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With apologies, here's an interjection by somebody (me) with zero experience in motorcycles, but a lifelong fascination. Specifically, my fascination has been with hard cornering at low speeds (below, say, 45 mph) and explosive low-end acceleration. By the latter I mean 60-foot times on the drag strip, on the order of 1.5s or less. In a street situation, it would be <1s to accelerate from say 15 mph to 30 mph, which is exactly what's needed to survive and thrive in heavy, brutally-competitive urban traffic. In other words, this has nothing to do with 150 mph screaming through the desert, but everything to so with explosive, on-demand low-end acceleration, together with elfin handling at low speeds. What are the options? is this the very opposite of the design-intent of a superbike?
$2300 for a 2013? That's pretty crazy. Please post the ad so I can buy it.
You won't find a working GSXR around here that new for less than double that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lily'sShadow82
And also, I may be female, but I can ride. And I'd post a video so I can prove i can hang with the best of 'em.
Never said you couldn't ride... but it goes back to what someone else said about buying the bike that you need. I'd definitely say go for the GSXR 750 over the Busa. Hell I ride a GSXS 750 and it's all the bike I need... but then again, 90-100 mph is enough for me. No real interest in going much beyond that although I know the bike will do it.
I knew a couple guys that were all about the speed and both are dead now.
With apologies, here's an interjection by somebody (me) with zero experience in motorcycles, but a lifelong fascination. Specifically, my fascination has been with hard cornering at low speeds (below, say, 45 mph) and explosive low-end acceleration. By the latter I mean 60-foot times on the drag strip, on the order of 1.5s or less. In a street situation, it would be <1s to accelerate from say 15 mph to 30 mph, which is exactly what's needed to survive and thrive in heavy, brutally-competitive urban traffic. In other words, this has nothing to do with 150 mph screaming through the desert, but everything to so with explosive, on-demand low-end acceleration, together with elfin handling at low speeds. What are the options? is this the very opposite of the design-intent of a superbike?
I have experience with bikes. One of my previous ones was a 2006 Honda CBR 650 and it was my baby. I am into the superbike/street bike hype still.
$2300 for a 2013? That's pretty crazy. Please post the ad so I can buy it.
You won't find a working GSXR around here that new for less than double that.
Never said you couldn't ride... but it goes back to what someone else said about buying the bike that you need. I'd definitely say go for the GSXR 750 over the Busa. Hell I ride a GSXS 750 and it's all the bike I need... but then again, 90-100 mph is enough for me. No real interest in going much beyond that although I know the bike will do it.
I knew a couple guys that were all about the speed and both are dead now.
Ride safe out there.
Oh I have every intent on riding safely. I like the busa for their overall handling and looks but I'm not against some thing slower. not like i need to go 300 mph everywhere, lol
Oh I have every intent on riding safely. I like the busa for their overall handling and looks but I'm not against some thing slower. not like i need to go 300 mph everywhere, lol
I see a 1997 with 25k miles for $2300 not a 2013 which makes a lot more sense.
Pretty bike... high miles.
That's why I bought a new bike. I looked into used bikes but as said people want an arm and a leg for them (around here anyway) and I just didn't see a point in paying $6000 for a used bike when I could pay $7500 and get a brand new one which is exactly what I did.
The peace of mind of knowing everything that has been done to the bike as far as maintenance and overall care was worth it to me.
If you're on a budget though it's a different story obviously.
With apologies, here's an interjection by somebody (me) with zero experience in motorcycles, but a lifelong fascination. Specifically, my fascination has been with hard cornering at low speeds (below, say, 45 mph) and explosive low-end acceleration. By the latter I mean 60-foot times on the drag strip, on the order of 1.5s or less. In a street situation, it would be <1s to accelerate from say 15 mph to 30 mph, which is exactly what's needed to survive and thrive in heavy, brutally-competitive urban traffic. In other words, this has nothing to do with 150 mph screaming through the desert, but everything to so with explosive, on-demand low-end acceleration, together with elfin handling at low speeds. What are the options? is this the very opposite of the design-intent of a superbike?
I'm attempting to understand your post/question and failing. You're mixing things.. hard cornering (racing situations) don't happen on the street unless you like sliding along the ground. Similarly, the "explosive low-end acceleration", if abused, will just spin the rear wheel out from under the bike and away you go with a slide again. So those are both handled by the on-board computer (your head, though some newer bikes have some electronic aids to assist those with malfunctioning main computers).
Now, none of that has anything to do with surviving urban traffic. You can do that with the lowest-powered bike out there for sale. Again, that (surviving urban traffic) is 100% the job of the on-board computer, analyzing the situation and making appropriate adjustments. And even that isn't enough all the time, which is why you *MUST* wear gear (or have medical staff on-calll and be willing to deal with weeks/months of recoup).
For reference, I spent 4 years in Washington DC on motorcycles-only. For awhile (~8 months) I was relegated to a 17hp dualsport motorcycle thanks to forgetting a rag on the chain of my prior main bike (tangled in the front sprocket and cracked the case, no money to repair or replace for those 8 months). I was commuting from the north side of the metro area to the south side, mostly on freeways but with a fair bit of side-streets too. Never had an accident with that bike, avoided a few (99% resolved with the brakes, which is true of my overall riding experience) and the last were mostly made up of watching my 6 with mirrors and moving out of the way when someone decided not to stop.
You simply do *NOT* ride hard/aggressively in dense traffic if you want to do it for any length of time. Thus, ANY motorcycle that can be legally plated will have all that's necessary to survive and thrive in urban traffic. You can stack the deck a little, making sure the tires are top notch, brakes are up to the task (and you, as a rider, are capable of using those to the fullest ~ which is the biggest variable). I like bikes with wider bars as you get more leverage for faster turning transitions, and like bikes where you "sit up and beg" so you can see over the lions share of traffic (to watch what's ahead and make your plans of escape). If you're rarely going over 65mph, a single-cylinder bike will have the best low-RPM torque (for "squirting" away from things), else a twin cylinder offers the best low-rpm torque AND freeway speeds capability. The super-sport repli-racers all develop their incredible horespower through big RPM which isn't really ideal for under 45mph traffic situations.
Keep in mind that this is all theoretical "best/worst", a good rider will know how to make the most out of what they have and most of my urban commuting was on a barely street legal repli-racer sportbike. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that, I see that I made it harder than it needed to be, but I certainly made it work.
I see a 1997 with 25k miles for $2300 not a 2013 which makes a lot more sense.
Pretty bike... high miles.
That's why I bought a new bike. I looked into used bikes but as said people want an arm and a leg for them (around here anyway) and I just didn't see a point in paying $6000 for a used bike when I could pay $7500 and get a brand new one which is exactly what I did.
The peace of mind of knowing everything that has been done to the bike as far as maintenance and overall care was worth it to me.
If you're on a budget though it's a different story obviously.
Let us know what you end up going with.
so I have a guy gonna trade me my dirt bike and fourwheeler for a Suzuki GS500F. that's the winner this go round
I'm attempting to understand your post/question and failing. You're mixing things.. hard cornering (racing situations) don't happen on the street unless you like sliding along the ground. Similarly, the "explosive low-end acceleration", if abused, will just spin the rear wheel out from under the bike and away you go with a slide again. So those are both handled by the on-board computer (your head, though some newer bikes have some electronic aids to assist those with malfunctioning main computers).
Now, none of that has anything to do with surviving urban traffic. You can do that with the lowest-powered bike out there for sale. Again, that (surviving urban traffic) is 100% the job of the on-board computer, analyzing the situation and making appropriate adjustments. And even that isn't enough all the time, which is why you *MUST* wear gear (or have medical staff on-calll and be willing to deal with weeks/months of recoup).
For reference, I spent 4 years in Washington DC on motorcycles-only. For awhile (~8 months) I was relegated to a 17hp dualsport motorcycle thanks to forgetting a rag on the chain of my prior main bike (tangled in the front sprocket and cracked the case, no money to repair or replace for those 8 months). I was commuting from the north side of the metro area to the south side, mostly on freeways but with a fair bit of side-streets too. Never had an accident with that bike, avoided a few (99% resolved with the brakes, which is true of my overall riding experience) and the last were mostly made up of watching my 6 with mirrors and moving out of the way when someone decided not to stop.
You simply do *NOT* ride hard/aggressively in dense traffic if you want to do it for any length of time. Thus, ANY motorcycle that can be legally plated will have all that's necessary to survive and thrive in urban traffic. You can stack the deck a little, making sure the tires are top notch, brakes are up to the task (and you, as a rider, are capable of using those to the fullest ~ which is the biggest variable). I like bikes with wider bars as you get more leverage for faster turning transitions, and like bikes where you "sit up and beg" so you can see over the lions share of traffic (to watch what's ahead and make your plans of escape). If you're rarely going over 65mph, a single-cylinder bike will have the best low-RPM torque (for "squirting" away from things), else a twin cylinder offers the best low-rpm torque AND freeway speeds capability. The super-sport repli-racers all develop their incredible horespower through big RPM which isn't really ideal for under 45mph traffic situations.
Keep in mind that this is all theoretical "best/worst", a good rider will know how to make the most out of what they have and most of my urban commuting was on a barely street legal repli-racer sportbike. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that, I see that I made it harder than it needed to be, but I certainly made it work.
that's very true. I found a winner I think tho. for this go round, I'll be getting a Suzuki GS500F for now. bigger bike later down the road
No, seriously, they are Very boring to ride once you get past the "whee, go fast!" thing. Horrible to commute on due to the terrible ergonomics and insanely short turning radius (that makes navigating slow speed turns, like parking lots, an Austin Powers moment). No storage, no weather protection, fragile cosmetic bits that will total a bike if you try to go the insurance route after a small "opps" moment. I'm not sure there are a worse group of bikes you can buy when it comes to daily riding/commuting.
Agreed. My suggestion? Suzuki SV650!!! All time favorite street bike. I commuted in Phoenix traffic on mine for a couple of years. Love the way it zipped in and out of traffic with the instantaneous power.
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