Am I too big for a FXR 150?

[esspro]

Hi,

I'm a new member here haha and have been allured into the world of motorbikes thanks to the crazy price of petrol and also curiosity and hey it just looks cool.

Anyway I have been reading Kiwi Biker for the past 2 hours after a classmate at uni gave me the URL and am getting my head around the basics of a first bike. Very Cool informative and helpful site by the way!! By the looks of it the majority of people get 250s but I was thinking it would be cool to first get a 150 like a FXR150 for maybe 6 months or so to learn the basics of biking. I have a car, a full license, and can drive a manual so the bike wouldnt be the be all and end all of my transport...

So just wondering I'm a 6'0 75kg Male Medium Build, is an FXR150 too small for me? What about power wise... is it too underpowered when compared to a 250 like a FZR250 /VTR250/ZZR250/RGV250 ? I would be using it to goto Tamaki Campus and back along Pakuranga Highway mostly... I'm not bothered at all by having to resell it because I am buying and reselling things all the time so I actually enjoy that aspect...

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

[mattt]

Welcome to the site mate

Just my 0.02
If you're keen on motobiking then that's all good - so yeh go for it and get a FXR. The novelty will probably wear off in 6months, but you'll have ya learners by then, so you can jump on something quicker like a 250 sprotsbike

Then you'll get sick of that, and buy a thou

Enjoy it - that's the main thing.

[mattt]

Oh yeh - you'll prb be ok (just) height wise on the FXR - go sift round a couple of bike shops, they'll help you out.
If you're in the city, try Mt. Eden Motorcyles or Coleman's on K' rd.

[crashe]

Welcome to KiwiBiker (KB).

Go to all the bike shops around and sit on all the bikes 250cc and under
and see what bike suits you size wise...

Try out cruisers, tourers and sportsbikes...

Good luck in finding the bike for you..

If you go to Colemans chat to Dallas (SARGE)
Mt Eden Bikes chat to Mike or Chris.
Henderson Bikes chat with Adam.
If you go to AMPS chat to Lou....

[John]

Welcome, You have to go try bikes out, goto any bike shop they will sort you - but as said by RIB last weekend - "if people get into bikes just to save on fuel..." (I forget the rest) but the gist was you will spend more keeping the thing running in most cases.

[texmo]

im 6foot and my knees sit around my ears on a fxr150 and everything is underpowered next to a rgv250

[esspro]

thanks for all the quick replies... yeah I went into AMPS today with Alan and had a look around at gear but they didnt have any 250s to look at really... I went up to Mt Eden Motorcycles as well... They gave me a number of a guy with a 250 to look at so I'll probably go check out that tomorrow... Also going to look at this FXR150 tomorrow so I'll have a sit and ride around the parking lot or something... What would be a good price for a 2002 FXR150 thats done around 10K kms?

Thanks!

[Warren]

thanks for all the quick replies... yeah I went into AMPS today with Alan and had a look around at gear but they didnt have any 250s to look at really... I went up to Mt Eden Motorcycles as well... They gave me a number of a guy with a 250 to look at so I'll probably go check out that tomorrow... Also going to look at this FXR150 tomorrow so I'll have a sit and ride around the parking lot or something... What would be a good price for a 2002 FXR150 thats done around 10K kms?

Thanks!

Around $2000-$2400 depending on condition. I sold mine a little over a week ago for $2350, it was a 2002 with 10700 k's on the clock. There is a little more info on the FXR150's at http://fxr150.ws.net.nz

[Magua]

An fxr should be fine for your height and build. Talk to Indy "indiana Jones" he's like 6"2 or 3 on an fxr.

[esspro]

Welcome, You have to go try bikes out, goto any bike shop they will sort you - but as said by RIB last weekend - "if people get into bikes just to save on fuel..." (I forget the rest) but the gist was you will spend more keeping the thing running in most cases.

I drive an 88 Benz... that costs more in fuel and maintenance than Nicaragua's GDP

[esspro]

how does this 150 handle on a motorway doing around 100 or so? Is it struggling?

Also whats the story with maintenance and how long is the bike expected to last kms wise?

[John]

I drive an 88 Benz... that costs more in fuel and maintenance than Nicaragua's GDP

hahahaha, nice.

the 150's can play upto about 120? the FXR anyway on open roads - any further it struggles and is influenced by the wind, the FXR is a simple 4stroke single so wont cause any major problems unless you get a lemon, no idea what engine they are based on but I am yet to hear any horror stories.

[Warren]

how does this 150 handle on a motorway doing around 100 or so? Is it struggling?

Also whats the story with maintenance and how long is the bike expected to last kms wise?

If it is flat you should not have any problems but 100-110 it is near the top crusing speed and things like uphill mountains and wind can come into play. Being a single cylinder they should be quite reliable and should get to the average motorcycle engine limit age of 80,000kms.

[esspro]

Ok... Just wondering... If I like the look of this 2002 FXR150 and after a quick ride around the carpark I think it suits and fits me what do I do to get it checked out. Is it necessary if its sitting at around 10,000Kms? Whats the likelihood of it being a melon? I'm going out to Takapuna from East Auckland to look at it so its a bit of a drive (especially with petrol as it is!) so would like to get everything all sussed before I go out there... Does AA do motorbike checks or are they pretty crap? General consensus on checking out engines?

Sorry for all the questions but I really appreciate all you guys being so helpful!

Thanks again

[esspro]

If it is flat you should not have any problems but 100-110 it is near the top crusing speed and things like uphill mountains and wind can come into play. Being a single cylinder they should be quite reliable and should get to the average motorcycle engine limit age of 80,000kms.

OK so car equivalent of this is maybe 250,000 would you say? And do the bikes have a lower KM lifetime just because they rev a lot higher most of the time?

Thanks