Signing my own death warrant? (GeckoWebDesign)

**GeckoWebDesign** · 30th March 2009, 15:28

Hey all,

Newbie poster and newbie biker. Okay I haven't got a bike yet but I'm thinking about it and just need some advice, encouragement etc.

I'm going to be a learner - good ole' [L] plates and all that.

I have a couple of dilemmas.

1) What's a good learners bike? - I like the look and reviews of the Kawasaki Ninja.
2) I will be travelling on gravel for some part of my journey home. Any advice on gravel travel? Is the above bike going to cope? Hell...shall I just sign my death notice now?

Any advice for this newb would be appreciated.

Cheers, Gecko

**Str8 Jacket** · 30th March 2009, 15:31

Sounds like you'd be better off with a trial, dirt or naked bike as your first bike. You are more than likely (though you may prove me wrong) going to drop it in some way and the Ninja will be an expensive fix, even if its just fairing damage!

IMO - buy a cheap used bike that runs well. Learn to ride and then make up your own mind about what suits *you*. Oh yeah, ENJOY!

**HenryDorsetCase** · 30th March 2009, 15:33

You'll be fine.

Here are five tips, in no particular order.

1. GEt good gear, and wear it.
2. Get some training.
3. Practice the drills you will learn.
4. Have fun with it.
5. Remember always: Every other road user is a pathological monster and all they want to do is kill you. ride accordingly.

Ninja 250 with fairing? expensive to drop (plastic is way expensive). Maybe consider something like the V twin Honda 250 (Spada?) or a CB250RS, or a motard style 250 (if you are tall enough) for fun in the shingle. I would be nervous about my fully faired bike in shingle... my last road bike (a naked) was a pig on shingle.

Welcome to KB, too.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 30th March 2009, 15:35

Honda CB250RS is another option. Cheap, light, no fairing, good on gravel. fun little bike.

cheap too. You can spend the extra 7 grand on a full set of Astars leathers, a Rossi rep helmet, and A stars boots and gloves and a Knox back protector.

**GeckoWebDesign** · 30th March 2009, 15:48

Great advice guys..thank you!

I might now just look for something a little more stable on the stones rather than going for the looks.

**Str8 Jacket** · 30th March 2009, 15:57

Originally Posted by GeckoWebDesign

Great advice guys..thank you!

I might now just look for something a little more stable on the stones rather than going for the looks.

Trust me, you'll probably be glad to not have spent *too* much money on your first bike wether you come into any trouble or not. Once you become confident you may find looks and comfort dont always fit so well...

**tri boy** · 30th March 2009, 16:02

DR/XT/KLX 250's.
Good commuters, and 21" front wheel to tame the gravel.

**Radar** · 30th March 2009, 19:37

Find a few bikes on Trademe and post the URLs of those pages here - you will get plenty of feedback. Consider all makes, don't limit yourself at this point.

It is a good idea to visit as many bike shops as possible and sit on all 250s so you get a feel for various types.

Getting a dirt bike and riding it on dirt is probably the best beginner's training you can get, but not many of us start with dirt bikes since we want to commute or otherwise ride with our friends on the road.

BTW, there are lots of threads on this topic of your's, so do a search. That will keep you busy for an hour or two.

Don't rush into buying a bike. Take your time. An extra week or two could make a big difference on getting the right bike at the right price.

Lastly, get the bike checked by a mechanic before you buy. If the owner will not allow this, walk away and find another.

**kram** · 30th March 2009, 22:34

It is good advice from above. Have a look on trade me for bike and gear and go to shops to try both so you know what fits and suits you. Remember safty frist and stay upright

**MSTRS:Me** · 31st March 2009, 09:51

Originally Posted by tri boy

DR/XT/KLX 250's.
Good commuters, and 21" front wheel to tame the gravel.

Don't forget the XR as well.
Basically any road legal trailie of the appropriate size.
Remember - if a bike has wide tyres and/or a forward weight bias...forget it for gravel riding.

**jim.cox** · 31st March 2009, 10:02

Originally Posted by GeckoWebDesign

Hell...shall I just sign my death notice now?

Life is a sexually transmitted terminal condition

So you might as well smile and get on with it

I second the advice of a 250 trailbike being good for leaners

**Gizzit** · 31st March 2009, 15:47

Good advice above ....

Don't spend a heap on your first bike. Get something to "learn on". You probably will have some minor (hopefully only minor, but good learning) "offs". Best not to have an expensive/faired bike for those times.

I second the idea of a dual purpose bike like the various 250's mentioned above. No fairing to worry about. Bigger front wheel which will help with your gravel road riding. Pretty hardy and reliable, and you can ride them most places without much hassle. The tyres are the only thing you need to be aware of, especially in the wet. On a dual purpose bike the tyres are a compromise to provide for road riding, and some easy off road riding. By design, they won't have the grip of a regular road bike tyre on sealed roads.

There are plenty of good 250 naked road bikes that are suitable. The Ninja is very nice, but has a lot of plastic to damage, which is costly to repair if you have an off!
My favourite in the 250's is the Honda VTR250. Nice little V twin, that does everything very well, and has good resale price.

Best thing to do ..... is sit on/try some bikes. See what fits you well, and what appeals ...... and doesn't cost an arm and a leg !!

MOST IMPORTANT: allow for buying good gear for riding in. Better to spend a bit more on looking after your body, than on the bike at this stage in your riding life. There are heaps of threads on here about good gear. Use the search function, ..... and then if you need too ..... ask advice. That should get you totally confused !! lol

Good luck. Have fun!! Welcome to KB

**Sparrowhawk** · 31st March 2009, 16:37

Welcome to the madness that is KB! I have a Ninja, and I hate the way it handles on gravel, so I try to avoid it. I agree with the advice to go with a dual sport / trail bike.

And definately get good gear. We have 3 newbie bikers (less than one year), and between us we've dropped the bikes 6 times. No permament damage done to us - because we were wearing the right gear. All we've had to replace on the bikes is indicators/clutch levers etc, so it doesn't break the bank, but a cheaper bike is definately right to learn on, and don't worry, you can replace it later with a newer / bigger one, but you can't always replace your skin.

Riding's a lot of fun, and very rewarding, but put safety first and you'll get years of enjoyment out of it.

**sunhuntin** · 31st March 2009, 16:38

Originally Posted by Gizzit

Good advice above ....

Don't spend a heap on your first bike. Get something to "learn on". You probably will have some minor (hopefully only minor, but good learning) "offs". Best not to have an expensive/faired bike for those times.

could easily be something as simple as getting a tyre stuck in a rut resulting a slow drop. i dropped my bike down a ditch by mistake... had it been faired, it would have been wrecked beyond usability. faired bikes are often written off after even minor drops due to the cost of repairs [though duct tape can be a temporary fix if its the right color, lol.]

**justmetal** · 31st March 2009, 19:28

all good advice,my first bike back on the road was a Suzuki DR350 awesome for commuting and the odd jaunt down a gravel/dirt road was good use in building some experience up in cornering and breaking and learning the limits of grip without costing a fortune,some find a dual purpose bike more comfy than a road bike and the added benifit of better view in city traffic cause you sit up higher.Now ride a Ducati Monster 800 and apart from the power difference the transition was easy.so take your time and enjoy the freedom