Looking for a Standard Street Bike around 1500ish.

[Will]

This is going to be my main means of transportation, rain or shine (LOL No snow, but I won't have to worry bout that until Winter rolls around again). I keep checking CL for deals, but not finding anything great for what I am looking for. I have a couple of preferences on the bike and was wondering if anyone in the GSB community knows someone who is thinking of selling or considering selling themself. One of the requests I am making is, because this is my first bike I would like to check it out at a motorcycle shop before purchase. Need it to be sound running condition.

Order of Preferences :

Bandit 600

GS 500 (E or F)

FZr

Seca 2

(I know they are out of my price range but Honda Hornet 600, and SV 650, sometimes you can find a good deal, lol)

Honda Hawk GTNT650 (I like the looks, but I am pretty sure that is out of my price range too)

Anything else you guys can think of would be helpful also, if I have to get a Ninja 250 I will, but that is the last on the list of preference.

Thanks alot!

[Georgiacbr]

This is going to be my main means of transportation, rain or shine (LOL No snow, but I won't have to worry bout that until Winter rolls around again). I keep checking CL for deals, but not finding anything great for what I am looking for. I have a couple of preferences on the bike and was wondering if anyone in the GSB community knows someone who is thinking of selling or considering selling themself. One of the requests I am making is, because this is my first bike I would like to check it out at a motorcycle shop before purchase. Need it to be sound running condition.

Order of Preferences :

Bandit 600

GS 500 (E or F)

FZr

Seca 2

(I know they are out of my price range but Honda Hornet 600, and SV 650, sometimes you can find a good deal, lol)

Honda Hawk GTNT650 (I like the looks, but I am pretty sure that is out of my price range too)

Anything else you guys can think of would be helpful also, if I have to get a Ninja 250 I will, but that is the last on the list of preference.

Thanks alot!


If this is your first bike that kaw 250cc might be temping esp in the price range your looking at. Sure everybody want's to bag the 250cc and claim it doesnt have the power but for a new rider it's something to start off with. When you retire it you likely move into something like a 600cc or a 1000cc. I know when I started up with a 1000cc It idealy wasn't a good move but we live and learn in Life. Have you taken Msf yet I highly advise that class before you get a bike.

[allen]

If you Have To get a Ninja 250???

I love mine! wife and I rode over 200 miles last Fri through all kinds twisties. It's very forgiving,,,If you plan on riding "spirited" and don't have 25k miles experience,, the 250 will save many bruised bones. If you don't believe a 250 can be fun, take a baby Ninja to Wolf Pen Gap.

[Will]

LOL, no offense meant, the Ninja is a sound machine, aesthetically speaking, it doesn't agree with me. I like the looks over the other bikes over the Ninja.

I did take the MSF class. It was very helpful, and best 200 I have spent for a class.

[Nikk777]

The 2008 and up ninja's actually look pretty good! I want one to race. there's a 2008 for 1800 obo on CL in athens I think... Also try crazedlist.com and search the south...it allows you to search multiple craigslist at one time. It addictive!!!

[vinhtvu2]

How about a ZR-7S??? I got one, it's not for sale... but I can vouch it's a great starter bike as well as a great bike in general. It's a little heavy, but it makes for a great street bike, the styling is not too aggressive, but not too wimpy either. You can have a fairly new one with low mileage for about $1500-$2000, the engine is from the old KZ, so they're rock solid......... I can go on and on... but in the end, it's all up to you and what you like and are comfortable on.
Just for reference, I saw an 01 with 4K miles ZR-7s for $1800 on CL around here... that's the same year as mine... insurance is less than $100 A YEAR for liability for me now and I'm under 25......

[Killen]

I rode a Kawi 250 for three years before I finally upgraded. It's an all around capable bike and excellent for commuting and general purpose. It'll be better at being a bike than you will at being a rider for quite awhile and I think you'll develop a lot of skill with confidence.

That said I just picked up an FZ6 the other night and I love it. It feels like the all-arounder I've been looking for and you might find the same. SV's and Ninja 650's also seem really popular and suited to your needs while being aesthetically pleasing and affordable if you have the patience and fortune to find a deal.

Good luck!

[TarzanMan]

Your best bet for that price range is going to be a GS500 or a Suzuki Katana 600. Both are pretty prevalent and proven reliable over the years. I rarely see Bandits or Seca's rolling around on the streets... and all of the FZR's I have ever come across since I started riding 5 yrs ago have had mechanical issues.