No budget in mind. I'd have to say I don't want to spend enough that I'd be really disappointed when I drop it. That's why I don't want a pristine CB450 like Hancocks, nor a relatively rare Ducati/Triumph/etc. Besides, I don't know enough about bikes to appreciate a truly "special" model. If cornered, I'd say my budget tops out at $3000. Seems you can still get a LOT of bike for that. Craigslist has at least a couple dozen bikes under $1k.

Re: gear, check out newenough.com.

if your my size..i am selling very new leathers..cheap.

vanson stuff. i just need to get off my butt to put it on craigslist.

What is your size?

newenough.com. Thanks. Their pricing looks great.

vash, I wear pants with 32 inseam and 34 waist.

Only bad thing about the SV650 in Chattanooga is it's a good 4 hour drive. Close to Tail of the Dragon, though, but that sounds like a suicide mission for a newbie. :D $3000 or better sounds like a great price. Bikes are so cheap.

Motorcycle for beginner
 

Borrow/rent a pickup truck and pick it up. See if the seller will even meet you halfway, if he's got a truck. I did that once, at an empty mall parking lot by the side of the highway. No, that didn't look suspicious at all, ha ha.

Some motorcycle jackets are listed in Euro sizing (obviously not Vanson). Just add 10 to your U.S. chest size.

shameless plug..

Vanson Motorcycle leathers. jacket+pants

i checked ebay for pricing. lemme know if i am insane..

How much you asking for it? If I send you a cashier's check, could you refund the balance via Western Union. :)

So that sounds like a good price, right? He listed it two days ago with a firm price, and now he's motivated to sell. Motorcycle guys are weird, don't you think?

Jacket would be too big. Stupid question: Do you wear the pants over your regular clothes? Over shorts? Go commando?

no,,i used to wear them over sythetics..errr...tights.

nothing commando!! hahahha.

4 hours? Dude, I am driving 9 hours each way tomorrow to pick up my BMW. 9 hours straight north of me, where it is cold and snowing!

I bet dollars to donuts he will come off of that price a small bit. Probably enough to make it worth renting a truck/trailer/box van to get it.

I bought my first real bike a week after I got my license and it was a good 400 mile ride from home. I was really not ready for that, but it was an adventure. Bought my GS 500 miles away, sort of near Tail of the Dragon. That ride home was kind of rough too. Now I'm used to that kind of mileage, but it was a struggle when I was a noob.

If you're talking about the blue '06 SV650 posted by Rot, I think that's a great deal. 2900 miles? No accidents? Just check to make sure the guy has the title in hand, so you're not waiting 3 months (and 4 hrs away) for him to pay off his lienholder and get the title to you. Sounds like he's made mods to make the bike more comfortable. The S model was the sportier one (with a fairing and possibly lower handlebars, but I could be wrong as it's been years since I've looked at one).


The guy's trying to sell his gear. Like he's going to admit to going commando in them, even if he did?

Consider textile overpants. They're made out of Cordura (but heftier than what backpacks are made from). You wear them over regular pants/shorts. Good for commuting. Tour Master used to make a pretty good, economical pair.

I emailed the fellow with the SV650, and he can't meet halfway. I'd drive all the way and offer $500 less to reimburse for the time and gas. This is the standard version, so it has no fairings and lowered bar height. That's a plus for me.

I browsed listings on ADV. The BMW GS are sweet, but more expensive. There are dozens of other dual sports on there, but I don't like the higher seat heights.

I was giving vash a hard time about those leathers. I thought I saw some stains. :D Sorry, bro.
jurgen

They both look good for beginner or an experience:

http://www.suzuki-hayabusa.org/wp-co...busa-black.jpg

http://www.polyweb.com/danno/bikes/H...3hayabusa3.jpg

I hope you ended up getting a trailer. It's warmed up to 25 out right now.

Excellent choice. Perfect beginner bike.

Please, please, take a Motorcycle Safety class. They are fun and worth every penny.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

I haven't ridden one but the SV650 looks like one sweet ride...

I looked and couldn't find many for sale around here... think most people buy em and run them into the ground.