I want a motorcycle!! Need advice!!

[jaywood]

Yep! I love them. Theyre great!

[Exodus_2pt0]

For those who know a lil about motorcycles : )

Good day to all! I want to buy this 600rr: http://qc.kijiji.ca/c-autos-et-vehic...AdIdZ356409530

But he says it needs a cluster... could that be sign of some other problem that you guys would know about? I mean like people unplug warning lights in cars so that it looks like everything is working...

I guess i wanna know if its easy to fix the cluster (replace it) and/if you guys think it looks like a good bike! Thank you all!!!


Martin


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

If it is ONLY the cluster, it is a nice bike.

I had an 06 ZX636, then later picked up an 09 CBR600. I will never buy another motorcycle not made by Honda.

That being said, unless you have a respectable number of hours on 2 wheel machines, I would stay away from something with 100hp to start. It is like picking up a Ferarri Enzo as a first car.

SV650's are sweet, for beginners and experts alike. But its up to you, if you want that bike, buy it. Just be careful and keep your ego in check, you'll be fine.

[Pac1373]

lol, my FIRST bike was a 600cc, because the 750 and up were the big bikes...

I am not sure how 600's became the displacement of choice over the years, but ANY bike is enough to get you killed if you are careless.

I have no Idea about the cluster issue OP

[Killacortes]

My first bIke was a 04 r6 with a bigger sprocket. It was also the first bike I have ever ridden. 600cc is not that fast. Just ride carefully until you feel real good on it.

[redsubdivisions]

Here is a laundry list of things to do before considering a bike:

1. what are your reasons for getting a bike? And are they justifiable? ( for instance, if it just to save on gas, then you aren't buying one for the correct reason, imo. I personally find motorcycles very enjoyable and that saving on fuel is a plus.)

2. Once you do actually want one, get yourself enrolled in a motorcycle class. Some states require that you do so. you will learn a nice handful of things in that class and afterwards not only will it make you a safer rider, but also a safer driver when you decide to get back into a car.

3. Don't get a Hyabusa or anything capable of doing 200+ MPH as your first. They are too powerful and are marketed for serious riders. I knew a guy that got a Busa as his first bike and he dropped it 6 days later at 55 in the rain. Not only did he get hurt, but he busted a bike that cost him a pretty penny.

4. Don't get a 250cc and expect to be content with it for the rest of your life. 500 V-twins and 600cc's are okay for novices but remember two words: throttle control. Know when and where to use it. I had a 1996 Ninja 600R as my first bike and I learned a lot while I was on it. Power is never a bad thing, just be responsible about it.

5. Seat time. This is important for gaining experience and honing your riding skills. that class can only teach you so much and that's when you need to get out there and ride. the more you ride, the more experience you have under your belt.

6. Don't be a showoff and don't go beyond your skills. I can't tell you how many people that ride bikes and think it's a dirtbike or something with less power try to pull the same shit on a street bike and loop it or something idiotic that could have been prevented. Recognize your skills and do not go beyond them.

7. there are two riders: ones who have been down and others who will go down. Just be prepared for it when you least expect it and wear a helmet. Don't be a douchebag with sunglasses, flip-flops, and shorts on blasting down the highway. All it takes is one person to not pay attention and you're toast. Riding gear is necessary, especially if you're getting a sport bike.


I'm done with the rant for the time being. lol But please do yourself and everyone else a favor and make an educated and well informed decision about purchasing a bike.

[quickervicar]

I will never buy another motorcycle not made by Honda.

This is dumb.

I understand what you mean--there is a difference. But there are PLENTY of bikes out there with as-good or better quality than Big Red. They just aren't Japanese.

That being said, unless you have a respectable number of hours on 2 wheel machines, I would stay away from something with 100hp to start. It is like picking up a Ferarri Enzo as a first car.

SV650's are sweet, for beginners and experts alike. Just be careful and keep your ego in check, you'll be fine.

This is wise.

An SV650 will keep you entertained for years. I know a lot of people who track them, passing the SS bikes through the corners. They are great bikes.

Just remember that today's 600cc SS bikes are putting out performance numbers that would embarrass litre-class machines of just a few years ago. That means several things:

1.) There is no such thing as "just" a 600
2.) You will be able to out-accelerate and out-brake your brain more often than not for the first 3 years of riding (if you survive that long)
3.) Insurance ain't cheap on a SuperSport, mainly because they're wrecked by idiots who got in over their heads

Want to be a hero? Pass the idiot on the R1 on the outside of the track on your SV650. Far more impressive than playing dress-up on a SuperSport to impress the ladies. Chicks claim to like scars. Permanent limps? Not so much.

[FunfGan]

Yep! I love them. Theyre great!

I would kill for that bike. Fucking love Motards.

[InuFaye]

DonerCycle.

[TurboJake]

My first road bike was a Cafe RD350.

Then I picked up a CBR600 F4i, which lasted a week before I sold it.

I still have my RD350. WAY more fun than I've ever had on a rocket.

[Tismael711]

Redsubdivisions has given excellent advice. To add to what he said...i think you should try to decide what type of bike you want....sportbike, sport touring, standard straight up bike or chopper style. Some sport bike have "tough" riding positions and less than comfortable seats. I personally prefer a sport touring type bike. A Honda (yes i said HONDA!) Interceptor 750 is a really reliable and balanced sport tourer, if you can't afford the BMW. Good luck...take a safety course and ride like your invisible.

[Cronopoulos]

Personally I would buy a used >400cc bike that runs good to learn on so when you crash you wont screw up your $6000+ race/touring bike.

Oh and always wear your helmet even if its 30 seconds to the store. I have lost WAY to many family/friends to silly shit like that...

[PKR]

With no experience the first thing you have to understand that riding on the street is hugely dangerous ... even for experienced riders. So ask yourself "How lucky do I feel?"
If you're naive enough to think that you are indeed lucky then start simple; you don't need alot of cc's to understand why riding a bike is so much fun ... and so dangerous. If you really are lucky, and if you treat every ride expecting to be killed, then that will help ... but it sure isn't a guarantee.

[e30vert]

Lots of good info in this thread!

Ive ridden for 20 plus years! Do I consider myself lucky? Not so much.

I consider myself someone with skill, self control, and the ability to sucessfully anticipate rapid changes in driver manuvers and road conditions. I always leave myself an out!

I am part of the been down group of riders. Twice actually! Then again I have been riding for over 20 years and the law of averages catches up with you. Its not a matter of if you will lay your bike down its a matter of when. I used to think I would never crash because of my excellent hand to eye coordination and razor sharp reflexes.

Thats all fine and dandy, but add a rider on the back and that changes the game substancially. Both of my crashes involved passenger error. First one was passenger allowing cover to motorcycle out of their coat where it was tucked at speed. Rear tire lockup at 65 mph. Not fun!
Second was with an old girlfriend that was drunk on the back after a party. A sloshy girl on the back acting as a thrashing counter weight is also NOT FUN!

I learned my lesson. Nobody ever rides bitch again!

I suggest that you follow the same policy if and when you do get a crotch rocket.
I currently ride a few crotch rockets and customized scooters on the street. Quads and dirt bikes off road.

If you have great hand to eye coordination and your balance is very good then I suggest you go for it and pickup the 600.

Ride within your limits and like you are invisible and all "should" be fine. Seat time is key as stated as it gives one time to learn all the idiosyncrasies of the machine. Things like throttle response, brake response, lean in , etc.

Lots of bikes go down at slow speed in ones driveway as well so keep that in mind. I see posting all the time where it is cited that the bike had a slow speed crash in the driveway. Its a balance and attention diversion type of incident I am sure.

Oh, on the CLUSTER issue. People remove them when selling a bike if the Odometer reading is really high for the year motorcycle. High mileage on a motorcycle is very different from a car. Bikes are considered done with lots less than 100 K on them.

So if I wanted to disguise the fact that I was commuting on a bike and put 80 K miles on it - no problem - pull the cluster and say it got broken or removed my some crack head when it was parked.

Do a search for the last mileage on the bike when it was registered last using the VIN. If the guy has had the bike for a while though then it wont help much as he could have put 80 K on it in 3 year since last registered.

One of my first street bikes was a 1980 Ninja 600 RR. $5500.00 out the door in 1980 (purchased new) put over 70 K miles on it and sold it with a broken speedo cable so milage was not accurate. Sold for 2 K many years later. Bike had been crashed and repaired by me with all new parts and nobody could ever tell that bike went down at 65 mph. Oh, no helmet worn during that crash as it was before the helmet law in Cali. Walked away with a small bump on the back of my head and thats it. Thick leather jacket and jeans saved my ass.

Keep the rubber side down...

[TurboJake]

Also, I just read that ad.

Motorcycle clusters aren't very susceptible to water damage. If they were, they wouldn't have any. They make them to withstand being parked, driven, and raced in the rain.

Food for thought.

[bowtie2bimmer]

Finally, a subject i know a TON about.

I'm a powersports service advisor by trade and worked for Honda for many years

First the bike prob won't run with the cluster off. It shows a picture of one so i don't know why it need replacing? The ecu is dependent on the gauge cluster. ( i could be wrong because it older but I'm pretty sure)

#1 reason for no cluster = because race bike... People get aftermarket ones that don't have limiters etc

And be it that I worked for Honda, I would personally never own the orange with flames.. Its cursed. Sounds weird i know but they are. Everyone came back to the dealership crashed. Even this one has been low-sided... It prob has to do more so with the fact the paint scheme attracted squids but none the less, its generally adopted that the special paint scheme are cursed (they made a black with flames too, the graffiti, etc)

As for buying a 600RR as a first bike - I don't like the idea. I've seen countless people crash the first weekend. I've had more customers die than i can count on two hands. I've seen a newbie hit a car pulling out of the lot. Do a wheelie and as it pulled up he pulled the throttle harder. They are fast, VERY FAST. "Oh its only a 600"... bS its faster than anything you've ever driven in your life. I've personally hit a verified 162 on a 600RR. I've also tuned AMA Supersport bikes and they can get faster. Its a little over kill for the street

BUT that being said, if you want a sportbike, the Honda is a good choice (sans the orange flame paint job) Very reliable, parts are affordable, shops everywhere. For street use i tend to like uprights/naked/streetfighter/whateveryouwannacallthem. They are powered by sportbike engines that have been tuned for more midrange and low end power and more comfortable.

Just my 2 cents