[ricekiller2003]

Well...this will be a long story, but here goes.

I found this forum and wanted to get all the advice I can get. I currently have a very nice car which can be seen here,

http://groups.msn.com/thickstundotcom/my2003mustanggtconvertible.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=258

The problem is I'm getting raped by insurance. I'm paying $309/mo. in insurance and $310/mo. for the car! I've had my fair share of speeding tickets, and being a 23 yr. old unmarried male I'm a nightmare to insurance. Another thing I might add, I fill up my tank twice a week with 93 octane. Have you SEEN HOW HIGH GAS IS??? While this truley sucks more than anything right now, I"m going to have to sell the thing. I'm in college and I'm looking at a rising cost of tuition of $1800 more this year! Dammit to hell, I hate that school!

My roommate bought a 2004 Suzuki GSXR 600. The thing is bronze and black and is just absolutely gorgeous! I've ridden it a couple times and it feels so light and zippy. I have a half year experience on a junker Suzuki Bandit 600. Which doesn't even compare because it's almost 100 lbs. heavier.

I'm considering getting a gixxer 600 just like his. I'd primarily have it for school, and pretty much everything I do is in the city. My friend has a truck if I absolutely need it to go out of town or anything. Does this sound like a good idea to you guys??? Am I going to kill myself if I get one of these...

 

[98G]

Insurance will love you even more on a bike.

As for killing yourself, maybe - maybe not. Sounds like you may have enough experience to avoid the most common mistakes that jump up to bite you. On the other hand, if you get tickets in a car, imagine the possibilities with a bike.

98G

 

[ricekiller2003]

Yes, I guess I'm kidding myself if I think I won't get more tickets in a 600 :roll: I still, however, think my car attracts much more attention because it's big and yellow...

But still, I think having an impractical bike would be better than having an impractical car. This car gets 9 mpg, while a bike costs $9 to fill. Parking my car at the school is a *****, and all this time bikes get to park right in the middle of campus. I started out with a 600cc bandit against all my friends wishes, but I absolutely hated that thing because it was so heavy and ugly! If I were to sell my car, I'd hate to settle for something I wouldn't like. I'm all over my roommates new bike right now. That thing is sooo nice. I just wish he'd let me get the same color...

 

[Guest]

buy the bike. buy it in a black/orange color and maybe part wiht your mustang. i like fords alot and a mustang is really nice. especially yours. but if a bike is more convieniant, buy a bike. they are also chick magnets! :wink:

 

[DrBob]

Bikes are great, but check with your insurance company before you start counting on saving money. Not only are bikes faster, but sport bikes are very expensive to repair with all that fancy (and fragile) bodywork, and no one can put your Mustang in the back of a pick up truck and steal it.
You will certainly save on the monthly payment to the bank, and on gas.
I have gotten by with just a bike, but it means riding in the rain and the cold, never carrying more than can be tied to the rear seat, and always having the girl drive on a date, as women tend to very quickly tire of wearing only jeans and never going anyplace 'nice' because they can't dress up, have helmet hair, and are all sweaty from riding out in the hot sun with no air conditioning. But if you don't mind gicing up a few things, and a bike will make you happy, go for it.
Life is too short to be stuck in a cage.

 

[Louis]

Let me recap:
-You're 23;
-You got a mustang;
-You got speeding tickets;
-You complain about insurance prices;
-You want a Gixxer;
-You complain about college tuition;

You do seem to me like the type of guy who can get killed on a Gixxer or worst, end up killing someone. Sorry man, that's just my opinion.

Establish your priorities. Personnally, I'd finish my degree before buying new toys.

 

[RookWV]

What does your roommate pay in insurance? Or is Mommy and Daddy paying for it?

Bikes aren't meant to be "chick magnets" or "cool" or "damn fast", true that most of them are but that IS NOT why you should want one.

You should stick with the Bandit and learn how to RIDE not how to be a squid.

Motorcycles also have their fair share of costs....

Maintenance can be very costly especially if you can't do it yourself.

Tires aren't cheap and don't last more than a couple of seasons if you actually do any riding.

Repair costs because you will lay it down sooner or later.

Gear certainly isn't cheap and you should invest in the best you can afford.

I'd suggest you get rid of the Rustang and get a more economical car until you get out of school.

 

[ricekiller2003]

My roommate paid his bike in full. Mommy and daddy don't pay his insurance...student loans do, heh.

At least he has insurance! So many people I know who have bikes do not have insurance in florida?!?! These are also the guys that'll wear a helmet, but also a t-shirt and jeans :roll:

It's their mistake though and not mine. My insurance company gave me a quote of a downpayment of $350, and continuing payments of $199/mo. Same deduct. as my car, except for no health coverage. I already have health insurance by the way.

I know $200/mo. seems steep on insurance, but I am currently paying $310/mo. ins. on the stang! I am also financing my car for $309/mo. where I can finance the bike for $107/mo. Oh yes, the gas...I'll go from $200-270/mo. on gas to $85-$120/mo. I'll be saving well over $400/mo.

Sorry 'bout the math, I'm an engineering student...

As far as riding the bike goes...when I had the Bandit, I always wore a helmet, jacket, boots and gloves. It gets to be a hundred degrees in fla. and I STILL wore the jacket. Not only are they stylish, but I feel "secure" in them. I'd be too horrified of that asphalt flying by if I didn't have a jacket.

I don't mess around with stuff I'm not comfortable with either. If my friends want to blaze around a turn real fast and I don't think I'm comfortable with it yet, I won't do it. The thing I have trouble with is I go 10-15 over the speed limit about half the time. That's where my fault lies. I know there are some insanely stupid people on bikes...but seeing some of my close friends getting stitches and skin grafts (nasty) from doing sharp turns and weaving in and out of traffic, I've learned how far idiocy can go...trust me on that!

 

[Memphis]

Well Good Luck with the bike, bit let me tell you from experience wit my 02 600 I got 2 months ago. I use to own a muscle car for my first. Always like to go fast and chicks digged it when I was 16. Still have it but I bought an economical car. Saturn and I hate it to death but 30 mpg is good. Have no power or speed in that thing. 2 yrs later I got myself a gixxer. I love having the power between my legs. My dads always loved bike. Harleys *shakes head*. So I love my bike. ok after all this blah blah blah..

Going 10-15 over the speed limit wit a car is like going 20-30 on a bike. When you can give a twitch of the wrist and jump 1500 rpms and be going 10-20 mph faster withina sec or 2. The need for speed is always in ones blood on the highway especially. Open lane or little traffic. Hard to resist cutting across into the far left and ripping it open.

Some experiences: since I am in the same boat of liking fast cars.

Ripped mine open the most for the first time last week. Jumped on rt291 where it is know to never have cops on it since it is about 5-10 miles long connecting to interstates.
Ripped it up to 150mph. Damn was I crapping myself.

Ripped it up an open onramp. Brought it to 11k(which redline is 14K) in 1-3 gears. hit 100mph as I shifted into 4th.


Makes sure you got the nerves to control it since you are use to the power.
I drive safe about 98% of the time, but anyone and everyone who has a bike knows the itch that you get on a streetbike. Sometimes the itch needs to be scratched.

Have fun bee CAREFUL.
Hopes off the soap box.

 

[tlwisner]

The problem is I'm getting raped by insurance. I'm paying $309/mo. in insurance
I'm considering getting a gixxer 600 just like his. Does this sound like a good idea to you guys???

You will use less gas, but your insurance will still be VERY expensive. Get a quote at one of the online places like http://www.bike-line.com and see how much a 23 year old with lots of tickets pays for a new model of one of the faster and frequently wrecked motorcycles made.

 

[ricekiller2003]

Got a quote, they said $199/mo. with a $350 downpayment. This is with a $1000/deduc. and no health coverage...since I have health insurance, I won't need a second.

I didn't think it would be that low IMO, I thought I was looking OVER $310/mo. Now it's just looking more appealing...

But anyway, I need an opinion. I need to know whether I should get the blue/silver or yellow/black 04'.

I love yellow, but I'm sure cops will be drawn to it like flies to sh..

What do you guys think? Can't get Black/Bronze...roommate has that!

 

[md2lgyk]

Aah, the benefits of maturity (I'm 56, no accidents, no tickets, 30 years bike experience). Just for the heck of it, I got a quote from them on my 2003 Marauder 800. What a joke! They wanted $519 a year. That's 40% more than I'm paying with State Farm.

 

[Memphis]

I am partial to the yellow myself. But I always like the blue. That is ur call and ur call only. Don't let anyone persuade you either way b/c it is your bike. Either one is hot so her what you want.

 

[RookWV]

FWIW I'm paying about $400/yr for an 02 Katana 600.

Just make sure you can afford gas.

You're right, yellow attracts attention....which is a GOOD thing on a bike!! You want cagers to see you. The cops will see you regardless of what color it is, they'll be waiting for you to do something squidly.....and rightly so.

Good luck, be careful and don't ride over your head since you're getting a bike that is probably beyond your abilities.

The tires have tread that go all the way to the edges....remember that.

 

[Guest]

Here's yer bike.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/AN650K4/Default.aspx

Before you laugh, take a look at one. It'll do all you want it to do, (well it won't wheelie) and more. Insurance is Cheeeep. (Progressive - $75/yr. for me - but I'm old.)

 

[RookWV]

Here's yer bike.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/AN650K4/Default.aspx

,,,, (well it won't wheelie) quote]

Sure they will

http://www.scooter-freaks.nl/wallpapers/download/800/gd3o1otyy1.jpg

 

[Guest]

HA! :lol:

Love that pic! Now I'm gonna have to try it! 8)

 

[Cougerbait]

I just don't understand why poeple have to have the fastest thing out there. What is there to work up to?

I just bought my 1st bike 2 months ago. I have been riding friends bikes off and on for the past 20 years now. I could have bought any bike out there that I want to. But I don't have a death wish. I'm 32 and knew I bought a GXR I would have to open her up. Well being a newer owner and a rookie driver, well you can paint the picture.

I have my insurance through state farm. I bought a 2004 SV650. Insurance is 22.80 a month. I get about 45mpg. And as a beginer the bike has all the power that you would need to start out with. Yeah you are right that it isn't as flashy, but the bike sure dose handle nice. I was only going to be riding this bike for a year, now I think that it is going to have to be 3-4 years. :lol:

Not trying to rain on any ones paraide, get the bike you want. I hope that you are as happy with it as I am my first bike.

 

[ricekiller2003]

Wow! People do some wierd ****! A wheelie on a scooter :wink:

You made a good point that getting yellow would make me visible to other drivers...never thought of it that way. However, I still think I'm going sonic blue...

Just can't think that I wouldn't be the center of attention of every cop on the road...sad that it has to be that way. In my yellow car that I have right now EVERY COP EYES ME! Even when I'm driving super-slow and boring. They're all just waiting for me to do something stupid so they can slam me with tickets. I would be lying if I said yellow would be no different than sonic blue as far as attention goes...but I DON'T want cops eyeing me on my bike...yellow has a tendency to do that! For some reason, passing a car in sonic blue makes you look slower than if passing a car in furious yellow!

 

[Memphis]

ya in a car sense but on a bike you could have a black and gray one and the cops will still eye you. They eye everyone on a bike no matter what the color due to you standing out on 2 wheels in the mix of all tha cages.
If you ride a scooter, the cops will notice you.

Get use to it on a bike. everyone notices.