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Looking for my first ever bike

Discussion in 'All Terrain Vehicles' started by Chickenmunga, Aug 18, 2009.

  1. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:01 PM
    #1
    Chickenmunga

    Chickenmunga [OP] Nuggety

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    Mike
    Keizer, Oregon
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    08 TRD Offroad DC 4x4 with stuff
    All the normal TW BS
    I'm whittling away at my truck loan, and my plans are to buy a motorcycle once I write the last check.

    I've never rode - most I've done is sat on two in the showroom in my entire life - so yes, I don't know how to even start one. With that in mind, I'm definitely going with a used one!

    I guess I can try answering some questions up front:

    Age: 28
    Height: 5' 11"
    Weight: 225 lbs (I'm working on it, dammit - I joined a gym this month! :p)
    I'm mainly looking to ride it around places like TSF Brown's Camp, offroad, etc. I want dual sport so I can get to the trails without the truck if needed, but it's going to be a long time before (or if ever) I decide to drive on anything more than a country highway.
    I tend to be careful and cautious with things, but I intend to find out what a bike can do and expect to screw up a bit - so it's got to be built like a tank but doesn't need to win me any races or win a beauty contest.
    I have a friend who rides a street bike that can teach me, plus I plan on taking the class.

    Any features to look for?
    What type of price range?
    How big? I can sling my leg over a Honda 650 if needed, but is there so much as too much for starting? I don't want to outgrow it too fast, but I don't need it to menace me!
    I'm sure each of you are partial to your own brand, but is there anybody to avoid? I hear Suzuki probably isn't as good as say, a Yamaha...?
    How the heck do you get it in the truck? I'm guessing I need a trailer to one-man it...
    2 or 4 stroke? I read a few posts, so I know it's a heated debate... but what's right for me?
    Some guy said that dual sports were trash up until 2000 when they stopped being wussy and started being offroad bikes with lights thrown on... any truth to this? All I know is my buddy's '70s era Suzuki topped out at 40mph and he's a skinny guy.


    You don't have to answer all of those or in that order... just trying to spill out everything I can!
     
  2. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:28 PM
    #2
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    Jonathan
    Inland Empire, Ca
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    2008 Tacoma Prerunner TRD Offroad
    Dome light LED, 6000k HID Headlights and fogs, Grillcraft black mesh, rear 5100's, Total Chaos UCA's, 285/75/16 BFG KM2's, Spidertrax spacers, Blacked out emblems, cb,kenwood tm270 ham radio, All Pro 3" leaf pack, Fox 2.0 coilovers, Revenge Fab Sliders, u bolt flip kit, Pioneer avh4200, bed bar with light and antenna, Wet Okoles, Weathertech Mats, Wet Okole Armrests, Rear KR Fab bumper, bed mat, N-Fab spare tire carrier with full size spare on 16" TRD rim, Bedlinered flares and grille. Camburg Spindles, All Pro front fenders.
    I say a crx450. Lots of power but its a 4stroke and you can get the hang of it. You will never grow out of it.
     
  3. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:31 PM
    #3
    Timicha

    Timicha Timicha

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    Tillamook / Portland , Oregon
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    Fabtech 4 inch lift, tinted windows, diff drop, 33 inch MTZ tires on Raceline Raptor wheels, ELITE OFF-ROAD bumpers and sliders
    I ride a Cr250 in the hills around Tillamook and it goes awesome, but if you plan on driving it on the road then a 2 stroke wont work for yu. i'd say go with the 450x like he said. you wont ever out grow it because it will have a ton of power when you want it and it will be way lighter than say a 650 or something.
     
  4. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:35 PM
    #4
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    Jonathan
    Inland Empire, Ca
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    2008 Tacoma Prerunner TRD Offroad
    Dome light LED, 6000k HID Headlights and fogs, Grillcraft black mesh, rear 5100's, Total Chaos UCA's, 285/75/16 BFG KM2's, Spidertrax spacers, Blacked out emblems, cb,kenwood tm270 ham radio, All Pro 3" leaf pack, Fox 2.0 coilovers, Revenge Fab Sliders, u bolt flip kit, Pioneer avh4200, bed bar with light and antenna, Wet Okoles, Weathertech Mats, Wet Okole Armrests, Rear KR Fab bumper, bed mat, N-Fab spare tire carrier with full size spare on 16" TRD rim, Bedlinered flares and grille. Camburg Spindles, All Pro front fenders.
    I just recently sold my 2005 cr250 :(. But when I get another bike im going to get a crf450.
     
  5. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:39 PM
    #5
    Timicha

    Timicha Timicha

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    Tillamook / Portland , Oregon
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    Fabtech 4 inch lift, tinted windows, diff drop, 33 inch MTZ tires on Raceline Raptor wheels, ELITE OFF-ROAD bumpers and sliders
    ya i'd like too but im still in college so money doesn't agree with me getting one right now haha.
     
  6. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:41 PM
    #6
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    Jonathan
    Inland Empire, Ca
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    2008 Tacoma Prerunner TRD Offroad
    Dome light LED, 6000k HID Headlights and fogs, Grillcraft black mesh, rear 5100's, Total Chaos UCA's, 285/75/16 BFG KM2's, Spidertrax spacers, Blacked out emblems, cb,kenwood tm270 ham radio, All Pro 3" leaf pack, Fox 2.0 coilovers, Revenge Fab Sliders, u bolt flip kit, Pioneer avh4200, bed bar with light and antenna, Wet Okoles, Weathertech Mats, Wet Okole Armrests, Rear KR Fab bumper, bed mat, N-Fab spare tire carrier with full size spare on 16" TRD rim, Bedlinered flares and grille. Camburg Spindles, All Pro front fenders.
    Same here! I graduate in 2 years so maybe that will be my graduation present for myself. :D
     
  7. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:44 PM
    #7
    Timicha

    Timicha Timicha

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    TIM
    Tillamook / Portland , Oregon
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    04 White Tacoma
    Fabtech 4 inch lift, tinted windows, diff drop, 33 inch MTZ tires on Raceline Raptor wheels, ELITE OFF-ROAD bumpers and sliders
    haha ya im done in 3 and im thinking i will probably be getting the same present. but by then some new awesome bike will probably we out haha. i also wouldn't mind a street bike, i road one of those the other day and holly shit it was fast!
     
  8. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:48 PM
    #8
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    Jonathan
    Inland Empire, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2008 Tacoma Prerunner TRD Offroad
    Dome light LED, 6000k HID Headlights and fogs, Grillcraft black mesh, rear 5100's, Total Chaos UCA's, 285/75/16 BFG KM2's, Spidertrax spacers, Blacked out emblems, cb,kenwood tm270 ham radio, All Pro 3" leaf pack, Fox 2.0 coilovers, Revenge Fab Sliders, u bolt flip kit, Pioneer avh4200, bed bar with light and antenna, Wet Okoles, Weathertech Mats, Wet Okole Armrests, Rear KR Fab bumper, bed mat, N-Fab spare tire carrier with full size spare on 16" TRD rim, Bedlinered flares and grille. Camburg Spindles, All Pro front fenders.
    Im buying one of each. I will be getting a cbr600. I went and got my license and was about to buy one and my parents said "Heck No! Move Out!" So I didnt get a bike. lol. I have to be patient I guess.
     
  9. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:52 PM
    #9
    Timicha

    Timicha Timicha

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    Tillamook / Portland , Oregon
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    04 White Tacoma
    Fabtech 4 inch lift, tinted windows, diff drop, 33 inch MTZ tires on Raceline Raptor wheels, ELITE OFF-ROAD bumpers and sliders
    haha thats why i havn't got one yet. my dad said he would cut me off and i wouldn't be going to college if he catches me owning a street bike before im 21. but its probably a good thing since when i road my friends cbr600 i ended up doing 120 down a road by my house, the wierd thing is i didn't feel like i was going that fast untill i felt the wind hitting my throat and i looked down to see how fast i was goin.
     
  10. Aug 18, 2009 at 11:56 PM
    #10
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    Jonathan
    Inland Empire, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2008 Tacoma Prerunner TRD Offroad
    Dome light LED, 6000k HID Headlights and fogs, Grillcraft black mesh, rear 5100's, Total Chaos UCA's, 285/75/16 BFG KM2's, Spidertrax spacers, Blacked out emblems, cb,kenwood tm270 ham radio, All Pro 3" leaf pack, Fox 2.0 coilovers, Revenge Fab Sliders, u bolt flip kit, Pioneer avh4200, bed bar with light and antenna, Wet Okoles, Weathertech Mats, Wet Okole Armrests, Rear KR Fab bumper, bed mat, N-Fab spare tire carrier with full size spare on 16" TRD rim, Bedlinered flares and grille. Camburg Spindles, All Pro front fenders.
    :burnrubber:I was doing That splitting cars on the freeway. :eek:
     
  11. Aug 19, 2009 at 12:04 AM
    #11
    Timicha

    Timicha Timicha

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    04 White Tacoma
    Fabtech 4 inch lift, tinted windows, diff drop, 33 inch MTZ tires on Raceline Raptor wheels, ELITE OFF-ROAD bumpers and sliders
    haha ya i want one soo bad, i want a gsxr or cbr. i think the gsxr looks way cooler
     
  12. Aug 19, 2009 at 12:07 AM
    #12
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    Jonathan
    Inland Empire, Ca
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    2008 Tacoma Prerunner TRD Offroad
    Dome light LED, 6000k HID Headlights and fogs, Grillcraft black mesh, rear 5100's, Total Chaos UCA's, 285/75/16 BFG KM2's, Spidertrax spacers, Blacked out emblems, cb,kenwood tm270 ham radio, All Pro 3" leaf pack, Fox 2.0 coilovers, Revenge Fab Sliders, u bolt flip kit, Pioneer avh4200, bed bar with light and antenna, Wet Okoles, Weathertech Mats, Wet Okole Armrests, Rear KR Fab bumper, bed mat, N-Fab spare tire carrier with full size spare on 16" TRD rim, Bedlinered flares and grille. Camburg Spindles, All Pro front fenders.
    Yea I borrowed my buddies gsxr600 for the day. Sweet but the cbr's ride a lot better and smoother IMO. Plus Im a honda guy. They last forever and are bullet proof.
     
  13. Aug 19, 2009 at 9:12 AM
    #13
    Chickenmunga

    Chickenmunga [OP] Nuggety

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    08 TRD Offroad DC 4x4 with stuff
    All the normal TW BS
    From what I'm seeing, dual sports only come in 250 and 650. Suzuki is the only one making an in-between with a DR-Z400S
     
  14. Aug 19, 2009 at 10:03 AM
    #14
    Timicha

    Timicha Timicha

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    Tillamook / Portland , Oregon
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    04 White Tacoma
    Fabtech 4 inch lift, tinted windows, diff drop, 33 inch MTZ tires on Raceline Raptor wheels, ELITE OFF-ROAD bumpers and sliders
    the 450x is a woods bike but if you put blinkers and a licensplate on it then you can drive them on the street, along with getting your license. i used to have a dr350 dual sport and it was heavy as hell and was not easy to ride in the woods. if you wanna do alot of woods riding then i would say the 450x because you can ride them on the street after making them legal and they are light.
     
  15. Aug 19, 2009 at 10:04 AM
    #15
    Timicha

    Timicha Timicha

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    Tillamook / Portland , Oregon
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    04 White Tacoma
    Fabtech 4 inch lift, tinted windows, diff drop, 33 inch MTZ tires on Raceline Raptor wheels, ELITE OFF-ROAD bumpers and sliders
    ya i havn't ridden one yet but im also a honda guy so i dunno what ill do. i got a few years to think about it haha
     
  16. Sep 24, 2009 at 10:05 AM
    #16
    t-com09

    t-com09 Well-Known Member

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    Bilstien 5100's yellow foglights toolbox pop n' lock
    i ride a rmz250, its got power, but the 450 would be way better, never outgrow it
     
  17. Sep 24, 2009 at 10:13 AM
    #17
    cvillechopper

    cvillechopper Jackass to the masses

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    Depends on how much risk you like to embrace. The 250 is going to be a much better platform on which to learn how to control a motorcycle than will be the 450. With the light weight of the dual-sport machines the difference in displacement is HUGE. It wasn't that long ago that a 250 was considered a mid-size motorcycle. You'll have plenty of power at your size to take you down the road when needed. The bike will be easier to control for a novice (especially throttle control) which is more important (in my mind) than not outgrowing it.
     
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