ive come here to do some research, in hopes that one of you gentleman and or ladies could possibly point me in the right direction. first time rider, first time (potential) owner, looking for some advice, insight as to how to go about this...

as in which bike is best for a starter, or which size, or even where one could get an instructional dvd or courses?

i was hopin got purchase something for around 2500-3000 area, just to get familiar with...

in any event, any and all advice would be greatly appreciated... thanks.

best thing you could do. For a first bike, i'd suggest something around a 600cc size, like a Suzuki SV600, or go with something old that you can get cheap. My first bike was a '83 Honda Nightawk 650, that i bought for $650. Old is nice because you won't care too much when you drop it or it gets a scratch.

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just remember you control how fast you go. You won't use the bike to it's full potential (at least for a while), but that's fine. What i'd be concerned with is that sport bikes, even though that one is a little more on the sport touring side of the spectrum, have pretty bad stability at low speeds. Also, being new to riding, there is a very good chance that you will drop it. if you have frame sliders, it probably won't be too bad, but still. If you have the means to get it, go for it, just make sure you have full coverage insurance. There is a saying, there are 2 types of riders: those who've gone down, and those who will. I've been riding 3 years or so, i went down on my last VFR a few weeks ago due to my own mistakes.

i appreciate it... lastly l iving in nyc, is it too late in the season to buy one now? should i wait for next season?

get something new enough to be reliable, but that you arent too attached to. odds are you will drop it in a parking lot, driveway, or on a slow corner in the first year.

take the class then, if you still like it, go bike shopping.

after you have the bike, ride by yourself for a couple weeks to get comfortable before diving into a group ride.

come around at the end of the season.

As a first bike, BTW, I would stray away from getting a new bike and collision insurance. In my opinion, you would end up saving yourself an accident on your record (think deductible + added premiums + cost of collision insurance) if you picked up a less expensive, older bike (2000-2005) that maybe already has traces of road rash, etc. That way you don't have to worry about it quite as much as well. If you're buying the bike with a little rash, I'd doubt you'd lose much money, if any, should you go to sell it/upgrade afterwards.

in a couple weeks, and i'm afraid to ride in the city. I'm might make mine a track only bike.

im going to look into a local msf course...

I would suggest teh Suzook SV650. Good handling, compentant power, no pesky bodywork to get in the way when you (and you will) drop it in a parking lot.

There should be many to be had. You can probably get into and out of one (within a year) for the same, or very near same, money.

if you can buy it in the winter and don't mind staring at it in the garage for months, winter is best time for deals. I like riding in cold weather, as long as there is not snow/ice/salt.

great bike. Enough power to get to freeway speeds w/o having to be worried that you'll be punted from behind, but not so crazy power to be unmanageable if making a slight mistake.

A used KTM (more power/problems/money) or Suzuki (could find a used DRZ 400SM in the 4k range)

Motards handle very well at low speed and the riding position is upright which is good for visibility in traffic. Going fast on a slow bike is more fun than going slow on a fast bike (motards are great from 35-75 in the twisties...sport biked are in their element over 50).

The downside is the wind above 60 can get tiring.

90% of the time i travel alone... and to take an suv or a car everywhere i go isnt always the best either. (parking, gas, or even if i just want a long cruise).

The MSF course is great. My wife took it and loved it. That being said, there's a good chance that your first bike will end up on it's side at some point. Motorcycles are least stable at slow speed when gyroscopic effect is minimal so parking lot speeds are where a lot of new riders dab. In a unfaired bike you might not even give a dab a second thought. Sportbikes with their aggressive steering geometry and riding position are least comfortable at very low speeds so that plastic is in danger and that lack of low speed stability may degrade your confidence.

Look for a cheap standard or supermotard. My wife's Monster is much nicer to ride at low speed than my 851. Geometry is very similar but the upright riding position and wider bar on the Monster really give you more confidence (and leverage). My .02

i appreciate it.

That being said, against better judgement I started on an 05 R6. Whatever you get, you'll soon want bigger as you get more experience. Thats just the way it is. If I could afford the insurance, I would've upgraded to the R1 instead of my 06 R6. I'll probably be going R1 in 2-3yrs. Or depending on money situation, just "adding" an R1 to the stable :)

I'm a yamaha man, so I'll surely suggest a 600R (Not R6). Big 2nd on the MSF course. Just take it slow on whatever you get and you'll be OK. Riding takes pure mileage and experience no matter who teaches you. The more situations your exposed to the better you'll be. A good rider knows whats going on at least 150 feet in front of him at all times, and is always aware of whats around him, who's pulling out of what and who's crossing what intersection. You'll do fine. Any questions just ask!