Ok, a friend of mine just bought a motorcycle (Ninja 500cc) and I am liking the idea of a motorcycle after learning how to ride it :cheesy: So, I am starting to look around for some 2001-2003 bikes with very low miles. I am in love with the Buell Lightning. My question is though, since I don't know much about bikes, does anyone know from experience if I would be better off with a Ducati or Yamaha if I am spending that much money already, or are Buell bikes as nice as they look?

Thanks for the advice in advance.

One of my friends has a Ducati (748SP) and I know that they need a lot more attention than the Japanese bikes. He is forever changing the clutch and doing engine rebuilds and stuff. I have had to give him a few jump starts in the winter too :lol:

It is an amazing bike though! 8)

Buells look lovely.

Ducatis very nice too, I drive past a dealership in south London quite a lot :)

Yamaha will be lots more reliable, although for some reason parts for the Jap bikes are very expensive - complete exhaust system for brother's GPz1100 was 700ukp odd!!

However, if it is your first bike, for gawd's sake get an old 5/600 and run about for 6 months. You will drop it, and do that with a Duke / Buell and you will never forgive yourself!

No idea what bike licensing laws are like in the states, over here would say start with s/h gpz500 / er5 / cb500, then when you have some expperience buy something nice!

This all from somebody who has never ridden a bike in his life :roll: :oops: :D but would love to if only her indoors would let him (balls in handbag :( ) - have lots of bike owning friends and have absorbed a lot of useful info! ;)

I had a 1972 bmw r75/5, back in 72. I could get on ride cross country, change the oil and do it again. One of my favorite things to do was to hit pebbles with the crash bar while cornering.
Ninja's the way. If you 're going to do rice, add pepper. :lol:

Buells look lovely.
However, if it is your first bike, for gawd's sake get an old 5/600 and run about for 6 months. You will drop it, and do that with a Duke / Buell and you will never forgive yourself!

thats exactly what i was about to say. DO NOT START OUT WITH A LIGHTNING!!! those bikes are extremely fast and not very user-friendly, if you want a new buell, consider the Blast, its a nice entry level bike that you wont get yourself killed on. and if you like it after the first season, sell it and get a bigger, faster and more dangerous bike :lol: . oh and if this is your first time on a motorcycle, there are some very good places where you can take a course that will tell you all about the basics of motorcycling and afterwards you get your license, from what i hear these are worth the extra money.

good luck

Paul

I'd start with something much cheaper and smaller than anything you probably want to be seen on.
Here's the deal. Within the first two months of serious riding, you're going to come off that bike. You rather be going slow on a cheap old bike than fast on a new bike with lots of expensive body work. Something around or less than 500cc (like your friends) is the only way to go. You run too great a chance of seriously hurting yourself or scaring yourself away from riding altogether on a bike that's too much bike for you.
I rode with a group of guys for years out west (Canada) and we had this horrible little Yamaha 250 Exciter that we lent to anyone that we knew that wanted to learn to ride. It just kept getting passed around.
Next season move up to a newer 600 Supersport and then with about 25000km or more under your seat you should be ready for something like a 750 or an open classer.
Buell's are a pretty harsh ride and a pain to work on. I've always ridden Yamaha's. They're an engineering delight. Honda's are nice, but they remove the rider too much from the experience (to smooth and linear) Kawi's are great in general, but can be rather peaky and seem better suited to the track. Ditto, but more so for Suzuki's. These are very wide generalizations. Ducatti's make poor first bike, as would any boutique type bike.
None of the above applies to Harleys and cruisers as they are best left parked infront of a patio bar looking for attention.

i'd agree to start on something not so cool :roll:
not sure as i would advise so small as a 250.. the weight as well as performance of a fullon crotch rocket is quite a leap to get used to.. and as for everyone crashing - i didnt.. but i did drop the bike once while learning and was glad is was a learner bike with crash bars.
i'd spend the first year on a sensible 500 with an upright riding position and fourstroke weight and power delivery while you actually 'learn' to ride after youve passed your test.
then collect your designer speed machine after that.

i still miss my Ducati :cry: :cry: :cry:

Well, obviously not EVERYBODY crashes, but most do and for most its pretty minor. But you're looking at pretty serious $$ even if you just forget to put your sidestand down at the filling station ( :oops: )
My first crash was on a TZ250 on a track. A high side at about 140 coming out of an S-curve. Glad to be wearing leathers. If you're on a sport bike, wear leathers. Having skin is nice.
Anyway, my whole point was just that lots and lots of good honest people crash doing normal things. The better rider you are, the better your skills will be to overcome any unexpected gravel mid corner etc. Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainy, KR Jr, all these guys honed their skills doing dirt track laps on 100cc dirtbikes.

point taken :D thought you meant ouch crash rather than wallet pain crash.. (spring loaded ducati stands?)

the dirtbike thing is true also, i spent a long time playing in mud on bikes before i even realised i wanted a roadbike!
(plus theres not so many idiot car drivers out to get you when youre off road)

I still have an RZ500 which hasn't seen the road in about 5 years. Now that I have a kid, I feel so much more vulnerable on the road. I'm back to getting my kicks on an old dirtbike around the farm. I started riding on a Z50 at 7 on the farm. Think I sold it for $50. You cant find them for less than $1000 now. I'd love to get my kid one.

Bike Tips:
1) Take the MSF (or equielent) Beginner Motorcycle course.
2) Go buy gear. Preferably leather, but well padded textile is fine too. Wear it EVERY TIME you ride the bike. And I mean EVERY TIME.
3) Spend as much on your first bike as you did on gear. That means about $1000-$2000. Get something old and ugly. You will drop it. You will crash it. And if it is already ugly you won't care too much.
4) Practice all your drills.

Good first bikes:
Kawasaki EX250 - Great small, light beginner bike. Can usually be found used for $1000-$2000. Brand new they are $3000. 27hp, but still faster 0-60 than any production car under about $65K. Excellent brakes. Will cruise at 75 all day long. Tops out at about 100-110mph. Additional bonus - Passing GSXRs on the outside of the twisty bits of a track. Bike has remained relatively unchanged since 88. Bullet proof motor. Dated styling. Very very cheap insurance.
http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/gallery/gallerymain/EX250-F16_1_MAIN.JPG

Kawasaki EX500 - Basically the same as the EX250. Heavier and with about 40hp. Slightly taller in the seat. Great bike as well. Top speed of 120-130. Very cheap insurance. Can be had for $2000-$3000 used, $5000 new.
http://www.rutasymotos.com.ar/fotoscolegas/EX500.jpg

Suzuki GS500 - Slightly less power and more weight than the EX500. Great all around bike. Look for an older one, the new 04's are fully faired, which is expensive to fix when you drop it. Prices should be comparable to the EX500.
http://www.beginnerbikes.com/images/00gs500eaction1.jpg

Buell Blast - When you absolutly have to have an American bike, pick the Buell. I can't say much about it other than the resale is very low, and I don't personally like Buells. But there are a bunch of people buying them, so they do something right.
http://www.beginnerbikes.com/images/03blastaction1.gif

There are some older bikes that also tend to be good starter bikes like the Honda NT650 Hawk, or the Honda VF500 or the Suzuki Bandit 400, but they can be hard to find in good condition for a good price. Stay far away from anything 600ccs or bigger. Even the Yamaha FZR600 was the bad boy of it's day and still puts out 80+hp and weighs about 500lbs wet. And if anyone says that 600s are weak and you need to get a 750 or bigger punch them in the nose and walk calmly away. Just consider the fact that a modern 600SS bike will out accelerate just about anything on four wheels slower than an 800hp TT Supra.

Also, find a local Track Day organization and start getting on the track. It's a million times safer than the street, and far more fun.

There is one bike I recomend for almost any beginner. The Suzuki SV-650, it is very light and very easy to ride. They are not very expensive (an '02 model in great shape can be had for around $3K). The V-twin motor has a very smooth power delivery. It is docile enough for a beginner yet fast and nimble enough to not get embarassed.
I know a guy who routinely outruns lesser riders on bigger bikes on a little SV.
It is a bike that you are not going to outgrow as quickly as some of the others.

I agree, the SV is a decent beginner's bike. Still a little too much bike in my opinion, but a much wiser choice. And they dont look too bad either. Still what I would think of as a second season bike though.

Check out MotoGuizi. Supposed to be one of the most low maintenance Italian sport bikes. Not a Ducatti, but lot more personality than the Japanese bikes.

Triumph is another one. Very well regarded, and very cool.

(plus theres not so many idiot car drivers out to get you when youre off road)Tends to be idiot 4x4 captains in the school run bus :roll: instead.

Check out MotoGuizi. Supposed to be one of the most low maintenance Italian sport bikes.

HAHA!! You must be joking!!
Guzzis are like the... Lancia's of motorcycles.
Back in the 70's they were notorious for losing a cilinderhead now and then.
Since then they have improved. A little. Litteraly.
Guzzi's are just one little step ahead of exotic little brands like Laverda, Bimota, etc. And that's saying a lot.
Low maintenance? Go to Daelim, Hyosung,...

having owned 4 motorcycles and being 20 years old i haven't wrecked a single one, just don't be stupid,

now to the bikes, i wouldn't drive a buell if you paid me too, that is just personal, if you want something that is easy to ride and reliable get a honda, they'll take any abuse you can throw at them and are wonderful to ride, i can't say the same for the Yamaha R6 or the Suzuki GsxR1000 i currently own, they aren't quite as easy to maintain

another great thing about the honda's is that due to their mass production they have lots of riders and insurance is quite cheap

Check out MotoGuizi.

My Dad has a 1978 Moto Guzzi LeMans that he bought new in '78 and has had since. it has something like 49000 miles on it without ever being rebuilt, so its safe to say that they are reliable, the things are bulletproof. they may not put out as much power as the ducatis or be as well known but in my opinion they make some of the coolest bikes around. Very saablike :D .

Paul

I plan on buying my first bike this summer (well, the first bike for me to drive, I've owned a few with my ex BF) and as much as I want the new Honda 600 RR, I know I will crash at some point and until I am experienced, am looking at getting an older Honda F4i or something in the 600 range thats a few years old and fairly cheap. I would also say buy a cheap dirt bike and go out when you have time and bomb around to get the feel of a bike. Riding is awesome, its one of my fav things to do. Good luck :)

I've had limited experience of road bikes, something to do with a desire to remain intact, but the Guzzi we've had for years is like any other Italian vehicle our family has owned, a great engine which won't blow up if you change it's oil regularly, all wrapped up in a pile of loosely associated spare parts from a big bin marked FIAT....

As Enzo said, you pay for the engine, the rest is just something to take it home in.....

I love 'em all....only the Italians can build charisma in to basic functional machinery as well as exotica, IMHO :cheesy: