So I made a thread about wanting to get a motorcycle, and have decided that when I turn 18 I will get one. So now is my time to prepare for this, and plan ahead.

How much will everything involved be for my first bike. I know some things vary but just an estimate. I think I'm going to take an MREP course and they can teach you how to ride for a couple hundred bucks. I will generally be buying the cheapest stuff, and definitely a lot of used things.

I know I can look up a bike on craigslist, but I want to know how much I should be prepared to drop. I am considering putting off my regular license so that I will have more money saved once I turn 18 (insurance is a bitch.)

First: Good choice to do the course. Here in the UK its Mandatory.

Second: NO. Do NOT buy the cheapest stuff.

The helmet and rest of your kit is there to save your life. I don't care how many people say its fine to get cheap stuff as their never going to fall off. Its bullshit. Anybody can run into you. Be prepared.

Buy the best kit you can afford. (Just don't go stupid with thousand $$ leathers..) Decent but not cheap kit, basically.

Good luck.

EDIT: NEVER EVER EVER buy a used helmet. One drop and their useless.

As for dropping the bike?...Buy a cheap used bike, so it doesn't matter if you drop it.

In all honesty. Not taking the piss..
...How long is a piece of string?

I was looking for a new bike, was going to spend £2000, spent £3000..
I went to go buy a new helmet, was going to spend £200, spent £350.
I went to go buy new leathers, was going to spend £200, spent £400.

And then I've spent probably £200 on mods to the bike since I got it.

And so on...

Biking is stupidly easy to throw money at.

The main thing is always buy the best you can afford when it comes to safety.
Buy your kit first, then the bike.

If you get your license before you get a bike you can test ride them, this is a very good thing. Don't go too expensive on your first because it's likely you will drop it at some point. Gear is important

Payed about 2400$ for an 07 motorcycle (dropped plenty though) from a friend which included an alpinestars jacket and a shoei helmet but then again I am just lucky. Insurance for me (18 y/o no accidents no speeding tix) was only 100-150$ a year. Parking is about $100 a year for me.

So yeah... the thing about bikes is they look really appealing with the low insurance, low maintenance, low gas, and low parking costs... but if you are not lucky enough to have a friend who is giving up riding the gear is going to run up your wallet (it IS worth it though).
In the end performance motorcycles are about equally as expensive as moderately priced used econo cars. Comfort or speed? Your choice. Looking back I am kind of regretting the motorcycle... it was awesome during the summer... but now it's the winter :(

And yes even though you may think you're a hard motherfucker you haven't ridden on freeways late at night for hours with improper cold weather gear... I couldn't feel or move my hands or legs for hours... it was a very humbling experience.

Insurance for me (18 y/o no accidents no speeding tix) was only 100-150$ a year.


Bull-Fucking-Shit

Bull-Fucking-Shit

Agreed, mine is around $360 NZ dollars per year insured for $2500

Bull-Fucking-Shit

Ride with Mcgraw ;)

California riders only :(

And yes even though you may think you're a hard motherfucker you haven't ridden on freeways late at night for hours with improper cold weather gear... I couldn't feel or move my hands or legs for hours... it was a very humbling experience.

I really don't want to spend a huge amount of money, just something to mess around with in the summer and transportation.

Is it true that on a typical warm day (say 75 F) at highway speeds you will be cold in normal clothes? Yeah cold weather sucks.

Bull-Fucking-Shit

It's not like a car to insure you idiot. 18/m with no prior traffic tickets (went to court and got one dismissed) and my insurance for a 1996 suzuki katana is $220 a year for me.

http://www.jeffreyphipps.com/Lil%20Jon.jpg

http://www.jeffreyphipps.com/Lil%20Jon.jpg

Ha ha! I guess you could say it has a ... shark tank! Ha! Ha!

...low maintenance...
Wut?

I needed an extra character to post this reply.

http://www.jeffreyphipps.com/Lil%20Jon.jpg
What a horrid fucking machine.

What a horrid fucking machine.
gah I didn't realize I wrote that. By low maintenance I meant low cost maintenance

What a horrid fucking machine.

I figured that'd be hard to control.

I rode a bike with long handlebars and I thought it was harder to ride than a normal bike.

Is it?

http://www.jeffreyphipps.com/Lil%20Jon.jpg

that's not a motorcycle.

that's his dick.

What a horrid fucking machine.

Hence the presence of one Mr 'lil Jon, bastion of cheap tastes that leave a bad taste in the mouth, straddling it.

I figured that'd be hard to control.

I rode a bike with long handlebars and I thought it was harder to ride than a normal bike.

Is it?
That sort of riding position turns your body into a windsock man. It isn't fun.

A steering head angle that huge doesn't particularly help steering either. Generally you want anywhere from 24-26 degrees of steering angle, not whatever the fuck that ridiculous piece of agricultural shit is running.

http://www.jeffreyphipps.com/Lil%20Jon.jpg

Does this help him pick cotton?

Does this help him pick cotton?

I c wut u did thar!

Does this help him pick cotton?
Only oxycotton.

Bull-Fucking-Shit

I am 18 with no tickets and I only pay $130/year for an 1200cc Buell. Thats liability only though. Add some real coverage and the cost rises quickly.

To the OP, I figured I would buy a cheap used bike and some gear. I bought a $1200 suzuki and ended up dumping $800 into right away in repairs. Just be sure you don't buy a bike that has never been maintained.

I am 18 with no tickets and I only pay $130/year for an 1200cc Buell. Thats liability only though. Add some real coverage and the cost rises quickly.

To the OP, I figured I would buy a cheap used bike and some gear. I bought a $1200 suzuki and ended up dumping $800 into right away in repairs. Just be sure you don't buy a bike that has never been maintained.
So in the pursuit of reliability you sold the Suzuki and bought a Buell....

http://www.ukbeg.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=31027&highlight=gearbox

There's one example, look around, you'll find plenty of others. Every single guy I know who has invested in a Buell has ended up with catastrophic engine failure, even the guys who rode them in a damn near pedestrian manner.

Look into getting another bike man, unless you love rebuilding engines more than you enjoy riding.