Someone talk me out of buying a motorcycle...

My heart says get a new naked sport bike but my mind says don't be stupid and get something used and fairly cheap preferable under 500cc.

So I ask the forum what they think of this bike.

Less then 2,000 dollars for a 'new' bike

VP729307_1.jpg


Yeah its only a 250cc and yeah its a cruiser so not exactly what I wanted but man for 1,900 bucks... :yes:

Additional pros

1. The dealer is less then five minutes from my house.
2. I assume it still has the full factory warranty left but I need to call and check to be sure.
3. I couldn't find a used bike for that price unless it was fairly old or also a 250cc.
4. Its actually not a bad looking bike
5. If my wife decides she likes riding it would be a perfect bike for her as she is only 120ish lbs.
6. I have sold plenty of left over model year cars so I know how desperate they must be to unload that bike. Actually strike that I don't know how desperate they are since I have never had a nearly four year old left over Land Rover. I bet they would take significantly less then what they are asking and/or give me a full set of free gear.

Someone give me some cons besides the fact that it is only a single cylinder bike.
 
Around here $2,000 will get you a fairly large displacement (750cc) bike from the 80s. If you can throw an extra $1,000 at it you would be at $3,000 and could buy a very respectable cruiser from the 90s, like a Shadow.

Split the difference, call it $2,500 and you are still up to a 1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600 and thats with the spring inflation and high fuel costs driving up demand around here.

Where are you looking for bikes? The best deals are never at a dealership. If you want a 250, take a look at the Honda Rebel, the MSRP on them is about $3,200 but see if they have any leftovers or year-old models for you. Many people start with the Rebel as a starter bike but grow tired of it quickly. My first bike was twice that size and I was bored within a couple months.

EDIT: I found this bike near you. It's in your price range and just needs a minor carb float repair. Go check it out and take it to a mechanic who will do a once-over and tell you what it needs. It could be a very nice starter bike.
 
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Blind_Io said:
Around here $2,000 will get you a fairly large displacement (750cc) bike from the 80s. If you can throw an extra $1,000 at it you would be at $3,000 and could buy a very respectable cruiser from the 90s, like a Shadow.

Split the difference, call it $2,500 and you are still up to a 1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600 and thats with the spring inflation and high fuel costs driving up demand around here.

Where are you looking for bikes? The best deals are never at a dealership.
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I have ebay set up to send me alerts when bikes of certain types come up and I am checking the local craigslist but nothing much has been up there lately. I have also been checking cycle trader from time to time. Just finished checking again and in the last few days the closes thing was This

I work for a dealership so I know how the game works. You can get a plenty good deal at a dealership if you know how to work it.

Edit:

Yeah that bikes not so bad and I didn't know about that particular classified site. Concord is about 3.5 to four hours away from my house depending on traffic so its not too far away but close.
 
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That's a damn good price for a new bike. Granted, you'll get bored with it by the end of the season, but the great thing about 'beginners' bikes is that they hold their value very well, since they're always in demand by new riders - you won't have an issue selling it when you eventually want to upgrade. Based on how low that bike is priced, you could probably get back almost all of what you'll pay for it. Insurance should be dirt cheap for a 250 as well. Given that it'll also come with a warranty, I say its a deal. Don't get a bike that needs work, especially in this price range.
 
I would never buy a 250, considering the fact that you been dreaming about this for "ages", please buy a proper bike not a moped, you will be utterly disappointed.

If money is an "issue", buy an old bike, there is nothing wrong with that. There is tons of bullet-proof bikes from the 80s and early 90s that last forever if you take care of them.
 
i say get at least a 500. it won't scare you shitless to take out for a quick jaunt down a highway. The Buell Blasts are in this segment, and are very popular beginner bikes. they actually set them up specifically to be easy on a new rider's budget. all the turn indicators and mirrors are cheap, plastic and modular. so if you drop the bike, you're out maybe $30.

you might wind up finding another deal like this: http://www.cycletrader.com/find/listing/2000-BUELL-P3-BLAST-p3-blast-89952194

To Blind_Io: that is strange. one would think that a foundation would step up and listen very closely to the COST327 and head Injury specialists with alot of scrutiny. Overall, I think though that there's nothing wrong with Snell's test methodology. their methods may in fact generate higher G forces on their test equipment, leading to a higher threshold. the bottom line in that article's test results show that most of the less expensive Snell helmets would be in compliance across all the various standards ( I have the Scorpion EXO-400 helmet, which seems well exceeding their threshold guidelines) I would have never expected an Arai helmet to do so poorly though. My only concern that I think really needs to be addressed is that a universal standard for testing helmet safety be established, so the criteria for that G-threshold be set properly. Snell SWEARS 300Gs is an acceptable limit, while head injury specialists are saying 200 is acceptable, meanwhile gov't testing procedures are dictating...175? 150? The striking evidence for this necessity is the article's heavy reliance on either very old research reports, or the COST327 report, which, depending on who's looking over the report, can draw different conclusions. I believe, based on the very detailed report and rebuttal from both sides of the table, is that some manufacturers may be mislead by some of the currently existing guidelines, such as Snell, BSI, and FIA 8860. these guidelines would suggest that in order to be safer, the shell must be stiffer, and thus, the Manufacturers are left catering to the standard, and not head safety, my point illustrated by the $600+ Arai helmet scoring worst in the test article. if Snell cut the G-threshold down to 225 for their next standards release, would it stop the bitching from the head doctors? probably not. Establishing standards for the helmet's ability to manage and absorb energy? Now we're talking! I personally do not feel simply lowering the impact energy will result in a superior helmet, but it certainly helps.
 
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British_Rover said:
I have ebay set up to send me alerts when bikes of certain types come up and I am checking the local craigslist but nothing much has been up there lately. I have also been checking cycle trader from time to time. Just finished checking again and in the last few days the closes thing was This

I work for a dealership so I know how the game works. You can get a plenty good deal at a dealership if you know how to work it.
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BUY IT! BUY IT NOW!

That is a screamin' good deal! Let's put it in perspective: It's a year newer than my Magna, it's 50cc bigger, has a shaft drive instead of a PITA chain, it looks beautiful from what I can see and it's still $500 less than what I paid for my bike.

If you don't snatch that up you need your head checked!
 
I really want a motorcycle but I am honestly scared, primarily because I know that I will do something stupid ("this thing's supposed to top out at 170... I wonder if it really does...")
A kid in my class just got into an accident on his bike - broke his neck and back, which I still cant really fully grasp... unbelievable
 
phuckingduck said:
Two things on this note.

1) Several of the local cities have passed sound ordinances that ban loud stereo's in cars (IE: Subs). But, several of the city council members in the cities ride Harleys. And they ride by my house. At midnight. I live on a fun road to drive and presumably ride, when there are no cops around. And everyone always punches it right in front of my house. So, I can't have a sub, but they get blaring loud Harley's and ride them past my house at midnight and awake me.
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I hate Harley ricers. Sometimes, they're worse than the car ricers.
 
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To prevent all that ugly stuff from happening, we wear helmets. Modern, full-face helmets, if we have enough brains to protect, that is.(....)

First, about half of all serious motorcycle accidents happen when a car pulls in front of a bike in traffic. These accidents typically happen at very low speeds, with a typical impact velocity, after all the braking and skidding, below 25 mph.(...)

The next-biggest group of typical accidents happens at night, often on a weekend, at higher speeds. They are much more likely to involve alcohol, and often take place when a rider goes off the road alone. These two groups of accidents account for almost 75 percent of all serious crashes. So the accident we are most afraid of, and the one we tend to buy our helmets for?crashing at high speeds, out sport riding?is relatively rare.
Even though many motorcycles were capable of running the quarter-mile in 11 seconds (or less) and topping 140 mph back in '81, not one of the 900-odd accidents investigated in the Hurt study involved a speed over 100 mph. The "one in a thousand" speed seen in the Hurt Report was 86 mph, meaning only one of the accidents seen in the 900-crash study occurred at or above that speed. And the COST 327 study, done recently in the land of the autobahn, contained very few crashes over 120 kph, or 75 mph. The big lesson here is this: It's a mistake to assume that going really fast causes a significant number of accidents just because a motorcycle can go really fast.

Another eye-opener: In spite of what one might assume, the speed at which an accident starts does not necessarily correlate to the impact the head?or helmet?will have to absorb in a crash. That is, according to the Hurt Report and the similar Thailand study, going faster when you fall off does not typically result in your helmet taking a harder hit.
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Great article. Thanks Blind_Io!
 
Blind_Io said:
BUY IT! BUY IT NOW!

That is a screamin' good deal! Let's put it in perspective: It's a year newer than my Magna, it's 50cc bigger, has a shaft drive instead of a PITA chain, it looks beautiful from what I can see and it's still $500 less than what I paid for my bike.

If you don't snatch that up you need your head checked!
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I can vouch for shaft drive. I love how smooth my Yamaha is and the system needs basically no maintenance compared to a chain or belt. That one looks like it has a nice seat and saddle bags. And the new tires are probably at least $100 each.
 
British_Rover said:
Just finished checking again and in the last few days the closes thing was This
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My mom used to own one of those.. A solid bike, Never failed her.. About as exciting as watching paint dry, but if that is the kind of bike you want, go for it..
 
Not sure if this is the right thread but...

Motorcycle fever. BAD! WANT. ONE.

...had to sell my previous bike about 2 yrs. ago and now that my personal economy has improved the fever is beginning to be unbearable...

Costs huge. must. use. money. more. wisely.


AAAaargh
 
Any tips for someone interested in getting into motorcycling?

Seemed like the right thread to ask in.
 
phuckingduck said:
Any tips for someone interested in getting into motorcycling?

Seemed like the right thread to ask in.
Click to expand...

Get your license NOW!!!

btw: I'm picking up my gixxer next weekend..:devil:
 
Take the MSF course before you do anything else, see if you really enjoy it and have the coordination to ride a bike.
 
For someone thinking of getting into motorcycling I'd suggest going out and sitting on some bikes and find one that fits you. One thing I really love about my Yamaha is that I can sit on it with both feet flat on the ground. With a lot of other bikes I'm tip toeing trying to keep them balanced. It might be a good idea to try on some gear while you're at it.
 
Good idea. I have the opposite problem. I have no problem reaching the ground even on those big BMW Adventure-Touring bikes, but I sure have a hard time folding myself up onto most sport bikes.
 
So I live in a state without a helmet law, and it amazes me how many people don't wear helmets. Yesterday I must have seen about forty motorcycles I only remember two with helmets, both Jap bikes. Why would you not wear a helmet?
 
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