I want a motorcycle! Suggestions? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 09-09-2003, 02:07 PM

I am 17, almost 18 now. Senior, graduating high school. Parents want to get me a gift for high school...ding....motorcycle. I see them all around, and just like a Mercedes Diesel, I've been looking at a particular bike:

2004 Triumph Speed 4

4 cylinder, liquid cooled, 600CC, 97BHP. Brand new, it costs around 6500 dollars. What is your opinion on a bike like this? I really like the styling, the way it looks, and from what I hear it is a really well handling bike, with lots of power. I simply love how it looks.

What do you guys think of Triumphs?

I like the styling better than the BMW's, and this one is much cheaper than any model BMW makes. What do you guys think?

TTaM · #2 09-09-2003, 02:23 PM

I like triumphs, but that is too big of a bike to start on. First and foremost, take the MSF safety course. I don't know how it works in other states, but in IL, you sign up [it's free, $20 refundable deposit], they give you a bike, and teach you everything you want to know about riding motorcycles. It takes a weekend, and then you go to the DMV with your card, get your M liscense without having to take the test [you take it in the class] and then you get an insurance discount. Don't buy new for your first bike, because chances are you will drop it, knock it over in the Garage, etc.
I know a big part of motorcycling is the image, and everyone likes the big, new, sporty bike, but you really shouldn't start there. Start small. I suggest a Suzuki Banit 400 or 600, or a Suzuki GS500e, if you like the "naked bike" look. If you want fairings, go for a Suzuki Katana 600, or a Kawaski Ninja 250 or 500. My first bike was a Katana 600, and it was dropped 3 times. Twice just sitting on the bike, and once at speed. I am glad I didn't pay too much. People don't see motorcycles, and they are quite dangerous. They are a helluva lot of fun though, and in the hands of an experienced and aware rider, the risks can decrease. Do a web search for the MSF course in your state, or most motorcycle dealers have the information, or know where you can get it.

Good luck, and if you get your bike, ride safe.

*edit* I just noticed you said you were a senior. I went to school with a kid that got a bike for graduation, a Honda Blackhawk 1100. He didn't live a month past graduation

agplate · #3 09-09-2003, 02:53 PM

Hey Kyle-
Don't kill yourself! By the way, I have a 1983 Yamaha Seca Turbo in great condition. I bought it new in 1985 when I was a senior in High School and have had it since. Just did a complete overhaul last year. It's a rare and cool bike that gets alot of looks. Too old for you?

#4 09-09-2003, 03:05 PM

The Seca Actually looks really nice. Its a really nice looking sport bike. I doubt the parents really support my decision, but I am still thinking about them. I see that Triumph I have a picture of every so often around town in orange..I love it! A bike would be a nice change from the 240D, but I do value my life and like to play it safe. I would probably want to start on something small and then maybe move up to my Triumph.

PC Dave · #5 09-09-2003, 03:10 PM

I agree with everything Volkl said. Before you do anything else, take an MSF course. A 600 isn't a great bike for a beginner, way too much power. Teens and 20-ish riders killing themselves on 600cc 4-cylinders (usually Japanese) are almost a cliche. You might want to consider a smaller twin - a Ducati 600 Monster if you're looking for style, or a Suzuki SV650. Better yet, go used, and preferably buy a naked bike - the first time you have to pay for fiberglass repairs after dropping a new sports bike you'll see why. The motorcycle market had several years of strong sales, and is starting to weaken, meaning lots of 2-3 year old bikes are out there for not too much $$.

Personally, I love Beemers. It's what I own now (K1100RS), and I've owned several over the years, but I can understand why not everyone likes them - they're an acquired taste. The Speed 4 is a derivative of the full-bodywork TT600, which was introduced by Triumph 3-4 years ago to compete with the Japanese 600's. Unfortunately, they screwed up the fuel injection mapping badly (the competition was carbureted at the time) and they never made a real impact in the market. Make sure they've fixed the FI (and ask riders you meet, the dealer will say "sure, that's much better now"). Also, look for bargains. In the LA market, one Triumph dealer has a standing ad in Cycle Trader advertising $1-2k off MSRP on every Triumph, listed by model - and these are sub $10k bikes to start: it's a buyer's market. If you reall want to go Triumph and you want the power despite what everyone says, consider a 2-5 year old used Speed Triple - same styling as the Speed 4, but on the 900cc or 955cc three cylinder, a very nice engine.

#6 09-09-2003, 03:18 PM

Truthfully, more than the speed or anything, I just love the naked styling of the Triumph Speed 4 and Speed Triple. I think it just has the neatest, most menacing look, especially in black.

I like BMW's a lot too, especially the air cooled boxer models. Unfortunately, they are sooo expensive. I like the new 2004 model they have called the "Edition 80"

Too bad its 13K

blackmercedes · #7 09-09-2003, 03:25 PM

Are you a new rider? If so, that Triumph is a lot of bike. You might want to pick up a used bike for much less, and get your feet wet.

By the time I was 18 I had been riding for nearly 10 years, but only two on the street. My years of motocross riding had given my good bike control, but I still had to learn about riding defensively on the street.

Someone mentioned the SV650. That is one nice bike. It's light, so it's easy for novice riders to pedal, and it handles very well without being a hair-trigger device like some sport bikes. I had a chance to ride one, but only for a few minutes. During my short ride, I was durned impressed.

There are lots of used 650/750 UJM (universal Japanese motocycle) for sales out there, and at rock bottom prices for decent bikes. It'll give you a chance to see what kind of bike you'd really like. I have the Shadow, but it'll be gone next year. I tried the "cruiser" bike, but don't like it all that much. They are easy to sell, and hold their value well, so I won't take a bath on it. I need something with more power, a more upright (not "laid back") riding position, and better brakes.

Before you get hung up on power, remember that even an older 750 four cylinder UJM will roast just about any car, and rip right through the 100mph mark. Heck, even those old Honda 450 upright twins can make some speed when pushed.

#8 09-09-2003, 03:28 PM

Brand new. Did a lot of bicycling (lol) and road a few 50CC dirt bikes before, but thats it.

I really liked the look and price of the Triumph. As you say, it may be overpowering. And most likely the more power I have the more I'd like to do dumb stuff. I just really love the looks of that bike. It reminds of what the evil guys in James Bond drive. I find it visually amazing. And cheap. You wouldn't suggest a 600CC as a starter, eh?

I had a look at an SV650 online..and damn... It's just about as nice looking as the Triumph. I can picture it in black. That'd be a nice bike.

G-Benz · #9 09-09-2003, 03:53 PM

Lots of excellent points from the informed members of this forum!

I don't ride (though I would like to

), and I can tell that Triumph is a lotta bike for starting out!

Speaking as a concerned parent, I would be fearful for the insurance premiums AND your safety. I did go to a training course once and I was told over and over how no one teaches you to look out for anything but other cars in driver's Ed, so you always have to look out for other drivers doing things in front of you simply because you are practically invisible to them.

I doubt I (or actually my wife) would let my daughter get a street motorcycle when she's older...but for now, she's having a blast!

If you don't plan on doing more than 30 mph, here's a suggestion:

Zeus · #10 09-09-2003, 04:15 PM

I'd echo all the safety comments made above. I went right from offroad dirtbikes (CanAm Bombardier 250cc 2-cycle) to a Honda CBR 600 that my bro and I bought from a racer. Not a good move. It was bored out, had steel lines, custom farings, etc. and it was INSANE.

I'm really, really lucky I didn't kill myself on that thing. It belonged on a track, not the streets. I fell a couple times (scrapes only) and my bro rode it much harder than I did. I got some riding tips from friends and I survived the transition, but I'd really recommend proper training and a smaller starter bike. After owning it for about a year and wearing down all the footrests on hard corners, my bro sold it and we both had a strange sigh of relief...

I'd like to pick up a really nice Ducati at some point in my future, but I don't miss bikes right now. I think I'll wait until I'm older and not as prone to late-night figure-8 sessions on off-ramps...

P.S. I also knew a guy who bought a pretty big bike right after graduating high school. He was a quiet, *library* kind of guy. I saw him on the bike a few times that summer. I later met him a few years on in university - he was in a wheelchair. Seems the bike got away from him on the highway and he won't ever walk again. Scary stuff. How come everyone who rides knows someone who can't anymore??

PC Dave · #11 09-09-2003, 05:04 PM

Here's a dissenting view on the inevitability of death or injury. I've ridden around 80,000 miles in the last 14 years commuting in LA, commuting in NYC, and all over Europe, and I've never been in an accident (knocking wood as I write this). I've tipped over once on the bike, at a bizarrely off-camber stop sign at the Sausalito exit from 101 southbound just before the Golden Gate Bridge. That was more of a Roadrunner cartoon moment, verrrry slowly falling over, minimal damage (one scratch) on a naked R100GS. My first bike, which I rode to my MSF course, was a BMW R80RT (800cc), a fully equipped (and slow) touring bike that I bought for around $2500 (you can still buy them for about as much).

I would say that I've been lucky - I've had a few close calls, but the close call/accident ratio is pretty high on 4 wheels too. A major factor is probably that I didn't start riding until my late 20s, due to parental prohibition in high school and poverty after. By that time, I'd gotten a lot out of my system - I'm not into racing or stunting anymore, I just like to ride. I agree that your awareness has to increase on a bike - ride like everyone's out to get you. Interestingly, for me at least, my brain seems to automatically shift to a higher state when I'm on a bike. I'm not oblivious in a car, but I'm definitely more aware on 2 wheels. There are a lot of riders in my local club, some of whom ride 20,000+ miles/year in a 6 month riding season (wealthy retired BMW types, mostly). There's maybe one accident a year, or none, between 75-100 of us.

Riding's a lot of fun, and it is entirely possible to ride safely and avoid major injury for decades. Don't be scared off from the sport - just be very aware, and focus on safety, and your odds improve drastically. If you're not at that point in life - God knows I wasn't at your age - it might not be the worst thing to set it aside for a few years until you are.

#12 09-09-2003, 05:12 PM

Everyone knows someone who is no longer here becuase of a crash. One of my sons high school classmates died three weeks ago. 30 years old. Wife and a new baby. I wonder what the statistics are for teenage riders injury and death. The problem is that every teenager thinks he is unbreakable. I know that I did.
I hated it when my son bought his 71 BSA lightening 2 years ago. But it is gorgeous and he hasn't droped it yet. But he has similar riding experience to blackmercedes.
We belong to a Euro motorcycle club and one of the guys has a 99 Triumph(I don't know which one) with 100,000 miles on it. No misprint, 100k. One mechanical problem in all that time, a worn armature on alternator. They aren't building Brit bikes the way they used to. I couldn't ride my old Triumph a 1000 miles without something coming loose or falling off.
Kyle, my advice is to buy a beater bike, take the riding course,(PAY ATTENTION IN THAT CLASS) and start slow. Let your parents buy you a nice new computor and TV for your dorm room at college.

Jim Anderson · #13 09-09-2003, 06:11 PM

Harry Hurt and the "Hurt Report" aka "Technical Report, Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures"

#14 09-09-2003, 06:32 PM

Hello Kyle,
Glad to hear that you are doing well in school!

About motorcycles

: !!!!!!!!!
NEXT, you need to get some experience on one BEFORE they will give you a license.

Even though I have been riding for somewhere around 35 years or so, I STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN MYSELF A ROAD BIKE!

Why? Being a cripple appeals to me even LESS than DEATH.

I have lived by the old addage "live fast/ die young/ and leave a good looking corpse"...............well 2 out of 3 ain't bad.HA!HA!HA!
First, spending over $5,000 on ANYTHING is a lotof scratch.
Every time that I power up the computer, I scan the ebay ads and or the classic bike ads. Nationally, there is a lot of very cool iron available.

600cc can take you almost to the"speed of sound"..................
For that kind of dough, you would not do badly with an older airhead BMW boxer............anything from say 1971 through the late 1980's.............there are hundreds of jap bikes out there..............the mid size Ducatis are sweet, however, you WILL NEED TO KNOW SOME WRENCHING SKILLS.........not just with the Italian iron......with any bike!

Remember that a later model Harley Davidson Sportster is quite a nice bike, and there are lots of them out there in perfect condition.

Even somethimng like an MUZ 650 (actually a yamaha single engine) in a cafe type frame with fairing.........lightweight, somewhat simple and wonderful handling.......just somethoughts.

I have recently seen some of the mid 1970's Honda parrallel twin 450 bikes out there in mint shape for under $2,000........very reliable and east to learn on.

Next, take a trip to the Providence hospital emergency room on a Saturday nite......sit and wait...........someone will come in from a bike crash.......pay attention.......maybe even see someone on one of the floors from a bike accident.

You WILL crash...............do not ever think that you will not...........You Will!............this is NOT ALWAYS a big deal.............it always happens............when the rider gets hurt, is when the automobile hits you or your bike...............you know the drill!!!!

NOTHING like riding a motorcycle at SPEED to make you feel as if one is FLYING>........FANTASTIC

Do NOT get a bike just because it LOOKS COOL...........get one because you have RIDDEN IT and love the way it RIDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

( Let us know what you get

Best wishes and keep it under 100.
Spo out.

P.S. one more thing, please NEVER EVER use the term of driving a motorcycle...............only as-holes say this...................you RIDE A MOTORCYCLE............with your full balance and body weight and momentum.

Sometime, perhaps I may describe one of the time that I beat one of my old hometown cops on a streetbike on a 2 lane road through the somewhat rural town at speeds in excess of 100mph.
see 'ya

Michael K · #15 09-09-2003, 09:55 PM

Dude, I'm totally not cool on this, but please don't get a motorcycle. Through high school my expericen was limited to tons of cycling and a dirt biking on private land. In college my parents would not let me have a car (read pay for my car). Long story short, I was determined to have my own wheels. A buddy had a Honda road bike and let me ride it. I took the course and got a license. I like to go fast and feel the road, but, even then, I was an overly safe rider. I had lots of fun, but God damn I'm lucky to be alive. Compared to cycling it's incredibly more intense. The problems boil down to riding on the road wtih idiot car drivers and the power to weight ratio. If you're like me, you'd be able to ride WAY faster than you'd know what to do with. Keep youself alive and keep the 123.