A first bike?

[JamesC]

I will be getting my first bike and am having difficulty deciding what to get. I am really keen on a Kawasaki Ninja 300 http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/catalog/streetbikes/sports/EX300ADF/overview Or a ER-6N ABS http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/catalog/streetbikes/sports/ER650FDSW/overview I live up a very steep hill and want something with enough power to get up it without struggling. I also want something controllable and easy to maneuver. I am an average sized teen, suggestions are welcome.

[Hitcher]

Goodness me. Nobody in the past decade has ever asked this question before.

I know that newbies think that the thousands of others over the years who have asked the same question needed a specific answer that won't be the same as the one they want answered. But no. They're all after the same information.

The answer is:


Why do you want to ride?
What do you like?
What have you test ridden?
What's your ambition? (where do you want to ride; how do you want to ride; do you want to tour; carry a pillion; park on the street; show off)
What can you afford?


Only you can answer those questions. Do so and, surprisingly, you'll find your range of choices will narrow.

[Ender EnZed]

The most commonly recommended learner bikes in NZ are the Suzuki Hayabusa and the Yamaha R1. You'll probably want to make your choice one of these two options.

[Akzle]

The most commonly recommended learner bikes in NZ are the Suzuki Hayabusa and the Yamaha R1. You'll probably want to make your choice one of these two options.

really, i think a tlr thou is quite good, too...


Smite it mods. Smite it mercilessly! For the love of what passes as my sanity!


Fuckfuckfuckfuckety fuckin bitch ass homo posters.

[Grashopper]

Please ignore the third post (Edit: and the fourth :whistle:), but Hitcher has some very good points.

Aditionally to that, I would not buy a new bike, they quickly lose a lot of value. Go and sit on a few bikes that you like and see how they feel. Is the riding position ok, the weight? If it has a centre stand, sit on it with with both feet up.

Both the Ninja and the ER6-N seem to be quite nice bikes (at least I haven't heard anything contrary so far), but also have a look at the Hornet 250. They come highly recommended. This one is a good example, even though it is in the wrong area http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/160069-WTS-Hornet-250?highlight=hornet

[fridayflash]

she's a hard road finding the perfect bike jamesc.....
same ol song from me...i say get a gn250, give it aerosols, fling it around town
tour it a little...then buy what you fancy after that

[Banditbandit]

The most commonly recommended learner bikes in NZ are the Suzuki Hayabusa and the Yamaha R1. You'll probably want to make your choice one of these two options.

The Northland dope head may like the tlr .. Me - I'd add a Kwaka ZX-10R (or one with enough letters and numbers to look fast ...)

Now, if you don't want to die going very fast and you are looking at something in that range - try a 400cc Bandit ...

There is one on Trademe - I would not recommend buying that one unless you have a lot of money to fix it ... but there are some good small Bandits out there ... good reliable bikes and fun to ride without being aggresively fast ...

[SVboy]

really, i think a tlr thou is quite good, too...


Smite it mods. Smite it mercilessly! For the love of what passes as my sanity!


Fuckfuckfuckfuckety fuckin bitch ass homo posters.

What would you know about riding, dickhead?

[Akzle]

What would you know about riding, dickhead?

well, i ride a velociraptor, so probably more than you.

[mossy1200]

Steep hill? You may need a IT490.

[wellyriderz]

One thing to keep in mind is that as a new rider you are very likely to drop your bike at a standstill or during slow speed manoevres, it takes a while to get the slow speed balance and clutch control right. This happens to most riders! So get something lightweight that will handle a scrape or 2 and you can pick up afterwards... Maybe a secondhand 250 or similar would be a better bet than the ER-6n with it's 210kg heft (dry! so real world would be ~230, crikey.) Fairings and shiny bits are quite expensive to fix usually so a naked bike or even a duallie would be my recommendation

Most any 125 or above will easily handle any driveway and drag off most cars... just got to give it more revs!

[Ender EnZed]

the ER-6n with it's 210kg heft (dry! so real world would be ~230, crikey.)


Try 174 kg dry. (http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_er-6%2006.htm) Which is still a fair bit more than all but the most obese 250s.

[Grashopper]

Maybe a secondhand 250 or similar would be a better bet than the ER-6n with it's 210kg heft (dry! so real world would be ~230, crikey.)

Far out, 230 kg wet? Ok, that bike got just crossed of my future wish list. \

+1 for the second hand 250

[sketch]

buy a ktm 390 duke, or better yet buy my ninja so i can buy the 390. i was set on the brand new 300 when i was looking for my first bike aswell but looking back im real glad i didnt splash out 10 grand on my first bike, but i cant wait to splash it all over my 2nd:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headba ng:

[Vinz0r]

buy a ktm 390 duke, or better yet buy my ninja so i can buy the 390. i was set on the brand new 300 when i was looking for my first bike aswell but looking back im real glad i didnt splash out 10 grand on my first bike, but i cant wait to splash it all over my 2nd:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headba ng:

If I had a 390 Duke I'd probably be 'splashing' all over it too. They're damn sexy.

[SVboy]

well, i ride a velociraptor, so probably more than you.

Witty comeback ya tool.Not.

[Akzle]

Witty comeback ya tool.Not.

:not:


irony. .

[EJK]

The most commonly recommended learner bikes in NZ are the Suzuki Hayabusa and the Yamaha R1. You'll probably want to make your choice one of these two options.


The Northland dope head may like the tlr .. Me - I'd add a Kwaka ZX-10R (or one with enough letters and numbers to look fast ...)


Likewise, ZX10R is a good learners bike. Thankfully the first gear is tall (160kph @ 13,000rpm on first gear tall) to avoid snappy "sudden" acceleration. Plus, if you find it difficult to shift gears, no problem! You can just stay on 1st gear even on the highway!

Plus it's only 175kgs dry! Easy to maneuver around town!

[Mushu]

Likewise, ZX10R is a good learners bike. Thankfully the first gear is tall (160kph @ 13,000rpm on first gear tall) to avoid snappy "sudden" acceleration. Plus, if you find it difficult to shift gears, no problem! You can just stay on 1st gear even on the highway!

Plus it's only 175kgs dry! Easy to maneuver around town!

He might get bored with the lack of power quickly, ZX14 or Busa would be the way to go

[Akzle]

He might get bored with the lack of power quickly, ZX14 or Busa would be the way to go

yeah, have to be...
i was thiknking about buying my 12 year old daughter an R6...
:p

[Mushu]

yeah, have to be...
i was thiknking about buying my 12 year old daughter an R6...
{P

Nah, she'd be ready for a R1 surely.

[Smifffy]

yeah, have to be...
i was thiknking about buying my 12 year old daughter an R6...
{P

Check with your sister to make sure it's ok with mum.

[mossy1200]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=626470969

Just listed and a very good bike. Revere is on the lams list I think. Its a bros with a few more kgs and touring seat handle peg and bars set up.
Worth a look as a first bike. ill help you sort out the mods to sort handle bars etc.

[SVboy]

Check with your sister to make sure it's ok with mum.

Lol! Very clever!

[actungbaby]

I will be getting my first bike and am having difficulty deciding what to get. I am really keen on a Kawasaki Ninja 300 http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/catalog/streetbikes/sports/EX300ADF/overview Or a ER-6N ABS http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/catalog/streetbikes/sports/ER650FDSW/overview I live up a very steep hill and want something with enough power to get up it without struggling. I also want something controllable and easy to maneuver. I am an average sized teen, suggestions are welcome.

Id myself whould go with the kawaski 300 or the 250 great bikes

I have ridden 2009 ninja 250 so get low kms bike u find feels new anyway. u probley going get few scrapes, just learning
Dont think balance thing such issue just little mstakes.

So i feel lighter bike gives u more room for small mstakes

But in the finish its your call dude am 98 kg and found the kawaski

250 fine even two up i was really surprised if you want more go just twist throttle bit more. very smooth great brakes
great everthing good on fuel whats not to like

[Erelyes]

Started on '08 Scorpio 225, now on '07 Ninja 250. Would NOT recommend buying anything new that's LAMS... even if you don't drop it in your first 2 years, the depreciation will make you shit.

Budget $3k for a bike with four figures on the odo and under 10 years old. That should cover tyres (if needed) and service too.

That's how much you'd lose in depreciation on a new LAMS bike, even if you don't drop it...

[300weatherby]

The man did say he lives on a hill, no offence to the Thou brigade, but he needs torque for that hill, has to be a Busa surely!, then he can turbo it when he has the hang of it.

[300weatherby]

well, i ride a velociraptor, so probably more than you.

I fix Velociraptors on a daily basis, not designed to go around corners, designed to carry loads around warehouses - will I learn more about riding bikes fixing them?:whistle: