Thoughts on a bike for a first time rider?
 

No, this isn't for me. Unfortunately. My daughter's boyfriend is looking to buy a bike, used, and I told him I would ask you guys for your thoughts. He is NOT one of those stupid kids who wants to buy a Busa or anything like it for his first bike, thank God! :lol:

By the way, he's about 6'2" so he'll need something comfy for someone taller. He's been doing a lot of looking on craigslist and my concern is that he doesn't know what to look for in a used bike to try and be certain that he's getting a good deal. I know a lot of people say that its a waste to get a 250, even for a first bike, because their opinion is it will be outgrown quickly, but he's not interested in being a speed demon, he just wants something to have fun on and to commute on. He's thankfully very mature for a 25 year old. Maybe 'cause he's an EMT and knows that bikes can be dangerous in the hands of stupid people, and because of stupid people in cars.

So, all tips and suggestions are welcome! He said so far he likes the look of naked bikes (I mentioned looking for an SV 650, I know a couple tallish guys who ride them) and he also saw a Buell Blast he likes the looks of. I have no idea what to tell him to look for though, in terms of having a clue if a bike has been dropped or otherwise damaged.

Thanks in advance!

I think the Ninja 500 would be an excellent beginner/commuter bike, I'm on the tall side of 6'2" and used the 500 to commute 60 miles daily and enjoyed every minute of it. Very comfortable!

EX500 Ninja. I would normally say a 250 Ninja is an excellent starter, but 6'2" might get a bit cramped. The 500 has enough power to do anything on the street, is large enough to haul a tall rider in comfort, good used pricing and insurance is reasonable. And they look good too.

OK, so, you're bothing saying Kawi, which is cool and helpful. :)

How about tips on what to look for though, for someone who doesn't know what to look for when buying used? Oh, and, thank you!

I'm going to second this recommendation. I owned THREE EX500's, they're very good entry/intermediate level bikes. Not overly powerful, but not a complete pig requiring super high rpms to keep up with traffic either.

Alternately, a GS500E or F is a good choice, although you have to check the oil every time you go to ride because like all air cooled bikes, they burn oil.

I like both bikes, although suspension/frame wise, the GS is leaps and bounds ahead as you can retrofit a dual disc Katana front end to them and utilize better front suspension from that, plus GSXR and Katana rear shocks offering more than preload only for adjustments.

If a bike has been crashed (MOST 250s & 500s have been, a little) you can look at handle bar ends and levers for scrapes, engine side covers and the side panels and grab bar sides around the back of the seat. When sitting on the seat compare the angle of the bars to see if they look the same, ie; angle back and down. The bars on an EX500 are not adjustable so if one is angled back or down more than the other, it is bent. Look closely at that side of the bike. With the bike sitting upright, (I believe the EX has a center stand) and the front wheel pointing straight look at the forks from both sides and visually assess that they are vertically straight, as in the same angle from the top to the bottom of the fork. Look down through the top of the fairing, or/and from the bottom up, at the fork stop tabs on the lower triple tree and the frame and make sure they are not deformed or hammered looking where the lower meets the frame. If one side is pounded, look it over closely, if both side are beat up, so is the bike, regardless of how it looks now. If either side is broken or re-welded on it was either stolen, or crashed Really HARD at some point. If you see no damage, it looks good, is clean, chain lubed, starts and runs good, then it probably is good. Test ride it if you can. If a test ride is not allowed, ask the owner if they will start it on the center stand and run it through the gears at a moderate RPM to make sure the transmission and clutch operate ok, and it doesn't smoke or leak. That is really about all you can do. After that it is just a crap shoot.

You can also look at the NE Rally pics of Derf's brother's EX500 and get an idea of where to look for crash damage...

SV. Most versatile bike in the world.

sv 650 after he learns how to crash a dirt bike

500 Ninja... anyone who can't have fun on one, shouldn't be on two wheels.

Agreed!

Speaking of which, I think dual sports make great first bikes.

I really want to give advice.

But, all I can think about is how he's 25 and I'm only 28. All this time I've been thinking I'm too old to join your family! And you drop this bomb shell on us?! :lol:

Thank you for all the advice everyone! More thoughts and opinions are welcome and I will pass on what I've gotten so far. :)

And Travis, my daughters aren't still the little girls they were when I joined CF. My oldest, the girlfriend of the 25 year old, will be 22 in December. :lol:

Ninja 500 = flexi-frame and weak engine compared to an SV....

So why not just get an SV when it can be had for pretty much the same price? You can easily pick a decent used one up for $3K

SV / Kawi 650R / Monster 620.

If he is only going to use it for commuting/short rides, the DRZ400SM is pretty sweet

I had mentioned a monster to him, but, correct me if I'm wrong, in terms of parts and repairs, they are more expensive? Should that be a consideration?

Karl, I'm not familiar with a DRZ. Who makes that so I can tell him that too? He is just planning to use it to get to and from work, and to our place which is probably 30 miles from him.

I do think he's ridden dirt bikes before, IIRC....

DRZ-SM is no good for more than 15 minutes at a time IMO and terrible for freeways for any distance. I've owned a Ninja 500, SV650 and DRZ.

Make sure you buy used and avoid a lot of easily damageable bodywork (i.e. SV650S). I would look for a first gen SV650 (99-02). They should be easy to find for less than $3k and just require basic maintenance for years. The aftermarket support for them is terrific and there's enough power where he shouldn't feel the need to trade up to anything else.

My first thought was the EX500, but the SV might be a nice choice too.

Does this sound like too little for too new a bike? I know he said it was laid down but, I'll post another ad for an older bike with less miles, that is a lot more... (I really have no clue about this stuff, can you tell? lol)

2006 Ninja 500R/EX500 $1500

I bought this as my first motorcycle just under a year ago and it's been fantastic - never left me stranded. Bike has always been garaged, has 23,888 on the odometer and was laid down and repaired before I bought it and it's been perfect since. Great learning motorcycle! Exhaust cans are scratched and fairing has been repaired, again before I owned it. Has brand new maintenance-free battery - last one died over the summer. Have clean title in hand and ready to go!

Link to ad

2003 KAWASAKI NINJA EX500 - $2995

Brand new tires, brand new brakes, fender eliminator, fresh oil, and complete inspection. All work completed at the local certified Kawasaki dealer. You can buy this bike with confidence. VIN: JKAEXVD183A080593 ,Stock #: 9898-1 .
We just took in this Blue Ninja with 15,101 Miles and it's clean,

Ad

Per KBB, retail - $3080

Per KBB, retail - $2540

Havent researched the power level of it, but the Versys is a dead sexy naked option good for tall guys. Its one of the options my 6'4" hubby is looking at.

too bad you're married. If you think the versys is sexy i mighta had a chance :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :P

its the same as the 650r

does it have to be a sportbike variant? If not I usually aim people towards olsder standard bikes. Nighthawk 650 or 750 are great. Yeah a bit heavy but very forgiving in the control area.
especially someone taller may find it more comfortable to learn while not "crowded" on a bike.

jigga pleaz.......You want sexxy, get an Aprilia Shiver

Not for a newb goob! :lol: However I agree, that ones so hawt it gives me the well, shivers!

Too bad you'll never want to buy one new - the Aprilia will drop into more than half it's showroom price by rolling it out the door.

Michelle, the 2-valve Ducatis [monster] are NOT more expensive to maintain than the japanese counterparts. And, if you get a legacy model there are TONS of things you can do to them...

http://monterey.craigslist.org/mcy/1409368327.html

Would be a decent first bike assuming there is nothing majorly wrong with it.

STOP JUST STOP

I can't handle agreeing with you twice in one day!!

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...00/Mar3105.jpg

Thank you again everyone! I'm passing all this info on to him!

And Wildchild, I do think he's more into a sportbike than anything else. I'll let him know what you suggested too, though.