Best bike for newbie with money no barrier?

[EJK]

Money no barrier? Then get a busa.

[Chris.k]

I'm currently in the same boat.
~$10k bike budget. ~$2.5k gear budget.
A couple of friends have said that I should look at getting a cheap beat up bike for a couple of months before spending $10k on a new bike.
I can see where they're coming from but I just don't see the point in spending more money on a stutter step to the same end when I could just skip it, go straight get a new bike and take the learning REALLY slow and easy to avoid any stupid mistakes like just dropping it or forgetting the kick stand or something.
Oh well, I'm going to buy all the gear first and take my time thinking about the bike. Probably just going to go straight for the Ninja 300 but will think about it for a couple of weeks while a source the gear I want.

[jrandom]

Scorpio.

But for fuck's sake throw away the stock tyres immediately and put Metzeler Lasertecs on.

[Glowerss]

Scorpio.

But for fuck's sake throw away the stock tyres immediately and put Metzeler Lasertecs on.

+1. If you're smart you can sell the thing for what you paid for it.

Anyway, maybe I'm just a poor person or something. But I could never justify spending $10,000 on something that I know I'll be ditching in 18 months. Especially since holy fuck look at the proper bikes you can get for that amount of cash. There are so many tasty bikes out there for $10k that spending it on a ninja 300 makes me just a little bit sad. Buy a GS500 for god's sake! Half the cash and (IMO) a better bike. Plus it has the added benefit of you not looking like just another muppet on a ninja

[jrandom]

Yes! I keep forgetting that GS500s are learner bikes now. They're awesome.

Of course they are fast enough that you're somewhat more likely to die on one than on a Scorpio. There is that to consider. And you'd still want to throw away whatever tyres are on it and fit Lasertecs.

The great thing about Scorpios is that they work brilliantly as an around-town second bike. They're just such a sweet ride, particularly with decent tyres and flat handlebars. I've had one in that role for the last few years. I highly recommend it.

There's a lot to be said for a learner bike that can be kept and still used after you get a 'big' bike. I find the Scorpio / big-bike combination works really well for me.

[jrandom]

And when it comes to buying a proper bike, for $14,000 you can get a brand new 2012 KTM 690 Duke when they arrive in December. I mean, holy fuck, why would you spend ten grand on a learner bike? Smash the licence classes out and then use the money to get something truly sweet.

[Ocean1]

And when it comes to buying a proper bike, for $14,000 you can get a brand new 2012 KTM 690 Duke when they arrive in December.

Yes. Cute, eh?

One of the new KTMs I'll be having a wee experimental trundle on in the new year.

[Glowerss]

And when it comes to buying a proper bike, for $14,000 you can get a brand new 2012 KTM 690 Duke when they arrive in December. I mean, holy fuck, why would you spend ten grand on a learner bike? Smash the licence classes out and then use the money to get something truly sweet.

Isn't there a duke 300 that's LAMS approved coming out soonerish? That would beat the shit out of a ninja 300. No idea when we're getting them, however.

[Drew]

Isn't there a duke 300 that's LAMS approved coming out soonerish? That would beat the shit out of a ninja 300. No idea when we're getting them, however.

Next month I think.

Great fun for a hooligan, but not as an only bike I wouldn't think.

[Ocean1]

Isn't there a duke 300 that's LAMS approved coming out soonerish? That would beat the shit out of a ninja 300. No idea when we're getting them, however.

Dunno about a Duke. There's the KTM 300 EXC. 'Bout 100KG. Around 60hp.

[Glowerss]

Next month I think.

Great fun for a hooligan, but not as an only bike I wouldn't think.

Any reason why? Wouldn't normally think to put the words "LAMS Approved" and "hooligan bike" together (few exceptions on the list that probably shouldnt be) Can't find bugger all information about them that isn't from India. And Indians have fairly useless views on motorcycles. (Apparently the yamaha 150cc single cylinder bike puts the "pure" back in "pure performance". And the Honda 250 CBR is a super sport machine )

[Chris.k]

Can you guys show me some examples of the 'proper bikes' you can get for 10k?
And also maybe some alternative started bikes for around the 3-5k mark?
The reason I was thinking of the ninja 300 was that I thought it had a chance of holding my interest for more than just 18 months and, since they're so popular, that it would probably hold it's value relatively well.
I'm open to alternatives but spending ~5-6k on something that is 100% definitely going to just be a throwaway learner ride doesn't make much sense to me.
Open to all advice and info but I guess, at the end of the day, if it doesn't tickle my fancy, what's the point ya know?
I don't know..Kinda torn. That's why I'm reading this site

[Akzle]

Apparently the yamaha 150cc single cylinder bike puts the "pure" back in "pure performance". And the Honda 250 CBR is a super sport machine

don't mock bro. this R srius factoids.

(what else can you put back together with wire nails and melted jandals, that'll carry a family of 7?)

[Akzle]

Open to all advice and info but I guess, at the end of the day, if it doesn't tickle my fancy, what's the point ya know?
I don't know..Kinda torn. That's why I'm reading this site

you got it.
but you're an aucklander. the worst breed.

anyway. if you're really careful and lucky you won't put down your bike.
if you're a real motorcyclist, you will. whether you spent 2K or 20K.

find something you enjoy. and enjoy it. if 10k is your budget right now. find a bike that is <10k. if/when you get bored/drop it, make another decision at that point in time.

two wheels good. four wheels baaaaaad.

[Glowerss]

Can you guys show me some examples of the 'proper bikes' you can get for 10k?
And also maybe some alternative started bikes for around the 3-5k mark?
The reason I was thinking of the ninja 300 was that I thought it had a chance of holding my interest for more than just 18 months and, since they're so popular, that it would probably hold it's value relatively well.
I'm open to alternatives but spending ~5-6k on something that is 100% definitely going to just be a throwaway learner ride doesn't make much sense to me.
Open to all advice and info but I guess, at the end of the day, if it doesn't tickle my fancy, what's the point ya know?
I don't know..Kinda torn. That's why I'm reading this site

By proper bikes we mean mean full sized bikes that you can't ride on your L n R's. Some example of fairly sensible but fun examples would be things like :
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-469835392.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-460051965.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-471679612.htm

Anything like that which you can ride on your full will be so much better then your ninja 300 in every possible way. There is a HUGE range of choice out there for $10,000 or less. Don't fool yourself into thinking you'll keep the ninja300 forever. Some people do keep their 250s for longer then required, but that was when you could do the entire process in potentially 9 months. After 2 years, you'll want something bigger. Particularly if you want to do some sort of touring or country riding.

The 300 is also going to depreciate like a stone. It'll be 9k+ to buy new, and after 2 years of doing your L and R's (and possibly dropping it) I'd wager you'll be looking at 5-6k if you sell it on trademe. Less if you give it to a stealership. You will lose money on the 300.

Whereas something like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-522582665.htm will be 5.5k or 5k if you've got a silver tongue, and in 2 years you'll still be able to get 5k for it. You won't take anything near as big a hit as on the 300. It'll have more power then the 300, use less petrol, and with less eletronic wizardry to go wrong(its a 30 year old bike essentially). You won't have to go through the painful process of breaking it in the first 600 KMs while trying to learn to ride, and you wont have to spend the $$ on the expensive bunch of first services.

All of that said, if you really want the 300 mate, don't let me or anyone else talk you out of it. If that's what you want and you can afford it, fuck everyone else. Buy it! At the end of the day it's about what you absolute love. If the 300 gives you a hardon, then go for it. You're right, no point if they don't tickle your fancy Just make sure you shop around a bit before dropping that sort of dosh on a bike you're going to flick off in 2 years.