Best Cafe/Commuter style motorcycle

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octongue

octongue

Joined
Apr 6, 2007
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Location
Columbus, Ohio
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eyebrowns.blogspot.com
Hi,
I am inexperienced at riding motorcycles, not having ridden one for quite some time (and at that time doing so only recreationally and not for a long period). I know how to shift and the like but am really new at it. What sort of bike would be a good, inexpensive, reliable, and entry level motorcycle for me to consider?

Thanks,
Brian
 
here you go sweet pea, try this one;)
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I don't know how strong your back is, but "cafe" style bikes aren't the most comfortable to ride. For commuting, a bike that has you sitting straight up is going to be most comfortable. There are so many factors that will dictate the best bike for your needs.

Start with:

--What kind of riding do you want to do?
--What is your weight/dimensions?
--What is your price range?
--What do you want to get out of your motorcycle?

And then research the best used motorcycle within your range. I say "used" because there isn't much sense to going out and buying a shiny new bike that you're just going to lay down and bash up. Try and stick with reputable Japanese models that have had long production runs. Avoid big, fast bikes, as you'll be entering the game out of your league. Talk to people who ride, find out their opinions and then take those opinions with a huge grain of salt. Motorcycle salesmen especially...they're like car salesmen, but they deal with overcompensating midlife crisis sufferers, adrenaline junkies and wannabe racers all day, and it has often muddled their focus.

Don't rush into anything. Take your time, find the bike that's best for you, most importantly go and BUY ALL THE BEST FxxxING SAFETY GEAR YOU CAN, AND THEN WEAR IT EVERY TIME YOU RIDE!!!! You're gonna need them. Helmet, jacket, boots, gloves, and splurge on a nice neck brace. Yes, you'll look kind of ridiculous, but you'll look ridiculous on your feet.
 
octongue said:
when i was 19 i had a GSXR750 as my first (and only) motorcycle. The salesman judged me by height and not experience, and i quickly sold it because it scared the turtles out of me.
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bikes are like boats, start small till you have a comfort level then move on....trying to grow into size and power is a recipe for disaster..............I love that term, "recipe for dsaster"
 
fsusteve said:
awesome.....whatever you get start small, 125 or 250 max.
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fsusteve said:
bikes are like boats, start small till you have a comfort level then move on....trying to grow into size and power is a recipe for disaster..............I love that term, "recipe for dsaster"
Click to expand...

Screw that.. Buy what you want.. I used to think this way, and within 3-4 months I was jonesing for a bigger bike, or boat, or car...

You just have to be disciplined the first several months and not get on it.. learn the right way and you'll grow into it... cheaper that way too..

Edit: I do highly recommend taking a motorcycle safety course if you haven't ridden in a while... (even if you know how to ride, but haven't in over several years)

Edit #2: The bikes you are looking at, might have the same cc's as the GSXR750, but have no where near the power of one... something else to think about...
 
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octongue said:
seems like a nice one. out of range price and power-wise, but nice nonetheless.
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So what's your price range?

And as far as cafe bikes go...they look cool as hell, but do you really want to be bent over the tank all the time? You aren't doing the Isle of Man, you're trying to get to work...
 
maybe "cafe bike" is the wrong term - i am looking for a utilitarian commuting machine. not a racer, not a bad-ass, a money saver and a relatively low powered motor cycle. a honda cb250 might work. but i don't know.
 
yzftaco said:
Screw that.. Buy what you want.. I used to think this way, and within 3-4 months I was jonesing for a bigger bike, or boat, or car...

You just have to be disciplined the first several months and not get on it.. learn the right way and you'll grow into it... cheaper that way too..
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I see guys take this route all the time, bikes/boats....in the end most of them never use the s*** because they never get comfortable with it and take a loss when they sell it.
 
fsusteve said:
I see guys take this route all the time, bikes/boats....in the end most of them never use the s*** because they never get comfortable with it and take a loss when they sell it.
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Yeah I guess, I'm a very quick learner, and usually get very comfortable with whatever I'm driving faster than most I guess.. :meh:
 
octongue said:
maybe "cafe bike" is the wrong term - i am looking for a utilitarian commuting machine. not a racer, not a bad-ass, a money saver and a relatively low powered motor cycle. a honda cb250 might work. but i don't know.
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What about the new Ninja 250? Agile as a ******* gazelle, cheap as chips at $3500 brand-spankin', reputable, and (in my opinion), sufficiently fast enough to get out of its own way.
 
octongue said:
what do they call just a "motorcycle" anymore? a cruiser?
i just don't want a damned scooter. its a pride thing.
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I'd go up to a 500 for you.. the moto koop posted is a good one.. although it's a 650..

Another thing the v-twin bikes don't produce as much ass-kicking power like the GSXR's, or CBR's, or YZF's It's a much more smoother power..

I'd suggest test driving a friends if you know someone..
 
octongue said:
what do they call just a "motorcycle" anymore? a cruiser?
i just don't want a damned scooter. its a pride thing.
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How tall are you ? If your long in the leg maybe a trail bike might suit you with some road bias tyres.
Not so great for long distances but there is a huge range in the 250-500cc bracket
 
1983+ Honda Nighthawk 650/550 (550 was 1983 only)

Boring as hell to look at, but great long-term reliability and well-built. Parts are still fairly easy to come by, and there is a pretty good online community of helpful, knowledgable folks. Plenty of smooth (non-scary for a newb) powerband, and enough top end to move when you want to go.

I just got done rebuilding an 83 550 (with 2600 miles) for my BIL, who promptly sold it once I got done. :mad: If I had known, I would have just bought it from him a long time ago and kept it for myself.
 
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