Posted: 9/23/2012 5:50:38 PM EDT
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So I'm looking for my first street motorcycle, something in the 500-850cc range. I've ridden dirt-bikes for years, so I'm familiar with how to ride a motorcycle. I applied for financing on a new Kawasaki Ninja 650 but was denied so I have no choice but to try and apply for something smaller and cheaper (250cc class) or find something used. I'm thinking about an old Japanese standard bike from the 70's or 80's, in the midsize engine class. I want enough power to be comfortable at highway speeds but I'm also looking for gas mileage, so I'd prefer to stay away from the liter bikes. I was thinking of a GS 750 or CB 750, although I prefer the styling of the Suzuki over the Honda. I'm familiar with mechanical work (part of my day job) so I'm not worried about tearing into engines, carbs, etc (except for the $$$). Do you guys have any suggestions as to bikes to look at and/or stay away from? Thanks! |
By a supermoto. If you're good on a dirtbike, it will feel like second nature, other than the crazy grip and a lot more front brake 
My Husky 630 in the middle, friend's 510 on the left and another friend's KTM Duke II on the right. I bought mine for the mountains, you won't get up and down the mountain faster on just about anything else... 
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Why are you shying away from the liter bikes? Gas mileage. The Liter bikes mileage is still good, and for the guys who buy the sport bikes, all of them I knew grew out of everything below a liter in less than a year. Still, a liter isn't the best bike to learn on the street. If nothing else, it's heavier to pick up when it goes down, and you will go down sooner or later, it's just a matter of when. I guess it matters what the OP wants to do with it, what kind of road he'll be on most of the time, how far he commutes, etc. |
| Try for a used ninja 650 or yamaha fz6, no use in buying new you'll probably upgrade within 2 years...good thing about the 650 (kind of the fz6 too) is its not a crazy amount of power for learning with but enough to hold you over for a little bit(instead of getting a 250 and wanting to upgrade 6 hours later). |
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You need to change your brake fluid.
It was that color sitting on the showroom floor brand new, and it sleeps in the garage and not in the sun... Probably had something to do with lighting too 
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The Liter bikes mileage is still good, and for the guys who buy the sport bikes, all of them I knew grew out of everything below a liter in less than a year. The only people I can think of that have 'outgrown' a 600 race AMA Pro or WSBK. 99.99% of the time, "outgrown" means that people just want more go in a straight line... Outgrowing a sportbike in less than a year - that's rich! 
Seconding the Supermoto here. It's a pretty natural progression from dirtbikes, and they're way more fun than sportbikes on the street. Seriously. Try one. |
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pick up something used. Lots of good options on craigslist. just avoid the crap bikes. the 550's kind of look like a 600, but have junk suspension, etc.
And, just save up to buy one cash only. Start saving now, and you can pick one up really cheap here in a few months as it starts to get cold. |
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Wow, surprised no one else suggested what I'm going to:
Get a cheap bike on Craigslist for $500. You can easily find one for less than $1000. An old GS or CB is a great start. You don't know what you need now, or what your riding habits will wind up looking like. Here are a possible list of things you might need to do to get it running, in order of probability. You may need to do nothing. You may need to do something else I've not mentioned. - Flush old fuel - Clean carbs - Replace tires - Replace battery - Replace fluids - Clean/rust-proof gas tank - Wires/plugs - Chain/sprocket - Replace fuel filter if it has one After you ride for a year, drop it once or twice, and figure out the kind of bike you really need, you'll probably get your money back. If you put a lot of time into it, you'll probably have a few extra dollars in your pocket. |
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Wow, surprised no one else suggested what I'm going to: Get a cheap bike on Craigslist for $500. You can easily find one for less than $1000. An old GS or CB is a great start. You don't know what you need now, or what your riding habits will wind up looking like. Here are a possible list of things you might need to do to get it running, in order of probability. You may need to do nothing. You may need to do something else I've not mentioned. - Flush old fuel - Clean carbs - Replace tires - Replace battery - Replace fluids - Clean/rust-proof gas tank - Wires/plugs - Chain/sprocket - Replace fuel filter if it has one After you ride for a year, drop it once or twice, and figure out the kind of bike you really need, you'll probably get your money back. If you put a lot of time into it, you'll probably have a few extra dollars in your pocket. In the case of old bikes, it's always more than you think. Unless you get some kind of screaming deal, you are better off spending more on a newer bike for a daily rider. For 3k you can buy a nice used bike from this millennium and save yourself lots of time and headaches. Modern frame geometries, fuel injection, and handling are nice things. Like this 2007 SV650 |
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Wow, surprised no one else suggested what I'm going to: Get a cheap bike on Craigslist for $500. You can easily find one for less than $1000. An old GS or CB is a great start. You don't know what you need now, or what your riding habits will wind up looking like. Here are a possible list of things you might need to do to get it running, in order of probability. You may need to do nothing. You may need to do something else I've not mentioned. - Flush old fuel - Clean carbs - Replace tires - Replace battery - Replace fluids - Clean/rust-proof gas tank - Wires/plugs - Chain/sprocket - Replace fuel filter if it has one After you ride for a year, drop it once or twice, and figure out the kind of bike you really need, you'll probably get your money back. If you put a lot of time into it, you'll probably have a few extra dollars in your pocket. In the case of old bikes, it's always more than you think. Unless you get some kind of screaming deal, you are better off spending more on a newer bike for a daily rider. For 3k you can buy a nice used bike from this millennium and save yourself lots of time and headaches. Modern frame geometries, fuel injection, and handling are nice things. Like this 2007 SV650 I got to ride an SV for a few weeks and it was a ful bike to play with. It was the SV650S. My first street bike is the one I have the most put into. My Modded Harley Vrod 
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The Liter bikes mileage is still good, and for the guys who buy the sport bikes, all of them I knew grew out of everything below a liter in less than a year. I really doubt it. A 600 sportbike is extremely hard to "outride" Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile The overwhelming majority of riders who "trade up" from a 600 class to a liter class sportbike do so because they think it impresses people, not because they have outgrown the bike. |
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The Liter bikes mileage is still good, and for the guys who buy the sport bikes, all of them I knew grew out of everything below a liter in less than a year. I really doubt it. A 600 sportbike is extremely hard to "outride" Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile "Outgrew" often means you can't keep up with better riders in anything but a straight line, so you try to compensate with horsepower. Quoted:
The overwhelming majority of riders who "trade up" from a 600 class to a liter class sportbike do so because they think it impresses people, not because they have outgrown the bike. This too. I can almost guarantee you that I have more fun, and get more looks and comments on my 600cc Husky than any sportbike around here... |
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The Liter bikes mileage is still good, and for the guys who buy the sport bikes, all of them I knew grew out of everything below a liter in less than a year. I really doubt it. A 600 sportbike is extremely hard to "outride" Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I think he meant they wanted more power/tq and sooner than a 600 delivers. I'd bet that 99% of riders cant out-ride a EX500. I have and it isn't fun when the frame feels like it's ready to twist in half. |
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Wow, surprised no one else suggested what I'm going to: Get a cheap bike on Craigslist for $500. You can easily find one for less than $1000. An old GS or CB is a great start. You don't know what you need now, or what your riding habits will wind up looking like. Here are a possible list of things you might need to do to get it running, in order of probability. You may need to do nothing. You may need to do something else I've not mentioned. - Flush old fuel - Clean carbs - Replace tires - Replace battery - Replace fluids - Clean/rust-proof gas tank - Wires/plugs - Chain/sprocket - Replace fuel filter if it has one After you ride for a year, drop it once or twice, and figure out the kind of bike you really need, you'll probably get your money back. If you put a lot of time into it, you'll probably have a few extra dollars in your pocket. In the case of old bikes, it's always more than you think. Unless you get some kind of screaming deal, you are better off spending more on a newer bike for a daily rider. For 3k you can buy a nice used bike from this millennium and save yourself lots of time and headaches. Modern frame geometries, fuel injection, and handling are nice things. Like this 2007 SV650 One of the in things to do right now is take older 70s era bikes and convert them into Cafe Racers. This has raised the prices people are asking and willing to pay for older bikes. In my area people are wanting $900+ for a 40 year old CB350 in good shape, 750s are about $1400+. There are deals to be found, but you want a bike to ride not fix. If you want a bike to ride, buy a running bike. After that, if you want a project, than you can think about picking up a barn bike. |
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I think most of the dual-sport bikes that you're going to find now are liquid-cooled for the most part. WR250R, DR-Z400S, KLR650, KLX250S, and CRF250L are all water-cooled bikes. The XT250, DR650SE, and XR650L are still air-cooled,though, if you're looking at new bikes. Not sure about the earlier models... the CRF230L was air-cooled as well, but has been replaced by the CRF250L in the Honda lineup, which is also less expensive than the bike it replaced!
Personally, I'd look at the DR-Z for your purposes. It's enough for highway use, and should net you good fuel economy. This, as well as the 650 class of dual-sport bikes would suit your needs. They're all inexpensive to own, insure, and maintain, even if they're above your 250cc threshold. Older models of these can be had for a song, as there's really no shortage of them on the used market in most places. |
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Quoted: I think most of the dual-sport bikes that you're going to find now are liquid-cooled for the most part. WR250R, DR-Z400S, KLR650, KLX250S, and CRF250L are all water-cooled bikes. The XT250, DR650SE, and XR650L are still air-cooled,though, if you're looking at new bikes. Not sure about the earlier models... the CRF230L was air-cooled as well, but has been replaced by the CRF250L in the Honda lineup, which is also less expensive than the bike it replaced! Personally, I'd look at the DR-Z for your purposes. It's enough for highway use, and should net you good fuel economy. This, as well as the 650 class of dual-sport bikes would suit your needs. They're all inexpensive to own, insure, and maintain, even if they're above your 250cc threshold. Older models of these can be had for a song, as there's really no shortage of them on the used market in most places. I looked at the DR-Z 400 and 650, but I'm not wild about them using carbs - I've messed with them in the past on other dirtbikes, and I'm just not a fan. I've been approved at the dealer to finance a 2013 XT250, and those are fuel injected. This bike's primary purpose will be utilitarian, to get me from point A to point B. I like how the XT250 is air-cooled instead of liquid-cooled, because it is simpler. Part of my motivation to get a new bike is that my car has a ton of miles on it and I'm constantly wrenching on it to keep it running. Having a bike to ride while my car is in pieces or in the shop would be a really, really nice thing. I'm about ready to pull the trigger on the 2013 XT250. Is there any reason why I shouldn't?
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I think most of the dual-sport bikes that you're going to find now are liquid-cooled for the most part. WR250R, DR-Z400S, KLR650, KLX250S, and CRF250L are all water-cooled bikes. The XT250, DR650SE, and XR650L are still air-cooled,though, if you're looking at new bikes. Not sure about the earlier models... the CRF230L was air-cooled as well, but has been replaced by the CRF250L in the Honda lineup, which is also less expensive than the bike it replaced! Personally, I'd look at the DR-Z for your purposes. It's enough for highway use, and should net you good fuel economy. This, as well as the 650 class of dual-sport bikes would suit your needs. They're all inexpensive to own, insure, and maintain, even if they're above your 250cc threshold. Older models of these can be had for a song, as there's really no shortage of them on the used market in most places. I looked at the DR-Z 400 and 650, but I'm not wild about them using carbs - I've messed with them in the past on other dirtbikes, and I'm just not a fan. I've been approved at the dealer to finance a 2013 XT250, and those are fuel injected. This bike's primary purpose will be utilitarian, to get me from point A to point B. I like how the XT250 is air-cooled instead of liquid-cooled, because it is simpler. Part of my motivation to get a new bike is that my car has a ton of miles on it and I'm constantly wrenching on it to keep it running. Having a bike to ride while my car is in pieces or in the shop would be a really, really nice thing. I'm about ready to pull the trigger on the 2013 XT250. Is there any reason why I shouldn't? So you don't like carbs, but you like air-cooled? 
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I think most of the dual-sport bikes that you're going to find now are liquid-cooled for the most part. WR250R, DR-Z400S, KLR650, KLX250S, and CRF250L are all water-cooled bikes. The XT250, DR650SE, and XR650L are still air-cooled,though, if you're looking at new bikes. Not sure about the earlier models... the CRF230L was air-cooled as well, but has been replaced by the CRF250L in the Honda lineup, which is also less expensive than the bike it replaced! Personally, I'd look at the DR-Z for your purposes. It's enough for highway use, and should net you good fuel economy. This, as well as the 650 class of dual-sport bikes would suit your needs. They're all inexpensive to own, insure, and maintain, even if they're above your 250cc threshold. Older models of these can be had for a song, as there's really no shortage of them on the used market in most places. I looked at the DR-Z 400 and 650, but I'm not wild about them using carbs - I've messed with them in the past on other dirtbikes, and I'm just not a fan. I've been approved at the dealer to finance a 2013 XT250, and those are fuel injected. This bike's primary purpose will be utilitarian, to get me from point A to point B. I like how the XT250 is air-cooled instead of liquid-cooled, because it is simpler. Part of my motivation to get a new bike is that my car has a ton of miles on it and I'm constantly wrenching on it to keep it running. Having a bike to ride while my car is in pieces or in the shop would be a really, really nice thing. I'm about ready to pull the trigger on the 2013 XT250. Is there any reason why I shouldn't? So you don't like carbs, but you like air-cooled? LOL yeah, but only for this type of bike. If I had an actual street bike I'd def want liquid-cooled. For a dual sport bike, I'd prefer air-cooled - I've ridden air-cooled Honda XR's and Yamaha TTR's in the past with zero heat issues. The simplicity of an air-cooled motor outweighs the performance advantages of a liquid-cooled motor, for this type of bike. |
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I think most of the dual-sport bikes that you're going to find now are liquid-cooled for the most part. WR250R, DR-Z400S, KLR650, KLX250S, and CRF250L are all water-cooled bikes. The XT250, DR650SE, and XR650L are still air-cooled,though, if you're looking at new bikes. Not sure about the earlier models... the CRF230L was air-cooled as well, but has been replaced by the CRF250L in the Honda lineup, which is also less expensive than the bike it replaced! Personally, I'd look at the DR-Z for your purposes. It's enough for highway use, and should net you good fuel economy. This, as well as the 650 class of dual-sport bikes would suit your needs. They're all inexpensive to own, insure, and maintain, even if they're above your 250cc threshold. Older models of these can be had for a song, as there's really no shortage of them on the used market in most places. I looked at the DR-Z 400 and 650, but I'm not wild about them using carbs - I've messed with them in the past on other dirtbikes, and I'm just not a fan. I've been approved at the dealer to finance a 2013 XT250, and those are fuel injected. This bike's primary purpose will be utilitarian, to get me from point A to point B. I like how the XT250 is air-cooled instead of liquid-cooled, because it is simpler. Part of my motivation to get a new bike is that my car has a ton of miles on it and I'm constantly wrenching on it to keep it running. Having a bike to ride while my car is in pieces or in the shop would be a really, really nice thing. I'm about ready to pull the trigger on the 2013 XT250. Is there any reason why I shouldn't? So you don't like carbs, but you like air-cooled? LOL yeah, but only for this type of bike. If I had an actual street bike I'd def want liquid-cooled. For a dual sport bike, I'd prefer air-cooled - I've ridden air-cooled Honda XR's and Yamaha TTR's in the past with zero heat issues. The simplicity of an air-cooled motor outweighs the performance advantages of a liquid-cooled motor, for this type of bike. Just wait til you're sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on an August afternoon. Of course, if you're like me, you keep an eye open for creative detours... |
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I think most of the dual-sport bikes that you're going to find now are liquid-cooled for the most part. WR250R, DR-Z400S, KLR650, KLX250S, and CRF250L are all water-cooled bikes. The XT250, DR650SE, and XR650L are still air-cooled,though, if you're looking at new bikes. Not sure about the earlier models... the CRF230L was air-cooled as well, but has been replaced by the CRF250L in the Honda lineup, which is also less expensive than the bike it replaced! Personally, I'd look at the DR-Z for your purposes. It's enough for highway use, and should net you good fuel economy. This, as well as the 650 class of dual-sport bikes would suit your needs. They're all inexpensive to own, insure, and maintain, even if they're above your 250cc threshold. Older models of these can be had for a song, as there's really no shortage of them on the used market in most places. I looked at the DR-Z 400 and 650, but I'm not wild about them using carbs - I've messed with them in the past on other dirtbikes, and I'm just not a fan. I've been approved at the dealer to finance a 2013 XT250, and those are fuel injected. This bike's primary purpose will be utilitarian, to get me from point A to point B. I like how the XT250 is air-cooled instead of liquid-cooled, because it is simpler. Part of my motivation to get a new bike is that my car has a ton of miles on it and I'm constantly wrenching on it to keep it running. Having a bike to ride while my car is in pieces or in the shop would be a really, really nice thing. I'm about ready to pull the trigger on the 2013 XT250. Is there any reason why I shouldn't? So you don't like carbs, but you like air-cooled? LOL yeah, but only for this type of bike. If I had an actual street bike I'd def want liquid-cooled. For a dual sport bike, I'd prefer air-cooled - I've ridden air-cooled Honda XR's and Yamaha TTR's in the past with zero heat issues. The simplicity of an air-cooled motor outweighs the performance advantages of a liquid-cooled motor, for this type of bike. Just wait til you're sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on an August afternoon. Of course, if you're like me, you keep an eye open for creative detours... This water cooled ftw. I have a DRZ400SM and love it. Having ridden sport bikes for years I still come back to a tard for the fun factor |
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If you couldn't get approved for financing on the bike it's probably in your best interest to spend a reasonable amount of money on a starter bike and save up for the next year or two. I'd suggest picking up an XR650L used. I found mine for $2k with 8k miles on it and put another 8k on it the first year I owned it. Coming from riding dirt bikes while I was younger, it was nice to stay in that familiar territory. It'll still cruise down the highway at a comfortable speed and with Daves Carb Mods and the Airbox mod the bike gains a few more HP. As long as you're not vertically challenged they're a great bulletproof bike, and can go about anywhere a lighter dirtbike can. On top of that it will help build your riding skills. Then move on to a more street only oriented bike when you have the money.
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