I’m pretty sure I would like to go with cfmoto for my first bike. Their features and price are very attractive. Plus many local dealers carry them. Anyways, I’m struggling to decide between a sport bike or a naked style bike. I’m thinking the 675 model would be great to grow into as I learn.
I like the styling and design of the sport but I’ve seen in videos that sometimes they can be uncomfortable. To me it seems the naked would be less comfortable but I have no real experience with moto just mountain biking.
Any thoughts from more experienced riders? Or maybe anyone that owns one of them? Thanks in advance.
I’m a few days late to this post but a few additional things to consider and some ramblings…
Whatever you’re looking at I’d run some insurance quotes. From my experience engine displacement and type of motorcycle are large factors in rates. I’d imagine there is a whole actuarial table for claims paid out on that combination that insurance companies use. As an example I could insure a 1200cc cruiser for half what a 600cc supersport cost even though they made comparable power(not power to weight figures though). I’ll also mention that my supersport insurance cost went down over the course of about 3 years of having no tickets/accidents to about half the original quote. It was not my first bike.
If you’re doing the maintenance, then in general, it’s easier on things without full fairings. Some bikes you don’t have to remove panels others you absolutely do just to do simple stuff like changing the oil. I own a ZX6R and oil changes are quick and simple with no panel removals. Coolant swaps require taking about 15 panels off and the removal of the entire nose of the bike just to see the radiator cap. It takes several hours. Another 950cc naked I own the radiator cap is right there. Just drain and fill. No tools required. Something to keep in mind when looking around.
You mentioned being particular on maintenance and motorcycles have shorter intervals than cars do for basically everything. As well as new maintenance items like chain cleaning, lubrication, and slack adjustment. If you follow the manual, some of those are as frequent as 400-600 miles. Most don’t actually do it that frequently but it’s certainly an item to keep an eye on. A dirty/dry chain can rob power and accelerate chain wear(chains are not particularly cheap). A lot of failures in a car that would be a non-event can put you in the hospital on a motorcycle. Fluid leaks? Annoyance in a car. Coating your rear tire in oil or coolant on a motorcycle can cause a crash as both fluids are super slick.
My first bike was a used CBR300R(286cc) which is really just a standard single cylinder motorcycle with a fairly upright seating position but is fully fared like a super sport. It was dirt cheap to insure and got around 75 mpg and you got to rev the pants off it. I really wish I had kept that bike. I sold it for nearly what I paid for it. There was only one time I felt the lack of power was problematic and that was a combination of about 3-4 other things all aligning at the same time in the worst ways. Everything else you just need to be diligent and plan ahead. A basic riders course should go over that at length.
If you want a sport bike, start with the 300 or the 450. It’s a lot more fun to ride a smaller bike fast, and new riders on 650cc sport bikes are where the organ donor jokes come from.
450 would give me extra budget for nicer gear too. Is it just like cars where slow car fast is way more fun?
No, it’s more, small bike is quick and nimble, easy to control, quick acceleration
I feel like the 450 would be the sweet spot, the acceleration will still be intense, but not quite so “I’m in danger” feeling all the time. I rode my buddies Hayabusa and honestly it was a little bit boring because I was basically at highway speed in second gear, and twisting the throttle with any umph made me shit my pants hah. So maybe not boring as much as not enjoyable for me
Good to know! I definitely don’t want something way too fast but don’t want to get something that feels slow either. Thank you!
POV is riding a 450
Make a budget, buy gear, and then spend the rest on a bike. Better gear not only makes you safer (to a point) but also more comfortable.
My bike is an older sport tourer that will do 70 in first gear. It’s very fun, but I went back and did an MSF refresher course and had a ton of fun on the little MT03s they had. I wouldn’t want to do a cross-country ride on them, but they’re fun little commuters you can really wring out and use the whole bike at legal speeds.
Having a fast bike is a lot of fun, but it’s very much a “with great power” kind of situation. Even a moderately fast bike is faster than any car you will ever drive, and little mistakes can become big ones really fast.
None of this is meant to scare you, but you’ll have a lot more fun mastering a small bike and moving up than you will being terrified of ever really using your bike.
There are a few factors to consider here. What is your level of experience? Did you ride any kind of motorcycle before (even like a 50cc minibike)? Have you considered taking a rider’s course before diving in? Why are you riding? Are you looking to regularly commute on your bike, even in inclement weather? Or are you looking to hit a track on the weekends and just see this as a recreational hobby?
I started riding about six years ago around my mid twenties, only having ridden a small dirt bike a couple times as a kid. I took the MSF course and bought a used 400cc standard Japanese bike that I could really get used to and not worry so much about if I made mistakes. I wanted an alternative to commuting to work from my car because it was ultimately cheaper. I ended up loving that bike and kept it until just last year. That did not prevent me from experiencing other bikes though, and as my experience and skill grew, friends and others allowed me to ride their bikes just to have fun. From cruisers to sport bikes and dirt bikes. I feel like it was only after all of that did I really settle on a middle of the road adventure bike for my purposes. It is my primary way to get anywhere and do anything, even in the winter. I wouldn’t recommend that for everybody, but it suits my purposes. There is nothing wrong with really dialing it in over time. Find what you want out of riding and the right bike will find you.
Did you ever feel the 400 was sluggish or underpowered? I plan to use it for general commuting occasionally but mostly joyriding in the country and maybe a track visit or two when I’m really comfortable on it.
No real experience with moto. Just lots of mountain biking so I’m pretty comfortable on two wheels.
Definitely taking the riders course 100% I was hoping to bring my own bike to it to learn directly on it instead of a different type bike that they would provide.
Bicycles are much different than motorcycles. I rode thousands of miles on road bikes as my main method of transportation over the years. Not many skills transfer, unfortunately. 400-600 cc, singles and twins are gonna be the sweet spot for transitioning from beginner to intermediate rider.
I’m also not sure the course will allow you to bring your own, but worth checking to make sure. They usually have sport, cruiser, and standard bikes to choose from, and they know they’re in good condition and appropriately sized.
I rode a 50cc scooter for 5k miles before I stepped up to a proper motorcycle, no course, and was way over my depth when I did. I failed the license test twice before I passed on the third try after many hours of parking lot practice. I had a coworker who had taken the course before purchasing his bike, and when I rode with him afterwards, he could barely get the bike in gear.
My advice: I would strongly suggest dialing back your expectations, it can be a very dangerous activity to engage in naively. Take and pass the beginner course. Read books on motorcycling: Total Control by Lee Parks, Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough are great places to start. When you get a bike, something modestly sized, gear tf up and practice practice practice, parking lots and low stakes streets exclusively for the first little bit. Slowly build up your experience and confidence. Beware Mt. Stupid.
Ride safe.
Thank you so much for all the advice!
I was in the same boat as you. Never ridden a motorcycle, but very comfortable on my mountain bike.
Turns out they are not even in the same ballpark.
Have you ever driven a manual car? That would help far more than riding a mountain bike.
My recommendation is to do the course with their bikes. It’ll likely be a small 125cc, but it’s perfect for learning on. The difference between what you’ll learn on, and what you buy really isn’t much. You’ll come away with either wanting to continue on a bike, or not. Do this before spending thousands on a motorcycle. It’s a no-brainer.
If you like it, go ahead and buy yourself a bike. Like I said, it’s gonna feel very similar to the bike you learned on unless you buy a very heavy bike (don’t do this to start).
The smart decision is to buy secondhand for your first bike, so if (when) you drop it, it’s not a big deal. You also don’t want anything too powerful. I got a Yamaha R3, and it’s fast enough to get started on. Certainly faster then most vehicles on the road.
In summary, do the course first. A 400 is more then enough for your first bike, and your mountain bike experience doesn’t really count for anything unfortunately.
On a highway? My 400 was a thumper, and the hills in my area really made it lag. Not necessarily the same for all displacements, however. I borrowed a friends XT250 dual sport recently and it can keep up with my current NX500. A twisty back road on the 400? I had no problems keeping up with my buddies with larger bikes and would often out pace them because I could really whip around corners and it was less crucial to consider the weight of the machine and its inertia.
My SR400 was quite similar to the bikes at the MSF, but my NX500 is very different. I feel like the skills I built on those bikes were fundamental to graduating to different kinds of bikes, and it is an easier transition than you may expect.
Good to know, thank you!
I’ve given this advice to many new riders and almost no ever takes it, but after a few months they usually say they should have. Buy literally any used bike that’s in your budget and is a reliable make/model. Preferably not super powerful or super heavy either. In 6 months time you will A: know if motorcycling is for you, and B: know a hell of a lot more about what kind of bike you want. Plus there’s a good chance you’ll drop your first bike (happens to most people) and dropping a brand new bike feels bad.
Yeah I’ve been keeping an eye open for a used ninja too - I know they’re a great first bike. I do worry buying used that it wasn’t taken care of and it’ll bite me in a month or two. I’m very particular with taking care of my machines. That’s why I’m leaning more towards buying a new cheaper brand like cfmoto.
Thanks for the advice!
Buy a used bike, have it serviced immediately for that piece of mind.
…I would not buy a super sport as a first bike. Or a naked sport, for that matter.
Get a ninja 250, it can keep up with 500s.
Also watch ‘twist of the wrist’ on YouTube. You can find the full hour thing. It saved my life
@Labotomized
As someone who owns an Ibex 450 and loves it (for sport touring only though), I’m biased. I got it for my first bike and I’d heavily consider an Ibex 800 for the future. Great value, and the accessories can be gotten for cheap.I would definitely get the naked bike. It will be a lot more comfortable for commuting and a lot easier to handle and learn on sitting more upright in a relaxed position.
my first bike […] I’m struggling to decide between a sport bike or a naked style bike. I’m thinking the 675 model would be great to grow into as I learn.
Why in the FUCK are you trying to kill yourself? You have zero experience and yet you’re gunning for a bike that will hit 100 MPH (with a lot left to go) if you sneeze wrong. To put it into perspective, that bike will out-accelerate a C8 Z06 Corvette, and hang with a C8 ZR1.
Don’t be stupid. Get a dual-sport, like a CRF250 or something. Or a Grom.
Something to keep in mind, as it also applies to motorcycles: “slow car fast” is far more enjoyable than “fast car slow”.
