Thinking about getting a bike.

[NeverMore1701]

And I really like the looks of the Yamaha FZ8. Anyone have any experience with one, or a similar one I should consider?

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/652/0/home.aspx

[The Maggy]

And I really like the looks of the Yamaha FZ8. Anyone have any experience with one, or a similar one I should consider?

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/652/0/home.aspx
I've been test riding the fz8 at a local shop. They are trying to change my mind on an euro-naked bike.

It's a comfy bike for even me at 6'4.

It's an 800cc IL4 that has a comfortable seating position. It will do felonious speeds in second gear ~90mph, tops in 6th ~150mph. The matte grey color was used on the '12 models and it was very very sexy looking.

Similar bikes to consider would be the Ducati Monster 696 or 796, Aprilia Shiver 750, or the Triumph Street Triple.

The Monster and Shiver are v-twins, the Street Triple is an IL3. All priced about the same brand new.

ETA: this is not really a bike you would want to start out on. The engine is based off of their top of the line YFZ-R1. I don't know your riding experience so I will just leave it at that.

[fnfalman]

The FZ8 is a good standard bike. Though it does have a lot of zoot, not a bike for beginners no matter how much control they think that they have on their right wrist.

I don't see myself owning one of these types of bikes, but if I were then I'd probably lean more towards the Aprilia Dorsodura or the Triumph Street Triple just because they're more sporty and "cooler".

[Powers77]

Friend had a FZ1 that I spent a day on in the AR twisties. FUN bike and I like the ergonomics. If I were you I'd go with the FZ 8 or the Triumph. The others are going to be more expensive to maintain IMHO.

[roger123]

What are you looking to do with it? I have an '07 Suzuki Vee Strom and love it. Its a great do anything bike, highway, freeway, dirt/gravel roads, back country twisty roads, it eats them all up with ease and can get 50mpg if you're easy on the gas.

Also have a Yamaha FJR but that would not be a good first bike!

[NeverMore1701]

I'm a fairly new rider and this would be my first bike. It's a bit bigger than I was originally looking for (600cc range), but I like the look a lot and it's under $10k new. Are there any that are very similar in the 600 range?

[roger123]

I wouldn't worry about an 800 being too much bike. The Yamie looks nice, all the manufacturers have bikes in that category, it's just a matter of finding one you like and will ride.

Don't forget to budget good gear into your budget (good protection, warm, waterproof, etc.). You'll need a helmet, gloves, jacket and boots to start.

Call your insurance agent for a quote on the different models you're considering as we'll.

[platform]

you are very tall
it is hard to imagine that you will not get to like FZ8 (or for that matter any other modern bike)

I have decided for myself that if I ever get a road bike
it will need to have antilock brakes and traction control

if you plan to keep it outside, concider getting a good security chain and lock (like pragmasis in US sold by lockitt.com )

If you plan to explore gravel or moderate dirt roads at least 30% of the time, concider triumph tiger 800 with spoke wheels :cool:

I wouldn't worry about an 800 being too much bike. The Yamie looks nice, all the manufacturers have bikes in that category, it's just a matter of finding one you like and will ride.

Don't forget to budget good gear into your budget (good protection, warm, waterproof, etc.). You'll need a helmet, gloves, jacket and boots to start.

Call your insurance agent for a quote on the different models you're considering as we'll.

[Magnus2131]

You're going to put your eye out.

[NeverMore1701]

You're going to put your eye out.

I'll get a good helmet, ain't my eyes I'd worry about :rofl:

[Happypuppy]

SV 650
vstrom 650
KLR 650

I would suggest going with an upright bike if you are much over 30. They can be uncomfortable. Stay away from sport bikes ( too fast and can be twitchy) and Cruisers (too heavy IMO for a first bike...you will drop it )

The first bike is never the last. The KLR is great for tall riders. I always suggest go used for the first bike and get the foundation down about riding , then consider moving up or going new. My favorite all time bikes are the FJR,FZ1 and the Bandit. None are really good bikes to start with. These days I ride a Vstrom 650 as its like me upright, not as fast as others I have had, but reliable on most any road I dare go down.


Sent via Messenger Pigeon

[eaglefrq]

I second the VStrom 650. It's a very comfortable bike and has some nice zip to it. I'm 6' and have a bad ankle and I don't have any problems with 6-7 hour days.

I had a 2008 FZ1 and that thing is crazy fast. I did a track day with mine and even with a kinked fuel line that was only delivering 60% fuel, I still was able to hit 133 on the straight away. If the fuel line hadn't been kinked, I would have easily hit 150.


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[The Maggy]

I'm a fairly new rider and this would be my first bike. It's a bit bigger than I was originally looking for (600cc range), but I like the look a lot and it's under $10k new. Are there any that are very similar in the 600 range?

Since you are a new rider, why exactly do you want a sport bike in the 600cc range? As your first bike, why have you written off smaller engine sizes?

As a new rider, do you understand the difference between a V-twin engine and an In-line 4?

I'm not trying to be a ****, I'm just curious and they are honest questions.

[NeverMore1701]

Since you are a new rider, why exactly do you want a sport bike in the 600cc range?

As a new rider, do you understand the difference between a V-twin engine and an In-line 4?

I'm not trying to be a dick, I'm just curious and they are honest questions.

Nope, I'm shopping based on looks and hopefully getting a bike I won't outgrow in a year.

[Gonzoso]

I dig my KLR 650. It's like the AK of dual sports. It's not a road racing machine and it's simple and crude.

I rode a Suzuki Marauder for several years. It was fun and good to learn on as it was cheap for me. Now I get on it and it's awkward as hell to ride compared to the KLR. My perception of cruisers has been significantly altered.

The KLR is fun as hell to ride miles and miles on the road then take off onto a dirt trail that catches your eye.

I will probably never own a crotch rocket as I tend to ride fast and I don't think I could control myself on a machine capable of +150 mph speeds.

Whatever you get leave room for good riding gear, jacket, pants, and a decent helmet and gloves.

[NeverMore1701]

The plan is actually to buy the gear before the bike, so that won't be a problem. I won't need any offroad capability, as there's really not anywhere to ride offroad here. All private land, and I'm not going to ride my bike two hours up to the ranch when I have 4 4wheelers and a Ranger already there.

[edporch]

What are you looking to do with it? I have an '07 Suzuki Vee Strom and love it. Its a great do anything bike, highway, freeway, dirt/gravel roads, back country twisty roads, it eats them all up with ease and can get 50mpg if you're easy on the gas.

Also have a Yamaha FJR but that would not be a good first bike!

I have a Yamaha 2008 FJR 1300 and it's my second bike after laying off riding for 14 years from my first bike, a used 1984 Honda V65 Magna.

In fact, it was the 1100cc V65 Magna that sold me on water cooled, 4 cylinder Double Overhead Cam Engines, along with shaft drive.

I love my FJR.
It does many things well, and is fairly easy to do my own maintenance.

[The Maggy]

Nope, I'm shopping based on looks and hopefully getting a bike I won't outgrow in a year.

The difference between a IL4 and a V-twin are something that you should look into before you pull the trigger on a bike. The IL4 tends to be the bigger, badder brother of motorcycles. A 600cc IL4 is comparable to a 1000cc V-twin.

Do some looking and research for yourself and be absolutely honest with yourself about your experience and abilities.

Riding can be an awesome and very entertaining experience; but if you buy a bike that you can't control right now, you are going to be looking like Wiley Coyote strapped to an acme rocket for awhile
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2OnU5WQjluE/TJGzViRl7xI/AAAAAAAAAJM/eudm6dCDeVY/s1600/wile+coyote+acme.png
You may do just fine or you may get in over your head.

[Annhl8rX]

I have a Yamaha 2008 FJR 1300 and it's my second bike after laying off riding for 14 years from my first bike, a used 1984 Honda V65 Magna.

In fact, it was the 1100cc V65 Magna that sold me on water cooled, 4 cylinder Double Overhead Cam Engines, along with shaft drive.

I love my FJR.
It does many things well, and is fairly easy to do my own maintenance.

I just bought a 1984 V65 Magna a couple of months ago. It's not just an impressive bike for 1984, it's impressive for today. The only things not up to modern standards are the brakes and the size of the passenger's seat.

[SMOKEin]

The difference between a IL4 and a V-twin are something that you should look into before you pull the trigger on a bike. The IL4 tends to be the bigger, badder brother of motorcycles. A 600cc IL4 is comparable to a 1000cc V-twin.

Do some looking and research for yourself and be absolutely honest with yourself about your experience and abilities.

Riding can be an awesome and very entertaining experience; but if you buy a bike that you can't control right now, you are going to be looking like Wiley Coyote strapped to an acme rocket for awhile
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2OnU5WQjluE/TJGzViRl7xI/AAAAAAAAAJM/eudm6dCDeVY/s1600/wile+coyote+acme.png
You may do just fine or you may get in over your head.

I have owned many I4 and V-twin rockets. I would add "on the track" to your post. On the street, low and mid range is most often used, in that range the twin is usually king.

[Bullwinkle J Moose]

I usually recommend a used universal Jap bike for a first bike. Many naive people, after finding out that they almost get run over whenever they ride, decide that they aren't MC folks and sell their ride. If they have sprung for a new bike, they will lose more in that deal. The goal of a new biker should be to develop survival/riding skills, so for a new rider to be overly obsessed with being the fastest MoFo on the road at the expense of good driving habits can cause him to prematurely assume room temperature. Motorcycling is the world's most unforgiving contact sport. Ride like your life depends on it, because IT DOES!

[Sharkey]

For a first bike (as long as it is not a super sport) it is all about throttle control. FZ8 is nice and lacks plastic so if you drop it, there is less to worry about. Insurance should be relatively affordable too.

All the standard precautions apply: Take the MSF class, buy and wear the gear, ride like everyone wants to run you over, and don't try to keep up with your buddies

Just FYI, I'm about to put my 07 Honda 919 up for sale and see that you are in TX :whistling:

[eaglefrq]

Another option to look at is the Suzuki SV650 and SV650S. Both are v-twins and have a nice power curve. You can usually find used ones for less than $4-5k that are in really good condition.

For the SV650/S 2002 is the last year of the gen 1 (carbs) 2003 is the crossover (harder to find accessories/parts) and 2004-2008 are gen 2's (FI). In 2009 Suzuki converted them to the SVF650 Gladius.

I had an 06 SV650S and it was a great starter bike. Lots of aftermarket accessories and easily upgradeable.

Check out some of the forums...

www.svrider.com (http://www.svrider.com)
www.stromtrooper.com (http://www.stromtrooper.com)
www.yamahafz1oa.com (http://www.yamahafz1oa.com) (Has a FZ8 subforum)

You will find lots of good information and you can find good deals on used bikes and accessories in the for sale section.

I usually recommend a used universal Jap bike for a first bike. Many naive people, after finding out that they almost get run over whenever they ride, decide that they aren't MC folks and sell their ride. If they have sprung for a new bike, they will lose more in that deal. The goal of a new biker should be to develop survival/riding skills, so for a new rider to be overly obsessed with being the fastest MoFo on the road at the expense of good driving habits can cause him to prematurely assume room temperature. Motorcycling is the world's most unforgiving contact sport. Ride like your life depends on it, because IT DOES!

I agree completely! As a new rider, you will drop your bike. Most of these drops occur in parking lots at low speed manuevers. I would much rather drop a bike I paid $3-4k than a bike I paid $8-10k.

Something else to think about is comfort. Check out this website http://cycle-ergo.com/

You can select different bikes, rider dimensions to see how you would sit on the bike. When you have your choice made, go to a dealership and find a bike similar and sit on it (in full gear) for at least 20 min in the riding position to see how you feel on it. Yes, you may get some funny looks, but the dealership will understand what you are doing.

[sappy13]

I'm a fairly new rider and this would be my first bike. It's a bit bigger than I was originally looking for (600cc range), but I like the look a lot and it's under $10k new. Are there any that are very similar in the 600 range?

If its your first bike, you should really buy a used bike. Most likely, you will drop it at some point. Plus you really want to get used to riding before you hop on something with a lot of power. Make sure you alot yourself a good 500 or so for gear. Jacket, Helmet, and gloves are a minimum. Dont forget you will need a warm weather jacket/gloves, so allot yourself double.

[John Rambo]

I'm a fairly new rider and this would be my first bike. It's a bit bigger than I was originally looking for (600cc range), but I like the look a lot and it's under $10k new. Are there any that are very similar in the 600 range?

Don't buy your first bike new. You're going to drop the hell out of it. Hopefully not at any high speeds.

You said you didn't understand the I4 and V-Twin difference, if you're in the sportbike world, try to stick to I4s. They're a whole lot faster.

As far as 'too much bike', engine displacement has absolutely 0 to do with it. The bike will go as fast or as slow as YOU tell it. Too much wrist? Maybe. Too much bike? Never. True, larger engines into the liter category get a little bit scarier for a new rider in the corners because they put out more tq, but again, if you're not hammering it past your skill level, then its still going to be manageable.

What you need to worry about is how comfortable you are sitting on it. Do you feel strained or contorted, are you struggling to touch the ground, can you comfortably sit on it and toss it back and forth with only your thighs? These are the questions that matter.

Yamaha makes, in my opinion, some of the best bikes in existence. You're not going to buy a bad Yamaha.

[IceAxe]

Another strong vote for the Suzuki V-Strom 650; very forgiving bike, fine for a beginner but enough fun for a well seasoned rider. There are some real bargains on these on CL and since they've not changed hardly at all over the year.

First step though: take the MSF new rider course - then buy a bike.

[eaglefrq]

Don't buy your first bike new. You're going to drop the hell out of it. Hopefully not at any high speeds.

:agree:

You said you didn't understand the I4 and V-Twin difference, if you're in the sportbike world, try to stick to I4s. They're a whole lot faster.

On straight roads definitely. Not necessarily true in the twisties. I've seen v-twins eat an I4's lunch in the curves.

As far as 'too much bike', engine displacement has absolutely 0 to do with it. The bike will go as fast or as slow as YOU tell it. Too much wrist? Maybe. Too much bike? Never. True, larger engines into the liter category get a little bit scarier for a new rider in the corners because they put out more tq, but again, if you're not hammering it past your skill level, then its still going to be manageable.

This is one of the hardest skills for new riders to learn. I have seen many riders on liter bikes get in over their heads quickly because they didn't know their limits or how to control their wrist. There is absolutely nothing wrong with starting out on a v-twin. They have a very nice power curve and in my opinion are a little more forgiving.

What you need to worry about is how comfortable you are sitting on it. Do you feel strained or contorted, are you struggling to touch the ground, can you comfortably sit on it and toss it back and forth with only your thighs? These are the questions that matter.

:agree:




My opinions are in bold.

[edporch]

Quote:
Originally Posted by edporch View Post
I have a Yamaha 2008 FJR 1300 and it's my second bike after laying off riding for 14 years from my first bike, a used 1984 Honda V65 Magna.

In fact, it was the 1100cc V65 Magna that sold me on water cooled, 4 cylinder Double Overhead Cam Engines, along with shaft drive.

I love my FJR.
It does many things well, and is fairly easy to do my own maintenance.

I just bought a 1984 V65 Magna a couple of months ago. It's not just an impressive bike for 1984, it's impressive for today. The only things not up to modern standards are the brakes and the size of the passenger's seat.

Yes, the '84 V65 is a great bike.

Once you hit about 4 grand, it takes off like a rocket.
(10 grand red line with 6 gears)
I read tests from those days, and it was capable doing a 1/4 mile in the 11 second ballpark.

When I bought mine in 1990, I was told by the insurance people that it was the bike with the highest death rate.

If memory serves, it's because it's a cruiser type of bike with a lot of horsepower (116 hp @ 8900 if memory serves).

When it got away from the rider it was hard to get back under control.

I heard stories of guys bringing the front end up unexpectedly, and when they reacted to it because the handlebars are a bit upswept, they'd unintentionally give it more throttle and flip the bike over.

I remember talking to some people and a woman spoke up and said her brother had a V65 and killed himself this way.

Though the brakes aren't anti-lock, they're still dual disk on the front with a single disk on the rear.
It also has an anti-dive adjustment in the front.


But it's a sharp and powerful bike.
I understand why you like it! :supergrin:

[svrider1]

Not just because I have one but...get your self a used zuki sv650 any year other than 2003.(in 2003 they made changes that were specific to that year so parts can be a pita to find)

I had originally wanted a duc monster but the maintenance schedule proved to be way expensive. The sv is the poor mans monster.

Plus it's a vtwin...you will love all that low down torque.

It has a ton of aftermarket support and lots of online support from the forums.
check out www.svrider.com

Not that the fz8 is not good.

[NeverMore1701]

I'll give the SV650 a lot of consideration. I like the looks of the FZ8 a bit better, but it does seem that it might be a bit much for a novice. The muffler on the SV would have to go though, I'm sure there are plenty aftermarket options available.

[John Rambo]

Quote:
Originally Posted by edporch View Post
I have a Yamaha 2008 FJR 1300 and it's my second bike after laying off riding for 14 years from my first bike, a used 1984 Honda V65 Magna.

In fact, it was the 1100cc V65 Magna that sold me on water cooled, 4 cylinder Double Overhead Cam Engines, along with shaft drive.

I love my FJR.
It does many things well, and is fairly easy to do my own maintenance.



Yes, the '84 V65 is a great bike.

Once you hit about 4 grand, it takes off like a rocket.
(10 grand red line with 6 gears)
I read tests from those days, and it was capable doing a 1/4 mile in the 11 second ballpark.

When I bought mine in 1990, I was told by the insurance people that it was the bike with the highest death rate.

If memory serves, it's because it's a cruiser type of bike with a lot of horsepower (116 hp @ 8900 if memory serves).

When it got away from the rider it was hard to get back under control.

I heard stories of guys bringing the front end up unexpectedly, and when they reacted to it because the handlebars are a bit upswept, they'd unintentionally give it more throttle and flip the bike over.

I remember talking to some people and a woman spoke up and said her brother had a V65 and killed himself this way.

Though the brakes aren't anti-lock, they're still dual disk on the front with a single disk on the rear.
It also has an anti-dive adjustment in the front.


But it's a sharp and powerful bike.
I understand why you like it! :supergrin:

Screaming fast bikes. As far as performance, they were way ahead of their time. But good GOD were they ugly.

I had the last generation 750 Magna. It was an amazing bike. Thing absolutely screamed in the twisties, and once that engine got into its powerband it flew. Still, had to get rid of it for a big ol V-Twin. Theres something about max torque off the line that makes you feel all warm inside.