who has regret buying a motorcycle
 

When I buy something expensive such as a z, tv, pc, etc I know exactly what I want. But buying a bike has been difficult because I tell myself it's impractical because I would only ride on sunny weekends, it rains a lot in Seattle. It could be dangerous because of other drivers. Then I think about all the fun.

I've been thinking about buying a sport bike for a couple weeks, which I've already scheduled a riding class. I know the bike I want, cbr250 abs, and full leather gear. I originally wanted a ninja 650 but figured that could be a dangerous choice. I thought about spending $2000 for a used 250 but figured if it broke it would add up.

I keep flopping yes and no. All I know is that I'm taking the classes.

Has anyone bought a bike and had regret?

Love mine and never look back! On my second bike.. had a 06 R6 and am now riding a '10 GSXR1000

Loved mine and can not wait to get my next one, "had a wreck"

i love my bike also... my word of advice is that the 250 will be fun at first but you will soon grow out of it. At least start with a 500 or 600, the 600 is plenty of bike and unless you have a death wish, it will last you a few years. You can pick up a used 600 for around $4k pretty easy if that is in your price range.

Never regretted buying mine. Just feel bad for it now that I have my Z. I think I've only ridden it once this year. Actually probably gonna sell it this winter/next spring to free up more mod funds for the Z.

I have the CBR250r. I picked mine up right after they came out (beginning of 2011) and I love mine. I admit I haven't ridden it much since I got the Z but it's also been insanely hot here in Louisiana and I don't ride without all my gear on.

Personally I disagree about outgrowing it. It's still plenty fast enough for me. If I really feel the need for speed, I'd rather do that with a seat belt on anyway. :)

I don't regret buying my Hayabusa. It's and extreme blast to ride. I live in KS and sometime get to ride it all year round, everything but snow and ice. But I can see your dilema since it does rain all the time up there. The fun is worth it though, and yeah, something bigger than a 250 would be advisable.

OP, if you some short scrawny person then a 250 might be ok, but if you're anything like me (6'3", 200+) you'll quickly wish you had bought a 600.

I took the class last month. It is worth it. I learned A LOT too. I'm looking for a 600 as my starter.

been riding for 20+ years! Only time to regret it is when I damage the bike. :tiphat:

You sound prudent. That's a good thing. A prudent rider can ride an 1100 and stay safe. A fool can ride a 250 and take out themselves and someone else.

That you wish for full leathers, and will take a riding course shows me you are serious about staying safe.

You WILL enjoy the bike, whatever it is. You WILL wish you had more power, whtever it is. Fact.

Don't limit your purchase. Limit your throttle hand.

Good luck!

Coop (42 years with my MC license)

I use to ride too, I had 3 bikes, I never went over a 600 though, a 600 is more than enough to get you killed, I gave up riding because I lost a few friends on motorcycles. So whatever you do, ride safely, and within your means.

My only regret was selling it.

Love my bike, you will have no regrets getting one... I agree with a few people here though that the 250 will get old really fast. My female friend bought the honda 250 and i ride it here and there. Def very lacking in the acceleration range, and feel almost unsafe trying to merge into traffic with it bc of the lack of umph when i get on it. But see how you feel after you take the course, those are usually 250 cruisers. Could you live riding a bike of that power for a long period of time?

I had a '12 cruiser and now a '11 cbr600. Im in love with the cbr ever since I got it the z just sits around and collect dust. The cruiser was a 750cc and outgrew that really fast. A 600 is good enough to move grown man pretty quick. a 1k and 1300 are for racing in my opinion. And again like others have said a 250 is too small and like others said 600 cc's+ are good as long the rider nows his own limits. Dont be afraid be self conscious. Its what i ride by. The z is for rainy and winter days. I get a lot more women on the bike. Lol

Something I noticed was the cost of insurance per month. I've read a lot of it has to do with local claims. I was thinking of getting a 250 first then buying a cbr600 but the cost of insurance is too high for me.

Cbr250 $20
Cbr600 $150
Ninja 650 $50

are those per month prices on the insurance? I pay less than $300 a year for my GSXR 600 and Im downstate NY

edit: just reread your post and saw it is monthly lol full coverage im going to assume then with those prices?

650r is a great starter bike, that is what I learned on. Good compromise between the 250s and the more aggressive 600s

I think it is for full coverage from progressive. I chose the cheapest of the 3 plans they offered.

Completely disagree. The guy is doing the right thing learning on a 250. A modern 600 is a very powerful machine, not for a beginner.

Smartest thing you could have done. And the insurance breaks are considerable. I started riding on a Honda CB350, now ride a 1200 and a 1000. Start small.

I've got a VTX 1800 (customized) for sale if you want something big and powerful to cruise around on...PM me if you want to know more.:tup:

:iagree:, learn on something more forgiving, build a strong set of skills, then move up to something more powerful. Despite having my 600, and looking into purchasing a liter later this year, I still have and ride my 250, and its just as good a bike as the day I bought it.

I've ridden and owned all types of bikes for the last 42 years and still enjoy sport bikes and flat track or super moto style of bikes.

The only thing that gets old on a bike quick, is long distance interstate driving for long periods of time.

Even senic twisty roads get old after about 2hrs. in the saddle.

Most rides if kept with in the 2 hr max one way drive are enjoyable with a decent place to relax or do something for a couple of hrs. etc.

Your best bet for an enjoyable bike is one that is lite weight and has a lot of torque down low, you can enjoy all the speed and torque with in the legal speed limit and not draw unwanted attention from cops.

I currently have a 07 gsxr1000, buell xb12r, 1200 sportster with 90hp engine and I find my self taking out the sportster most of the time.

The main thing to remember with bikes is that they are really meant for leisure or weekend driving, life span of most sport bikes is 20k -40k and most will be needing some expensive engine repair around that mileage.

Cruisers are good for about the same amount japs more , harleys less.

Some of the jap 4 cylinders touring and bmw touring bikes can easily get into the 80-100k mileage range.

So here are some basic fact about owning bikes.

1. riding in bad or cold or to hot of weather just plain sucks.
2. riding long distance is quite boring and women hate it.
3. most women hate riding on the back of a bike longer that 15 minutes, if you want to share riding with your girlfriend of wife, then get her a bike to.
4. Helmet head and all the extra safety and riding gear required really suck.
5. If you ride fast or a sport bike most cops will be drawn to you like flies on **** etc.

I thought I would update this thread for anyone thinking about riding. This is my first year riding and I have 15k miles, most from riding the back roads and not the highway. There were 3 new riders that I started riding with. I think all of them stopped riding. Riding isn't for everyone.

I guess I was planning to buy a cbr 250 but got a zx6r instead. When I first started riding the power of the bike never got me in trouble however my inexperience with throttle and brake did. There were a few close calls but I regained control and never hurt myself. I started practicing in a parking lot and I still practice today, but in the twisties. I like riding so much I practice the twisties on wet roads, but near the speed limit.

Before I bought my bike I had no idea how fun it is to ride. When I ride my bike I have one objective, a spirited ride in the twisties. I think that's where the car and bike differ.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9d7db069.jpg

Ive had a 2003 R6 then Ive had 2 GSXR 750's and an 05 R1. My only regret was getting rid of them....:shakes head:

So you have all the positives .... let me give you the BIG downside

You will be 28 to 40 times more likely to suffer a serious injury - sufficiently serious to cause an injury that impairs your ability to lead a normal, full and productive life, or a fatal accident. The risk actually peaks immediately after the learner-period is over.

If the unthinkable happens, it is not you that suffers the most, it is those around you.

Our daughter died as a consequence of injuries sustained when her fiancee dropped the bike in a 40kph "oops" - caused by road debris dragged onto the tarmac by delivery trucks cutting a suburban corner.

The accident occurred the day after my wife and I hosted their engagement party.

This occurred 17 years ago and I can still see the police car arriving to deliver the message as clear as the keyboard in front of me.

So, I say "pause a moment" and think of your parents, siblings and those you hold dear, and ask yourself - "Am I prepared to subject them to the possible outcomes of serious trauma or even death", because the only way to make sure you can avoid it is not to throw your leg over the saddle.

Now when I was much younger, I started with a CB350 Honda (those old enough will remember them), and progressed to a Kawasaki Mach III, Mach IV and eventually a 900 four. I road-raced all the Kwacka's and eventually gained enough skill the be given a National B-grade license (an A-grade license meant you could road-race internationally), so I absolutely "get" the levels of fun you can have and the sheer rush of adrenalin that comes from pushing the envelope, or even just cruisin' along on a mild summers day.

But never forget that it is dangerous and for every rider still at it after 20, 30 or 40 years, there are a lot who left for a ride and never came home the same person, or simply never came home at all, and my thoughts are always with those who are left behind.

If you do choose to proceed, then think long-and-hard about taking the GF or life-partner of the moment on the pillion, because quite simply, on a motor-cycle, sh1t happens AND the penalties of someone else's mistake can be catastrophic.

I'm not intending to be a wet-blanket, but if by spending 10 minutes typing this all out, I save another parent, uncle/aunty, grand-parent or sibling the madness of grief, I'll be happy.

That said, I am a notorious old-fart, and you are perfectly at liberty to ignore me.

Tread your own path.

RB

I had a sport bike. It was my primary mode of transportation all thought college. I didn't have a car but was able to make arrangement for one when I needed. Bikes are fun. If you thought you got a lot of control driving a manual car; it's nothing compared to riding a bike. Everything you do on a bike matters. When you look left, right, sneeze, or whatever slightly or significantly change the direction your heading. Riding in the rain feeling like your being pelted by rocks! Man is riding a bike is a blast! I sold my bike when I finished school though. I needed a more reliable mode of transportation so I bough my Nismo. I occasionally think about buying anther bike but at the same time, for the 10k, I could get boost and have just as fun, at least I think I will.

I share the sentiment. I had a bike when I was younger, but would never do it again - not a street bike. Roads are getting too crowded and speeds are higher than when I rode. The problem is that an accident on a bike is easier to happen and much less forgiving. Track or off road, I'd still ride - on road with the American public: no way.