Simviation Forum - Looking for some info on Motorcycles

Oct 3^rd, 2008 at 7:01pm

BAW0343 Offline
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Mesa, AZ

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Hey, so this is what happened. I drove to where my new job is across town (Phoenix) and i used about a 1/4 tank of gas in my Mercury Grand Marquis. So I know that motorcycles are a lot cheaper when it comes to gas and overall are rather inexpensive. Additionally the insurance is $130 cheaper then what I'm paying for my merc, which is a huge sell point.

So my question is, what should I know about owning and operating a motorcycle? I plan on getting all the safety gear and taking a course as I know they are dangerous.

Right now I'm considering this bike:

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/619/0/home.aspx

I like it mainly for the price and power. I don't know much about bikes so I'm open for suggestions.

Also new or used? Used is cheaper but what do I need to look out for and whats considered a lot of miles for a bike?

Thanks for any input! Cool

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Reply #1 - Oct 3^rd, 2008 at 7:07pm

CD. Ex Member

If you don't know anything about bikes then I definitely would not recommend an R6 (or the like).. I'd start at 125/250cc then work your way up.

Bikes are a totally different animal to cars, they demand respect Wink

Ask Fozzer

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Reply #2 - Oct 3^rd, 2008 at 9:54pm

BAW0343 Offline
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Mesa, AZ

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Yea 600 is a lot of power. I took another look around and it seems that the Ninja 250 may be a better fit.

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/kawasaki/review-2008-kawasaki-ninja-250r-...

Also I was reading that the upkeep of bikes requires more attention then cars and am just wondering what I would have to expect in that area.

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Reply #3 - Oct 4^th, 2008 at 3:21am

TSC. Offline
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Torquay, Devon, England.

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Get an old beater of a car just for going to work in, especially coming up to winter with no bike experience, you'll stay warmer & less dead.

TSC.

'Only two things are infinite.......The Universe and Human stupidity........and I'm not too sure about the Universe' - Einstein

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Reply #4 - Oct 4^th, 2008 at 4:02am

ozzy72 Offline
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Madsville

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For reliability and fuel economy you'll be hard pressed to beat a Honda, they also have superb build quality and last forever Cool

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

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Reply #5 - Oct 4^th, 2008 at 10:06am

Willit Run Offline
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Jack's Back!!
Cherry Hill, New Jersey USA

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Get a Vespa GTS 250!! 244cc and around 65 to 70 MPG!!
I'm looking to get one next Summer for back and forth to work.
Cool little scooters with a top speed of 76 mph.

I know that it's not as cool as cycle but, we at SimV are cool enough!! Wink

&&

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Reply #6 - Oct 4^th, 2008 at 1:37pm

BAW0343 Offline
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Mesa, AZ

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I was looking at scooters a long time ago but never really liked the look of the moped. I like how efficient they are but the 250r I'm looking at gets the same millage. Grin

As for the old beater, Id rather spend 3000 and get a new motorcycle I can rely on then spend it on an old car that may break down after 20 miles. Besides I did some math and I don't see any reason for me getting rid of my old car, I just am thinking of adding a motorcycle. I just need to find a way to pay for it.

Oh and by the way, I'm in Arizona, winter isn't that bad. Its the summer that will get ya Wink

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Reply #7 - Oct 4^th, 2008 at 1:38pm

expat Offline
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BAW0343 wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2008 at 7:01pm:

So my question is, what should I know about owning and operating a motorcycle?

Seem to remember that they quite draughty and a fly in the mouth was not a great experience.........but that was a long time ago in a galaxy far away............then I got married Undecided

Matt

PETA People Eating Tasty Animals.

B1 Boeing 737-800 and Dash8 Q-400

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Reply #8 - Oct 5^th, 2008 at 7:35am

elwellnick24 Offline
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worcs, england

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I have a Triumph 600cc, and i get around 42mpg from it, maybe more on a long motorway trip.
Small bikes like Honda cg125's etc will quite happily run at 80+ mpg, but bigger ones arent really that much more economical than a car - but they are a lot more fun!
As for maintenance, get it serviced at the correct intervals and keep the chain tensioned and lubed and check tyre pressures once a week

amd 3400+&&1 gig ddr&&6600gt&&soundblaster audigy zs platinum pro

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Reply #9 - Oct 5^th, 2008 at 3:59pm

BAW0343 Offline
Colonel
No, now go away or I shall
taunt you a second time
Mesa, AZ

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Posts: 3294

I'm getting a 250cc so I think the estimate was around somewhere 50 mpg, that's more then twice what I am getting now. I went to a dealership yesterday and got some more info, except for the starting cost I should have no trouble operating the bike once I get it. The first service they say only costs $250 and that's supposed to be the most expensive.

So,

Deposit on the bike $250
Rider course $250
Helmet $100
Jacket $100
Gloves $50
First payment on the bike ~$100
Insurance- $53.80

So for a cool $900 I can start riding... Anyone have some money I could borrow? Tongue

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