Should I upgrade? By FACE PLANT FOR LIFE (Read 1,781 times)

[FACE PLANT FOR LIFE]

Well, as of right now I have my 50cc scooter, and I've ridden my Dad's 150cc before, so I know there is an extreme change in power when it comes to displacement. However, I'm looking into possibly getting my first ACTUAL motorcycle. The bike I'm looking for in particular is a Kawasaki Ninja 300. I don't plan on buying new, and I don't even plan on having this bike anytime soon, either. I was just wondering what everybody's opinion is, and what they would recommend for a first ACTUAL motorcycle. Don't think this means I'll be getting out of scootering, because I won't. I love to ride my scooter, and it takes all the effort out of riding a two wheeled bike.

By the way, I've never operated a clutch in my life. So that's a factor too.

[cyborg]

Easy peasy Face,,,,the clutch is totally over rated,,,the 200-300 ninja series are great,,almost unblowupable ,,and with a few tweeks they can rip,,,literally,,,i'm riding a dr350 now love love LOVE IT,,,in the top 3-5 bikes i've ever owned,,, before anything under a 750 i would barely even look at it,,,,man i was a dunce,,,that was before i woke up,,,i would recommend a dual sport myself,,i tell you if your not planning to do alot of freeway flying this is the weapon of choice,,,a dr350,,,,kawi klx 250,,,,(300 klx jugs and piston sets are cheap),,yamaha wr 225 or 400 if you can find one,(tough to get parts) yamaha xt 225 or the 250 (excellent choice and my second choice if i couldn't have my baby dr),,,, hondas cf230L (one guy i read a report about the 230 he broke it in and mind you he was a freak slow low starts and shutting the bike off at traffic red lites and pulling in the clutch and coasting hills he reported 157 mpg) and the later 250crf is a nice choice too,,,,you'll have to change your avatar and monicer again tho Face,,,to wheelies R us,,,

[kz1000st]

Borg, really. Look Face. A 250 Honda Rebel is the perfect beginners bike for everything. If you want a little more zip, the Suzuki GW 250 is also a fab bike. The 300 Ninja is a lot of bike. 110 mph, for real,and scrunched up racer seating. Honda Rebels have been built since 1985 and there's a ton out there at numerous prices. We have one and I would take it anywhere.

[jct842]

As far as clutches go have you ever seen the 7 and 8 year olds riding the mini motocross tracks? You are probably smarter than one of them little kids and they do not have the slightest conception of what can/will happen if they crash and get their fingers in between a moving chain & sprocket!


When I was a kid unless you were talking harley or indian a big bike was a British twin and a mid sized bike was a 305 honda.

If you are not intending to get one in the near future I would just forget about which one you want and wait till you are a little closer to purchase. If you get your mind set on one now things are just going to change and you may short change your self on a much better bike that isn't around today.

[Guitarman]

The only thing hard about clutching is knowing when to let go.

Ok, bad joke... Anyway... Watch this.

[cyborg]

You know Face he doesn't look it but KZ is pretty smart,,,i was actually going to edit my post but KZ beat me to it,,,the 250 rebel is a great bike,,,also the yamaha xv250 is also a machine worth looking at,,,i was expounding on my newly found passion for dual sports,,,,

[cyborg]

LOL sorry KZ i couldn't help myself,,,that comes from the takes one to know one file,,,

[novaraptor]

I third the thought. Actually anything in the 250cc to 400cc range is going to be a fun "upgrade", though it isn't an upgrade, it's an addition. Motorcycles in that size range aren't going to be an excessive weight or size change to what you are familiar with. More power, sure, but after a few days of riding, you will get the throttle amount sorted out. The thing to watch out for is to remember that you have a clutch when it comes time to stop. Just putting on the brakes won't do it. But you will learn. After awhile, it becomes second nature, along with downshifting. Then the problem becomes remembering when you are on the scooter, that the left lever is NOT a clutch.. That will probably get you once or twice. Learning is at least half the fun...

[kz1000st]

No joke. In reverse for me. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to pull in the clutch on Rocket (no clutch at all) or even the Fashion (no left lever either). On the Fashion pressing the foot brake has me reflexively reaching for the clutch, that isn't there, many times when I slow down. For some reason I don't have that problem on the 150 which has a left lever.

[LUKE]

i dont care if you buy a motorcycle or a scooter, a trike or a quad, a riding floor polisher or a riding lawnmower as long as its NOT MADE IN CHINA!!!
if you already have a 150cc chinese scoot and wanted to buy a 250cc still chinese scooter,, that is not an upgrade, thats what you call stupidity... Lol
someone here bought a blue 50cc chinese scooter, then after few years, he accidentally overtighten the crank case bolt then the whole thing broke into two and oil started leaking all over the place, then he cant fix it so guess what, he bought a Fashion , another chinese scooter.. wow,can u believe that?? omg! and he calls it an upgrade...
i will pm you who this guy is..

[Alleyoop]

LUKE, your badI also know who that was

[cyborg]

i thought it was an overtightened head bolt by the cam tunnel and it cracked,,,i didn't know the engine broke in two and it didn't run,,,you mean he didn't ride it with the leak till he figured it out and got a new head and installed it and is still riding it? are we talking about the guy who has half a riding season with like 250,000 total riding miles under his belt,,,with one bike alone with over 100,000 miles?,,it must be someone else ,,,,before i got on the forum,,,

[FACE PLANT FOR LIFE]

Well, uh, Luke, I would hate to break it to you, but if you're working on an engine and you screw up, that's your own fault..if I took apart a Kawasaki motor and over tightened the crankcase, you know what would happen? This:




Chinese or not, nobody can overcome human error!

[kz1000st]

LUKE, your badI also know who that was

I don't know who he's talking about. Anyone with half a brain can read my signature. Who owns a blue 50cc?


I only have a 50c that's ten times better than any Japanese scooter and it's been sold for five years now to extremely happy customers who keep them forever. You mean the owner of the BLUE 50cc bought a Fashion. Good for him. Think of what he could have wasted $2400 on. OMG, I know somebody who did that and had to buy a trailer to carry the thing on. What's more he's only put 1,000 miles on it since last Fall. I've done more than that since April.

[kz1000st]

Oh wait, are you talking about me? Well for the people with faulty memories let me refresh your failing memories with this video. In case you don't know the difference between a crankcase and a cylinder head and had to buy Japanese to cover for your lack of knowledge.



Another tasty tidbit. You'll notice that the "Blue" scooter in question has done more miles in the frozen North in a year than someone we know who lives in year round summer and rides the world's ugliest scooter.