need advice for my first bike.. thanks guys

still have my aim for the zxr 400.. the rgv 250 or the cbr 250 (mc 22) are up there also. the ninja 250 just does not appeal to me compared to these bikes...

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-sport-bikes-KAWASAKI-ZXR-400R-W0QQAdIdZ471476556

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-sport-bikes-HONDA-CBR-250RR-MC22-FIREBLADE-W0QQAdIdZ474478851

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-sport-bikes-HONDA-CBR-250RR-MC22-FIREBLADE-W0QQAdIdZ474478851

out of those 3 alone, which would you suggest?
 
I'm probably in the minority here, but being you're not looking litre class bikes, I'd buy what you want. All this falderall about learning on smaller bikes never resonated with me. My first bike (I was 12) was a Harley. Just because you have a fast bike doesn't mean you have to ride fast. Learn on the bike you want long term, then you won't have to go through all the buying and selling of the bike you don't want. Down here people think R6's are starter bikes. I think that's a little foolish, but a 400 should be pretty manageable, especially if your mature in your thought process. Lets face it, a jerk off can kill himself on a 50 c.c. bike. Just take your time, learn the bike and get what you want. Good luck I hope you get a great bike... And by the way, why are these little bikes so much $, are they special collectors editions or something? ten year old bikes over 5k seems a little steep to me...
 
halffttime said:
still have my aim for the zxr 400.. the rgv 250 or the cbr 250 (mc 22) are up there also. the ninja 250 just does not appeal to me compared to these bikes...

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-sport-bikes-KAWASAKI-ZXR-400R-W0QQAdIdZ471476556

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-sport-bikes-HONDA-CBR-250RR-MC22-FIREBLADE-W0QQAdIdZ474478851

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-sport-bikes-HONDA-CBR-250RR-MC22-FIREBLADE-W0QQAdIdZ474478851

out of those 3 alone, which would you suggest?
Click to expand...
Only 2 bikes are linked
 
the rgv is super fast , with not much engine braking..your on the brakes alot
the cbr would be good...
 
what are your experiences with selling a cafe racer you've done yourself like?

let's say i was to spend $2000 buying one, and another $1000 making it into a cafe... so that's $3,000. let's say after a year how much can the bike be sold for?
 
This is your first time owning a motorcycle?

$1000. Get into it because it's fun and you'll have fun; get into it to make money and you will develop a substance abuse problem
 
halffttime said:
what are your experiences with selling a cafe racer you've done yourself like?

let's say i was to spend $2000 buying one, and another $1000 making it into a cafe... so that's $3,000. let's say after a year how much can the bike be sold for?
Click to expand...

I've bought and sold dozens of bikes. First you have to find a deal. Second, you have to remember that your taste may not be others (see the guy with 30k in his Harley), so if your in it just to make $, watch for trends and do quality work. Just because you hacked off some frame and added café bars, doesn't make your bike desirable. Never buy something you don't like, if you can't sell it, you don't want a p.o.s. sitting in the garage taking up room. Don't be afraid to part stuff out. Buy some shelf's for the garage and try to keep track of what you have. Sometimes a parts bike can make you more $ than a build. I don't make a ton of $, but it pays for my hobby... And I get to ride all different types of bikes.
 
can't find a fukking exact quote on the zxr 400. some companies will only sure you if you have car insurance with them, some don't insure sport bikes, and none of them have the fukking bike on the system!!

anyone know any companies in ontario canada that insures import bikes?
 
halffttime said:
can't find a fukking exact quote on the zxr 400. some companies will only sure you if you have car insurance with them, some don't insure sport bikes, and none of them have the fukking bike on the system!!

anyone know any companies in ontario canada that insures import bikes?
Click to expand...

Ontario, that will be hard, but I believe there is a way with one of the companies to get the bike added to their system. I seem to remember in the TO section a thread on insurance and Jevco maybe being able too? Check out the Insurance thread in the Toronto section
 
ok like i mentioned earlier, finding insurance is hella tough but i've managed to find 2 companies that MAY be willing to insure me.

i don't know how legit the insurance quote is since the bike cannot be found in any insurance company's because it's an import, but the guy said he entered it "manually" (whatever that means) and gave me a quote for $3300 for the year. it's a lot of money and the catch is that it has to be paid in full...

the second company i found through a broker. they are also willing to insure me BUT i need to get an appraisal on the bike first before i can be given a quote. it will cost me $50 for an appraisal through this place i found through the classified ads. the question i have for you guys is, IS THE APPRAISAL WORTH IT? $50 may not seem like a lot of money, but I'm trying to be better with my spending so i'm really double thinking this idea. also, the guy i called for the appraisal seemed like a total asshole over the phone which pissed me off and kinda throwing me against this whole appraisal business.

thoughts?
 
Did you already buy this bike? It sounds like way more problems than it's worth. $3,300 a year? That's more than I pay for all my cars and bikes put together, and my Aprilia is considered high risk. $50 to have your bike appraised sounds a little hokey, but I'm not Canadian. Isn't there a major company (Progressive?) that advertises on t.v.? Do you have a motorcycle liscense?

Maybe I didn't read properly or understand this thread.... If this is your first bike, do you have any riding experience? Have you taken any courses? In the states, taking safety courses can get you discounts...

I think if I was having these issues, I'd look for another bike, but here's a plan, find a group in your area that have exotics and talk to them. They might have a way for you to get this bike for a reasonable insurance rate. I'm taking for granted the insurance company your with doesn't provide motorcycle insurance, even if you bundle? Do you guys have triple AAA up there, I know they bundle, or find a company that will take on all your vehicles for a decent rate....

Ok, went back through thread, and you have your M and have some experience, I'm stumped as to why your quotes are so high???
 
ApriliaBill said:
Did you already buy this bike? It sounds like way more problems than it's worth. $3,300 a year? That's more than I pay for all my cars and bikes put together, and my Aprilia is considered high risk. $50 to have your bike appraised sounds a little hokey, but I'm not Canadian. Isn't there a major company (Progressive?) that advertises on t.v.? Do you have a motorcycle liscense?

Maybe I didn't read properly or understand this thread.... If this is your first bike, do you have any riding experience? Have you taken any courses? In the states, taking safety courses can get you discounts...

I think if I was having these issues, I'd look for another bike, but here's a plan, find a group in your area that have exotics and talk to them. They might have a way for you to get this bike for a reasonable insurance rate. I'm taking for granted the insurance company your with doesn't provide motorcycle insurance, even if you bundle? Do you guys have triple AAA up there, I know they bundle, or find a company that will take on all your vehicles for a decent rate....

Ok, went back through thread, and you have your M and have some experience, I'm stumped as to why your quotes are so high???
Click to expand...

i don't have my m, only m2. i figure my insurance quotes are high because i'm under 25 with very little driving experience as well.

all signs are telling me NOT to get this bike. i've just read up over at gtamotorcycle how some dude had a couple of friends buy some import bikes from the same dealer and they all needed to be worked on. he said that "for every 1 hour of riding, you would need to be working on the bike for 3 hours". it seems a bit exaggerated. my friend who's just finished up the cafe also read up this thread and called me out today for not listening to advices lol. i just have this urge to do my own thing though, and this bike is just so damn purrdy...

i'm starting to think about going the cafe route. it will take some time to work on the bike, but overall the cost would be more than half what the zxr would be worth, and the insurance should be a lot lower and easier to find. i see a 1981 yamaha xs 400 in good condition for sale for $1000. hmm...

STILL, the goddamn zxr!!!!
 
OKAY! we got the best of both worlds here.

EB007-image1-900x600.jpg


how much work (time and money) do you think it would take to turn a regular gs500 into a cafe'd out one like the one above ^. mechanical aspects aside, just to make it look that, what would be needed? i see new handlebars, painted tank, new headlights maybe, and obviously new seats. the seat frame looks molested... that would look to be the toughest part about it.

what you guys think?
 
You should consider a Honda XL250 or XL400 and make it a street tracker. I want to do one myself if/when I get my CM400 up to snuff.

*edit* I should add that I'm recommending this because I'm assuming insurance would be cheaper.

Honda-Dominator-NX650-Custom-Tracker-4.jpg
 
I would have chosen the vfr. But then again, if it was my first bike, I probably wouldn't have appreciated the v4 engine. So get a throwaway bike, learn the basics, and then move up.
 
halffttime said:
OKAY! we got the best of both worlds here.

EB007-image1-900x600.jpg


how much work (time and money) do you think it would take to turn a regular gs500 into a cafe'd out one like the one above ^. mechanical aspects aside, just to make it look that, what would be needed? i see new handlebars, painted tank, new headlights maybe, and obviously new seats. the seat frame looks molested... that would look to be the toughest part about it.

what you guys think?
Click to expand...

Dude... Those are very good little bikes. I'm sure there are a lot of little details I can't see in the picture, but to get one to "look" like that won't take much. Compare the pics http://www.bing.com/images/results.aspx?q=SUZUKI+GS500&form=HPNMHP&pc=HPNTDF&pq=suzuki+gs500&sc=8-12&sp=-1&qs=n&sk= and it just looks like a few well placed pieces. I would get one of these bike in good condition, ride the heck out of it, then next winter start your build. From the pic, it looks like there isn't much more than a seat change on that bike. I'm sure more detailed pics would show much more in the way of cool stuff, but to get the "look" wouldn't take much, then it would be up to your taste and talent where you took it. But for now, the weather is getting good and you should focus getting riding time in, then when the weather takes a turn in the fall, get to it...
 
I keep going back to that GS, and I think it's brilliant. First, even though it's not vintage to us old farts, it is to the younger guys (I asked my son, who thought it was "old as fuck!") he doesn't realize his first bike is going to be an 84 FJ600, any way.... That bike looks good, the frame (rear) lends itself to easy mods, and is already a monoshock. They made about a billion of them so parts should be easy to come by. Even though they are a timid bike, they did race them and there are plenty of performance parts to add as your skills build, I see them for reasonable prices all the time, leaving you plenty of $ for mods. The more I think about it, the better I like it. I also really like the XL400 idea, they were bullet proof bikes and can be found for fair prices....
 
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