So I think I might be joining the dark side this weekend...

I finally find myself in possession of a bunch of green things that faintly resemble old presidents. I've stopped at a few dealerships and hitten up a lot of CL ads but I'm afraid to pull the trigger on account of I've never actually bought a bike before. I don't want to pay too much.
The two new bikes I've been looking at the most are the GS500 and the SV650 (which I think is what I really want). I like the GS500 because of the price and the fact that it comes with a warranty. However, in the four years I've been (off and on) looking, I think I want an SV650. The GS500 out the door with lowering links installed before taxes was ~$4600. I can swing that but if I'm buying new I'd rather do the SV but am leary about dropping that much on a bike, means no suspension or track events for the Jag. Basically what I want to know is if I'm really going to lowball this dealership, what number should I throw out for a new SV? They've been hounding me and my gf to come make a deal but my original budget was <$3k.
Should I stick to my guns and keep my budget or look for something new? And does anybody know what the SV's are going for in the Northeast? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hmm this sounds familiar. You could definitely find a decent early SV for under $3000.

Is this your first bike? I really would,nt buy your first bike new.

Bikes have an upgrade path, let someone else take the depreciation beating on a first bike. What if you don't like riding? Thats an expensive lesson. With a used bike on the flat part of the depreciation curve, the cost of the lesson is very low.

SVs are great bikes, but at what cost? An entire track season? Get the less expensive bike, it's going to be just as much fun, and you can still do track days in the Jag (unless it leaks all its wire smoke and breaks down).

Stick to your budget. In fact you can probably fine either in good used,as opposed to well used, condition for less. Deals are available every day...keep searching.

How does an '03 YZF 600 with 9400 miles for $3795 sound? Full service, never been laid down, new tires and they're installing two-way adjustable lowering links on it, too. That price is after tags, registration, links and labor for install. I think I'm pulling the trigger on this one...

BTW, very valid points on buying new vs used for a first bike. Thanks!

chknhwk wrote: How does an '03 YZF 600 with 9400 miles for $3795 sound? Full service, never been laid down, new tires and they're installing two-way adjustable lowering links on it, too. That price is after tags, registration, links and labor for install. I think I'm pulling the trigger on this one...

Could be a good first bike, but 600 sportbikes can be a handful if you get too enthusiastic. The price sounds OK and it seems like it's sitting at a dealership from your description.

Take some of the money you save and have them install frame sliders, too. Those plastic body parts are quite expensive to replace when the bike goes on it's side - and it will be on it's side at one point or another.

And get yourself to a MSF school immediately!

I've already budgeted for frame sliders, enough of my friends track bikes for me to learn a fee tips like that. ;) MSF course is now #1 on the to-do list!

A YZF600 isnt much of a sportbike compared to an R6 or R1. Go for it!

chknhwk wrote: How does an '03 YZF 600 with 9400 miles for $3795 sound? Full service, never been laid down, new tires and they're installing two-way adjustable lowering links on it, too. That price is after tags, registration, links and labor for install. I think I'm pulling the trigger on this one...

It's more bike than I would recommend for someone who's just learning to ride. Sport bike speed is on a very different scale from car speed. I own a GS500F - which is at the slower end of the scale for sport bikes - and used to own a C4 Corvette. The GS500F was faster than the C4 up to anything remotely resembling a legal speed. The 600s may not seem like a big jump in displacement, but they're tuned a lot more aggressively, and are more like in Viper territory for acceleration. It's better to get a couple thousand miles getting familiar with how motorcycle controls work before you jump on one of them.

YZF600s are pretty tame in the lower revs - you've got to beat on 'em pretty good to get any power out of the motor. Fair amount of power, very little torque. My only qualm about it as a first bike is the aforementioned expensive plastic issue. I'd go naked, but that's just me.

The yzf600 is a great all around bike. I used one as a commuter for several years. I also drag raced it, took long trips, etc. The only reason I sold was to go bigger for better two up sport touring.

Sweet, thanks for the input! Unfortunately we got rained out today and they won't let us test ride so we rescheduled for Monday. ;) Looking forward to it!

Why are you so concerned about lowering links? How tall are you? They are just going to be a band-aid that is going to prevent you from getting comfortable riding normal height bikes. If you are over 5', you don't lack the height, only the confidence to ride them at normal levels. My wife is 5'2" and she has no trouble riding any size sport bike. she has even ridden my CR250R dirt bike.

As far as the YZF600. That is a fine starter bike. So is the newest R6. When I got my first street bike at 17 years old, it was a new 1989 FZR600 and everyone predicted that I would kill myself on it. The YZF is like 2 generations newer and not to many people think much of it for a newbie. 10 years from now a 2010 R6 will be recommended for someone with your skill level, so why wouldn't it be OK for you today??

I say buy a used SV with the plan on selling it an buying a better/newer bike in 2 years because that will probably happen anyways and it will save you the depreciation.

One thing I consider when recommending good bikes isn't just power, but the whole package. My first street bike (I have been riding dirt bikes since 3rd grade) was a sportbike (Ducati 900SS), but back in the day this bike only made about 70hp, much less than the current generation of 600 class sportbikes. The rest of the package is important here as well; sportbikes have less wheelbase and less rake (hence less stability for a beginning rider), they have killer sensitive brakes, they are very responsive to minor handlebar inputs, all of this makes them a whole lot of fun but also a handful for the beginner. If you are just learning, you haven't figured out "smooth" just yet and a sportbike is more than happy to bite back.

It isn't just the power, but I tend to recommend starting with something a bit more sedate package.

I'm 5'5" and my toe tips barely brush the ground on this thing - it's definitely too tall.

Well, I just picked it up. Full service and new tires and the lowering links installed, all for $3575. Seemed like a great deal to me so I got it. I realize it's a little sporty for a first bike but it's as much for my gf as it is for me - it's her third bike, she's got about ten years riding.

I don't know much about sport bikes, but I do like my Yamaha! (Err, I mean Star)