Bike opinions
 

Alrighty, so I'm gonna be graduating soon and you know what that means...presents!

I've been looking at getting a bike for a few months now and I thought I'd see if anyone on here has any opinions.

This will be my first bike that I've owned, but I know how to ride, so please don't suggest a Ninja 250, lol.

I was looking at the Suzuki SV and GSX-R. Now, I'm only 5'2" so just sitting on them makes me want the gixxer cause it's lighter and easier for me to maneuver. However, even though the SV is heavier, it has more (IMO) useable street power. You have to really rev the gixxer to get to its highest power output.

I was also looking at the R1 (Yamaha) but there weren't any at the dealerships I've been at so I don't know what they feel like. Also, I've heard they're kind of buzzboxes.

I'm open to other things as well, and while I'd like to get a new one, I'm not opposed to getting one used if I'm sure of its history.

Suggestions?

My daughter seems to fit her Ducati Monster Dark 600 and she is 5' 4"

Hmm, I haven't really looked into Ducatis. Do you know anything about their powerband? Low-end vs. high-end?

Also, I guess I should explain a little more. I'm not worried about stock height of the bike. I know I'll pretty much have to lower anything I get, what I'm more concerned about is how wide it is when I sit on it. A narrower bike like the gixxer helped me feel more in control than, say, a busa.

Yeah, I was going to recommend looking into Ducatis.

Don't know much about bikes, but heard that Ducatis are one of the best.

Also, I'm of course looking for speed, but I really want something that corners well, too. I'm willing to sacrifice speed for flickablilty, lol.

Ducati are great. Big V twins and have great torque and sound wonderful.

A Moto Guzzi also.

If you say it it your first bike, but you know how to ride. Don't go for the R1, you can't ride that. It is an insane bike and very hard to ride fast. (very hard to ride with the front wheel on the ground).

Any BMW bike if you want a comfortable cruiser.

The Suzuki is a good bike too.

Personally, when I get another bike, I'll be going back to the Italian ones. They have more personality and style.

Well, when I said it's my first bike, I mean it's the first one I'll own. I ride quite a bit, mostly thou's so that's what I'm used to, but I really don't need all that power.

And I know what you mean about keeping the front wheel on the ground. The bike I usually ride is an SV1000s and it took awhile to get used to having that kind of power right away. It also doesn't help that I don't weigh that much so it comes up even easier.

I am kind of partial to the twins though, so that's one reason I don't think I'd be totally happy with something like a gixxer.

I think the SV650s seems like a good idea. It's on the cheaper end, has the powerband I like, and it'll be a bit lighter than what I'm used to.

u should an SV because it has less power first you get the feel for a sport bike than you get one with more because if don't know what youre doing you can lose control really easily especially on a gsxr those bikes are quick

Ok maybe I'm not explaining this right, lol.

I can handle the faster bikes, I have been riding for awhile. My dad has been letting me ride his bikes for a long time and I've also been riding my boyfriend's recently. Both own 1000s. Too much power isn't my concern. My concern is useable power. I've ridden gsx-r's and sv's and to me the sv has better power for daily riding. But I haven't really been exposed to other brands like Ducati, Kawasaki, Yamaha (except for an FZ1 that I rode once). Do any models of these brands have the same type of power down low like an SV?

Ducati +1

Ok, so which models should I be looking at with the Ducati?

Best bet is to do some research on the Ducati web site. Then find a dealer to sit on them for sizing.

If your nearest dealer is anything like the one here in Portland, there will be a goodly selection of used bikes to try too.

I tend to play with the big touring bikes so my choices probably wouldn't match too many others here. But at 6' 3" the little ones make me feel uncomfortable.

Really? :shifty

I know nothing about bikes, but the one dude I knew that was hardcore about them was a Ducati man.

i would suggest a Honda CBR600 F4i, yea its not crazy fast(fast enough) but definately very light and maneuverable, atleast to me it is, although i typically ride a cruiser

If you want a bike that you don't have to keep high in the rev range, stick with a V twin of some kind. The Duke's don't have the overall horsepower of the Jap bikes, but sound and look better in my opinion. They handle well, but aren't able to keep up with a CBR900RR or YZF R1 or the like. Unless you buy the 999SP or similar. One of my favourites is still the 851 Ducati.

Find your local dealer and take one for a test ride. It is a bit like owning an Italian car, you don't buy them because they are the best at anything. You just fall in love with it.

You forgive it, it's failing and appreciate the style and class that it has.

http://www.ducati.com/index.jhtml;js...2SFFAKFUIHUIV4

And they've just beaten Valentino Rossi in the GP!