[BrowningBAR]

Yes, much, much better.

Also check out the kawasaki ninja 500. Both seem to last forever and have been around for a long time. You can pick them up used very cheap (the suzuki or the kawasaki).

Still buy gear and take a safety class.

 

[sarnali2]

The first thing I'd do is change your screen name, this ain't Underworld

Then you can go buy yourself the Suzuki GS 500 or Kawasaki EX500, preferably used and as cheap as you can find. Learn some riding skills (not Mad Skilz Yo) but real motorcycle handleing skills and practice as much as possible. Buy a good full face lid and gloves, you'll need them.

 

[newagetwotone]

yeah sorry i havnt replyed i was busy.
I brought up the R1 because i was only curious about it.
second of all i go to the best public school in los angeles and i get straight As
third and finnaly i am poor and the only reason a bike like a R1 would be affordable as far as insurance goes is because i get really REALLY cheap (but good) insurance from AAA

also about the idoit comment it was directed toward the one guy that called me a stereotype 16 year old... im far from it
i hope this clears this argument up

A couple of things. First off, the reason public school was mentioned was because, well, you can't spell, or you can't type. Second off, you brought up a bike that is way too much for a first bike, its not just a bicycle with an engine. Third, it doesn't matter how cheap your insurance is on an R1 most everything else will be cheapER.

If you like sports bikes buy something smaller. If your "poor" buy a Ninja 250R some money on a GOOD helmet, boots, jacket and gloves. Put the rest into a CD and let it collect interest, then when your ready for an R1 you'll have good chunk of change to put towards it.

 

[longride]

If this guy actually buys a bike to learn on and actually learns how to ride it, you guys may have just saved another stain on the pavement of life. I'm so proud!

 

[SmokeU]

Hell, I'd enjoy a GS500 or Ninja 500! They would make an excellent beginner bike and would be FUN! Like everyone said, get the gear and take the courses.

 

[The_AirHawk]

If you like sports bikes buy something smaller. If your "poor" buy a Ninja 250R some money on a GOOD helmet, boots, jacket and gloves. Put the rest into a CD and let it collect interest, then when your ready for an R1 you'll have good chunk of change to put towards it.

You ROCK, Dude.

 

[newagetwotone]

I try ;-)

Be honest, would you still be alive if your first bike was an R1, Ninja ZX-10 or a Hayabusa?

 

[The_AirHawk]

I try ;-)

Be honest, would you still be alive if your first bike was an R1, Ninja ZX-10 or a Hayabusa?

Exactly. That's why you ROCK. The first moto I truly lusted-for was the original CBR1000 "Hurricane". Then the 600.

By contrast, my FIRST bike (some 4-odd years before the intro of either) was a '71 Honda CL100, I gave $100 (quite a sum for me!) for it back in '82 or '83 (mem'ry here).

At least I had a bit of experience on a bike, but even the 600 Hurricane would have been the Death of me at 16 or 17.

As I'm a bit older now (and vastly more-experienced, but I'm still no Rossi), I've come to have a greater appreciation for small-displacement "slower" motorcycles. Not that the thought of a full-throttle blast on a ZX-14 doesn't get my heart to racing.............

 

[newagetwotone]

Exactly. That's why you ROCK. The first moto I truly lusted-for was the original CBR1000 "Hurricane". Then the 600.

By contrast, my FIRST bike (some 4-odd years before the intro of either) was a '71 Honda CL100, I gave $100 (quite a sum for me!) for it back in '82 or '83 (mem'ry here).

At least I had a bit of experience on a bike, but even the 600 Hurricane would have been the Death of me at 16 or 17.

As I'm a bit older now (and vastly more-experienced, but I'm still no Rossi), I've come to have a greater appreciation for small-displacement "slower" motorcycles. Not that the thought of a full-throttle blast on a ZX-14 doesn't get my heart to racing.............

Man... i loved the CL50 and CL100s my grandfather had, unfortanatly the 50 met a quick jolting end with a tree and the 100 had a just as bad end involving losing the oil cap on a trail about 10 miles from anything.

 

[ejis]

If you really have $7k to spend on everything bike related, look into the cheaper bike and a good riding school. The bikes you've proposed like the GS500F are good choices and can be had for relatively little money, buy gear (don't go cheap) and then spend what's left on training. Start with an MSF class, but by all means don't end there. This will do more to add to both your enjoyment of the sport and safety then anything else you can do.

 

[53143]

Spend a grand on gear - full face helmet, jacket and pants with heavy pads on elbows, knees, shoulders, hips, cordura. Good gloves, boots with maleus protectors. You will hit the deck a few times.
Get a Ninja 250, used, maybe $2k or so. It's light and a gas to ride. You're pretty light to ride a bigger bike. Get some books on riding and learn to handle this thing -- maybe 3~5K miles. Then consider a lighter middleweight.

 

[longride]

Spend a grand on gear - full face helmet, jacket and pants with heavy pads on elbows, knees, shoulders, hips, cordura. Good gloves, boots with maleus protectors. You will hit the deck a few times.
Get a Ninja 250, used, maybe $2k or so. It's light and a gas to ride. You're pretty light to ride a bigger bike. Get some books on riding and learn to handle this thing -- maybe 3~5K miles. Then consider a lighter middleweight.

I was thinking 2 grand for gear and maybe a middle lightweight bike instead of a lighter middleweight one.