good first bike?

[Bimmer Biker]

I am looking at a red 2003 BMW R1150R.
I keep hearing a lot of good things about this bike. I can definitely appreciate well refined things (I also drive a 2003 Jaguar S-type R). I am only 20 (yeah, I know it sounds like I'm spoiled. But, I guarantee I earned it.) I am 5'8" and about 150 lbs. I have not ridden motorcycles much, other than some casual dirt biking. I have always liked the idea of The Ride, if you know what I mean. Plus, I will save in gas over my car. Do you guys think this bike will fit me?

[Byrdguy]

Absolutely.

[NAIAD]

For what it's worth...if you've not done a fair amount of street riding you might actually be better off with something a little lighter weight and easier to handle. Then you wouldn't be wrestling with a slightly top heavy bike for your size and experience, and could concentrate instead on acquiring solid skills needed to ride safely in what can be a somewhat hostile environment. If you dump a dirt bike, generally you just get up, dust your self off, pick up the bike and ride. Dumping a street bike has quite a bit different implications.

Really, not trying to rain on your parade at all. But 40+ years of motorcycling has given me some exposure to a lot of situations. That being said...another possibility is to buy that R if it's a good deal (EXCELLENT all-round bike) but find a used 500 light weight Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Brand X, or Yamaha to get some street miles on before putting that R on the road. Dropping one of those is a bit less likely to happen, and if it does, they're much cheaper to fix if something gets broken.

I'm sure others will pipe up soon, but I'd also highly recommend a MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course. Some controversy in the community about how good their programs are...but that level of training is WAY better than none at all.

Good luck and welcome to the 50R community...!

Bill J

[challey]

The R has great brakes, truly outstanding real-world handling, is very comfortable, has decent power temper and good torque. It can handle around-town communting and with a few of the right accessories, becomes a very good touring bike. There are lots of faster bikes out there, a few that handle better - there may even be a bike with better brakes. IMHO, there is no other bike that does all of the things bikes need to do in the real world as well as the R though. Another big plus is that the R is very easy bike to work on.

In my opinion, the R is not the ideal first bike because it is a bit heavy and has some quirky controls. My own choice for a first bike would be an SV-650, which shares many of the traits that I listed above with the R but is a lot lighter and less expensive to boot. If it were me, I'd try to get some more time in the saddle on an SV or V-strom before I got a Roadster. That said, the R is a much better choice as a first bike than say, a GSX-R or Ducati 999.

But your question was: Will the R "fit" you? If you mean physically, then the answer is yes. I'm 5' 7" and about 190 lbs and find the my R1150R to be the most comfortable bike I've even owned. If you mean personality-wise, you are the only one who can answer that. I very much enjoy riding a bike which, aside from the road characteristics I mentioned above, comes from a factory with loads of history, who's design philosophy is "form follows function" and who's products are not to eveyone's taste. You'll have to decide for yourself.

One small caution: You will not save as much on fuel as you'd think. Most folks seem to get high 30's/low 40's (US mpg) around town rising to 50+ mpg on sustained highway trips. Better than a cage but not really gonna slow the exodus of $'s from your wallet to the petrochemical companies very much.

Good luck with your decision!

Charlie

[beemerboy]

In My Honest Opinion
I say its an awesome first bike, as long as you are patient and dont just hop out on the highway or busy roads. Get your ass to a bike safety course and learn all you can. Then get comftorable on the bike with roads that are quiet that you are already familiar with

I had a kawasaki 650 for my first bike, and i upraged a month ago to an 05 r1150r, and am so happy about it.

Ya its kinda heavy when your standing still but when your moving its so fluid and smooth its insane.

I am 25 5'7 145 lbs and i dont have a prob with this bike.
The one thing to watch out for is if it stalls at slow speed (which it will at some point) it will want to throw its weight sideways which can cause you to tip the bike.

[TicTac50]

STOP looking at it. GET IT!
Excellent choice and a very smart move.
At your young age you discovered the best kept secret in America Slightly used BMW.
If you're smart enough to earn it, you're smart enough to ride it.
Just make sure you take MSF classes.
Spend as much as you can on good riding gear.
Install Wunderlich Engine Bars. 1150R is a bit heavy and you will drop it at least once. I did
Just start slowly and it will grow on you.
You sound like an intelligent young Man, otherwise I would tell you to get a scooter.
Good Luck.
Almost forgot. No passengers for the first 5000 miles and especially girls.

[Sunbeemer]

Not really...but you gotta start somewhere, and if you can start at the top, go for it. You'll figure it out (or die tryin').

I'd suggest reading David Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling" to get a lot more enjoyment out of the bike while extending your mortality. Check out the Hurt Report Accident statistics he cites - most fatal motorcycle accidents happen not in the first 6 months of ownership, but between 6 months and a year, when the rider's thought they knew what they were doing and got overconfident and killed...Don't join that club.

[bluelight]

Ok your 20 and you have some cash, and brains since you dont want a 200 HP
400 lb Ninja. The R is not a beginner bike for many reasons. It has an 1150cc engine,
in England you would need many years of experience to ride a bike with this much power
for good reason. You are young and have little riding experience. The idea is to buy a
forgiving bike to learn on and make mistakes on, ( you will make mistakes). The MSF couse
is good but you will make mistakes after it, and a smaller, lighter, and less powerful bike may
save you. The bike is top heavy, and to some clumsy. Shifting smoothly is almost an artform.
I learned on a Honda Hawk GT650 moded out. Fun and smooth and 390 lbs.

Young guys have a really crappy safety record on bikes, and I know 2 who bought it, so be
patient, get some experience, make slower speed mistakes, and learn from them, to ride another day.

[shake1150]

i think the r1150r is great first bike and a great all-around bike like everyone else said. definitely take the safety course, and if you have the cash, why not get the r1150r and an old beater 500cc jap bike? then u can learn on the jap bike and have the bmw in your garage. after a few weeks on the jap bike (and after the safety course) the beemer will be waiting for you.

[sjbmw]

The length of you pants inseam will be a factor.
If it's under 30 inches, flat footing the 1150 will be hard, and it's weight will be a lot to handle.
You don't want a first bike you cannot flat foot.
Oil on roadways, inclines, etc will make stops an adventure if you do not have command of your footing, and the clutch and throttle.

Also, since you have not have your first "scared sh*tless" moment on a street bike yet, try to spend as little money is possible. There are many a bike out there sitting in garages where the owner paid top dollar for a salesman induced "feeling", and within weeks had the "hey I can die out here" epiphany we all have had, and now the bike collects dust, only to be sold at a steep discount.
Try not to let the lesson cost so much money.

Also, take the MSF course.

Can I recommend a used F650? (I still want one as a second bike).

I would stay at the 750cc under 500lb range for the first season. Having a bike where you own the weight/balance is a lot better than learning to handle weight and balance.

You should be spending the first season training your brain for SIPDE, having a lightweight bike will help.

[Hawkman]

My '02 is my first road bike and I love it.

It is big and heavy. I am bigger than you (6'3" and 290) and so the weight was Ok for me and I wanted the size and power so I did not look like a circus clown on a midget bike. If I had to do it again though... I would get something smaller and lighter and not as expensive to fix. As stated, there will be a time that you get outside your comfort zone and do something wrong and end up with a busted bike... or worse a busted head. I know that I did (bike, not head).

As a younger person myself, this is a great bike. The look is classic, powerful enough, the brakes are SUPERB and the overall comfort is good. It is not a sport bike! If you want to go 150 and blow people off the road... look elsewhere. It'll go 100 but it is happy to give you 80 all day and you'll love it.

TAKE THE COURSE! It has saved my (rather large) bacon from the fryer at least once, which is worth the 140 bucks... but that's just me.

[Canyon Runner]

+1 on taking the MSF course. Seriously. Just find the time and take it. In the beginner course (at least the one I took) you use their bike to practice some really important on the bike skills, AND you get a lot of good classroom material to think about. Taught by long time riders. I think this is a very, very wise thing to do regardless of your choice in buying a bike. If you need a perceived benefit beyond the pure education, at least in Arizona, taking the course gets the riding and written tests for the state licence waived.

I don't think buying a bike to save on gas is a great reason to buy a bike. If that is just intellectual leverage for you, so be it, but I think buying one for economics instead of for the ride is probably not a great call. As has been mentioned, you can get a car that is just as efficient, or close. And, again, just for me, as a city dweller, I would definately get a fairly good chunk of miles and experience behind me before I would think of a motorcycle as a great tool for commuting.

The R1150R is my first real road bike. I'm like you, had ridden before, here and there, etc, but this was my first dive into bike ownership.

The machine is a good choice in my opinion. Very confidence inspiring. The wight and size issues were perhaps a bit daunting at first, but soon melted away for me. I am very comfortable on my bike now. But the machine can do nothing to influence behavior. You have to have a huge respect for the bike, and the road, and all of the other variables that are out there. A huge and lasting respect.

Having said that, I am one of those guys that always, always wanted a bike, but never went out and did it, for one reason or another. Every time I get on the bike and head out for an evening ride, I am so thankful I decided to buy my R1150R. Motorcycle riding is a true joy, and while I strongly urge you to approach with caution, I would be straight out telling a lie if I told you that, at least for me, the experience isn't worth the risk. Long story short, you sound like you have a lot to live for, and the ability to understand the implications. Respect the bike, the road, and the others on it, and get out there and ENJOY!!!

Cheers!

[slowpoke 04]

I also wouldn't recommend one as a first bike. Also, since you mentioned it, at 20 years old and making good money, I'd get a pilot's license, more fun, more practical, faster getting somewhere and will drain your wallet if that's what you are trying to do, a lot faster.

[Dr. Strangelove]

It was my first "real" motorcycle at age 59,60 after a couple of years with a Vespa--that I loved.

I, too, looked at the SV and the V Strom, and they were the most tempting compared to the RR, but the RR kept appearing to be the gold standard. A good site is Bikez.com.

I am almost 5'8' and 160. My inseam is 30-31.

24.000 miles later I still love it, do much of my maintenance and now commute often on it. And I like the nearly 50mpg I get on the road.

What everyone above has said is true, but, I think if you're careful and safe it will be a good companion.

Of course you are 20 and that has its own set of problems <G>

John

[TicTac50]

Of course you are 20 and that has its own set of problems <G>

John

I wish to have that set of problems!!!