start with the FZ6 if he had it to do over, not because the GS isn't a good bike, but because he REALLY loves his powerhouse FZ6. 

Insofar as insurance goes, we didn't find that insurance was outlandish on either bike. We both pay very modest rates for full coverage through State Farm.

[Phaedrus]

I actually was thinking about the SV650 as well, but I read somewhere that the insurance on that bike was astronomical. I have a clean driving record, no tickets in over 10 years. Has anyone else heard that.

Yeah, I've read that somewhere. Maybe even on this site somewhere? I have heard that the SV is surprisingly expensive to insure because of it's popularity among new riders and it's power.  I don't think the insurance is crazy high - but higher than you might expect for an entry level bike. I dunno anything though, and I can prove it. 

[sharkfin25]

My boyfriend and I both started on the GS500E (we shared in the beginning). He now rides an FZ6, and I ride an SV650S. He made some good points: the SV650S has torque in the low end...the FZ6 is mellow down low, but a tiger over 6 or 7K. He upgraded after about 3 months of riding, and he's been a very happy camper ever since. I upgraded after about a year, and I'm a happy camper, too. He reports that if you have a level head about you, you'd likely do just fine with the FZ6 as your first bike. His suggestion is to take it easy in the beginning, get comfortable, and then you'll have PLENTY of bike later when you're more experienced, all wrapped up in one bike.





Ok, good to know. If I had to use 1 word to describe myself, it would probaby be "responsible". I was the guy in high school who was the designated driver every weekend. 

[sharkfin25]

Addressing the fuel guage issue, all bikes come with a tripmeter, knowing the average mileage a bike gets (leaning towards the pesimistic side to be safe), and the size of the main tank, you can safely guage the number of miles you can go before having to fill up again, or switching to reserve (on most bikes).  Zero the tripmeter whenever you fill up, and check the tripmeter whenever you stop.  Example: Our bikes ('01+) have a 4.8 gallon tank with a 0.8 gallon reserve.  The average fuel mileage our bike gets is 55-65mpg, taking the 55mpg, multiply that by our 4 gallon main tank, we should be able to go 220miles between fill-ups.  Fill up, set your tripmeter to zero and ride til the tripmeter reads 200 miles and then either start looking for a gas station and go fill up, or wait until you hit reserve (the bike (any bike) will begin to hesitate and buck), then switch to reserve and look for a gas station.

Also, check insurance on all the bikes you're looking at.  Have you priced tires?  And, how often you will have to replace them, between the different models of bikes?

Point taken on the fuel gauge 

You know, I haven't researched the tires. Never even though about it, actually. I'll do some more research on that. Thanks for the tip!

[Alphamazing]

Point taken on the fuel gauge 

You know, I haven't researched the tires. Never even though about it, actually. I'll do some more research on that. Thanks for the tip!

To give you an idea, I paid about $170 shipped for my Sport Demons and got about 4000 miles out of them. One of those higher powered sport bikes would have gone through tires much faster than that, the way I ride. New tires on the SV and FZ6, for example, would run me about $220 for a set, and $112 for the rear alone (+$15 shipping or so), as opposed to the $90 shipped I paid for my new rear Sport Demon.

You can always fit Sport Demons on those bigger bikes, but I think it will run you about the same.

[corndog67]

I had an SV. in my opinion, a perfect beginner bike, yet when you get better and more confident, it won't need to be replaced, as it is a very competent bike.  But, an FZ-6 has, I believe, around 100 HP.  How is your self control?  A GS has around 40.  An SV, 55ish.  The FZ is a genuinely fast bike.  If you don't crash before you get to be a confident, competent rider, you probably won't ever need an upgrade.   If you are confident that you could keep out of the throttle, at least until you get enough seat time, it is probably a good bike.  Only you know yourself. 

About the insurance, make a few calls and find out for yourself.  Progressive, State Farm, McGraw, there are several others, also.

An SV has over 70HP, an FZ6 about 90HP. 

I am not absolutely sure, but I don't think and SV has 70 HP.  I used to have one and it wasn't that strong.   But.... they are really bitchin' little bikes.

[ajgs500]

The Sv's HP is 69.

[sharkfin25]

You guys convinced me. I'm going for the GS500F. I feel like it's the best all around bike to learn on. Now I just need to get my house sold so I can actually buy it.

Thanks for all the great input!

[Phaedrus]

Wow, selling your house for a GS! Now THAT is dedication