New Rider inbound

[Lambaru]

Hello all, taking my motorcycle course in 2 weeks. I live in the east bay. Don't have a bike yet but thinking about an SV650, Ninja, or some similar street bike. Also open to a cruiser but leaning towards a beginner sport bike. Open to suggestions and hellos! Also looking for gear. Size Large gloves, size 10 boots, any jackets. Not sure if this is allowed in the noob section but it is my first post:gsxrgrl
Andrew

 

[maidenfan84]

Wish I could give some options to you, but sports bikes aren't my specialty. Honda Shadow is a really nice cruiser, though.

Welcome to the barf!

 

[budman]

:newbie Andrew.

Pick a good bike.
Learn a bit or MORE!!

Love life on two wheels! :ride

Enjoy teh barf.

 

[maidenfan84]

Depending on your budget, a really good jacket for the price is the Tourmaster Koraza.

 

[Moto Beck]

sv650 was my first bike - little more power than i would have liked but once i got used to it - was a lot of fun.

Best advice i can say here is - spend more on gear than you think you would - i ended up realizing all the cheap gear i initially bought wasn't going to cut it for how regularly i wanted to ride (or even the occasional ride). This site is a great resource with (pointed opinions) on great gear - so ask away

 

[ejv]

Welcome,

Agree with Beck. I think I spent about $1000 on my gear when I first started and half that was my helmet. In retrospect I should have spent about another $500-$1000 on my gear at the time. Some I didn't buy and some that I did just wasn't worth buying.

My first bike was also an SV650. The SV was great for me but I lived at about 6000 foot ASL so the power was down about 20%. Depending on the beginner I may recommend it to them at sea level but there are so many more options for a first bike now than when I started riding I would definitely have a tougher choice to make. I kept mine for 11 years. Wish I still had it. They are a great all around motorcycle.


After you take your riding course hopefully you will have a better idea of what you are looking for.

 

[motomania2007]

Welcome to BARF!

I am asked all the time about first bikes.

My advice is the same:
Budget: How much money can you afford to burn up and not be destitute.
Shop insurance: set aside 1 years worth of insurance out of your budget.
Gear:
Helmet $200+
Boots $150
Gloves $150+
Jacket $250
Pants $200

Buy your gear and what is left of your budget, is what you have to pay for your bike.

Your first bike should be unintimidating in cost, height, weight and power.

SV650 is fairly tall and has more power than most noobs need.

Your first bike is just a tool to learn how to ride on. Ride it for 6 months and then sell it. If you are smart and buy a mechanically sound, cosmetically somewhat challenged bike (pre-dropped) you can probably ride it for 6 months and sell it for what you paid for it, even if you drop it a couple of times... and if you crash hard and destroy it, you are not destitute.

 

[Seduction]

I believe my friend might be selling his 2015 Yamaha R3 with 5000 miles soon. Clean title and with a few mods. Very clean.

I am selling my Alpinestars textile jacket. Size small.

PM me if you are interested.

 

[bmwbob51]

I keep thinking the SV 650 would be a great starter bike for someone with a judicious right hand. Enough power to keep you entertained after the initial noob period, but not so much power that you get overwhelmed. So many buy a new 250 300 or other under powered beginer bikes and grow out of them in a couple months!

 

[Ducati_Scott]

Welcome and to echo what a bunch of smart people already said, good gear is the key to becoming and old rider. Dress for the slide, not for the ride...

As far as bikes, they are like shoes, definitely one size doesn't fit all. Find what you like both in look and feel. Spend a lot of time riding your first bike so you can make an educated choice for your second.

Have fun!

 

[sckego]

Welcome! As others have mentioned, the SV650 is a pretty big, powerful bike for a beginner. I started on one and it took a long time for me to get moderately comfortable on it - I really do wish I'd started on something smaller and less intimidating. I think it's a great first street bike for someone who has some dirt riding experience, but I can't recommend it as a first bike period. I currently commute on a Honda CB500f, and I think that would make a great starter bike, as well as the R and X versions. The lightweight sport set (Ninja 250/300/400, R3, CBR250/300) are also worth checking out - I commuted on a pregen 250 for a long time and it is a very easy bike to ride, great for learning on. Any of these would also be perfect for your first track day after getting comfortable on the street :cool

 

[Lambaru]

Thanks for all the welcomes and helpful information! Learning a lot!