need advice for my first bike.. thanks guys

montesa said:
Halftime.... Take the course, it will knock down your insurance by 15% and you might learn something that will save your life one day $425 well spent....CMA has one and Sheridan college etc.. Buy a modern bike, if you decide a year from now that riding isn't your thing then sell it.. Not always so easy to do with an older bike.... I'm not sure what your mechanical aptitude is but use your modern bike to learn basic maintenance... Once you have your first year done you'll have a better idea of what style of bike suits you, your riding style and the areas that you ride in...
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I've taken the course already, rider's training institute. Those quotes already have that in consideratio believe it or ot.
 
Worst cb650 ever said:
Yea, you really can't get enough rider education! I'd agree that a running modern bike is the best way to start. You could pick up a cheap non-runner to mess with, but still have something to ride every day. It's very frustrating to have all that training and be itching to ride, but have a broke down POS in the garage mocking you :)
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this bike is far from a broken dow POS. it's old yes, but if you look at it for yourself, you couldn't tell the difference from a modern bike and this one.

here's the bike in question.

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

tell me that bike does not look modern.
 
Tripler said:
i'm trying to find insurance quotes for the zxr 400 and haven't found an exact one. none of the insurance companies i called had the bike in their system


It is a "grey import", never available in Canada, essentially a sleeved down gpz550
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yea... you found a zxr 400 too? the insurance company said even though it's not in the system they will still insure it though.
 
Had same problem with my FJ insurance . They. Couldn't find it in there system and wanted to rate with a older XS and keep asking me if I was talking about the right bike lol So I rode it there and showed them and they still had problem with it . Sit down with them and get online and show them the bike . DON'T let them under insure your bike cuz if something where to happen with bike they might fuck ya !!!!
 
halffttime said:
this bike is far from a broken dow POS. it's old yes, but if you look at it for yourself, you couldn't tell the difference from a modern bike and this one.

here's the bike in question.

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

tell me that bike does not look modern.
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Yea, and I'd ride that one or one like it and not mess with it too much outside of maintenance. Then while you have that one as a rider, you can get another bike as a project to mess around with and not have to worry about not having something to ride.
 
man a part of me wants to settle with a ninja 250, a lot cheaper and i can actually have a good amount of the insurance covered already... but my ego is telling me to get this bike since it's just so fukking nice and i won't have to upgrade right away. if only there were other cheaper sport bikes between 250's and 600's for sale where i live.. arghhhh!

what would you guys do?!?
 
It's the difference between having a classic VW Beetle and a Honda Civic as your first car. Which you choose depends on what you're after.
 
Sonreir said:
It's the difference between having a classic VW Beetle and a Honda Civic as your first car. Which you choose depends on what you're after.
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okay just to make sure i got the analogy right, the vw beetle is the zxr and the civic is the ninja?

if we're talking about those cars i'd go with the civic lol.
 
I just reran a quote to add my bike to my truck policy... less than $100 for the year. 1998 cruiser instead of sport bike, I'm 40 and have been riding for 25 years though. Ran a quote for a 60yo friend with a 1500 Drifter, $89 and change for the full year.

Progressive. Insuring my vintage trucks is pricey, $69/truck/month, full coverage with agreed upon replacement value. Liability only is $65 month, each... kinda screwy if you ask me...
 
Hey
Do not get the 400 or the RGV. For a first bike, stick to a 250 four stroke

You have a lifetime of riding ahead..no rush to get a fast bike.

Learn to ride really good first..get alot of miles on a small bike
 
my mate has an older ninja 250 and it seems plenty fast enough...leave your ego out of the equation...its not worth dying or getting injured on a bigger our faster bike, just to look good

A real rider will be happy squeezing every ounce of speed from a 100cc 2 stroke bike!

I sure know I was when starting out...
 
Agreed, if you buy the 250 to cut your teeth on, you'll probably be able to sell it for the same price the following year as you become more confident and want more power... You may very well be happy for a few years with that bike. Tough to beat a small bike, especially in town.
 
I pay $144 a year on my 2005 yamaha through All State. On my 76 CB360 I believe it was around $130 a year.
 
Walms said:
Btw, I heard the 400 was fairly docile anyway with all the added weight.
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i had to look up what docile meant. submissive and ready to accept control, isn't that a good thing?

i wouldn't mind the ninja 250, but this bike is just staring back at me calling me to buy it. it's only a grand more, and the cheapest basic quote (had to use the ninja 400) i've gotten so far is about the same as the ninja 250, $2700 roughly...

once i sell my car, a decision shall be made.
 
but my ego is telling me to get this bike since it's just so fukking nice and i won't have to upgrade right away.



Have you looked into parts availability, and do you have someone familiar with these bikes ?
 
surprised someone says the 400cc 4 cyl is docile?

Its waaaaaaaay faster than a 250 2 cyl... ive ridden both.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_zxr400%2090.htm

162kg - torque 40 Nm @ 10000 rpm

versus the gpx 250 http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_ninja_250r%20%2008.htm

151 kg - torque 21.7 Nm t @ 10000 rpm

sure the 400 weighs 7% more....but it has just under 50% more torque than the 250.

get the experience. ride the 250 for a year or 3. then get the 400..600..750....

life is long. death or serious injury is quick on a quick bike. just saying : )

for your first bike...its a great bike.
 
nixon said:
surprised someone says the 400cc 4 cyl is docile?

Its waaaaaaaay faster than a 250 2 cyl... ive ridden both.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_zxr400%2090.htm

162kg - torque 40 Nm @ 10000 rpm

versus the gpx 250 http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_ninja_250r%20%2008.htm

151 kg - torque 21.7 Nm t @ 10000 rpm

sure the 400 weighs 7% more....but it has just under 50% more torque than the 250.

get the experience. ride the 250 for a year or 3. then get the 400..600..750....

life is long. death or serious injury is quick on a quick bike. just saying : )

for your first bike...its a great bike.
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the 250 is a good bike to start on... but i'm a bit on the heavier side, 5'10 @ 195lbs. plus we are talking about a 400 bike here not a 600 or anything ridiculuous. i've read that starting on a "bigger" bike, the main thing is respecting its power. i wouldn't get on the bike and just open throttle it right away for sure. i'd probably ride around neighbourhoods, parking lots at least for a week before taking it out on the road.

sounds like i got my mind set on the zxr 400 and making any excuses towards a decision to get it lol.
 
Re: Re: need advice for my first bike.. thanks guys

halffttime said:
sounds like i got my mind set on the zxr 400 and making any excuses towards a decision to get it lol.
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Yep. And keep in mind it isn't the planned use of the throttle that gets one hurt, but what you do in a panic situation. You haven't developed habits that will keep you from becoming a statistic yet and a race ready inline four is less forgiving of sudden changes in input.
 
nixon said:
surprised someone says the 400cc 4 cyl is docile?
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The last time I read anything about the 400 was in 2010 when it was a parallel twin making 40 HP but weighing only 1 kg less than the 600.... It's all about perspective. :)
I think we are all in agreement that a small displacement bike that is light is the way to go.
 
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