Paul_Hughes_87 T/A

I am thinking of a bike for the spring and was wondering peoples opinions on a good starter bike. right now I am thinking of getting a early to mid 90's Ninja ex500 to start. Any other opinions?

zedder 1 9 9 0

excellent little bike, I had one for a while, was gonna get my liscence but then I bought the Iroc and the rest is history.

Paul_Hughes_87 T/A

I have had a lot of mixed advice about the 500. When I sat on one it was the most comfortable bike I sat on (except for the R1 but thats a little 2 much right now). Whats insurance like on them?

Kevin Vandevenne

iTrader: (3)

A 500 is a good starter bike. Alot of people recommend them to start out on. Another good one to start with is an RZ350. Perhaps not as good as the 500 as a "starter", as 2 strokes act a bit different than a 4 stroke bike. Still, the RZ is a decent bike, and you can usually get one for under $2k. Insurance will be cheaper on the RZ, and the RZ will probably have a small edge performance wise over the 500. The 500 has a decent aftermarket, but the RZ has a much larger one. Tons of upgrades you can do to the RZ.

State Farm has the best insurance for bikes, provided you have a car insured with them as well. They offer pretty big discounts if you do. For example, on my ZX6R, Primmum wanted $1500 for just comp, no collision or fire/theft. Full coverage was $3000. I've got a clean record too. With State Farm, they wanted $900 for full coverage, once i put my car and house with them.

You should go to the bike show on the Dec. 6 -7-8 weekend. They will have all the new 2003 bikes there. I'll probably go, Kawi has some new bikes I want to check out

RegaPlanet

I dont know how big you are but your size is also kinda important when choosing a bike for you to get the most enjoyment for both comfort and performance. I guess since it's your first bike you dont care so much about performance but I'm 200lbs and learned to ride on a highly modded ZX9R and then rode a cbr600 a few weeks later and know if I had learned to ride on it I"d be bored of its performance after about a month. If yer used to speed and weigh 180+ lbs I think you'll at least want to go with a 600 or 700 to really enjoy your first summer of riding. I wouldn't suggest a 900+ altho that's what I learned to ride on and almost ran into the curb trying to turn the first couple times . Just take a M driving course if you're at all afraid cause after a week of driving one you'll feel pretty comfortable. Anyway, yea it's a good idea to have a "starter" bike but also pick something that you'll enjoy for the first whole summer of riding too. Kawasaki makes great bikes but I find anything under a ZX9 to be uncomfortable.. I'd suggest a cbr600 as the most comfortable ride altho I have only ridden 'crotch rockets'. I havn't ridden any sport cruisers.

Paul_Hughes_87 T/A

I am about 6ft 2 and 155 lbs

IROCKER

Post to the TFbM list as well Paul...there's some bikes guys there as well.

Steve89GTA

I think you'd get tired of the ex500 pretty quick. Depends though - the learning cuve for riders is quite different between you and the next person.
I've been riding for 9 years now and have taught the humber rider training program as well.
My advise would be to go for the yamah yzf600 - not the r6 but the yzf600. It's a fantastic bike that's very forgiving as well. And the best part is, you'll still want to ride it after a couple of years.

I learned on a FZR 600 (1990) that I loved. It is very similar to teh yzf600. At first, it may be intimidating but I'm sure you won't have a problem.
Then, after you are comfortable with the 6 you can step up to a big boy like I did...the R1.

Cruzin Kaz

I don't mean to start a arguement here but... What insurance companies did you talk with? I owned a RZ500 about 10 years ago. Insurance was outrageous on it comparred to other bikes even bigger bike were more expensive. Reasons being that #1 the RZ is 2 stroke and very fast. #2 have fun finding part easily for these types of bike. they are very expensive for parts too. Don't let this discriminate the RZ bike on you though Paul. The RZ's are awesome bikes I am 6' tall and weigh around 240-lbs. That little RZ 500 of mine could take me to 200kph in no time. Once you had the RPM's up to 6500 you could go through all 6 gears in about 3 0r 4 second. What a rush!!!!! Just my 2 cents Paul. Hope this helps you some.

Kevin Vandevenne

iTrader: (3)

State Farm bases their coverage off cc. So, smaller cc bikes = lower insurance. Its that simple. They don't classify based on sport or touring, which most other companies do. Even with Primmium, my old insurance company, my RD400 only would have cost $500 for full coverage. I don't know what State Farm would want, never bothered to ask. Its also a 2 stroke, and is the precursor to the RZ series of bikes.

There is a big difference between the RZ500 and RZ350. The 350 is a 2 cylinder where the 500 is a 4 cylinder 2 stroke. The RZ500's are for the most part, a rare bike. The RZ350's on the other hand, are a dime a dozen. Parts are cheap for the RZ350's, compared to other sportbikes.

Paul_Hughes_87 T/A

Liam who posts here every so often has a rz500.

military

I bought an EX500 in 91 from the dealer in Guelph (2 wheel I think was the name?) Awesome metallic electric blue over white/pearl too! Fastest I've ever gone on something that only weighs 3x as much as I did. Maxed out at 205 on the 401. (quickest trip from Finch and 400 to Kitchener ever for me LOL)

Not a bad bike overall. One of the better bikes on gas. Over 400km to a tank of gas (I think it was around 425 or so). A friend of mine had one too and we rode from Ottawa to Edmonton on them. Suffice it to say, when it came time for the return trip, the back-packs went home via Greyhound parcel express... LOL

Let's see, in 91 I would've been 25, single and the insurance for a full year/full coverage (condition of the loan) I was paying roughly -/+ $650 per year. (mind you by that time, I had insurance in my name since I was 16 and was licensed to ride cycles since I was 18 - it helped).

Over 6 feet you might find it cramped on the longer runs. On the highway, you'll be looking forward to gassing up so you can give your **** a break. Corbin Saddle might be a wise upgrade for the posterior zone. The rear pegs are a little high to "relax" on.

Great bike overall. Toss on some Mehtzlers comp K/lasers and yer cookin even in the wet. Anyway, I ramble. I'll shut up now.

BikertrashDude

I say get a harley, but that is just me....

no really I'd say a yzf600 is a good starter bike.
also one of the "naked" sport bikes would not be bad, because if you drop it then the damage would not be as bad.
But really my advice would be to get a beater bike. something in the $500-$1000 range, ride the Pi$$ out of it untill you get totally used to riding on the street, then sell it and get a 600-750.
my 2c
biker
oh yea taking the M safety course is a must!!!!! if you have no experence on two wheels. best thing for you. It's really easy, one weekend, they supply the bikes....best learning tool out there.

philoldsmobile

just about any of the 400 - 600 cc jap bikes should be just fine for a beginner, but i'd avoid the Yamaha R6, its a bit hard core.

The EX500 (we call it the GPZ) would be ideal, as would the older EX550 (4 cyl air cooled) my dad has one of these, its an ideal dual purpous bike, its comfy and forgiving enough for him to trundle about on, and quick enough for me to make good progress on. for a bike made in 1987 its great

I had an RD250LC (quite well played with, i dont think you guys got it) it was a 2 stroke twin cylinder naked hooligan bike. that b1tch nearly killed me every time it went into the powerband.

wheelspin during a wheelie isn't clever when your exiting a junction!

Liam92L98

Someone call me

I would have to go with Kevin V., the RZ350 is light, cheap on insurance, parts are dime a dozen, and it makes a great track bike.

Paul, if the 5 inches of snow melts anytime soon you should come up a try the 500. Give Nial a call and maybe we can get him hooked on bikes again.

I would like to see walldo go out on his gixer at mosport and show him what a +15 year old bike can do. Some people are getting 120hp from a 15yr 500cc machine.....

See you at Mosport Bike Week 2003

Liam92L98

smoke um if you got em

tanager11

Paul....I say go with the yzf600, that's good for a starter and it will keep you intersted for a few years probably.

Way back when I was about 17 I bought a 79 Kawasaki Kz1000, shaft drive, nice bike but it was way too much for me I might add, for your first bike get something which is nice and light and has some decent power, that way you can learn the "easy" way how to ride and throw it arround, I did it the hard way and "suffered" a couple of times to say the least, thats just my 2 cents.

Dave

Paul_Hughes_87 T/A

Bill you forget I cant ride yet, Walldo put in for the weekend shift leadhand job

philoldsmobile

Liam92L98,

RZ500 ???? and your still alive!

In the Isle of Man (famed for the TT races) the RZ500 and Suzuki RG500 gained the name "widow maker"

The old RZ (RD in the UK) 350, especialy the origional LC (watercooled without power valves) was the junior widow maker.

The fully faired RZ350 with the YPVS powervalve is a great bike, and a lot of fun!

First time i hit the powerband on my LC, the front wheel came up and i nearly wiped out an entire bus queue!

Paul_Hughes_87 T/A

RZ the widow maker I hear that all the time (from the Irish guys I know that ride) Bill Steve told me today that walldo cant ride for s h i t

Paul_Hughes_87 T/A

http://www.trader.ca/SendToFriend/Re...1&adid=2430346

What about this one?

Kevin Vandevenne

iTrader: (3)

Looks like a nice bike Paul. Not sure what he means by "completely stuck"? Motor seized perhaps? I think its common for 2 stroke motors that sit for a while to have the crank seize. A spare Air cooled RD350 motor i had, was seized like that. I'm not a 2 stroke expert by any means, so I could be wrong.

(edit - I just figured out, i think he means completely stock. Not the best typo to make lol)

I thought the old Kawasaki H1 750 2 stroke triple was the original "Widow Maker". I met a guy in town with a restored one, and it was sweet. One more bike to add to the "must have" collection

Paul_Hughes_87 T/A

In Ireland (supposedly) when you bought the H1 new you got the keys and on the ring was a keychain shaped like a casket.

Liam92L98

Paul yah I heard that too...he is a straight line rocket. Chechout http://teamraceready.tripod.com/team...ports/id3.html there is some pics of the RZ crew at mosport. An fzr600 from early 90s would also work well, but you will be paying more for it.

Kevin I think that is supposed to be stock not stuck.

philoldsmobile

KH750's weren't dangerous, they were just handed out to prisoners on death row, apparently it was cheaper and quicker thn the electric chair!

FZR 600 sounds good, for a slightly cheaper and prob. easier to ride bike try the old FZ600 / 750..........