Letting the 500 go...

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

I'm looking ONLY for advice about 600's what people like and dislike, if we can contribute to that I'd love to hear what you have to say...

whoah... telling an Admin what he can and can't contribute to a thread? Isn't that crossin the line a bit there?

Pass the popcorn! this could get fun!!

[NeonspeedRT]

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

Today the new owners of my Ninja 500 are coming to pick her up! I just got done giving her a sweet bath and getting her all ready!! It'll be sad to see her go being my first bike ever... but time for bigger and better things!!

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

Haha.. well an update on this thread... In regards to bike shopping I'm heading out today!! Any input would be appreciated anything a 600cc size!!

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

I'm not sure, the bike was already paid off, so now I've got a nice 3k deposit to put down on something fun....

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

Thanks for checking in Rae and Nee... I actually put about 500-1000 miles on the bike myself... mainly beach trips but for me that is some good riding. It was mainly trip rides, not alot of in town, unless it was pretty day and I had to get to school or something. Only downed the bike once and that was in the first two weeks of owning it on a low speed turn. I felt pretty confident on the bike to the point I was starting to get bored. Thats when the boyfriend (who taught me how to ride) said maybe consider upgrading, nothing much bigger but a used 600.

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

Haha.. I know I'm not STARTING on a 600... I had a 500 for a year, put about 1000 miles on it, and have a huge backround in dirtbikes and four wheelers. If I had NEVER had experience on any type of bike I could understand why you all would say NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Squid.

Now I'm looking at geting a used 600, I was asking for advice about them, what people liked, what they didnt like, etc. I ride mostly to school and back and thats a pretty decent longer scenic ride.

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

Yeha I'm definitely not looking for speed, which is why I'm looking at getting a used one, I dont want anything new for the fact the newer bikes are hardcore... and pretty quick.

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

I'm looking ONLY for advice about 600's what people like and dislike, if we can contribute to that I'd love to hear what you have to say...

First things first. This is a public internet forum. So you will get off topic posts, you will get people answering questions you didn't ask, and you will get people answering the question you asked as well. So don't get offended by people trying to give you advice and help. Even if you didn't ask for it. If you don't want to hear what people say, then don't post on a public message forum.

That being said, you need to step back for a minute. You ARE a new rider. No if's, and's, or but's about it. You said yourself you only put between 500 to 1000 miles on a street bike in a year. Thats nothing. Thats what most people put on their bikes in a month or two of riding back and forth to a local bike night.

It takes easily 6 months or longer of regular riding every day to become a proficient motorcyclist. Just because you may have a good dirt bike background, that doesn't mean you are an experienced street rider. Sure it helps with clutch control and shifting. Thats it. Dirt bikes handle totally different then street bikes.

If you were getting bored on a 500cc in only 1000 miles, then you need to go turn pro in AMA roadracing. If you're that good then you are destined to be the next Ben Spies.

You said it yourself, you aren't looking for speed. Then why did you get rid of the 500cc? You had a paid off bike sitting in your garage that you obviously wern't comfortable on. So now you are going to go spend money on a newer bike and make payments on something that will sit in your garage?

Reading back over your posts, I see what the problem is. You had a boyfriend who taught you how to ride telling you to upgrade. So you have it stuck in your head since your boyfriend told you to upgrade, you are ready. We see that happen quite often actually. Have you ever taken a MSF class? If not, I really encourage you to go do that before you spend your money on a new bike. See if riding is even for you. Learn the correct way to corner, stop quickly, swerve, ect.

Now all of that being said, you can "START" riding on a 600cc. You just have to be wise. People have given you some excellent suggestions in this post. The SV650 is a great bike, the ZX650 is a great bike, an older 600cc like a CBR600F3 or F4 are great starter bikes.

When you get your new bike be safe, wear your gear, and put some miles on the bike. That will get you on your start to becoming a proficient motorcyclist. Good luck.

[NONE_too_SOFT]

have you consdiered a schwinn?

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by NONE_too_SOFT

have you consdiered a schwinn?

[byron12]

I would reccomend you buy what ever bike your friends at the beach are going to be like "wow cool look at jenna she is such a bad ass girl she owns a motorcycle". I don't think we have to worry about her killing herself because she is not ready if she is not even going to ride the damn thing. Hell she is willing to enertain the new 250 just because it looks so hot and its sooo cheap like 3500 dollars is chump change or something. Your not a squid you are a poseur but thats okay motorcycles are soo hot right now....

[Trip]

Stop being bike nazis and give the girl some advice about 600's. Hell a lot of us started off on older 600s and some on newer 600s. She has been riding for a little bit and she has been riding dirt for awhile. She will be fine.

Hondas - reliable, honda goes out of their way to make em a pain in the ass to work on.

Suzuki - squid bike of choice, fairings on the new one are confusing to get on and off, easier to work on

Yam - don't know much about them in the older forms

Kawa - 636 or nothing from this manufacturer.

[ceo012384]

Originally Posted by 1hottbikechic

Haha.. I know I'm not STARTING on a 600... I had a 500 for a year, put about 1000 miles on it

I'm not against you getting a 600, personally it makes no difference to me... but just to nitpick a bit... 1000 miles in a year on a 500 is nothing, especially if it was just commuting around... i.e. traffic and mostly straight lines and low-speed turns.

Commuting helps your situational awareness and traffic sense but doesn't do much to improve your riding skills. You would gain more skill from a weekend in a parking lot working on your MSF techniques than 1000 miles of putt-putt.

There is nothing worse than a sophmoric attitude when it comes to riding. The pavement bites hard. Good luck with your choice and ride safe

[Trip]

Originally Posted by ceo012384

I'm not against you getting a 600, personally it makes no difference to me... but just to nitpick a bit... 1000 miles in a year on a 500 is nothing, especially if it was just commuting around... i.e. traffic and mostly straight lines and low-speed turns.

Commuting helps your situational awareness and traffic sense but doesn't do much to improve your riding skills. You would gain more skill from a weekend in a parking lot working on your MSF techniques than 1000 miles of putt-putt.

There is nothing worse than a sophmoric attitude when it comes to riding. The pavement bites hard. Good luck with your choice and ride safe

If she is just going to be commuting on the bike though, the 600 really doesnt have the bite to it on the street. A 650 has less throttle control than a 600 since the 650 is just an on/off switch. It's hard to get in a lot of trouble in a hurry unless you really try with a 600. Low end just doesn't have the torque, especially older models. Plus she comes from the dirt world, she can more than handle lots of torque on delivery.

[ceo012384]

Originally Posted by Trip

If she is just going to be commuting on the bike though, the 600 really doesnt have the bite to it on the street. A 650 has less throttle control than a 600 since the 650 is just an on/off switch. It's hard to get in a lot of trouble in a hurry unless you really try with a 600. Low end just doesn't have the torque, especially older models. Plus she comes from the dirt world, she can more than handle lots of torque on delivery.

True... I was just saying amount of miles is irrelevant in terms of skill/progression. Type of miles is important.

Hell, if she JUST wants it for commuting then fuck the 600SS... get something with some low end... like a SV650 like you said.

[Mr Lefty]

Originally Posted by Trip

Stop being bike nazis and give the girl some advice about 600's. Hell a lot of us started off on older 600s and some on newer 600s. She has been riding for a little bit and she has been riding dirt for awhile. She will be fine.

Hondas - reliable, honda goes out of their way to make em a pain in the ass to work on.

Suzuki - squid bike of choice, fairings on the new one are confusing to get on and off, easier to work on

Yam - don't know much about them in the older forms

Kawa - 636 or nothing from this manufacturer.

my 599 works just fine for me.... little gearing change and GTG