Standard newbie post #7034 (st00ji)

[st00ji]

hey guys, hows it going!

im one of those people that always talks about wanting a bike, and now that i've sold a few of my cars (sad habit that) and paid off some bills i've got some money that needs spending. so i figured it was probably past time to stop talking and start doing.

now here comes the standard new guy question... what bike should i buy! at the moment i have my eye on an 87 NS250R, and an 90 FZR250. the FZR is a bit of a stretch on the budget, but has lower kms and as a mechanic i guess i prefer the whole 4 stroke thing (fear the unknown etc). i want a bike that i can ride every day if need be, though i wont be relying on it for transport. i want something that will be forgiving enough for me to learn on - have ridden a few bikes over the years, but not seriously - and fun enough to keep scaring myself on.

ideally i'd love to get a ZXR, but even the nastiest ones seem to command 3k + which i cant justify at the moment. so please, share your wisdom!

cheers

stu

[CrazyFrog]

Good on ya for deciding to choose two wheels, just remember to ask yourself, "what will the majority of my riding be?"
Commuting, weekend scratching with the boys, getting off the beaten track, cafe posing, or distance touring.
Bikes are built pretty much in the "courses for horses" categories, yes, some will cross over easily, others will be uncomfortable or impractical for anything much else from what they are designed to do.
Now the hard part.... you might have to be prepared to spend a bit more than you think getting the right machine, as well as some good protective gear. You can buy a bike for $2000- $3000 but it may need some work or be a little tired from previous usage, needing money spent on it.
A 250cc should be fine (also within any restricted licence limits) they will take you anywhere, but don't expect huge power.
Yes, a roadie sport 250 (like your FZR or ZXR will be quick) but from a learners perspective, they can be unforgiving if ya kook things up. Also, you have a licence you prolly don't want to lose just yet.
An enduro style dirt bike will still be peppy and very forgiving, plus have the benefit of crossing over to dirt tracks on the weekend.
Something like a Yammy Scorpio is a steady commuter, but you can still have a lot of fun on one and with higher bars than a sport bike, are also a good learner machine.
Either way you go, shop around, try and ride a few different models and decide where your passion lies. Have fun and watch out for cagers!

[YellowDog]

Hello St00ji and welcome.

I'm with the Frog on this one :)

Only you will know the best bike for you after you have sat on it a few times and taken it for a spin or two.

Don't rush into anything until you are sure as correcting such mistakes can prove to be expensive.

Good luck.

[kiwifruit]

Welcome to the site :)

[st00ji]

thanks for the replies guys.

im wanting to use the bike mainly for weekend fun, i guess rides of a few hours at most on some twisty roads with a good friend of mine.

but at the same time i'd like a bike thats rideable in traffic too, as i see regular riding and hence familiarity with the bike as key to getting the most out of my weekend fun!

plus the friend in question used to be a bike courier, so i have plenty of riding to catch up on :scooter:

am i correct in saying a i need a bike before i can get my licence tho? as there is a skills and handling portion yes?

i know theres more costs than just the bike involved, which is why im hesitant to spend more than i have to on the bike! hah. i figure 250 bikes are pretty popular, so if i buy something i can ride it for 6 months and then try something else if i dont like it without losing too much money. but am i hearing i need to budget more for the bike to get something decent?

cheers!

[Solly]

Welcome, and good luck with your search.


BTW, this is a place wher this piss is taken on a regular basis....nothing meant by it.

Hope to catchya some time;)