buying a street motorcyle?

Don't get obsessed with any particular brand. Any of the major makes are about the same. If any one make were really superior to the other makes, this would be the only make anyone would buy and the other companies would stop making them. Last time I looked, there were several motorcycle manufactruers. If any make were really inferior to the other makes, nobody would buy them and the company would stop making them. I don't recall any motorcycle companies going out of business lately.

If buying a used bike:

First, actually inspect the bike with your own eyes. It is not a good idea to buy a used motorcycle over the Internet sight unseen.

Bring a friend. If you do not have your motorcycle license yet, bring a friend with a motorcycle license. Bring two helmets.

First, check some of the obvious items. It will give you an idea of how the bike was maintained.

Look at the chain. Is it rusty? Is it adjusted to near its limit?

If it has adjustable brakes, are they adjusted to their limit? If it has disk brakes, are the disks rusty, pitted or grooved?

If the bike has a center stand, put it on the center stand. Have your friend hold the bike steady. Pull on the rear wheel from side to side. Is there any play in the swing arm?

Look at the tires. Is there good tread? Is there any weather checking?

Look at the oil. Does it look black and neglected or does it look like it had a recent change?

Look at the overall appearance. Is there lots of rust? Are pieces missing or broken? Are there any bad scratches or dents that you are unwilling to accept? Is the seat ripped?

Does the bike have excessive miles? Bikes from the south will tend to have more miles than bikes in the north because of the shorter riding season in the north. This is a judgment call depending where you live.

Start the engine. Did the owner warm it up before you got there or was the engine cold? Was it easy to start? Did it turn over well or did the battery sound weak? Did it smoke when it started? Any unusual sounds? Is there excessive valve clatter?

Take it for a ride. How does the engine run? Does it smoke? Does the transmission shift smoothly? Does the clutch slip? Are the brakes firm? Do the brakes squeal? Are there any unusual rattles? Does the suspension work well or easily bottom out?

Any defects you find are something that you may need to deal with in the future. Some items can be inexpensive to repair. However, some motorcycle parts can be surprisingly expensive. If it is an older bike, spare parts may not be readily available. Once you buy it, any repairs required to keep it on the road will be your responsibility.

It helps to know at what price bikes of similar size and age sell for in your local area. This will help you judge if the bike is priced correctly. Watch the classifieds.

If you decide to buy it, get yourself a maintenance manual. I got a Clymer manual for my bike on eBay for about $25. It will pay for itself the first time you use it.

I agree with most everything said here except the one little item about HD being top heavy. That is one thing that they most definitley are not. The Japanese can claim that . HD is absolutely noted for being bottom heavy (hence more likely to stay in line and upright) but of course none of this matters for any and all experienced riders

All makes out there from any major Japanese/European or US manufacturer are going to be absolutely reliable and fun to be on. I would not suggest buying a used motorcycle because you definitely need to rest assured that your purchase is in the best possible condition that it can be in since you will be just starting out....At least you know it was never wrenched on by inexperienced persons/never in an accident/never abused.....And a new bike will come with at the very least 12 mos-12000 mile warranty. Many manufacturers have even better deals now...

I would also suggest that you do not go after the most powerful/quickest bike on the market. Every road bike out there, regardless of make or manufacturer can go plenty fast enough. Get yourself a nice midsized unit between 750-1100 maximum, take a MSF course, ride it for at least this entire season and see if you enjoy the epxperience. It is a lot of fun but not necessarily meant for everyone or enjoyed by everyone. After a summer of riding you will lknow for sure if it is something that you will enjoy. If after that time you feel that your bike just isn't big enough then it would be worhtwhile to invest in a larger bike, and one more in line with what type of riding you will ultimately prefer.

Good luck in your quest and welcome to he family.

TAKE AN MSF SAFETY COURSE

Figure out what you want

a laid back, take it easy, mellow cruiser

or

Intense, performance oriented sportbike.

Mind you there are sport-touring sportbikes, made for comfort. And Standard bikes, with a totally upright seating postion, with less fairings. Less fairings is good for a beginner because you might drop the bike, and this will save you $ if you scratch it up.

Insurance goes by value of the bike, and engine size.

The lower the CC's the easier it will be to manage the power of the bike.

The 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R is an ideal sportbike for a beginner. (Hyosung is a skecthy company still in America, don't even look)

Beginner Cruisers- Suzuki GZ250, Yamaha Virago, Kawasaki Eliminator, Honda Rebel.

I would stray away from Harley Davidsons, their heavy, top heavy, and low geared. This means they take a higher effort to take off, manage at low speeds. No matter what your buddy says, a Sportster 883 isn't the best beginnger bike.

WEAR FULL GEAR DON'T BE A SQUID

Honda makes a lot of good quality bikes that are very reliable if you've never ridden before start on either a mid size cruiser like the Shadow's in the 500cc to 750cc or the Honda Rebels at 250cc all these are good beginners bikes to learn on and start riding with on the street ,Yamaha's are also a good reliable bike . check out cycle trader.com this where you can find just about any bike on the market that is for sale ,if your serious about getting a bike then take a MSF course as well and always wear a helmet

Japanese bikes have a fantastic reputation for fit, finish, quality, and power...

my personal favorite is Honda, I've been riding red since I've been on the street, and would recommend them to anyone looking for a good bike that is reliable and comfortable with more power than you will ever need...