Triumphrat

echoraven

Unless your mid 30s and up and have them wild oats out of your system; I don't think ANY Bonneville is a good beginner bike. It's a relatively heavy bike and will do the ton right out of the box. Of course on this forum, I am a party of one.

As far as "wasting time" on a bike you'll "quickly outgrow", the only person to lose a significant amount of money selling a smaller bike is the person that purchased it new. You can get pretty close to what you paid for it by going used. The only thing "wasted" will be the "oh sh*t" moments as they will be fewer on a smaller bike.

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WindTherapy

I think logically buying a used bike makes better sense. Cheaper to begin with. and like stated above you most likely can sell it for close to what you purchased it for. I tried to do that my self. The problem is this.

1. Most people, including me, don't want to admit that they simply want a nice new bike vs. an old used one.

2. Not everyone has the capital to buy a used bike out right.
3. getting financing for a used bike at $4200 was more difficult. (financing wouldn't go throug for me without $1500 down)
4. Financing a new bike is much easier for some reason. They only needed $500 down for me to by my thruxton new. Don't ask me why but it was true for me.

I tried to finance a used SV650 for 4500 but they wanted a co-signer and $1500 down. Where as my brand spankin' new Thruxton for $10700 OTD they only needed $500 down and no co-signer. I'm not sure why that was the case but that's how it worked out. I think they want to make more money so its in their best interest to finance a higher ammount.

The new bike thing is a fast track to what you really want. If i'd have bought that 650 it would have been a faster bike than my thruxton, and i think id still be drewling on a Triumph. After the SV i probably would have bought a 675 daytona or a thruxton and just now, or in a few months, be getting into building my "dream" bike.

At least thats how i see it from a first bike was a thruxton point of view.

mikeinva

I think a 19year old that hasnt had a bike would be much better then a 50 year old that has never had a bike.At 19 you can get by with alot more and it dont hurt no where near as much hitting the black top.Any of these bikes would make a good bike to learn on if you want to learn on a street bike.I think anyone that rides should start off on dirt myself,a few years on dirt will teach you way more about rideing then any msc.Here in Va you dont have to take the saftey corse if you can pass the road test and rules test.The road test is real hard to pass.If you take the saftey corse you dont have to take the road test.I bet about 3/4 of the ones that take the saftey corse couldnt pass the road test.Alot of the state bike cops couldnt pass it when it first came out.

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Why do I feel young on my bike

WindTherapy

in my case (california) my bike isn't even physically capable of makeing the u-turn. they expect you to make a u-turn inside of a parking stall.

Scrambler900

Words of wisdom. As for the belief we should not buy a bike we will outgrow, that suggests the bad argument that only a 1,400 cc Kawasaki or Suzuki Hayabusa sport bike is a smart buy.

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asp125

Of course it is, buy whatever you want and just respect the throttle, dude!

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06 Thruxton 900 Crumpet \ 09 KLX250 Gumby \ 08 Can Am Spyder big bird \ 01 VFR750F
Sold: 97 Ninja500R, 03 SV650K3, 01 Ducati 750Sport, 73 CB350/4, 03 BMW F650GS, 08 GSX-R600, 03 GSX-R600 race bike
SpeedShots Photography

Burgandy25

I bought a Thruxton after my MSF course, bought it when I was 19 and am only 20 now. Of course I spent my own money, buy my own insurance, and do all the maintenance myself. I know it has a lot of power but seeing that its my first big investment I'm also proving to some others that I am responsible enough for the bike and myself.

mikeinva

Good for you young man it wont be long before you can out ride any of us old farts.When I was your age I didnt have good since like you but i could ride the hell out of a bike back then,you cant beat being young and quick.Just allways stay scare of it alittle and you will be fine.

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Why do I feel young on my bike

405

bonneville is my first bike and has been great. i expected to not like it as much as i do honestly. i thought the entire time i owned it i would be looking forward to trading up to something bigger once i got more seat time.. but i dont think i would get anything else really!

Burgandy25

haha thanks I'm sure taking it easy for sakes, not to say this is not my first bike I am having experience on. I rode an old Aprilia RS 50 when I was 14 or so. that was when I had a relative that raced smaller bikes. I'm sure scared all right, the first week I had the bike in the middle of the day a semi-truck pulled out in front of me and nearly killed me luckily we were on a wide road and a parking lot was on my immediate right were i quickly turned into, stopped, and gathered myself. After that I my head was on a swivel and tell myself that I'm invisible and no one sees me. I thought the truck driver saw me as it looked like he was coming to a stop to wait for me to pass, nope just a simple California rolling stop.