Topic: New Biker....ME!! Well kinda.....

[Arthur Dent]

I'd go used as well. But either way (used or new) the deals are better now than in a few months. I bought used and got the seller to deliver it before I had license or ridden a bike before. You just can't test drive unless you bring along a friend.

[rrocket]

He made his decision. 

Right, right.

Rather his purchase is far off.

[Triple Bob]

Then thats not what I'm looking for. I would like to at least cruise to Calgary, ~300km, and to the mountains, ~400kms, without looking like I got ran over by a train afterwards.

This.  Everyone is recommending what THEY like, vs what you actually want.

I bought a brand new FZ-09 as my 'first' bike, powerful, no screen etc. etc. And it was an absolute gem!  Yes I dropped it once, chick dig scars right? 

I also toured on it, and the lack of a screen was fine, kept me below 160 ish. 

Something like the Versys or V-Strom would be ideal. And get a new one if you want to know how it's been treated.  But also be prepared for depreciation if you want to change.  Personally, I like buying vehicles new, the peace of mind outweighs the initial depreciation IMHO.

[Triple Bob]

Scooters are the beige Corolla of two wheeled transportation...minus the exciting Corolla styling.

100% agree.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I think going the complete opposite of new and buying some old Honda or Suzuki from the 80's or 90's would be the way to go.  They're cheap enough that they've already depreciated, you don't care about dropping them, and you can ride it for a year to make sure you actually like riding.  Then the next year, when you're ready to commit, drop the serious coin on a new ride and sell the old one for what you paid for it.

[rrocket]

I bought a brand new FZ-09 as my 'first' bike, powerful, no screen etc. etc. And it was an absolute gem!  Yes I dropped it once, chick dig scars right? 

What was the CBR250R I saw you riding?  I thought that was your first bike??  (was my favorite iteration and color scheme of that bike BTW)

[rrocket]

This.  Everyone is recommending what THEY like, vs what you actually want.

That's sorta what happens when you ask "Opinions?"      And to be fair, he didn't have his projected use/distances in his first post.  You can see most changed their suggestion after that.

FWIW, I think the Strom will work for him.  Very competent machine.

My opinion is the CB500X can do everything the Strom does...but better.

[Fobroader]

Ill have a look at the CB500X too. Thank you all for guiding this ruderless ship!!

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[rrocket]

Ill have a look at the CB500X too. Thank you all for guiding this ruderless ship!!

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How's insurance out your way for a newb?

Make any calls?

[Triple Bob]

I bought a brand new FZ-09 as my 'first' bike, powerful, no screen etc. etc. And it was an absolute gem!  Yes I dropped it once, chick dig scars right? 

What was the CBR250R I saw you riding?  I thought that was your first bike??  (was my favorite iteration and color scheme of that bike BTW)

I bought that for my ex, so it wasn't really mine.

[rrocket]

I bought a brand new FZ-09 as my 'first' bike, powerful, no screen etc. etc. And it was an absolute gem!  Yes I dropped it once, chick dig scars right? 

What was the CBR250R I saw you riding?  I thought that was your first bike??  (was my favorite iteration and color scheme of that bike BTW)

I bought that for my ex, so it wasn't really mine.

But that's the one you learned to ride on, wasn't it?

Looked so good in that gen, eh?  I thought it looked better than the new and improved version.

IIRC, you mentioned you thought about doing a track day on it...did you ever do that??

[dirtyjeffer]

Ill have a look at the CB500X too. Thank you all for guiding this ruderless ship!!

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

How's insurance out your way for a newb?

Make any calls?

that's likely an important thing to look into...for bike insurance, engine size (and type of bike), combined with rider experience play a big part of insurance rates...they do vary by province, so you'll need to go by what you get in AB vs what "we" pay in our provinces...my last bike, a Suzuki VZ800 was about $500/year for full coverage...my boss just got his licence last year and bought a 20 year old Shadow 1100 for $2000...insurance is $1800/year...a few years ago, when i was going to buy that 1974 Honda CB400F, insurance on it was about $230/year...up the engine size, change the type of bike, and lower the "years you've had your licence" and the insurance company bends you over...hard.

[rrocket]

Ill have a look at the CB500X too. Thank you all for guiding this ruderless ship!!

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

How's insurance out your way for a newb?

Make any calls?

that's likely an important thing to look into...for bike insurance, engine size (and type of bike), combined with rider experience play a big part of insurance rates...they do vary by province, so you'll need to go by what you get in AB vs what "we" pay in our provinces...my last bike, a Suzuki VZ800 was about $500/year for full coverage...my boss just got his licence last year and bought a 20 year old Shadow 1100 for $2000...insurance is $1800/year...a few years ago, when i was going to buy that 1974 Honda CB400F, insurance on it was about $230/year...up the engine size, change the type of bike, and lower the "years you've had your licence" and the insurance company bends you over...hard.

Yep...sucks.

Which is another reason why I like the CB500X.  Some insurance companies cut off is 500cc before rates go higher...

[Scaerio]

Scooters are the beige Corolla of two wheeled transportation...minus the exciting Corolla styling.

Except classic Vespas and Lambrettas.

[rrocket]

Scooters are the beige Corolla of two wheeled transportation...minus the exciting Corolla styling.

Except classic Vespas and Lambrettas.

Bonus points for sidecar rig!!   

[Triple Bob]

I bought a brand new FZ-09 as my 'first' bike, powerful, no screen etc. etc. And it was an absolute gem!  Yes I dropped it once, chick dig scars right? 

What was the CBR250R I saw you riding?  I thought that was your first bike??  (was my favorite iteration and color scheme of that bike BTW)

I bought that for my ex, so it wasn't really mine.

But that's the one you learned to ride on, wasn't it?

Looked so good in that gen, eh?  I thought it looked better than the new and improved version.

IIRC, you mentioned you thought about doing a track day on it...did you ever do that??

Sort of, wasn't mine though, my first bike was the FZ-09. We only had the CBR for a very short time and very little kms.

No, I did a track day on a rented 600, much more fun.

[rrocket]

^^Track days are a hoot!

[Gurgie]

I'm kinda weird...

I'm just as content riding the hardest core bikes (supermoto) as I am the red headed step child (scooter). It's funny...but those 2 polar opposites on the spectrum are my current 2 favorite modes on 2 wheels. (I'll never miss a chance to jump in diet bikes though! )

I guess I'm happy just riding.....

i've had several bikes over the years...Honda CH250, NS400R, VT750, VFR1000, Yamaha FZ750, Suzuki VZ800...i did the most riding and enjoyed the CH250 (scooter) the most...cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to insure, included storage, and comfortable...most of the smaller ones are more at home in an urban environment, but if you get something in the 200cc or higher range, they can usually hold their own on the highway (the bigger engine, the faster and more stable at speed they are).

i guess i'm like you as i like them too.

Mmmmmm VFR-1000!!!!! Loved that bike, big v-twin sport bike. Did 2 demo days on that & wanted to replace my zx6 with that.

Now Ron has me really thinking VFR-800, fack sakes!!!

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[rrocket]

Mmmmmm VFR-1000!!!!! Loved that bike, big v-twin sport bike. Did 2 demo days on that & wanted to replace my zx6 with that.

VFR1000 is definitely not a V-Twin.

You're confused.


Perhaps you mean VTR1000 (aka Superhawk, aka FireStorm)?  I owned a red one!  Bought it in Belleville and rode it home!

[dirtyjeffer]

Mmmmmm VFR-1000!!!!! Loved that bike, big v-twin sport bike. Did 2 demo days on that & wanted to replace my zx6 with that.

VFR1000 is definitely not a V-Twin.

You're confused.


Perhaps you mean VTR1000 (aka Superhawk, aka FireStorm)?  I owned a red one!  Bought it in Belleville and rode it home!

my apologies...it was VF1000F (Interceptor 1000)...it was a V4 (two V-twins).