I’ll second the motion on the Beemer, they’re so - sensible, somehow. Something a banker would buy - oooops.
Though, if I were in the market for a cruiser, I’d take good, long look at the R1200C. But I’m not, so I won’t.
Well, I’d love a vintage BMW to fiddle with, who wouldn’t ?
Nah, mr. Mod, you buy a nice Jap 600cc generic bike to learn the ropes, then sell it and go Italian, if that’s what you want.
Good gear is important, yup. Not only can it save your skin and other assorted bodyparts, but feeling unsafe leads to anxiety and jerky control movements. And, as has been stated, it gives us boring men with boring jobs the chance to dress up in leather and look mean. Don’t put kneesliders on the first suit, OK ?
Forgot one thing: Get thy ass to a track-day if you get the chance.
Riding a bike on a track is mind-blowing. It’s fun, it adds confidence, it improves technique. I’ve seen the greenest rookie girl biker, ink wet on the license still, improve her confidence & lean-angle with several hundred percent over one day. It’s time and money very well spent. Sign up for the slowest group, giggle at the “go-fast-boys” dropping their bikes all over the place, then go out and learn when it becomes your turn.
The Japanese 600CC - Italian 1000 CC seems a very likely route to me. BMW’s are technically very interesting bikes, but don’t appeal to me in terms of looks. I know, that’s probably heresy to some people.
And Spiny, I’m one of the least risk-averse bankers you’ll ever meet.
Coldy, if you buy a rice burner, I’ll have to come over there and kick your ass myself. Not that there is anything wrong with Japenese bikes, but once you’ve rode an Italian, you’ll never go back. (take that pun what ever way you like, dirtbags!! )
When buying a lid, ignore the ones that look good. very often the best lids are plain, full face and made from hi-impact fiberglass. Plastic has a terriuble habit of getting easy stress fractures from accidental knocks.
Get good boots, good leathers and good protection. a back protector is probably the best body protection you will need. Make sure there is strong knees and strong elbows in the clothing you get.
BMW’s are good bikes, but Moto Guzzi’s are better built. I rode one for quite a while(I rode an 850T to my wedding), and I had a BMW R100S for a little while. If Guzzi’s weren’t built for you little people I might still have one instead of my Harley (my knees were always hitting the cylinder heads). An 850cc Moto goose has all the power anyone needs, especially to start out with. Just make sure you have a good battery, they take a lot of juice to turn over. Have you considered one of the new Triumphs? a friend of mine has a Triumph Adventurer(its about two years old), and it has been a great bike for him. Pretty much his daily transport.
“Accidental knocks”? Like what? Falling off the kitchen table?
bdgr, with 1.86 meters (6 foot 2) I’m not exactly tiny. But hey, Spiny’s at least as tall, and he rides a Duc 748. I like some Guzzi’s, but not all. The Triumph Sprint ST is one of my faves, but it IS a tad expensive to buy.
Hell, the license will cost me my right arm to begin with. Unless we’re about to discover I’m the new Kevin Schwantz.
You shouldnt have a prob. I have a friend who is about 6’2", and he rides a guzzi. I am about 4" taller than that, and it’s just enough to make it a bit uncomfortable. Plus I have bad knees so I like highway pegs, and on a goose you got those pesky cylinders in the way.
Hey, the Safety Totoro is checking in to say: Wear Your Damn Helmet. My brother in law watched a guy scrape his scalp off when not wearing his helmet and falling off. Not a pleasant experience. Needless to say, that man shuffled his mortal coil.
what everyone else said, and have fun, Coldy
(get a sweeeeet looking bike, eh? and make sure your pair of Oakleys (or, Futuris in your continent) match the bike color!)
Incidently, I’ve been looking at some second hand bikes and their prizes. I’ve noticed quite a few Kawasaki ZZR 600’s for reasonable money (between NLG 7,000 and 10,000). Even if they’re 1992 models, they still look relatively modern, and the specs seem OK as well (600 CC, 245 km/h, 0-100 in 3.3 secs). Does anyone have experience with this Kawa?
Woo hoo, Coldie!! [Oprah voice]You GO girl[/Oprah voice]!
On my end, Astrogirl has fallen in love with a particular breed of Korean dog, and I can’t remember it’s name now or I’d tell ya… she told me that it looks like Chewbacca (from Star Wars, which I forced her to watch one night. Hey, you wanna understand western culture or not?). She wants to buy one after we get married. I love dogs! I said, “OK. How much does one cost?” She said, “Around $4500.” I said, “Holy jumping blasphemous references!!!” She said, “You can have a Harley.” I said, “O.K.! Deal!”
