New to the Forum, Need some advise on buying my 1st bike(Again, i know :) | GTAMotorcycle.com

New to the Forum, Need some advise on buying my 1st bike(Again, i know :)

Freak

Freak

Well-known member
Hope everyone in the forum is doing well. I getting my M1 this week, looking to buy a Kawasaki 250 Ninja as my 1st ride. I got a quote for 600$/year from SF because of having my license(g class) for 5 years( i came to Canada 5 years back). I have driven back home(Pakistani, Karachi a city of 18 million people) on a Honda 70cc(70km/liter) and Honda/Kawasaki 125(50-45 Km/liter) which are regularly used for commuting. Driving there is like driving through a mine field with open manholes(not cordoned off) on the road, big speed breakers with no signs and track lines which no one follows. Also i never had a license there, no helmet, never carried an ownership( you can pay the cops 40rs to get them off your back which is essentially 45cents here), no protective gear. no limit on timings, no limit on the number of people i could carry on the bike( i did 4 at most :p), and no speed limit. Also driven in areas where there are no roads, so its literally sand, rocks and water streams. Its just to give you guys an idea of what i have been through, I thought this would serve as a good introduction.

Here are a few pictures to get an idea of what its like

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reggcohn/4988646404/

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6GQRBJwJ37M/Sa...79image004.jpg

This is how crazy it can get

http://pakistan.onepakistan.com/phot...stan/111223-45

sorry not trying to get you guys bored. I know its totally different down here. Which is why i needed some advise.

1. Wanting to buy a Kawasaki 250 ninja for commuting to work and enjoy the summer. I have a budget of 3300$ for the bike. Is there anything better than a Kawasaki Ninja 250 for beginners who want to keep it cheap. I also looked at Honda 125 CBR but i dont think that is something i would like to ride on the highway.

2. Should i take a course with the college for my M1 exit test?(SF doesn't care if i have one, the insurance remains the same)

I would appreciate all the advise i can get. Have fun Ladies and Gentlemen, the season is just around the corner.
 
Haha.. that's awesome!

One word of advice, folks over here are crazy about ATGATT (All the gear, all the time.) Back home it's a very different culture and bikes are everywhere so drivers are aware.. over here, we're invisible because there's so few of us.

When I went to visit India when I was 14, I used to steal my uncle's old school Yamaha and take off not knowing how to really ride.. I just winged it and figured it out as I went along! Doing that over here is frowned upon greatly, so watch out!

1. The 250cc is probably your best bet.. there's a 400cc, but it's a crap shoot because you could buy the 650r and have much more use out of it. Since your budget is $3300, the 250cc is a great choice. Remember, you'll need to buy gear here as well.. so helmet, gloves, jacket at the minimum. If you ride without protection aka, riding squid, you'll be outcasted because a lot of people on the forums have a holier than thou attitude and feel they are better wearing their full track suit when just going around the block! So budget for some gear as well.

2. You probably instinctively have better riding skills than a lot of us here because of all the obstructions you've encountered. Taking the course will teach you what you've probably already learned, but it's a good course to take. You'll learn some of the rules of the road that apply here and that is worth something. There is a difference though.. over here our bikes are a lot more powerful and the roads are cleaner/smoother, back home, it's the opposite, slower bikes, more obstructions.

Ride safe brother!
 
Welcome!!
Wheelie.gif
 
Thanks guys. Also is there a meetup place where bikers come and show their bikes like it happens with Hotrods, Sports cars etc. I would love to attend such an event and learn more about sport bikes, upgrades etc. Make friends for road trips etc.
 
Freak, just go to the 'rides/hookups' section of the forum to find your local 'meeting place'. Timmies at Kennedy Commons used to be a good spot, don't know if it is any more. Lakeshore & Leslie (L&L) is a bit of a ride from you, but good spot on Wednesday to meet up other riders.

Any 250/400/500 is a good start bike, so just find one in good condition and fits your budget, and go for it. Make sure to budget not just for bike and insurance, but also for gear. Proper gear will save your life one day.
 
Welcome to GTAM!! Whether you're in Ontario, or anywhere else in Canada, you're bound to see and ride through some of the most amazing landscapes - and it's all nicely paved so you can look around and enjoy the scenery instead of staring at the ground to avoid potholes!
 
Hey guys.

I asked a couple of guys who own bikes and they are telling me i will get tired of 250 Ninja in a week. They both said the bike lacks power and will not be able to hold up with other heavier bikes if i plan to go riding. They recommended Kawasaki Ninja 500 or Suzuki GS500. I looked up the insurance for them at SF and its almost twice as that of 250 ninja(51$-250cc---96$-500cc).
Also I went to motorcycle world yesterday and they recommended the earlier model of 250 ninja as opposed to the newer one which they said lack a proper passenger seat, holding and carrying area. They also recommended a 500 Suzuki. BTW i am 5.8", 220 pounds.

I plan to use this bike for commuting during summers and take it for a ride on weekends. I want something cheap on gas and not looking to go anywhere above 120KM/h. Will probably have my wife on the back during weekends if not a friend.

I need suggestions.
 
Freak said:
Hey guys.

I asked a couple of guys who own bikes and they are telling me i will get tired of 250 Ninja in a week. They both said the bike lacks power and will not be able to hold up with other heavier bikes if i plan to go riding. They recommended Kawasaki Ninja 500 or Suzuki GS500. I looked up the insurance for them at SF and its almost twice as that of 250 ninja(51$-250cc---96$-500cc).
Also I went to motorcycle world yesterday and they recommended the earlier model of 250 ninja as opposed to the newer one which they said lack a proper passenger seat, holding and carrying area. They also recommended a 500 Suzuki. BTW i am 5.8", 220 pounds.

I plan to use this bike for commuting during summers and take it for a ride on weekends. I want something cheap on gas and not looking to go anywhere above 120KM/h. Will probably have my wife on the back during weekends if not a friend.

I need suggestions.
Click to expand...

With your experience (as was mentioned, you're likely MUCH more aware of your riding surroundings than many), your size, and your requirement to carry a passenger, I'd have to say the 500 will be the better way to go too. The GS500 is a bullet proof bike and there's spare parts EVERYWHERE.
 
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