A first bike?

**JamesC** · 5th August 2013, 22:01

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/st...00ADF/overview Or a ER-6N ABS http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/catalog/st...0FDSW/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** · 6th August 2013, 10:02

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** · 6th August 2013, 10:24

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** · 6th August 2013, 13:01

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 6th August 2013, 13:01

Please ignore the third post (Edit: and the fourth

), 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/sh...ghlight=hornet

**fridayflash** · 6th August 2013, 13:21

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** · 6th August 2013, 14:42

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 6th August 2013, 14:59

Originally Posted by Akzle

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** · 6th August 2013, 15:16

Originally Posted by SVboy

What would you know about riding, dickhead?

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

**mossy1200** · 6th August 2013, 19:01

Steep hill? You may need a IT490.

**wellyriderz** · 12th August 2013, 15:02

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** · 12th August 2013, 16:01

Originally Posted by wellyriderz

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

Try 174 kg dry. Which is still a fair bit more than all but the most obese 250s.

**Grashopper** · 12th August 2013, 16:06

Originally Posted by wellyriderz

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** · 12th August 2013, 21:26

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

**Vinz0r** · 12th August 2013, 23:40

Originally Posted by 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

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