OT: motorcycle riders

rbt944 · 03-07-2004, 09:27 PM

I think that there are a couple of people here that ride motorcycles, so I figure that I try asking some of you this. I'm about to purchase a 1998 kawasaki ninja zx11. Is $4,000 a good price for this bike? It only has 9,600 miles on it.
Oh yeah, when I'm not driving the 944, I will be riding the bike.
Thanks!

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

What's the cc on that bike? Sounds like a decent enough ride; that's basically what I do - motorcycle unless the weather looks threatening or something. . . Only way around traffic. Plus it's cheaper to operate than my 944 - especially with gas prices the way they are!

Assuming it's in good mechanical shape (tires, chain, brakes, etc.) that sounds like a fairly reasonable price - check kbb.com - they have listings for bikes too.

rbt944 · 03-08-2004, 04:26 AM

It's an 1100cc engine. The bike looks to be in good shape. only 3 small paint chips on the right when the owner dropped it while waxing it. Other than that everything is fairly clean. It's been garaged most of the time which is why it has low mileage. It sounds fair to me also, since this is my first motorcycle purchase I wanted to get someone else's opinion. Thanks alot for the website!
Thanks again!

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

The price sounds really good actually - just be VERY careful on a bike that big as your first one!

Or I'll sell you my '99 750 Katana and I'll go get it

I'd take a few days and really get to know it well - a few quality hours doing low-speed manuvering in a parking lot or something. . . Big bikes are in some ways easier to handle than small ones, but you need to get a "feel" for them, especially if you're a new rider. Enjoy it and remember - rubber side down!

odie · 03-08-2004, 07:48 AM

NOT A GOOD 1st BIKE.

Buy a clean "standard" for $1000 and learn. A sport bike is not a good starter. Get a Shadow, Vulcan, Virago, Magna, Intruder, LTD, etc...

You are gonna drop it, crash it, lay it down.

$1000 buys a good clean reliable 198? Jap bike. 500-750cc is a good target. Small enough to learn on and big enough to not out grow.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Moving to OT.
-Z-man.

motion · 03-08-2004, 09:41 AM

What Odie sez.... good price, but terrible choice if this is your first bike. Even a modern 600cc sportbike is too fast. Get a 600 enduro.. XL600, something like that. That ZX11 will get you killed real fast.

vash · vash's Garage

i think you would have the best commuter on your hands. but what everyone else said, that bike will time warp you into the future. you gotta be careful bro. the price is good. i just sold my ZX 6 for 4k. same year. please dont be one of those idiots riding in shorts and flipflops on your feet. you are going to need some safety gear. i would take the motorcycle foundation safety course. but if you are a safe rider, that bike will suit you well.

MotoSook · 03-08-2004, 10:14 AM

I took the MSF class twice and both times got perfect scores on the written and riding test. That still didn't prevent a couple of potentially bad incidents. The class is great, and I would make you and every rider take it if I could, but you have to be smart and know that the road and the other vehicles out there are not under your control!

TAKE THE CLASS>buy a smaller bike!

I had a FZR600 when all the guys I rode with had 750 to 1100's. I had no problem keeping up with those guys and I had a blast! I honed my riding skills....

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-08-2004, 10:19 AM

If this is your first bike, find something with less plastic.

When you drop it (and it's a question of "when", not "if", if this is your first) you'll be glad to have less plastic.

vash · vash's Garage

$4000!?

mtelliott · 03-08-2004, 01:44 PM

Keep with German engineering. Buy a BMW. You can own it forever.

rbt944 · 03-08-2004, 04:05 PM

I already took the course at school that you guys mentioned, it's sanctioned by the chp right? That's how I got my motorcycle license. The bike will mostly be used to go to school and work when not driving the 944. My clothing apparel is mostly boots and pants, I don't own shorts or flip-flops so that won't really be a problem. I will get a jacket, helmet, and gloves before I take it out for my first ride. The reason I want to get it is because it sounds like such a good deal. The guy that I'm buying it from is my cousin's boyfriend, He's very busy working and has no time to ride.
Also, all that showing off that I see on bikes, like wheelies and other tricks are just not my thing. I won't even bother to try them. I just really like the feel of being on a motorcycle. I will try to be as safe as I can.
Thanks for the input guys!

motion · 03-08-2004, 04:32 PM

Gus.. buy the bike then sell it for a profit. Then buy something less insane. That's my 30 years of motorcycle riding experience advice to you.

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by motion
Gus.. buy the bike then sell it for a profit. Then buy something less insane. That's my 30 years of motorcycle riding experience advice to you.

damn that is a good idea!

motion · 03-08-2004, 07:19 PM

I should add that I've crashed 7 or 8 times at over a buck. I know that Youth+HP=Road Rash !!

vash · vash's Garage

motion, you crack me up. i have had only one "get off" broke my leg, but i blew that red 5.0 mustang into the bushes before i crashed. haha, now i am more geezer-like. i like the big ninja, it can be very tame with an experienced rider. we just worry about you guys, thats all.

LeeH · 03-08-2004, 09:31 PM

My wife worked at a big motorcycle dealership in Atlanta to pay for flight training. A guy bought a GSXR1100 or something like that for his first bike. Everyone at the dealership tried to talk him out of it. He insisted he would buy it AND ride it home. He made it to the end of the driveway. As he tried to pull into the road he gave it too much wrist, went over the far curb and then over the handlebars. Fortunately he was OK. The bike went straight back to the dealership for repairs.

I've owned six motorcycles and never dropped one on the pavement. I came really close once in the N. Georgia mountains. Shortly after that one of our closest friends was run off the road by an 18 wheeler. He can sort of walk with a walker now. Riding was never the same for me after that.

Brando · Brando's Garage

As a youngin with plenty-o bad driving record let me as well chime in and say be careful with your first purchase. I'd suggest as motion did, buy that sucker and slap it on ebay (reserve at what you paid). Hell, buy some touchup paint and polish it up some. You can easily make a profit off that bike.

OR, buy it and keep it in the garage until you've honed your riding skills on a more newbie-friendly bike. I was aiming at getting a suzuki sv650 as my starter bike, then was suggested by a friend to buy his aprilia RS50 replica (he sold it to another friend of mine).

I quickly passed up the thought of owning a bike until i had at least a $100k life insurance policy. Mostly due to my first serious accident which was in my dad's 73 RSR 911. Some dick decided to merge me into a center divider at about 75 and took off after the fact. I realized then, that if i were on a motorcycle, I'd more than likely be dead.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Another 30 year+ rider here, DO NOT ride that bike until you are an experienced rider. You are looking at a ~3 sec. 0-60/190mph bike, it's a casket or a joy stick-controlled wheelchair waiting to happen. The torque and thrust on 1 liter sport bikes is insane, honestly it would be safer to start selling crack on the streets of Compton tonight w/ no experience. Please reconsider this.