Thinking about a bike

[Doc Joe]

Originally Posted by spacemanspif

That Royal Enfield in the article is a very nice bike but the price tag isn't very attractive. I'm going to keep an eye out for a used one while looking for a TU. I think you guys have convinced me to stay away from vintage standards for the reliability factor alone.

Doc Joe: It's more an emotional decision than an objective one. I simply want a bike and have wanted one for a long time. Using one for a warm weather commuter is a great opportunity to do this and get it out of my system before a mortgage and children muddy up the finances.

I understand that 100%, I have been riding since I was 10 and started street riding at 18, when I could buy my first street bike and get a lic.
Take your time if your not in a hurry and look and think about what you want to do besides ride it to work, ie pleasure riding with friends, trail riding or track time on a sport bike.
I know others have said this, but please do look into taking a motorcycle riding course in your area. It is well worth the money and time to take it.

Doc.

[jkv357]

Now is a great time to buy if you have storage for the winter.

I think you are on the right track for your first bike considering your needs (wants). Most of us don't ride for the practicality of it - it's a passion. You may have to take some time off for kids/house/mortgage/etc, but the passion is still there when the opportunity presents itself.

Please do take a basic riding course before hitting the streets, and be sure to wear all the gear all the time. Even after 40 years of riding and racing I still won't go out without all of it. You never know.

Best of luck with your search. Update this thread when you do buy something.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

More than 250cc is kinda overkill for your intentions. In this displacement range I'd go for a single-cylinder. What are the options from Honda and Yamaha?

[sendler]

Jack of all trades.
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2016 CB300F Overview - Honda Powersports
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Add a small windscreen for $70 to duck out of the rain. And an almost free luggage system for your lunch box.
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Most people get 68 mpgUS but I always got better than 90.
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[roosterk0031]

Been a little out of bikes for a few years, just read a comparison of 250ish size bikes and learned of the 300, I really liked what I read and the styling.

Back to my problem with the xr250, with or without a title I think the VIN will come up OFF-ROAD ONLY, some states doesn't matter, in Iowa it does. I see ATV, Kia truck, etc, on the street here weekly without plates. It has to have plates & insurance if I'm going to let my 16 yo son ride it to baseball pratice/games.

I'll use it with or without but 50% of the reason to own it is for him, or my daughters that want to ride it. I'm OK with having to borrow a bike for their riding test so it doesn't have to be 100%.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by spacemanspif

That Royal Enfield in the article is a very nice bike but the price tag isn't very attractive. I'm going to keep an eye out for a used one while looking for a TU. I think you guys have convinced me to stay away from vintage standards for the reliability factor alone.

I'd definitely recommend making a list of bikes you like and just keep searching for all of them. Even if they are pricey new, you may find a deal on a good used bike that would work well for you.

Not sure where in Jersey you are, but here's a Royal Enfield with EFI for $2000:
2011 royal enfield bullet efi500 obo

It's at least close to your price range. And it even has a kick start! That's gotta be worth $500 :P

[sendler]

The Royal Enfield.
"“It was bloody hell,” he said. On the freeway, “the bars vibrated like they should’ve come wrapped in anonymous brown paper and my hands literally went numb about a mile into the journey.” Prokup referred to it as “wanting-to-jump-out-of-my-hands vibration.”"

[jkv357]

The "Royal Oilfield" - as a Brit friend of mine called them - is better as a second (or third) bike to mess around with. They were never know for their quality or reliability. The new ones are made in India, and have plenty of "charm" and "character" but I don't think they would function very well as a daily commuter.

Probably needs about the same constant tinkering as a "Cafe Racer" built from an old bike would.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by sendler

The Royal Enfield.
"“It was bloody hell,” he said. On the freeway, “the bars vibrated like they should’ve come wrapped in anonymous brown paper and my hands literally went numb about a mile into the journey.” Prokup referred to it as “wanting-to-jump-out-of-my-hands vibration.”"

...and still was rated second place out of the five.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by sendler

Jack of all trades.
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2016 CB300F Overview - Honda Powersports
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There was a CB300 here in Brazil, but it had basically the same air-cooled DOHC engine from the CBX250 Twister known in some export markets as CBF250 (which IIRC was available in Canada for only one year) increased to about 300cc and a 5-speed transmission instead of 6-speed. It was now replaced by the CB Twister, a 250cc still air-cooled but now SOHC which got the 6-speed again. Personally, I'd like a modern water-cooled engine, but the lesser maintenance of an air-cooled still has its point if the priority is low cost...