mummer43

I just passed my MSF and I'm looking for a bike and I'm leaning towards this one, what do you think?

This ad is not displayed to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on Yotatech!

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
2004 Tacoma TRD
24" Magnafow Muffler
K&N Air Filter
Line-X Bed Liner

steelhead

you just passed your MSF and your gonna buy a Ducati Monster? I'd suggest something less expensive for your first bike. I can almost guarntee that for a new bike and a new rider odds are it will see pavement. I have owned several bikes and have dropped one. It was completely another drivers' fault but it still happened. My .02

__________________
2002 Tacoma TRD 4X4 V6
2.5" Camburg Coilovers, Camburg A-Arms, Amsoil air filter, Amsoil S-2000 in all running gear, Deckplate mod, Airaid intake, 24" magnaflow

mummer43

I hear what you're saying. I guess I'm being a bit whimsical. However, there are some nice used 600's and 620's out there for sale that are pretty cheap. Although I would LOVE a Monster, my first bike will probably be a beater.

__________________
2004 Tacoma TRD
24" Magnafow Muffler
K&N Air Filter
Line-X Bed Liner

Scottiac

I'm still looking for my first bike as well, and it will definitely be a beater. Check out www.beginnerbikes.com for some other thoughts.

I dropped one during my MSF class (doh!), and have every intention of dropping my first bike a time or two while learning my limits!

__________________
Scott
'97 4runner LTD. SC, URD, Tundra/OME (SS #7), TJM-15 bumper, BruceTS rear bumper, trail carnage skid plates, stubbs sliders, cobra 18wxstii cb, 99 headlights, upgraded headlight wiring, maglite mod, aux fuse boxes, Airaid MIT, Hayden tranny cooler, deckplate, parts for entirely too many mods lying around...

data

I'd like a bike, but I bet insurance would eat me up. I've been looking at the Kawasaki ZX6R's. A buddy has one and its pretty nice for the price.

__________________
98 Limited 4x4, Rockstomper skid, Rockware Front bumper, Warn HS9500i, 1" RB BL, Tundra coils front & OME HD rear, Nuke quick discos, diff drop'd, 305/70/16 Baja Claws, Electric Locker, couple of battle scars, but nothing major :)

mummer43

I'm registered at beginner bikes and I visit the site pretty frequently.

__________________
2004 Tacoma TRD
24" Magnafow Muffler
K&N Air Filter
Line-X Bed Liner

WolfpackTLC

My first bike was an R-6, then to an R-1, and now I've wisened up and I've been riding 996's for about 4 years or so... Monster's are a handful, ie. wheely machines, but they're pretty versatile too. Only slightly relaxed handling geometry from a 916... I say get what you're comfortable with, and can afford, and use your best riding tool... your head. Ride safe and ride smart!

Oh, and he's right about the bike thing....

There's only two kinds of people that ride.. those who have dropped a bike, and those that are going to. It's usually someone else's fault, so RIDE AWARE!

__________________
1995 Land Cruiser -ARB'd, OME'D, Slee'd, Warn'd, lifted, locked, dented, WHEELED.

X-AWDriver

I agree,buy a used bike that you don't mind a few extra scuffs. I've had 4 friend's become new riders this year and everyone has laid their bikes down and one of them had a brand new Yamaha R1 and dumped it at 45mph and really did some damage.

Also wear a helmet.

__________________
'99 4Runner Highlander 4wd
E-locker,rear diff and deckplate mod * 265/75/16 Nitto TerraGrapplers * Yakima Load Warrior rack * clear corners/signals * Tacoma skidplate * Silverstar lamps/fogs
Alpine CDA-9831,Bazooka EL Series 250w amp,MTX 10" sub

UNLIMITED96

i would recommend something a little smaller

i just bought ten of these

http://search.ebay.com/GAS-POCKET-BI...QsosortorderZ1

__________________
96 4 RUNNER LIMITED
3 INCH REVTEK LIFT
ARB BUMPER
WARN 8000 WINCH
305/60R18 COOPER STT'S
18X9 PRO COMP 7089'S

MISC DO DAH'S

98 Joes

Congrats on taking the MSF course. It wil be a big help to you as you start getting some miles under your belt. I like the Ducati also, but that would be more than a handful for a beginner. I would recommend something in the 600 range. If you like the 'naked' bike look, check out the Honda 599. Insurance on a 600 is pretty reasonable, especially compared to a litre bike. I rode a CBR929 for a while and the insurance was too much. Sold it and bout the CBR600F3 Smokin' Joes. I actually like it better on the street. More than enough power and the handling is better. Look at used bikes that have been 'ridden'. You won't be as devasted when you drop it. And never say you won't dump the bike. . . that's a bonafide gaurantee that you're going to.

__________________
Doug
'94 4Runner SR5
'98 Honda CBR600F3 SJR

fish

I ride (BMW R1150GS and BMW R1150RT) and have been riding for 26 years.

Congrats on passing your MSF. As far as a bike choice, it depends on a couple of factors. (1) How tall are you? (2) What do you plan to do with the bike?

Monsters have a very loyal following...I wouldn't own one, but lots of folks like them. However, if you are very tall, you won't be comfortable on it. Unless, of course, you are just buying it for the poser factor. If you actually plan on taking any trips, you will find that the maintenance schedule and expense is not conducive to piling on the miles. Too, ergonomics get really painful after an hour or two.

I know a few n00b riders who bought large motorcycles as their first bikes, but only because they were very tall and 500-600cc bikes didn't fit them. If you are of average height (and average ability), I recommend you accept the advice given so far and get an small, inexpensive bike to hone your skills. The last thing a new rider needs is a bike that spews out $1500 repair bills everytime you drop it. And you WILL drop it.

Good luck and feel free to PM me if you want to ask any questions.

__________________
'04 V8 4WD Limited

mummer43

Thanks for the advice! I am definitely going to look for something more suited for a beginner. I'm 6'1" and abuot 225 lbs. Whatever bike I get, I don't think I'll do many long tours on. I have a group of friends who ride mostly every weekend and put a few hours on the bikes, but most of them ride sport(y) bikes. I don't like the sport bikes with all the fairing, but I love most naked bikes, especially the monsters.

I've been looking at the Suzuki GS 500. The can be had pretty cheaply and aren't all that powerfull. I rented a Buell Blast for a weekend and put over 200 miles on it and I hated how small it was. Actually, I became kind of bored with it.

__________________
2004 Tacoma TRD
24" Magnafow Muffler
K&N Air Filter
Line-X Bed Liner

trangk

Have you looked at a Suzuki SV650? It's a 645cc half naked bike that's very easy to ride. There are two versions of the bike; one that looks similiar to the Ducati Monster and another one that looks like a more typical sport bike (at least with the optional full fairing)

fish

Okay, you definitely fit into the "not small" category. All of the beginner bikes are going to be small for you, so buy something used to beat up, then plan on upgrading in a year or two. Understand that the most dangerous year for a n00bie is the second year. Overconfidence strikes and strikes hard.

trangk's suggestion of an SV650 is a good one. They're docile, but definitely not slow. Handle very well...in fact, you'll see lots of SVs out at the club races. Don't get the faired one ("S", i think), because that's just something more to fix when you biff.

Hope you don't mind me asking, but how old are you?

After you get a bike and get comfy on it, you might want to consider the MSF experienced rider course. Excellent opportunity.

Beware of riding in groups. Personally, I tend to be a loner when I ride, and will only ride in groups of up to 3 other bikes when I go on long rides. I used to love riding with my buddies when I was 19, but that's also when I lost the most skin. Everybody has a different style. Some guys like to buy monsters and pimp 'em out with 40 pounds of carbon fiber crap, primp and polish, then ride to the local hangout in their Kuani leathers to be seen. IMHO, that's not riding...that's posing. The Harley guys do that too. Spend all day saturday polishing chrome, only to hook up with their gang on Sunday for a two hour ride (round trip), then immediately wash and polish when they roll in the driveway. Yuck.

On the touring thing...if you really get into bikes, you'll find yourself wanting to go farther and farther, riding longer and longer, and may even find yourself doing an Iron Butt ride eventually. This is one of beauties of doing the cheap beginner bike, followed by the more capable bike later. Learn all your lessons on the cheap bike, then if you decide you want to continue with your riding career, you can make some decisions about how/what/where. If you like the 4Runner thing, then a BMW R1200GS might be just the thing for you (GSes are great for tall riders, btw). Or, you may find that you want race. Great, buy a street bike and turn your SV650 into your track bike, or get a used CBR600 to race on weekends. So many good bikes out there. Long rides to me are at least a week and 3000 miles...mostly do backroads. I'm just an old, slow guy on a beemer now.

Good thing this is the off topic forum, cuz I'm rambling. and a little PUI too.

GS500 is a good choice, as is the Kawi 500. Blast sucks. Too small, too weak.

SV650:


They're putting the SV motor in a Vstrom setup now, which is really fun if you think you want to do some offroad as well as street.


One last thought... it's the rider, not the bike.


Here's me on my GS:

__________________
'04 V8 4WD Limited

mummer43

Fish,

Thanks for all the input! I'm 29 years old and I work in law enforcement. I'm not the kind of guy who's going to be going anywhere close to 100mph. I just want a bike the I can take some weekend rides on... we have some really nice roads here in PA and renting the Buell only made me want to explore them more.

I know all about the SV 650 and I've been keeping my eye open for a good deal. I'd love to get my hands on a '99 and ride that for a while and then upgrade to the monster. I'm just in love with the monster!

__________________
2004 Tacoma TRD
24" Magnafow Muffler
K&N Air Filter
Line-X Bed Liner