well im thinking of getting a bike, im thinking of taking the MSF class, but i cant find anything? I looked on their official site and nothing comes up close to me? also im thinking of getting a ninja 500, i dont want anything too fast/powerful? Also roughly how much is insurance for a 19 yr old? Ive only had one moving ticket in the past 3 years. also should i buy it from a dealership so i can finance it, or should i buy it used off craigslist? Thanks
Don't think about taking the class. TAKE THE CLASS. Especially if you don't know how to ride. I googled it and came up with something....but it was several years ago that I did it. Bikes were provided, btw, if you didn't know. My firth bike was a cruiser at 1100cc. The 500 ought to be fine. You could even go smaller and have more than enough power for a beginner street bike. I think insurance sees: 19 year old on a street bike, then they flip out. I could be wrong on that. Dealer vs. Craigslist: I don't know. Depends on whether you can pay it off out-right, I would say. But I had a friend who knows a lot about bikes come check it out with me when I bought mine from a lesbian down the street. Then I slept with her. But that's another story.
Go through Houston-Imports forum, they have a few links to MSF classes that are well vouched for and pretty reasonably priced.
see i dont have cash available, and i want to finance the bike under my name, so thats why im looking at going to a dealership. Im thinking of getting a GXR650 or something like that. and ya everyone i talk to says taking the class is a must
thanks i tried signing up to the forums, but i dont have have the right email, i have a gmail and they dont allow sign ups from those accounts.
Figured you had some options since you listed dealer or craigslist. GXR's are powerful bikes. Just make sure you know what you're getting into. You want something manageable and not 'too much bike' for you.
Seems like the Chronicle has had way too many "motorcyclist dies" headlines lately. My theory is there are many new biker riders on the roads due to the high gas costs. So, please take the course and be safe. Good luck.
http://www.awesomecycles.com/Main.htm I took the MSF in Port Arthur, but I hear great things about these people. A Ninja 500 is a great beginner bike, and I think it's a blast to ride. My first bike was a 95 ZX-600, which is really similar, but with about 10 more horsepower. As for insurance, buy a used bike where you can pay cash and just get liability insurance. Full-coverage insurance is really expensive, especially for young guys, because virtually new rider drops their bike at some point. One final point: Wear motorcycle gear. Helmet, jacket, gloves, riding pants, and riding boots.
thanks if I do buy it used itll have to be used from the dealership. I wanna finance it cuz I don't have cash ATM. My credit score is 773, so idk?
My advice is to save the cash and wait until you can afford it. You can find 2-3 year old Ninja 500's for $3000 pretty easily. If you finance, you'll have to get full-coverage insurance, you'll pay that much per year in insurance alone. My liability-only insurance (2003 Suzuki SV1000) is $115/year, and I think it was about $200/year when I was under 25. Unfortunately for you, statistically, you're a dangerous rider. You're doing it right, and individually, you're probably safe, and probably even safer than all the cagers who tell you that you're going to die. But most 19-year-olds think they're invincible, and that the MSF class and gear is for suckers, and insurance prices reflect that.
Take the course. Buy used. Live by this... All the gear, all the time -- ATGATT I've ridden on and off all my life. I love motorcycles and have used them for my primary (or ONLY) mode of transportation numerous times. I'm currently between bikes but am about to purchse another one and I'll be paying cash. Don't be one of those fools on a crotch rocket with shorts, flip flops, no helmet, no gloves, no eye protection flying down the road waiting to be a causalty.
If you wear mesh or perforated leather, you are okay as long as you're moving. Even the leather and solid fabric gear has pretty good ventilation. If you're stuck in traffic, it gets hot.
ohh no, im a very good rider, and ill be sure not to do anything stupid. thing is that i want a bike before college starts, cuz ill be commuting pretty far and i want to save gas and use the HOV lane for college. Thats why i was thinking of buying now.
I would not get a Ninja 500. I would get a SV650 over that, or a Honda 750 Nighthawk (stopped making them in 03) Unless you are short I doubt you will like the 500. Also a class is nice, but you need to also ride with guys who are safe and learn how to ride in traffic on a bike. This is totally different than doing it in a car.
