Buying a new motorcycle without test drive

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Brian P said:
Don't buy your dream bike as your first bike.

Your first bike should be something small, light, old, and cheap, but roadworthy. Something you'll ride, but have no long term attachment to.

Cheap learner bikes can usually be sold on for little or no financial loss as long as you don't completely wreck them.

Dirt bikes and close relatives (not enormous ADV barges) are great first bikes.

You may discover after getting some experience that what you actually want, isn't what you thought.
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or you got what you actually want.. and want more... lol....
 
My dealer doesn't allow test unless M license.

Just the way she goes. Sometimes she goes sometimes she doesn't.

I just watched youtube videos and honestly they weren't kind to the CBR in comparison but sitting on it was like no other.

If you want to get nerdy about it look at the specs and measurements and figure out who those specs should handle like and just sit on it.
 
FORE SALE
Almost new Indian Scout motorcycle.
Purchased new by ex-husband without consulting me.
I now own a motorcycle and a house.
I am keeping the house.
 
I do not accept the idea that everyone should start with something small cc-wise.
Unless of course you don't think you're smart enough and let inanimate objects rule your life.
Whenever I hear someone say something like "I had to get rid of my (insert fast bike name) before it killed me"... I just roll my eyes.
The rider controls the machine.
Buy what you want and don't be stupid.
Of course then there's harsh reality to consider... Insurance costs and gravity.
Maybe a new rider can't pay the ins. premium on a 1300cc bike or... Maybe they just can't physically handle a 600lb machine.

In the end I guess as long as you ride and ride safe... It doesn't matter.

There's this young woman I work with who rides... She's tiny.
She's usually the first one of the season with here bike in the parking lot at work... She's so small she had her stock Ninja 250 lowered.
The thing looks almost like on of those pocket bikes!
This chick is NEVER going to ride a "adult" sized bike, but... she's F###in' riding:)
 
Gaoler said:
I do not accept the idea that everyone should start with something small cc-wise.
Unless of course you don't think you're smart enough and let inanimate objects rule your life.
Whenever I hear someone say something like "I had to get rid of my (insert fast bike name) before it killed me"... I just roll my eyes.
The rider controls the machine.
Buy what you want and don't be stupid.
Of course then there's harsh reality to consider... Insurance costs and gravity.
Maybe a new rider can't pay the ins. premium on a 1300cc bike or... Maybe they just can't physically handle a 600lb machine.

In the end I guess as long as you ride and ride safe... It doesn't matter.

There's this young woman I work with who rides... She's tiny.
She's usually the first one of the season with here bike in the parking lot at work... She's so small she had her stock Ninja 250 lowered.
The thing looks almost like on of those pocket bikes!
This chick is NEVER going to ride a "adult" sized bike, but... she's F###in' riding:)
Click to expand...
What was your first motorcycle?
 
Gaoler said:
I do not accept the idea that everyone should start with something small cc-wise.
Unless of course you don't think you're smart enough and let inanimate objects rule your life.
Whenever I hear someone say something like "I had to get rid of my (insert fast bike name) before it killed me"... I just roll my eyes.
The rider controls the machine.
Buy what you want and don't be stupid.
Of course then there's harsh reality to consider... Insurance costs and gravity.
Maybe a new rider can't pay the ins. premium on a 1300cc bike or... Maybe they just can't physically handle a 600lb machine.

In the end I guess as long as you ride and ride safe... It doesn't matter.

There's this young woman I work with who rides... She's tiny.
She's usually the first one of the season with here bike in the parking lot at work... She's so small she had her stock Ninja 250 lowered.
The thing looks almost like on of those pocket bikes!
This chick is NEVER going to ride a "adult" sized bike, but... she's F###in' riding:)
Click to expand...
While I agree with most of what you say…there’s a big caveat here.

A small(er) cc bike is more forgiving for rookie mistakes / panic reactions.

Jam the throttle or brakes on a smaller powered bike and you have 1-2s to correct the error before things get interesting.

A bigger bike doesn’t allow for that delayed reaction from input to bike reacting as instructed.

That’s the issue that’s harder to resolve.

I could jam my 250/500cc bikes and … had time to cancel / adjust the input.

Scrambler still allows it…just less reaction time.

Sure the rider controls the bike. But if the rider can’t control their own reactions, things get bad fast.
 
mimico_polak said:
While I agree with most of what you say…there’s a big caveat here.

A small(er) cc bike is more forgiving for rookie mistakes / panic reactions.

Jam the throttle or brakes on a smaller powered bike and you have 1-2s to correct the error before things get interesting.

A bigger bike doesn’t allow for that delayed reaction from input to bike reacting as instructed.

That’s the issue that’s harder to resolve.

I could jam my 250/500cc bikes and … had time to cancel / adjust the input.

Scrambler still allows it…just less reaction time.

Sure the rider controls the bike. But if the rider can’t control their own reactions, things get bad fast.
Click to expand...
You also develop faster as a rider with a smaller bike. Low skill and big motor has many riders slowly wobbling through corners and then blasting down the straights. Sure, you can start on any bike but with very few exceptions, a big bike is a worse choice.
 
Gaoler said:
I do not accept the idea that everyone should start with something small cc-wise.
Unless of course you don't think you're smart enough and let inanimate objects rule your life.
Whenever I hear someone say something like "I had to get rid of my (insert fast bike name) before it killed me"... I just roll my eyes.
The rider controls the machine.
Buy what you want and don't be stupid.
Of course then there's harsh reality to consider... Insurance costs and gravity.
Maybe a new rider can't pay the ins. premium on a 1300cc bike or... Maybe they just can't physically handle a 600lb machine.

In the end I guess as long as you ride and ride safe... It doesn't matter.

There's this young woman I work with who rides... She's tiny.
She's usually the first one of the season with here bike in the parking lot at work... She's so small she had her stock Ninja 250 lowered.
The thing looks almost like on of those pocket bikes!
This chick is NEVER going to ride a "adult" sized bike, but... she's F###in' riding:)
Click to expand...
Does she have an insta account? 🙃🙃🙃🙃
 
Gaoler said:
Buy what you want and don't be stupid.
Click to expand...

It’s easier to get in trouble faster on a big high power bike, like others have said.

If a newbie whisky throttles a Ninja 250 it’s going to be fine in most cases. A ZX14R, probably not so much.
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