Best Used Street Bike for $5,000 or Less?

Dr. Cheese · #1 08-14-2008, 10:46 AM

I am still debating whether to get a bike. I have to get my wife a new car first, but getting used motorcycle and a used car for myself is pretty tempting. I would like a bike that is not too small, really anything between 500-1,000cc would be cool. I do not want a cafe racer or full blown touring bike either. A dual purpose bike would be cool, but I might never go offroad except for a ture dirt road, not a trail of any kind.

I think $5,000 will be my limit.

Philbiker · #2 08-14-2008, 11:07 AM

Suzuki V-Strom 650 (would handle the light duty dirt road travel); Suzuki SV650; Yamaha YZF-600R; Kawasaki Ninja 650 (may be over your limit); Kawasaki ZZR-600; Kawasaki Ninja 500; Honda Nighthawk 750; Honda CBR-600F4i

Visirale · #3 08-14-2008, 11:43 AM

I'll second the SV650. Then again I have no actual motorcycle experience. I've just heard that it's a nice medium between the easy riding cruisers, and the rocket-to-your-death inline engines on the sport bikes.

NJL · #4 08-14-2008, 11:48 AM

Doc, do you have experience with street bikes?

fitbass3p · #5 08-14-2008, 12:01 PM

+2 on the SV650. Very good bike, with a decent amount of get-up-and-go, but with a smooth ride and a surprising amount of low-end torque. It won't win you any races like a sport bike will, but it's a great starter bike. Plus, it won't break the bank.

FL Knifemaker · #6 08-14-2008, 12:04 PM

Suzuki VStrom 1000. The 650 doesn't have enough balls to haul the Doc around

The 650 is for the wife when hubby is riding the 1K

flakeh · #7 08-14-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

Suzuki VStrom 1000. The 650 doesn't have enough balls to haul the Doc around

The 650 is for the wife when hubby is riding the 1K

+3 on any vstrom, be it 650 or litre bike.

Good bikes they are.

fitbass3p · #8 08-14-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

Suzuki VStrom 1000. The 650 doesn't have enough balls to haul the Doc around

The 650 is for the wife when hubby is riding the 1K

My sister lives out in Lakeland, so I've seen the amount of space you guys have to ride...but in any "urban" area, the only thing I've seen bigger engines lead to is stupider people and more body bags.

Plus, he can always trade in to a bigger bike if he "outgrows" a 650. Assuming he isn't already a rider, of course.

Dr. Cheese · #9 08-14-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJL

Doc, do you have experience with street bikes?

I had a motorcycle license for twenty years and road dirt bikes for five years before that, however, I have not ridden for a very long time. I honestly don't care about speed anymore, I did enough stupid riding in high school on my old Kawasaki S-3. I still have it down at my Sister's (formally Mom's house.)

Dr. Cheese · #10 08-14-2008, 01:50 PM

Anybody know about the Moto Guzzi 750? I kind of like Eurobikes and I like driveshafts too. BTW, anybody know about Aprilia? I don't want one, but it sure looks cool.

MyUsernameHere · #11 08-14-2008, 02:21 PM

Another V Strom or SV 650 vote here. Very practical and low maintenance, but still a blast to ride around on.

BMWs are OK, their duel purpose and touring bikes are exceptional. No way are you going to find one used for $5000 though, unless its pretty old.

What model Guzzi are you talking about? The newer ones are far better bikes than they had been producing, but they are still very expensive for what you get.

Aprilias, any of their liter sport bikes or street fighters, kick butt. They are really nice and I can't say anything bad about them other than you'd be hard pressed to find a dealer/ qualified service dept. outside of a major metro area. I don't know how reliable they are either. Also, they're likely to be well outside your $5000 price.

If you like euro bikes, why not an older model (90's or early 00's model) Triumph Bonneville?

Dr. Cheese · #12 08-14-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyUsernameHere

Another V Strom or SV 650 vote here. Very practical and low maintenance, but still a blast to ride around on.

BMWs are OK, their duel purpose and touring bikes are exceptional. No way are you going to find one used for $5000 though, unless its pretty old.

What model Guzzi are you talking about? The newer ones are far better bikes than they had been producing, but they are still very expensive for what you get.

Aprilias, any of their liter sport bikes or street fighters, kick butt. They are really nice and I can't say anything bad about them other than you'd be hard pressed to find a dealer/ qualified service dept. outside of a major metro area. I don't know how reliable they are either. Also, they're likely to be well outside your $5000 price.

If you like euro bikes, why not an older model (90's or early 00's model) Triumph Bonneville?

I know the Aprilias are more like $14,000-$19,000, but I work in a town with a local Aprilia dealer, that's why I know about them.

Philbiker · #13 08-14-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Anybody know about the Moto Guzzi 750?

I just saw one on the Blue Ridge Parkway the other day. Goregeous bike, surprisingly light. Ultra-expensive parts and maintenance like any Italian bike.

MyUsernameHere · #14 08-14-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I know the Aprilias are more like $14,000-$19,000, but I work in a town with a local Aprilia dealer, that's why I know about them.

I know, I saw on your location you were in St Louis. Just mention it 'cause it sucks when you're on a road trip and the bike breaks down 250 miles from anyone qualified to work on it.

Its just something to keep in mind.

Dr. Cheese · #15 08-14-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyUsernameHere

I know, I saw on your location you were in St Louis. Just mention it 'cause it sucks when you're on a road trip and the bike breaks down 250 miles from anyone qualified to work on it.

Its just something to keep in mind.

I don't want one. I just think they look cool.

Dr. Cheese · #16 08-14-2008, 03:09 PM

Dang! That is sweet! It reminds me of a Ducati! I can see me with one of these easily.

FL Knifemaker · #17 08-14-2008, 03:34 PM

A Moto Guzi would be a nice ride. My Dad owned several of them back in the 70's and 80's. The new ones look cool.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #18 08-14-2008, 03:38 PM

Oh man, I thought you meant a bike.

FL Knifemaker · #19 08-14-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitbass3p

My sister lives out in Lakeland, so I've seen the amount of space you guys have to ride...but in any "urban" area, the only thing I've seen bigger engines lead to is stupider people and more body bags.

Plus, he can always trade in to a bigger bike if he "outgrows" a 650. Assuming he isn't already a rider, of course.

Believe me, the VSrom 1000 is no crotch rocket

Maybe 65 hp?? Any 600 sportbike will leave it in the dust. Lots O torque though.

aspdevboy · #20 08-14-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I just saw one on the Blue Ridge Parkway the other day. Goregeous bike, surprisingly light. Ultra-expensive parts and maintenance like any Italian bike.

Believe it or not, Aprilia is at the bottom of the list when it comes to costly and high-interval maintenance typical of some European brands. By this I mean they are not like Ducati or Moto Guzzi. I may have started a war here.

I'm partial though. I ride an Aprilia Falco and it's the best bike I've ridden. It's got all the character of an Italian sport bike with the reliability and cost of a Japanese bike.

And if you're remotely mechanical, there is a RICH resource of Aprilia owners on ApriliaForum.com whose experience and willingness to help goes beyond what I've seen on any forums yet, TB notwithstanding, of course.

Other than that, I'm giving a +1 to the SV 650.