First Bike

ok so im gonna buy my first bike in the spring as soon as the weather gets nice here in pittsburgh. (HERE WE GO STEELERS) I was looking at the Honda CBR F3 1995-1998 and also the F4 which is 1999-2000. i read the sticky about sport bikes as first bikes and saw that it said the F3 is not bad to start on my question is that what about the F4 is it an ok one or is it too new/powerful. thanks alot you info/exprience is greatly appericiated.

Both are too much. Actually a friend of mine recently sold one to a guy who had been riding for about a year on a Buell XB9 and even he had a little trouble at first going from the twin to the inline 4, even though the XB9 is a pretty powerful bike. As for the F3, even that has more power than the XB9... it's at right about 100 horsepower.

The only I4 bikes I'll ever recommend to beginners are the old standards or "universal japanese motorcycles" from the 80's. For example, my first street bike was a 1982 Honda CB650 (I had 9 years on the dirt before that). Bikes like that can be had for under $1500 (mine was $800) and the engines are good for introducing you to the I4 personality without the overwhelming power combined with light weight and twitchy handling.

Beyond that I would only recommend twins, most I4 engines are designed with experienced riders in mind and are not at all beginner friendly.

Edit: Actually the Honda 599 sits right on the line of being beginner-friendly, it's good for some beginners but not all, having about 80 horsepower. It will be hard to find one though.

You might want to consider a ninja 500 as well. I used to ride a 1989 cbr 600 which didn't put out much horses(due to age and the previous owner) but it still had that sportbike feel. I am pretty sure any ninja 500 would have been faster but it was a really fun bike and I got it for 1000$

I'm not familiar with those bikes, but STEELERS ARE IN THE SUPERBOWL!!!

I'm buying my first bike in may, a Kawasaki Ninja 250r 2009 model :D i'm so excited :D

Hey Congratulations! Why May? Is there a waitlist, or is it a weather issue?

Hey Congratulations! Why May? Is there a waitlist, or is it a weather issue?

Actually there is a waitlist, but MOSTLY because I'm from Norway, and Im not moving to Orlando before may 5th :(