Look at BMW motorcycles

[mean740il]

I need to ad a BMW bike to the family, but I'm ignorant of their brand of bikes or any bikes at all. I was wondering if there was anyone here that could inform me of a good sport bike from them.

[Bimmer325]

Does it have to be BMW, there are a ton of good bikes that dont cost half as much...

[fugginfazt]

BMW HP2 :
http://www.gizmag.com/go/8108/picture/38348/

[mean740il]

like what? educate me. I think it'll be a waste of time to teach myself every aspect of motorcycles when there are people out there with tons of experience on whats good and what not. Also fugginfazt that bike is mad sick.

[stuffedgus]

Aprilia Tuono 1000 R:


Aprilia Shiver SL 750:


Aprilia RSV 1000 R:

[mrsharp]

like what? educate me. I think it'll be a waste of time to teach myself every aspect of motorcycles when there are people out there with tons of experience on whats good and what not. Also fugginfazt that bike is mad sick.
I think the HP2 is an amazing bike but if this is your first time owning a bike, you need to start out with something that's not going to kill you (meaning has much less than 1200cc's). A lot of people think starter bikes are boring rubbish and buy a litre (1000cc) bike as there first and most regret it. Not always because they crash but because as a new rider your most likely going to lay your bike down a few times and laying down an HP2 or any other 20 grand bike is going to suck. I would suggest maybe a ninja 250 or 500 and I would also suggest you buy it used just because prices will be much lower. Another really nice starter bike would be a Honda CBR 600. Anyways thats just a piece of my mind so I hope that helped a little.

[mean740il]

I think the HP2 is an amazing bike but if this is your first time owning a bike, you need to start out with something that's not going to kill you (meaning has much less than 1200cc's). A lot of people think starter bikes are boring rubbish and buy a litre (1000cc) bike as there first and most regret it. Not always because they crash but because as a new rider your most likely going to lay your bike down a few times and laying down an HP2 or any other 20 grand bike is going to suck. I would suggest maybe a ninja 250 or 500 and I would also suggest you buy it used just because prices will be much lower. Another really nice starter bike would be a Honda CBR 600 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1005642#). Anyways thats just a piece of my mind so I hope that helped a little.

That did help quite a bit. I do have experience on dirt bikes but I highly doubt that counts as experience on a crotch rocket. From what you and a couple of my buddies say I think i'm going to be disappointed not getting the bmw but it'll work out in the long run with me learning with something with less power. I'm going to have to keep looking around though because ninjas are ugly btw price isn't really an issue; its the overall quality and presentation of the bike that is.

[B1MMRRR]

That did help quite a bit. I do have experience on dirt bikes but I highly doubt that counts as experience on a crotch rocket. From what you and a couple of my buddies say I think i'm going to be disappointed not getting the bmw but it'll work out in the long run with me learning with something with less power. I'm going to have to keep looking around though because ninjas are ugly btw price isn't really an issue; its the overall quality and presentation of the bike that is.

mrsharp is spot on with his advice. BTW, don't discount the Ninjas...the Ninja 250 just had a redesign and it looks much better. Friend of mine started riding and picked up a black 08 250 Ninja. I saw it and it looks pretty good :) not a bad bike at all for the price.

[325bob]

Gotta laugh, "CBR 600 Honda as a starter bike", my starter bike had 9 hp, moved up to a 30 hp X6 Suzuki in a coupla years, that Honda probably makes more than 75 hp,(very quick)

[mean740il]

hmm haven't seen the new ones. guess i'm gonna have to take a quick look huh

[mrsharp]

Gotta laugh, "CBR 600 Honda as a starter bike", my starter bike had 9 hp, moved up to a 30 hp X6 Suzuki in a coupla years, that Honda probably makes more than 75 hp,(very quick)
Yea I guess the CBR 600 is a little bit powerful for a starter bike.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/Motorbiker_photos/NewsPics/Kawasaki-Ninja-250R-1.jpg 2008 Ninja 250. Super sexy bike IMO

[gsxrpeter]

That did help quite a bit. I do have experience on dirt bikes but I highly doubt that counts as experience on a crotch rocket. From what you and a couple of my buddies say I think i'm going to be disappointed not getting the bmw but it'll work out in the long run with me learning with something with less power. I'm going to have to keep looking around though because ninjas are ugly btw price isn't really an issue; its the overall quality and presentation of the bike that is.
Get a 600 a good bike to start with. Now BMW bikes are nothing like there cars. They are wierd to ride becuase of how the pistons lay flat in the boxter position. And it's scray dragging crank case on the ground the hp 2 is supposed to be a pretty nice bike. If this is your first bike don't buy a bmw buy something you can drop a couple times something Japanesehttp://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/images/spacer.gif

[gsxrpeter]

here http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=2008hp2sport&bikeSection=hp

[Cynic2006]

I spent 6 years commuting on a bike around Silicon Valley, and have probably owned a half dozen different bikes, including BMW's. My advice is to start with something used and cheap, so you can figure out if (1) riding is for you and (2) what kind of bike is for you. My first bike was an '86 Honda Intercepter I bought for $1500 with 6000 miles. I rode it a year, passed it down to my brother who rode it a year before passing it along to his brother in law. 5 years later it was still around.

BMW's are considered a different breed in the bike community. They are exceptional, but are heavy and expensive and have some little oddities you will need to deal with. None of this is great for a new rider. Until you get used to it, it is VERY easy to drop a bike, and if this happens even in the garage, it is expensive to replace the broken plastic. And once you become proficient, the last thing you want is cracked plastic, since it makes you look like a hack.

The first step is to get into a MSF riding course. For $200 you spend a couple of days on a bike, and can really get a sense of what it is like and what you should be doing. It also circumvents the need for a riding test at the DMV. Some of it is a little remedial, but for the money, it is a great way to see if you even like the idea.

Next, start combing Craigslist or Yahoo and look for something used. The market is filled with low mileage bikes that someone bought, rode for 6 months and parked. The one thing many people do not realize about bikes is their "fit". You may or may not want to be laid back, leaned over, upright, etc. What is heavy to you might be light to me, etc. You can't really evaluate a bike until you have accumulated some saddle time and know what you are looking for... and the best way to avoid a $$ mistake is to let someone else make it!

[rmani]

don't start with anything other than a japanese bike: yamaha, suzuki, kawasaki, honda

bmw makes some great bikes but they're more geared to sport-touring not hyperperformance. They're great bikes but very expensive.

Some great italian bikes include: ducati, aprilia, mv agusta. The italian bikes are also not nearly as reliable as the japanese bikes but they are absolutely gorgeous pieces of machinery. Best to start out with a 250 or 600. Any modern day 600 is way more than even an intermediate rider can handle but if you're responsible it's not a bad way to start out because it's very easy to get bored with anything smaller.

Be sure to take an MSF course and visit some sportbike forums to get more information. www.sportbikes.net is a good starting place. GL and ride safe!

[dbpack]

Ninja 250's and 500's are good starter bikes. If you want a step up, a Suzuki SV650S is a good starter sportbike as well. It's a v-twin, not an i4, so the power won't kill you, nice and torquey for city driving, but still a blast in the twisties.
And don't let people talk you into "needing" a 600 or liter i4. An experienced rider on an SV (or even a ninja 500) can keep up with 99% of the people riding liter bikes in the twisties. Technique is FAAARR more important than power when it comes to cornering fast. If your friends are trying to talk you into starting on a liter+ bike, you need to either evaluate your friendship with them or evaluate their experience riding a bike. No experienced rider in their right mind would tell a noob to start on a liter bike (or even a 600 i4). For sport bike riding, riding dirt bikes doesn't count as experience...the only skill that transfers is knowing how to shift and make the bike move forward.
Oh yeah, take the MSF course and buy all your safety gear before you purchase a bike. I hate reading about dead motorcyclists.

[Gatsby740il]

I think the HP2 is an amazing bike but if this is your first time owning a bike, you need to start out with something that's not going to kill you (meaning has much less than 1200cc's). A lot of people think starter bikes are boring rubbish and buy a litre (1000cc) bike as there first and most regret it. Not always because they crash but because as a new rider your most likely going to lay your bike down a few times and laying down an HP2 or any other 20 grand bike is going to suck. I would suggest maybe a ninja 250 or 500 and I would also suggest you buy it used just because prices will be much lower. Another really nice starter bike would be a Honda CBR 600. Anyways thats just a piece of my mind so I hope that helped a little.


Excellent and 100% True! Couldn't have said it better! :cool

Listen man.. I know the cool thing is to have a Rocket... but here's another POV from an experienced rider.

1.. they ARE NOT comfortable! None of them... especially on a long ride. You are, basically, riding a de-tuned Race Bike in most circumstances. I have ridden my share of MANY different Rockets (Ducatti, CBRs, GiXers, a Ninja, a 'Bussa, etc..). Are they fast... AMAZINGLY... but trust me.. you'd be much happier (and MUCH more comfortable) on a BMW 'cruiser' or Harley!

2.. Your riding position directly reflects your safety if (and God Willing it never happens!) you should ever have a crash. Take it from someone who rode into the broadside of an SUV at 45mph (on a 2006 Harley-Davidson Softail) after being cut off by the Drunk who was behind the wheel of the SUV! EMTs, Fire, and ER Staff all told me that I would probably have died had I been riding a Rocket! Being layed out (on a rocket) I would have become a 'missile', if you will, and gone top-of-my-head first (instead of face/body first..which I did) into the side and more than likely broken my neck! Ironically enough (and personally devastating!).. a friend was killed 3 weeks after my crash (on his rocket) in the same type of accident that almost killed me.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT... I'm not knocking a nice Rocket... but, admitedly, being a new 'street' rider yourself (having never been out there to learn street obsticles and how to avoid things)... I would SERIOUSLY recommend a Motorcycle Safety Course (which will also give you a break on Insurance) and getting a USED cruiser style bike to learn on first... before you go dropping a pile on a bike that will depreciate (and not hold it's value like a Harley-from experience-does!) and that you will more than likely be scared of when first learning.

Just a fellow Rider lookin' out for a stranger and potential NEW Rider, that's all! Good Luck and really THINK before you buy!

Cheers!

-Gatsby :cool

[catmandoo]

i'll chime in here as i have a bmw bike.beings your asking about them i'll assume that your not the crotch rocket type of person.so if your willing to ride an older unit i'd suggest something like an older 70's r series i had a 78 r100s that was pure joy to ride.at 60 the engine sounded just like a sewing machine.i wish i never would have sold that bike,a couple years later i got an flh harley which i liked but it was heavy.and the bmw's were calling again,i ended up with a 2000 r1100rt-p,it's an old CHP bike.they have some miles on em but were maintained to the core,they can be bought for pretty decent too.plus with the crashbars you don't have to worry about dropping em.i will say this if you do look into the rt-p's stay with the 1100's,the 1150's have brake issues.and if your really serious go to bmwsporttouring web site