924Board.org

[Neil924]

dgz924s, I'm looking for a sportbike. I am just starting out. From the advice I found here, I'm going to look for an older bike to start with {cost, insurance, if I lay it down a few times no real concerns and I won't die. That's the biggest one for me.} say 88 or 92 sportbike. I really don't like the look of cruisers. And as for use cracking the throttle from time to time.
P.S. Is riding with a person on the back always trickey?

[dgz924s]

Sportbike is too wide open. There are many types. What do you people consider a sportbike? In my day a sportbike is a street legal dirt bike. Some consider 500cc and above "crotch rockets" as sportbikes but in reality the Ninja's and that style of bike is street/road racer aka "superbike". If you intend to go off road and run some trails in the woods and such go with a 250 to 500cc street/trail bike. If you intend to do mach one get a large bore Kawasaki, Honda,Yamaha etc. Older scooters are not going to save your ass over a new one! Learning to ride properly and the safety gear you wear will! Granted newer bikes handle better but in the end it is always the rider!!! Balance is a big issue on passengers! Learn to ride without a rider and get your best balance then tackle the extra rider! The rider needs to act as if the two of you are one meaning lean when you lean and so on. Bike size also plays a part on extra riders as well. The lighter the bike the more top weight you need to compensate for. A 250cc bike vs. a 1000cc - the heavier the bike the less rider weight you have to manage. Power is never an issue when hauling a rider unless you are on a 250cc or less bike. Hope this helps! Now you have me wanting to go get out the Maico 501 and do some serious whoop d doos! Later D

[Joes924Racer]

I had bikes rode trials,motocross in Colorado,Montana,
Washington,Oregon.I can fly on a bike,did BMX too.
Bikes Ive had.
1. 73 Kawasaki 100 Trail Boss
2. 78 Honda XR75
3. 79 Yamaha YZ 125
4. 82 Suzuki rm 125
Bmxers Ive had.
1.Lots of modified Schwinns
2. 75 Yamaha full suspension bmxer
3. 78 Panasonic
4. 79 Redline
5.80 DG
6.80s Schwinn prostock 2
7.98 Gary Fisher
I still have the last 2 bmxers &
a 75 Kawasaki 350 bighorn & 82 Suzuki RM 125
_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

[jamez]

bikes I have owned, * indicates I still have them
1976 CB 550*
1978 Yamaha RD400 - two stroke screamer, track use only*
1993 fzr 600
1978 Honda XL 125*
1983 honda XR 350
1986 honda CR 125*
1986 yamah yz 125
1978 honda trail 90*
1989 yamaha peewee 50- oh yeah*
198something suzuki 80
198something honda 90 (my first dirt bike, I think it was an XL, dont remember)
198something Yamaha Virago

[gwsg]

From my understanding of it sportsbikes don?t carry passengers and are usually built in Italy. As for reliability, this is incompatible with ?Italian?, although working on bikes is simple and fun.

I?ve owned:
Suzuki GT380
Moto Guzzi 850GT
Ducati 900SS
LaverdaSF750

The big Italians I rode when living in the country and doing a 90 mile return trip to work including 30 miles of scraping twisties. The other 60 miles were straight back roads ridden at 80 - 120mph depending on my mood. The twisties were far and away the best part of the trip. Which leads me to my point. If I were to buy another sportsbike I would go for something much smaller like a Cagiva or an Aprilia which will still pull over 100mph from a 125cc engine without a high price tag. Flat out top speed was never the buzz for me compared to trying to take the perfect line.

Unless your considering long haul touring, try something small and nimble, the acceleration and handling will still amaze you.

Just beware though that the better rider you become the closer to the edge you have to ride in order to achieve the same buzz you used to get. This can only end in self destruction.
_________________
My 80 924 loves me.

[Neil924]

[endwrench]

The safest thing you can do on a streetbike is ride like you are invisable to anyone else! Just assume no one else can see you. This advise saved my bacon more times than I can count.

Todd

[ZV]

[ljd931]

hi neil,

the end of last spring i sold my celica to have enough money to restore a 931 that fell into my lap. the project didn't work out by the end of summer, which was when i had to head back to school, so with the little money i had left i bought a 94 kawasaki zx-6e. that's a 600cc sportbike with 20,000 miles for only $2000. the guy i bought it from was a friend so he did drop the price a little, but the bike runs strong and it's only problems were cosmetic (scratches). in the 9 months that i've owned the bike the only major problem was the water pump going out, $250 bucks and 4 bolts to remove.

i'm also 21 and a college student and this being my only vehicle, you can imagine i've driven the shit out of it (with no scars) and i couldn't be happier with my decision to go with a 600 (and with the reliability of this bike). it really doesn't take too long until you learn to handle the power (if'n you take your time in learning the limits of the bike). besides the driving pleasure, that extra power is best used to force the female riding with you to have to squeeze you tighter just to hang on. in fact, i'm gonna go ahead and warn you now that your sex life is going to improve significantly no matter how much of a stud you may already be. go with the 600, everyone i know here at school with anything less has either upgraded already or is currently looking for a bigger/faster bike. in fact, i'm seriously considering upgrading to a zx-7 or a gsx-r 750 this summer if i can find a sweet enough deal.

i'm not saying the rest of the people on this board aren't giving you good advice, they're just a little more conservative than 21 year olds should be.
_________________
ljamesdickinson@yahoo.com
parting out - '81 931
looking for - '88 924S w/ m030 & LSD

[Neil924]