Looking for some info on Motorcycles

[BAW0343]

Hey, so this is what happened. I drove to where my new job is across town (Phoenix) and i used about a 1/4 tank of gas in my Mercury Grand Marquis. So I know that motorcycles are a lot cheaper when it comes to gas and overall are rather inexpensive. Additionally the insurance is $130 cheaper then what I'm paying for my merc, which is a huge sell point.

So my question is, what should I know about owning and operating a motorcycle? I plan on getting all the safety gear and taking a course as I know they are dangerous.

Right now I'm considering this bike:

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/619/0/home.aspx

I like it mainly for the price and power. I don't know much about bikes so I'm open for suggestions.

Also new or used?

[MWISimmer]

If you don't know anything about bikes then I definitely would not recommend an R6 (or the like).. I'd start at 125/250cc then work your way up.

Bikes are a totally different animal to cars, they demand respect

[BAW0343]

Yea 600 is a lot of power. I took another look around and it seems that the Ninja 250 may be a better fit.

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/kawasaki/review-2008-kawasaki-ninja-250r-75782.html

Also I was reading that the upkeep of bikes requires more attention then cars and am just wondering what I would have to expect in that area.

[TSC.]

Get an old beater of a car just for going to work in, especially coming up to winter with no bike experience, you'll stay warmer & less dead.

TSC.

[ozzy72]

For reliability and fuel economy you'll be hard pressed to beat a Honda, they also have superb build quality and last forever 8-)

[Willit Run]

Get a Vespa GTS 250!!

[BAW0343]

I was looking at scooters a long time ago but never really liked the look of the moped.

[expat]

So my question is, what should I know about owning and operating a motorcycle?

Seem to remember that they quite draughty and a fly in the mouth was not a great experience.........but that was a long time ago in a galaxy far away............then I got married :-/

Matt

[elwellnick24]

I have a Triumph 600cc, and i get around 42mpg from it, maybe more on a long motorway trip.
Small bikes like Honda cg125's etc will quite happily run at 80+ mpg, but bigger ones arent really that much more economical than a car - but they are a lot more fun!
As for maintenance, get it serviced at the correct intervals and keep the chain tensioned and lubed and check tyre pressures once a week

[BAW0343]

I'm getting a 250cc so I think the estimate was around somewhere 50 mpg, that's more then twice what I am getting now. I went to a dealership yesterday and got some more info, except for the starting cost I should have no trouble operating the bike once I get it. The first service they say only costs $250 and that's supposed to be the most expensive.

So,

Deposit on the bike $250
Rider course $250
Helmet $100
Jacket $100
Gloves $50
First payment on the bike ~$100
Insurance- $53.80

So for a cool $900 I can start riding... Anyone have some money I could borrow?