What are the caveats to getting a bike to save on gas & what's a good 1st bike? - Page 5

 kyle.kvech@gmail.com wrote:

:I know that tires wear out quick, and the engines need a lot of
:maintenance, but I wanted to get an idea of just how much it's going to
:cost me so I can weigh that in to my decision.  How much do tires cost
:and how long do they last?  3k miles or so?  What other maintenance
:costs can I expect with a beginner-type street bike?  How much do you
:typically spend a month or year on maintenance?  Would it be reliable,
:and is there anything I should watch out for in putting that many miles
:on a bike?
:
:Also, what is a good beginner bike?  I would like something light and
:easy to handle, and something that is comfortable for an approximate 40
:minute commute.  ...probably good to mention that I am 6'4".  I like
:the sport bikes like the ninja, and it would be nice to have one that
:could seat 2 for an occasional outing, but I don't want one that's
:going to require excessive maintenance and cost a fortune in insurance.
:
:Any other caveats or words of wisdom before I make a decision?

Tires last 7-15K miles depending on what and how you ride.
Maintenance isn't that expensive.

Take the MSF beginner's course before you buy a bike. Make sure it
is what you want. Start with a used standard bike. Ride it for at
least a year before you buy a high powered bike that will go 130MPH.
--

 On 30 Apr 2006 16:16:14 -0700, in message
kyle.kvech@gmail.com scribed:


Don't forget that you will have to add time to your commute for the extra
preparation necessary for riding a bike vs. hopping into a sedan.

 On 30 Apr 2006 16:16:14 -0700, in message
kyle.kvech@gmail.com scribed:


Bikes, especially air-cooled, are terrible in stop-amd-go traffic.  Lots of
clutch work, and idling engines get very hot.

 Alan B wrote:

Unless lanesplitting is legal in your state...

If its not...well...sorry, that's one more point for the Honda Civic.



cds

 "Bikes, especially air-cooled, are terrible in stop-amd-go traffic.
Lots of
clutch work, and idling engines get very hot. "

Well...  Traffic in Tucson is rarely bumper to bumper, at least my
commute.  What I meant by stop & go was more lights than congestion.
Stopping is only at lights, but the traffic here is more like a
gigantic suburb than a city.  When it's really bad I might get stuck at
a light twice.  Most roads are 45 but people drive around 50 on them,
give or take.  It's also a pretty outdoorsy type place, so almost every
road has a bicycle lane, and one would hope that the people would be
more consious of bikes & motorcycles.  (At least until the old folks
come down for the winter to escape the cold, they're pretty much
oblivious to anything else on the road, but that's a whole different
story)  I would like to say that there are more motorcycles on the road
here, but it could be that I'm just paying more attention now.

I hear what you guys are saying about a cheap car and you're
right...but I'd also like to get a bike and give it a try, since I've
already talked my wife into it!  I think a used beginner bike is cheap
enough that I could justify spending 2k on it, as well as 4k on an old
civic w/AC.  That way I can get a feel for riding and it won't be a big
deal if it becomes a problem in the summer or winter, or adds too much
prep time to my commute, etc...  So I'm going to take your guys advice
and get a cheap car w/good gas mileage, but I'm also probably going to
try out a bike.  When I first posted, I figured I would be getting a
bike for around 5k...  So if it's 6k and I can get both, then great.

With that said, I've looked at the Nighthawk, which looks like a good
beginners bike and is only $3,500 new (so I'm betting I can get a deal
on a used one) but the 250 Ninja is also cheap at $3,000.  I like the
looks of the Ninja better, but how is it as a starter bike?  Is it OK
for someone who is 6'4"?  Should I stick with the Nighthawk or am I
better off going and trying them out to see which one is more
comfortable?

Thanks everyone for your help!