Hi all I'm new around these parts. I'm from maryland (washington .d.c area) and I was looking into purchasing a bike, I rode my cousins twice now neva got to ride by myself by was wondering on a few facts before a I purchase a bike. 1 is the lisense test area? i heard there strick around my area and 2. I'm looking at a 2002 Honda CBR F4i 3,385 miles. how many miles is too many on a bike? obviously from normal wear an tear. the bike was also dropped once and has a crack on the bottom under the light http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Picture005.jpg . would that be considered a good deal? sry for the stupid question but i wanna get all my facts straightened out . I was also looking at a 1999 HONDA CBR 900RR for $4900 doesnt say how many miles. but the body of the bike looks close to mint. either way I hope everyone can help so because I plan on purchasing my own bike within the next 3-4 weeks.... thanx for all the up comming advice
-jon

 

That bike was probably crashed, not just dropped. My bike was dropped, and aside rom the turn signal stalk breaking, it was barely noticeable. But how bad that bike was crashed is anyones guess. My guess with respect to money to fix is about $700 in plastics, without seeing any other damage. I'd look to buy a bike that hasn't gone down so hard.

A cbr600F4i is doable for a noob, a CBR900 is really kinda too much. Both bikes are fast but the 600s power is higher up in the rev range, so it seems more docile unless you beat on it. Most people will reccomend a less powerful bike that either of these, but I'm not one of them. To me the throttle goes both ways, self control and maturity regulate speed and stupidity, but there is something to be said about a smaller lighter bike teaching good habits, where a big sportbike doesn't. IMHO a 600cc is the biggest bike I would consider for a noob. But like I said, some on this forum with more brains and experience than me would disagree.

My bike is 7 months old with 3000 miles, to me that seems normal, 3385 miles in 4 years sounds like very low miles. Either way enroll in the MSF course, that will teach the very basics of riding in a short time and may help in the licensing area.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

Hello & Welcome!!

Good luck in your search...you should look into the MSF course.