I have never rode a motorcycle before. I plan on taking the MSF course. I go to the university of florida. I also plan on using my bike to travel to class on campus, 1-2 miles roundtrip each day, go to the gym on campus, go to the grocery store off campus once every two weeks, and will not be doing any night riding. I dont even plan on riding my bike on the highways for fun. It will be strictly campus riding, occasional highway riding for errands only. My parents have talked about the idea of getting me a car, but id rather have the money spent on a nice bike. Heres the zinger, i want a gixxer 600. i really like this bike. another alternative would be a scooter. i dont really want one of those. so my question. would the gixxer 600 be too much of a bike for a new rider who will be riding in my circumstances? would the time spent riding around the univ. be enough to accomodate myself with the bike? i def. plan on wearing helmet/jacket, and jeans. i need some advice..
New Rider.
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It sounds like you need a commuter more than a nice bike. Having motorcycle as only source of transportation is unconvenient. There will be days when its cold and raining. And also if your leaving in a dormatory or in an apartment, where do you plan on keeping the bike at night?
Also, bikes like GSXR's are high maintence and if you don't have a place to work on it, I wouldn't get it. Heck, an oil change for my Gixxer is 50 bucks at my local dealership. Then there is air filter change every 2500-3000 miles. Mounting and balance for rear tire is 70 dollars if you have to take the bike in. Just so you know, I go though BT014 tires 3-4k miles.
Also, bikes like GSXR's are high maintence and if you don't have a place to work on it, I wouldn't get it. Heck, an oil change for my Gixxer is 50 bucks at my local dealership. Then there is air filter change every 2500-3000 miles. Mounting and balance for rear tire is 70 dollars if you have to take the bike in. Just so you know, I go though BT014 tires 3-4k miles.
I second the opinion for the Scooter. Your trips are so short a 75 cc or 50 cc scooter would be perfect. Your GSX-R won't even run correctly if you never take it on long trips either. It won't warm up enough either. You'd be doing a terrible injustice to the bike. Also, if you get a car you have a back seat, which can be quite handy in college.
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The riding you are describing is exactly what scooter's are great for...those quick, short little trips. Plus, they have A LOT more storage space than sportbikes, so you could put a bag of grocerys under the seat or in the trunk and not worry about carrying grocery's plus books all in a back pack.
Look into a Vino scooter. They are pretty quick, easy to ride, and pretty inexpensive...$1500-1700 for a new one.
A Gixxer isn't a good idea for a brand new rider...it's especially not a good idea for someone who's not planning on having a lot of time in the seat to get comfortable w/ the bike.
Scooter's the way to go!! :bluethum:
Look into a Vino scooter. They are pretty quick, easy to ride, and pretty inexpensive...$1500-1700 for a new one.
A Gixxer isn't a good idea for a brand new rider...it's especially not a good idea for someone who's not planning on having a lot of time in the seat to get comfortable w/ the bike.
Scooter's the way to go!! :bluethum:
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No question that it's a nice bike...but what you have to think about is how much enjoyment would you really get out of it if you weren't riding it to your full potential and never felt completely comfortable on it becuase you didn't ride it long enough or often enough?
Take the MSF course, then all this may make more sense...once you've ridden a bit...
Take the MSF course, then all this may make more sense...once you've ridden a bit...
Dude you can't have a sportbike for "errands". It's like buying a Corvette for the job of a Ford truck. You have to sit down and set your priorities straight.
Besides a 600cc sportbike is very dangerous in rookie hands - take it from me: I have a less fiery Bandit 600 which packs about 78 hp. It was very difficult to learn on it - the first 2 days I almost killed myself. Now the Gixxer is even more powerful...get it?
Buy the bike for what it is - a sportbike, which should be used for sporty riding. "Sportbike for campus riding" is an oxymoron.
:roll:
Besides a 600cc sportbike is very dangerous in rookie hands - take it from me: I have a less fiery Bandit 600 which packs about 78 hp. It was very difficult to learn on it - the first 2 days I almost killed myself. Now the Gixxer is even more powerful...get it?
Buy the bike for what it is - a sportbike, which should be used for sporty riding. "Sportbike for campus riding" is an oxymoron.
:roll:
Yes I totally agree with 007 and Suzukigrl, I myself have just passed my MSF course and they are totally right. You see when you see a motorcycle you see the magic, fantasy, and you get mesmerized with them and say to yourself I WANT TO RIDE. But when i took the course i realized that its alot harder then just wanting to ride. The first riding day of the course i felt as if i wanted to quit because that magic and fantasy was gone, It was just me and instructer and a hunk of metal between my legs for 8 hours. After proper consideration i believe i will get a GS500F, I like you wanted a Suzuki GSX-R 600 or a Yamaha R6 but I remember how nervous i was on that Honda 250 training bike and the mistakes i made. I wouldnt want those mistakes to be on a bike that could take me up to 50 mph plus with the flick of the wrist. Take it from someone that recently have passed there MSF course once you get on a bike its a totally new ball game.
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i would use it mostly for campus riding, with the occasional trip to orlando, which is an hour and a half away. i guess i shoulda rephrased, its not just a campus rider, it is a college town rider. <?> but i agree with all of you. my 18th b-day is coming up and ill try to get the money and approval for the msf course from my parents. after that i will decide on how my skills are. for some reason i dont see it being that hard to do, ride bikes. ive ridden a dirt bike and have done fine on it. is it that much different in relation to the way it is driven?
i would use it mostly for campus riding, with the occasional trip to orlando, which is an hour and a half away. i guess i shoulda rephrased, its not just a campus rider, it is a college town rider. <?> but i agree with all of you. my 18th b-day is coming up and ill try to get the money and approval for the msf course from my parents. after that i will decide on how my skills are. for some reason i dont see it being that hard to do, ride bikes. ive ridden a dirt bike and have done fine on it. is it that much different in relation to the way it is driven?
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My recommendation ...
1) Take the MSF course
2) Get yourself a set of gear - Helmet, Jacket, Gloves, Boots, etc.
2) Get a used 125 (or a scooter) and learn how to ride it
3) After you have gone through all 4 stages (see the post from RowdyRed) then consider getting a bigger bike.
I started with a 50cc Vespa, put over 10'000 miles on it in about 7 years. I had one accident with it (I wasn't hurt, but the bike had about $600 damage), because some idiot ran a stop sign with his cage.
I then bought a Honda 125, rode it for two years, taking a safe course each summer. It was great for getting around town and the occasional country road and easy twisties.
Now, after more than 10 years of riding, I moved to a new town about 15 miles outside of Basle, and am on the motorway every day to get to work. I was no longer comfortable, since I was on the rev-limiter of the 125 just to keep up with traffic. That's why I decided to get myself a bigger bike - the GSX 1400. It has 106 hp and can do well over 125 mph ... but realistically, I never do more than about 85 mph, because of the traffic laws here in Switzerland. (I am also old and wise enough to know my limitations).
And ... I am always wearing my gear!
So, to summarise ... start small, and let your bike power grow along with your skills. Having a big bike and no riding experience will shorten your life expectency (and raise everyone else's insurance costs). Don't be selfish - ride safe and ride smart ... your whole lifetime.
1) Take the MSF course
2) Get yourself a set of gear - Helmet, Jacket, Gloves, Boots, etc.
2) Get a used 125 (or a scooter) and learn how to ride it
3) After you have gone through all 4 stages (see the post from RowdyRed) then consider getting a bigger bike.
I started with a 50cc Vespa, put over 10'000 miles on it in about 7 years. I had one accident with it (I wasn't hurt, but the bike had about $600 damage), because some idiot ran a stop sign with his cage.
I then bought a Honda 125, rode it for two years, taking a safe course each summer. It was great for getting around town and the occasional country road and easy twisties.
Now, after more than 10 years of riding, I moved to a new town about 15 miles outside of Basle, and am on the motorway every day to get to work. I was no longer comfortable, since I was on the rev-limiter of the 125 just to keep up with traffic. That's why I decided to get myself a bigger bike - the GSX 1400. It has 106 hp and can do well over 125 mph ... but realistically, I never do more than about 85 mph, because of the traffic laws here in Switzerland. (I am also old and wise enough to know my limitations).
And ... I am always wearing my gear!
So, to summarise ... start small, and let your bike power grow along with your skills. Having a big bike and no riding experience will shorten your life expectency (and raise everyone else's insurance costs). Don't be selfish - ride safe and ride smart ... your whole lifetime.
that is like saying, "i know this is off topic, but dont u think it would be safer to ride in a car than on a motorcycle?" why would you say that? i never asked about safety, although i do care about it. if youre so concered about safety, why ride?NeoR6 said:
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