Thread: Need advice whether I should get a bike

Hi everyone,

I am deciding whether I should get a bike to commute + grocery.
I am studying at UC Davis which is a small university town.
I only need the bike to may be eat out 3 times a week.
I will probably commute around 50 miles/month.
I only need it for 9 months as I'm a senior (September till end of May).

About me:

Pretty good at biking (regular bike)
No motorcycle experience at all
Will enroll and take the beginner safety course first
6 ft 140 lbs

Motorcycle I'm looking at (descending interest)
Ducati 748/749
Aprilia Tuono
Yamaha r6 or something along that line
Ninja 250

As of now I have no mean of transportation. I usually eat out
3-4 times a week. When I go out I usually stay till 1-2 am so
taking bus is out of the picture. I will also be living alone so
I dont think I will ask anyone to pick me up as thats kinda pitiful.

so... The biggest question is should I get a used/new bike around 4-7k
or should I just suck it up and live without one?

I really want to know how it retains the value. I am willing to pay
6-7k for a ducati if I can sell it later for 5-6k later on... I really need
you guys' opinion.

Sorry for wall of text.

Thank you very much!!!!

Get a Scooter.

Originally Posted by Zack

Get a Scooter.

This, or a Ninja 250.

The only logical choices having no prior experience and only needing it to ride around campus. You should be able to ride the 250 for the nine months you need it and take almost no loss when you sell it.

If I drop a ninja 250 will the price drops by a lot? I dont plan to ride over 40 mph.

I found a Chinese scooter for an unbelievably cheap price
Here's the link
YouTube - ‪Countyimports.com - Motobravo 150cc LKY Hornet Motorcycle Scooter‬‏
Someone is selling it for 900 dollar

Thanks for the help!

Dropping any bike will lower the value, it all depends on the damage. Also to be very honest the only bike on that list that you should even consider is the Ninja 250. It's a great bike to putt around town in and gets an average 48MPG! If you want something sporty yet practical, (For noobs) get the Ninja 250r. I'm sure there are plenty used ones out there for around $2500 or less.

I 100% agree with the scooter recommendation.

1. cheap
2. fun
3. chicks dig it

I'm sure that if you get one of the bikes you want... You'll be riding it more then 50+miles a month and im sure that you wont want to sell it.

I'm actually in process of buying my first bike right now myself. I already took an MSF course and should be picking up my ninja 250r some time next week. I've liked Ducati bikes since I was a little kid. All I ever want is the desmosedici RR but the reality of the matter is that even the 848 will rip my balls of and scatter my brain particles all over the pavement. The 748 will do the same. I've been told by pretty much any motorcycle expert worth listening to that even the ninja 650R could be very dangerous for a new rider that actually wants to learn how to ride rather then cruise around at 20 miles an hour in a straight line, not really knowing his bike or what it's capable of. If you want to actually learn how to ride the bike instead of just using it as a once in a while means of transportation, and I'm guessing you just may, get a ninja 250. If for some reason you think that's not enough power (I don't see why you would as a new 140 lb rider, get a suzuki 500F). If you just want something to get around, a scooter isn't a horrible option either.