Two more friends getting motorcycles. Need advice!!

[FkNAmerican]

So two more of my friends now say they want to get into motorcyles:

Here's the deal: They both have very different tastes in bikes and they both have very different criteria for the bike they want. They also have very different skill sets coming into the purchase Im scouring ebay and cycletrader trying to find them some good first bikes......need your help with ideas.

Both are taking the MSF course (3 day basic riding skills course).

Friend #1 (Devin):-19 years old
-well over 6 feet tall, (nearly 7' and skinny build) so can't really do a little 250cc.
-190 lbs.
-Only been driving a car for two years
-never drivin a manual transmission. Only his moms auto hatchback
-rides road bikes (the pedal variety) competatively.
-going to university next year. Needs a comfortable motorcycle for the daily commute to campus that gets good fuel economy.
-wants the bike to be able to mix it up in the twisties and keep up with us on our R-6's and CBR's on the occasional blast to the mountains.
-likes the look of the "sporty" bikes but doesnt want a full on sports bike yet.
-He got really into the idea when he found out his university has free parking for motorcycles so he wouldnt have to pay $500 for year round parking like he had planned for his car. So he is all about the practical side of motorcycling.
- Primary riding will be daily commute to campus of about 20-30 miles. Occasionally will do 3 hour rides up to mountains for some fun.

Friend #2 (Ben)

-25 years old
-5'-10" tall. Medium build.
-190 lbs.
- just bought his first car less then a year ago. Manual tranny. Zero experience on motorcycles. Seems nervous when I even talk about the basics, such as sequential gearboxes, using the front break, etc..... He is used to using the rear break on his pedal bike.
-Looking for a second vehicle to save wear and tear on his daily driver.
-Likes the look of the cruisers (hates sports bikes). He likes smooth flowing lines on a bike instead of sharp corners and creases. So bikes like the KTM Rx8, '08ZX10R, Zx-1000 etc are not his thing. He wants a bike that can keep up with us in the twisties though.
-wants a lightweight bike since he is a beginner but with a powerful enough motor to commute long distance on the highways. (80 mph)
-needs good wind protection.
-Primary usage will be as daily driver to work and with frequent long commutes to the beach and mountains. Needs something with touring ability.

[skidMark]

Jesus you will have trouble finding any bike that will fit somebody Devin's size without dwarfing it.

[Mikkel]

Best advice I can give:

Tell them to get off their asses and go out and testride some bikes. What they like they like - and they should only buy something they like.

As for skill and experience - people are different and they will have to take full responsibility for their purchase.

[colsan1]

I am of the opinion that everyone who isnew to motorcycles should have to start on a relatively small, low powered bike.
reguardless of who you are or what the law for your particular country says.
saddly thats not always the case and i think its a main reason why we have so many accidents. Inexperianced riders on bikes they cant handle.
anyway i guess niether will want to start out on a 125 or 259 so heres my thoughts.
Devin with no expeiance whats to run with experianced guys on cbr's and R6's, thats fine for the future but he's gonna be a danger to himself and others if he's allowed to ride something of that capability. It will be a problem for him because of his size so i would suggest a supermoto style bike. not over powered, nice and tall, wide bars, light and agile.
As for ben maybe something like a suzuki vx800, again not massive power, low seat, laid back touring style

[Steam]

Tell them to go to a bike shop and try everything, browsing and sitting on bikes is fun!.

[N1CK]

Kawasaki 650R mabey... (The ER6 to us in NZ)

[Jiminy]

Friend #1 (Devin):-19 years old

Friend #2 (Ben)

I'd say:
- Triumph Rocket III for Devin (nice in the twisties)
- Yamaha YZF-R1 for Ben (nice comfortable commuter)

Tell them to go to a bike shop and try everything, browsing and sitting on bikes is fun!.

Seriously, what he says.

Your friends have some competing requirements, so they should try a few to see what really matters to them. Not too heavy and not too big at first is recommended before they go and play in the twisties, me think.

[FkNAmerican]

Guys, one thing you dont understand: Unlike in Europe (and NZ) we here in the 'States don't have the luxury of walking down to the local dealership and having a test ride. Most dealers dont have ANY demonstrator bikes at all....its even near impossible to test ride used models on the lot.


The only real option for them to get some seat time is if they went out to private sellers off ebay or cycletrader and asked to test ride before buying.....but that gets scetchy b/c of insurance issues.

Right now these are the bikes Im leaning towards for them:

Ben: Suzuki Boulevard S-40, Honda Shadow 750, Yamaha V-star custom, Kawasaki Vulcan Ltd.

Devin: Kawasaki Ninja 650R, Kawasaki Ninja 500, Suzuki Sv650, Suzuki Sv650S (full fairing)

[madandy]

the above look like good options to me
Surely US dealers dont expect to be paid for a bike you've never even been 'round the block on though?!!!?!?!!?!

[steveb64]

Tell them to buy big trail bike things (DR650, WR450, XR600,...). Cheap to run, cheap to crash (and they will...), but will give a good account for themselves on a twisty road (esp. with road tyres on!), and do 80mph cruising. After a year or so, THEN maybe upgrade to a more pure road bike. As for the wind protection... tell him to HTFU!

The other benefit, is that they can chuck some dirt tyres on (takes < 1 hour once you've done it a couple of times - should be even less if you're swapping from a motard setup to a dirt setup (changing wheels...), and go and have a ride around on the local (?) dirt bike track - where they can learn some dirt riding techniques, which may just save them at some later stage if it goes wrong on the road...

[Tony.OK]

Is there any possibity of maybe hiring a bike for a day perhaps?

[Jiminy]

Guys, one thing you dont understand: Unlike in Europe (and NZ) we here in the 'States don't have the luxury of walking down to the local dealership and having a test ride. Most dealers dont have ANY demonstrator bikes at all....its even near impossible to test ride used models on the lot.

Is there a forum/website/community similar to KB where you live? You could ask people who own those bikes if you can have a chat and maybe a 'round the block' test ride.

[Bonez]

Get them both on GS500s and take it from there.

[Ixion]

I wonder if there may not be great opportunities for a US distributorship for Gene-O-Kleen "Evolution you can see" . Though I suspect the problem would be that the production facility could never keep up, just our own ever replenished supplies of squidlings keep it busy.

[Zapf]

Devin: Suzuki Sv650, Suzuki Sv650S (full fairing)

I agree with that. But make sure they learn bike control 1st. Perhaps on a GN250? Just puddle around home and town to get use to bikes 1st.