Just bought a FZ6R as my first bike back in May and has been perfect for me. 3k with just 5800 miles and it’s been cheap enough to insure as a 21 year old. Hopefully will convert it to a track bike once I move beyond it
Anthony Purpura great bikes, plenty of power and love the nakeds, I still love my 05 FZ6. Thinking of getting another one to toy around on. But those new mt models look tempting also, except for the price I can get another speed triple!
Used KLR for me. I'm glad you admitted that you were a Harley simp after last week's video, but I have to say your recommendation for the used Harley is actually a pretty well founded one. Another good one that is a equivalent for the versys is the Honda NC bikes.
Not sure how a video about cheap bikes to own gets made without a KLR being up there. They go 2k-3k used and have the longevity of a cockroach. Granted, you'll also end up spending 2k-3k on farkles too, but still puts you cheaper than many of these recommendations. Not the sexiest bike, but it does everything well enough.
Yammie Noob @6:25 I have an FZ6 in that same black and gray color scheme. I absolutely love the bike. Bought it as my first bike for $2K with 13K miles on it. It has almost 28K miles on it now 4 years later and it has been an amazing first bike. Fast, but not too fast for a beginner, super reliable (knock on wood), only having to replace a chain, tires, worn-out turn signals and oil changes so far, and has a design that has aged very well (people don't believe it's a 2005 at first). I highly recommend it for a new rider. A clean FZ6 is a solid choice that won't disappoint!
Hahaha. Everyone hates the Versys 650. I can say I own one and I love it. I was able to get a used 2016 for about $4700 so it’s pretty good value. I think it’s a good mix of sportiness and practicality which is good for people who can’t have or don’t want more than one bike.
My bike made a list!!! I have a 2008 Fz6 that I got for $2700 with 19000 miles on it. Two years later, it now has 77000 miles on it with no major repairs. It gets 40mpg (if I'm being a good boy) and is only $26 for insurance where I live.
i picked up an 07 fz6 with 10k miles for 2500$ last month and i can highly recommend that bike, for the price you pay it’s one of the best all rounder bikes and sounds pretty badass with a good aftermarket exhaust. it can even keep pace with the 600 super sports pretty well.
Bought a used triumph thruxton 900 for 4K. It’s been really reliable and fun to ride. It’s not super fast or powerful but it’s my first bike so I couldn’t be happier with it.
FZ6 owner , can confirm the information is accurate. I actually paid 2k for mine , it's ugly af but I rode it 220 miles home from the seller and it's awesome on the highway and I got 60+mpg lmao
I found the price he estimated to be a bit off, I’ve owned only my fz6 but I bought it for $1950, I have a friend who did own one also but he sold it for like $2000. So for a 2009 model that didn’t have any problems, it was in my opinion the best bike for a ratio of (price,performance)
Bought mine new in 2007 and have put 48,000 miles on it without a problem. Plan on keeping it until over 100k, but will have other bikes along the way too.
i have a fz6 and there are some very common problems. (there is a reason why these bikes are so cheap) 1 DRIVETRAIN SLOP. the transition between engine breaking and light throttle is like being kicked by a horse a second after you actually roll on. 2 CLUTCH. a terrible cable routing makes these bikes prone to cable wear and really heavy pulls because of it. also reassembling the clutch is very difficult , with its gear pull-type accusation. 3 all the muffling in the exhaust is one at the backbox under the seat, so any aftermarket exhaust makes these bikes ear-splittingly loud. also, all aftermarket exhausts interfere with the tool tray. 4electrical problems, burned out lights are verry common. 5some people have problems with the brakes, but I haven't run into that on my particular bike. the motor is a cheapened out r6 motor with still 100 hp with the same service interval with worse fueling and weaker clutch. and last but not least i a rather tall guy and i cant get the shifter in a comfortable position. i can make it go any lower without it hitting the footpeg mount. the next generation fz6r has less horsepower (about 70) but all of these problems are fixed with it. i would definitely recommend the fz6r over the fz6. I've had my fz6 for about 10 months now and to be honest its not great Im kicking myself for selling my fz6r for this thinking it was an upgrade. at least it was only 2800 dollars. but really its a fine bike if you can put up with its shortcomings. but i think you would be better off saving for a little longer and getting an fz6r.
Don't forget, from 2009 to 2013, Suzuki SV650's were "GSX-650F'S", which you can get ultra low mileage (like 6,000 miles) for $3500-$2450. Love mine for that Suzuki chain saw sound...
I just got a used sportster as my first bike! It's been surprisingly easy to ride, in my opinion it actually handles better than the bike I rode in my msf course (a Honda grom I think)
Lol a grom is basically a modern big ore Ct70. . Just saying that's not apple's to apple's. Comparison. . Btw a gtx or pister pro 140+ cc crate motor will set a grom a Ct70 or any small crf50 all the way up through the pit bikes trikes and quads that all share the same basic horizontal engine design . On absolute Blast mode. . The crate engine I got cost 500 shipped with all but clutch cable+ perch and wider clutch ready foot pegs. Air filter and exhaust And with stock gearing in the CT 70 I put it in it was extremely difficult to keep the CT under me The Chinese motors built by the gox/pp company all redline at 13,000rpms and hits red line instantly off idle unloaded. And it power wheelied in all 4 gears with ease. . There cloned bottom transmission half is Honda and above the 110cc top half is Kawasaki cloned. In order to tame it . I bumped the front sprocket 3teeth and made a Coustom stretch swinger using the CT"s pivot welded to a old xr80 swingarm. .
Michael Johnson J look brother... I earn myself and I bought that bike on EMI.. the emi is equal to my salary itself...still somehow i manage money for fuel and service as well on my own. PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU SAY SOMETHING TO ANYONE!
I got a '94 Honda CB400SF for £700, needed new tyres (£150) and I've done some really minor work just for my own assurance (fuel pipes, brake seals) but otherwise the thing runs and rides great for its age and the amount I paid. It's still more powerful than a modern 400 and is super solid. I've been looking at bikes in the 10-15 year old range to see if I can get something with a bit more leg room and they're pretty much all in worse condition than my little Honda. Really I'm looking at paying 3-4x as much for a decent upgrade, this thing is just insanely good value.
I’m with ya! I just scored a 1989 Yamaha FZR250R for cheap. Redlines at 19,000rpm and absolutely rips for a 250. Wouldn’t sell it for twice what I paid.
Swap the T120 for an air-/oilcooled T100 and you‘re fine. So many more parts, so much easy tuning (airbox elimination took me 20 Mins and a new Ecu-mapping can be done anywhere), maintenance and servicing everything can be done at home with zero experience. Long Intervalls, very reliable engine and crazy modification options speak for it too. Funny tho, in EU they won‘t sell you a used one for under 6000€, no matter the mileage or year, but still.
100% can relate to Triumphs attracting any old dudes within a quarter mile of your current position. And my Sprint is an oddball that nobody has heard of, and is de-badged to boot!
Just get a smaller displacement motorcycle to save money. In my experience they're great to commute on. Some include KTM 250 Duke, Honda CB 300r, Z300, MT03 etc. They're all within 3 to 4 grand.
Once again Yammie Noob, has an entire video that I totally agree with. I really didn't think that the Kawasaki Versys650 was going to be on your list, even though I think that it belongs on the list, right where it's at. Most people don't know anything about the Versys 650. BTW ; I bought my (always garaged) 2009 (Candy Lime Green) Versys 650 just 6 months ago. A 1st Generation Versys 650 (2007- 2009) can often be found on Craigslist with low mileage, for less than $4,000 ! I paid the sellers asking price of just $3,700 ! It only had 5,050 miles on the odometer. Brand new Dunlop SportMax-3 Tires. MRA Tinted Windscreen w/ Wind Deflector Musarri GP Street Series Exhaust System Soft Luggage Bags Dry Cell Battery New Chain & Sprocket (wasn't due for it, yet) Brake Light Module and a Car Horn. Plus I got the Stock Exhaust and the Stock Windscreen. This bike is extremely comfortable. It's super fun to ride, has a wide power band, handles the road like a dream, built for touring options, and it really likes to pull wheelies ! This is a motorcycle that you can save A LOT of money buying, if you buy one used. The vibration noises that the Versys 650 has, and everyone complains about were simple to find and eliminate. The front seat slope was no problem for me, and it didn't require any modifications. 11,000 miles on the odometer, now,... I couldn't be any happier with my purchase !
Vulcan 900s - 50-ish hp. 57 torque. Belt drives, low seats, low maintenance. Used under $6k all day long. For me, blacked out, and spruced up with no more than $1k in mods. I think they’re reasonable on insurance. A good thing to check.
I dropped my brand spanking new R3 in my driveway the very first time I went to ride it the day I passed the MSF course and got my motorcycle endorsement on my license. That simple little 3mph drop scuffed the heck out of the right side fairing and cracked the little piece between the seat and the pillion seat and it cracked the piece that surrounds the pillion seat that has the lock in it to remove that pillion seat. To get those three pieces from my dealer was going to run me like $500 and I didn’t want to report it to my insurance and have my rates go up day one so I bought the side fairing for close to $200 and left the other two pieces cracked. It’s not noticeable until you look but Spite is right. It gets expensive fast. Plus if I ever decide to sell the R3 I’ll need to come clean that it was dropped and I’m sure the haggling for a price decrease will begin.
I own Gsxr 750 and it is great as a daily-i leave in a european city(with all that this implies-reckless divers,taxi and bus drivers ,bikes windy and small streets over crowded and so on) and i do not even own a car because ,franckly,do not need it so yes you can use a ss as a daily (I am also a tall person and the ride is not at all uncomfortable)-as long as you can find the motorcycle that fits your ride style ,tune it right and also understand that the road is not a track-i mean i do not go around full throttling from one stop light to the next-you ll be fine
I've sort of had a few of these -- had a 2005 ZZR600 which was the same as the 2002 ZX-6R (I know that's a very different bike from the 2020), had an FZ6R, not an FZ6 (up in weight, down in power, but very very smooth and comfortable), and had a 2001 carbed SV650S that had the brakes, front and rear suspension, exhaust, and carbs all improved for track riding. All great bikes in their own right.
I prefer JDM bikes over Harleys . But they do look nice . The the most powerful Harley-ish engines are built by Orca they use lots of S&S parts and I believe some Coustom ones and are turbo charged . Last time I looked them up after years back they offered a 350hp version and a 500 hp version. . . My best thought of a new Harley owner . Is to gather the needed tools and a big bottle of non permanent lock tite.. and do a kind of rebuild short of the engine bolts and lock-tite all the other bolts. There worst trait is also there best .the off beat cylinder thump is a big a$$ 100 ish HP vibrator. That eventually will shake every bolt loose . . The next is to wax the chrome after its clean. The wax makes. Cleaning much easier. Wax as you dry works well if used regularly .
Ther is one bike that is also realy sheep if you compare it with those ones so I m from Belgium and a Yamaha MT125 from 2019 is amazing and in Belgium it cost 4,499 € and is a naked bike so it’s lovely in the corners and it is the perfect bike for in like a town or just were many people life so I recommend this bike and go check it out maybe it is something for you but search for the 2019 because there is also one from 2020 but it’s different
They have two year trades that make 100k a year how about you hit them up instead of Yammie and you could cop yourself a nice bike that’s not even on this list.
So I ride an 07 FZ6 with the half fairing and I gotta call bullshit on the all day rideability. It's not back breaking but your ass is GOING to go numb at least half way through your ride. Good bike though, decent powerband, sounds great with aftermarket pipes and gets a lot of questions about "Wtf is that thing" from the Harley guys.
I definitely would have recommended a used Triumph Speed Triple 1050 instead of the Bonneville. 4500-8k for it, naked bike so insurance isnt killer, and parts aren't crazy... Also not nearly as clunky as a Bonneville T120, as the riding experience means just as much as getting a bike for some people like myself. Solid list though 100% Yammie! You were talking budget over everything though, and we can't argue with that.
Listen, I come from the car comunity and I don't know a lot about motorcycles... Could anybody tell me what would be the bike equivalent of a Volvo 240 or a Mazda Miata ? (Not too much power, reliable as heck, great looks, unlimited customizations, and dirt cheap)
You can't go wrong with the Kawasaki Ninja 400 KRT Edition. It looks great, cheap "$5k new", tones of aftermarket parts, and enough power for both city and highway.
A used Japanese naked bike with two cylinders would fit right into that. Not to much power: Don't go over 500 cc. Even a moderate 650 is freaking fast compared to regular car. I got a Kawasaki GPZ 500 S for free. :D
Ninja or Z650, SV650 or MT07. While I Iove the engine on the MT07 it has by far the worst suspension of any bike I was ever on. It is basically pogo sticks with wheels attached to them. If you can find a used one with upgraded suspension that would be the way to go. Otherwise go the 650 route.
You gotta do a full system exhaust swap on the versys 650 (at least on the newer ones). Its a grand and the stock pipes sound pretty good (for the rider). It is quiet overall though...but your on a tourer...you don’t want a blasting exhaust to drive for hours.
I have the naked version of the FZ6, I buoght It as a learner bike and I don't regret It BUT.. But as soon as you learn how to go just a tiny bit "fast" It gets heavy to turn and soft suspension wise
Surprised I didn’t see the Honda Shadow here. Used prices are sub 3k for 2010 or older, barely any maintenance is needed, dead reliable and great on insurance. I pay 45 a month for the insursnce on mine
Wrecked my wr250r about two weeks ago and let me assure you that my body took more damage and repair costs then the bike did by several thousand times. Zero dollars in bike repairs < any dollars in hospital visits.
I dont get people thinking insurance is alot for new ridders exspecaily new ones im 16 and insurance for me is $209 for a full year and it isnt even the cheapest one
Has anyone dropped a bike and have it sustain absolutely no damage besides maybe a scrape? Dropped my r6 a while back and thankfully the previous owner was a genius and had foam cut specifically to fit between the frame and fairings Gave it some cushion and prevents rattling 🥰
I'm look to get the benelli leoncino 500. Anyone have any experience/opinions? I have a benelli tnt but want a bigger bike for longer commutes and to also utilise the motorway.
