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Bike evaluation

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You got to provide them a vin # and that's the only time you can be sure they will insure you. I have had insurance for over 3 years and I'm in my mid thirties. None of the insurance I called would insure me on a SS (they would but it doesn't make sense to me).

As a well wisher, it's a terrible idea to buy a SS at this point in your riding journey. Buy an SV or an R7 or similar maybe? I'm a hardcore sports bike lover and I will get a SS bike when I can but it will need a lot of skills to ride one, so I am working on it. And I have been riding for a long long time lol. I'm in no position to advice anyone as I had a crash of my own a couple of months back, but I thought I'll share.
 
$750/month for insurance and you’re willing to buy a bike and PAY that amount monthly???

You’ve either got more money than brains or live at home with your parents and have no expense. May as well get it out of your system now while you’re young and foolish.

As for the question…list the bike now. If you don’t get your asking price keep it until the spring and try again then.

Then just don’t crash.
 
I will give you $2000.00 for it because I need to put it in storage so I can flip in the spring at a nice profit.
 
mimico_polak said:
$750/month for insurance and you’re willing to buy a bike and PAY that amount monthly???
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I was on the phone in Karen mode w. my insurance company when the renewal for my 650 came in and it had jumped up to $658/year. $9,000????
Hahahahahaha no.
 
If you have the extra money that you say you do by being able to pay $750 a month, why not put it to better use.
Your RC390 is just fine for a first bike and your insurance is already expensive by the general standards.

Thake that $200 and put in into savings of some sort. Or put it aside and take some riding courses as that will only improve your skills and make you ready for a 600cc+.

We get it, you are young and excited and sometimes don't necessarily make the best decisions with the most logical sense (that is not an insult by any means). Some of as have been there and done that.

If you come you here asking for advise, you must be able to take it and "think" about it, instead of just insisting why a larger bike is the right choice for you. We are all giving you sound advice based on experience and logic.

At the end of the day you are free to make which ever decision your heart desires.
 
This will mimic a lot of the previous comments but either keep the 390 or go for a middle ground.
I went 300-CBR650- MT09 aside from insurance being $150/mo cheaper now then it would have been 2 years ago
A buddy has a street fighter V2 as his bike(his dream bike) and it’s faster but you’d never know when we ride together, doesnt trust his lean, won’t ride in the rain, days that are to windy

AND he pays $600+ insurance on top of the bike payments learn to ride first then upgrade
 
oioioi said:
If you have the extra money that you say you do by being able to pay $750 a month, why not put it to better use.
Your RC390 is just fine for a first bike and your insurance is already expensive by the general standards.

Thake that $200 and put in into savings of some sort. Or put it aside and take some riding courses as that will only improve your skills and make you ready for a 600cc+.

We get it, you are young and excited and sometimes don't necessarily make the best decisions with the most logical sense (that is not an insult by any means). Some of as have been there and done that.

If you come you here asking for advise, you must be able to take it and "think" about it, instead of just insisting why a larger bike is the right choice for you. We are all giving you sound advice based on experience and logic.

At the end of the day you are free to make which ever decision your heart desires.
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I think this is the best course of action for the OP.

His crash demonstrated (to me) an unfamiliarity with how a bike feels when things start to go wrong and a lack of ability to identify potential road hazards or conditions. Both come with experience, but some riding courses, including a couple stints at an off road school will go a long way to developing both.

All of us, or at least the majority of us have experienced a low side like he did. It's not really a big deal and is just part of the journey.

I too don't think a physically bigger, more expensive, more powerful 600 sport bike is going to help his learning curve, and may impede it by scaring the hell out of him at the worst times.
 
xrljoel said:
I think this is the best course of action for the OP.

His crash demonstrated (to me) an unfamiliarity with how a bike feels when things start to go wrong and a lack of ability to identify potential road hazards or conditions. Both come with experience, but some riding courses, including a couple stints at an off road school will go a long way to developing both.

All of us, or at least the majority of us have experienced a low side like he did. It's not really a big deal and is just part of the journey.

I too don't think a physically bigger, more expensive, more powerful 600 sport bike is going to help his learning curve, and may impede it by scaring the hell out of him at the worst times.
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A crash is neither here or there - not understanding why one crashed shows experience.

I have watched a lot of riders over the years, there is no substitute for seat time. I figure 20,000 km gets a rider out of the novice stage, by 100k one will be proficient in the type of riding they do on a daily basis.

I don't disagree that extra training helps... with the exception of M1 exit training, I haven't really seen that play out. Perhaps I haven't found a way to evaluate.

I have seen novice riders improve greatly when they ride with proficient riders. I'd prioritize regular sane group riding over offroad skills weekends.
 
As people have mentioned wait for the spring. Put the standard parts back on and offer the aftermarket stuff as extra or sell separately. Contrary to popular belief just because someone spends a lot of money on after market stuff unfortunately that doesn’t translate into the bike worth more.
 
Not sure how this went from "how much should I sell my bike for" into "daddy knows best" thread

Crashes and drops happen.(even to dudes who've been riding since the great depression)
Not sure how long you've been riding, but if you feel like you're ready to upgrade, its your life and your money, buy what you like.

I personally dont find supersports or racebikes particularly fun on the street,(bad ergonomics and racy powerbands) but you do you.
 
bigpoppa said:
Not sure how this went from "how much should I sell my bike for" into "daddy knows best" thread

Crashes and drops happen.(even to dudes who've been riding since the great depression)
Not sure how long you've been riding, but if you feel like you're ready to upgrade, its your life and your money, buy what you like.

I personally dont find supersports or racebikes particularly fun on the street,(bad ergonomics and racy powerbands) but you do you.
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One season 4000km. 10 times that and the 390 would still be a good teacher.
 
voyageur said:
You got to provide them a vin # and that's the only time you can be sure they will insure you. I have had insurance for over 3 years and I'm in my mid thirties. None of the insurance I called would insure me on a SS (they would but it doesn't make sense to me).

As a well wisher, it's a terrible idea to buy a SS at this point in your riding journey. Buy an SV or an R7 or similar maybe? I'm a hardcore sports bike lover and I will get a SS bike when I can but it will need a lot of skills to ride one, so I am working on it. And I have been riding for a long long time lol. I'm in no position to advice anyone as I had a crash of my own a couple of months back, but I thought I'll share.
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What a responsible, humble and wise response. Refreshing.
 
I have seen novice riders improve greatly when they ride with proficient riders
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Some may recall there was an older novice rider a few years back, mid 30s, self proclaimed karate expert, absolutely certain he was ready to move up after a short riding career. Would not be convinced otherwise.
There were a few of us riding loosely as a group including two very proficient riders who knew the roads around Sulphur Springs and Ancaster very well.
Buddy decides to try and keep up with them through the twists, riding partner and I didn't even consider it and rode our our pace.
A short bit later came around one of the curves, downhill, slightly off camber....he had lowsided catching the gravel and slid within a foot of hitting the butt end of a guard rail head on.
Bike was pretty messed ( I have pics somewhere ) but group effort and some duct tape and bungies got him back on the bike wobbling home.
Sometimes hanging with proficient riders can lead to adverse outcome.

Same lead rider on that misadventure, got his good friend in trouble in PA twists as friend tried to keep up.
Friend was lucky there was a lot of bushes to somersault into at speed.

I avoided riding groups after that and yeah yeah both noob riders should not have tried to chase experienced riders...was expensive lesson for both.

One rider with me, usually the kid, was just fine,,,he was a way better rider than me.

Having a sensible proficient rider riding behind you, especially with comms on can do a world of wonder for a new rider........ if you'll listen.
 
MacDoc said:
Some may recall there was an older novice rider a few years back, mid 30s, self proclaimed karate expert, absolutely certain he was ready to move up after a short riding career. Would not be convinced otherwise.
There were a few of us riding loosely as a group including two very proficient riders who knew the roads around Sulphur Springs and Ancaster very well.
Buddy decides to try and keep up with them through the twists, riding partner and I didn't even consider it and rode our our pace.
A short bit later came around one of the curves, downhill, slightly off camber....he had lowsided catching the gravel and slid within a foot of hitting the butt end of a guard rail head on.
Bike was pretty messed ( I have pics somewhere ) but group effort and some duct tape and bungies got him back on the bike wobbling home.
Sometimes hanging with proficient riders can lead to adverse outcome.

Same lead rider on that misadventure, got his good friend in trouble in PA twists as friend tried to keep up.
Friend was lucky there was a lot of bushes to somersault into at speed.

I avoided riding groups after that and yeah yeah both noob riders should not have tried to chase experienced riders...was expensive lesson for both.

One rider with me, usually the kid, was just fine,,,he was a way better rider than me.

Having a sensible proficient rider riding behind you, especially with comms on can do a world of wonder for a new rider........ if you'll listen.
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Again, take it to the track.
And i disagree about the comms. It's potentially distracting for a novice. Imho.
 
Unlike a lot of other hobbies, motorcycle riding is dangerous and in the event of a mistake, carries the risk of injury or worse

Hopping on a larger, more powerful bike immediately after a crash, especially not being able to pinpoint exactly why you crashed is probably not the best idea.

There's some very good tips from some very experienced riders on here. I hope the OP can separate out this excellent guidance from some spectacularly bad advice from lesser experienced riders.
 
Mad Mike said:
A crash is neither here or there - not understanding why one crashed shows experience.

I have watched a lot of riders over the years, there is no substitute for seat time. I figure 20,000 km gets a rider out of the novice stage, by 100k one will be proficient in the type of riding they do on a daily basis.

I don't disagree that extra training helps... with the exception of M1 exit training, I haven't really seen that play out. Perhaps I haven't found a way to evaluate.

I have seen novice riders improve greatly when they ride with proficient riders. I'd prioritize regular sane group riding over offroad skills weekends.
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My wife and her friend took Clinton Smout's course a few years back. She had never been on an MC aside from being a passenger with me a few times. She still raves about the course, his methods and what she learned about body/weight positioning and the feel of tires losing traction and how and what goes into course correction and saving it.

She firmly believes that what she learned through her experience has been retained and continues to positively impact her bicycling and even driving skills. She hasn't continued riding a motorcycle.

I really do believe getting first hand experience at discovering traction limits and experimenting with rider inputs and their effects on the situation is extremely valuable and helps develop "muscle memory" that can be applied on any motorcycle.
 
OP instead of another bike...( I'm jealous of what you have ) ...take the motocross camp at Chatsworth Motopark. As others have mentioned getting off pavement will make you a far better rider on pavement.
www.motoparkracing.com

5 Day Motocross Camp - Motopark

Motopark's MP Camp, Motocross Camp is a summer must for all riders. Motopark’s Motocross Camps started in 1972. Today we run 8 weeks of camp annually.
www.motoparkracing.com www.motoparkracing.com

••

comms can be turned off...turned on, saves a lot of arm waving signals and allows commentary in real time instead waiting.
In the boring stretches allows pleasant chat, discuss where/what to eat, pit stop needs etc.
 
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Canuckles said:
Road my bike to Toronto the next day to ride with a few buddies with no issues
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That settles it. Time for a bigger bike. My question ... is a 600 big enough now that you have no issues.
 
Anyone else find it funny that this post is from a guy who was told "buy a cheap little bike to learn on - you'll just dump it and want a bigger one soon anyway"
I guess not everything you read on the internet is a lie.
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