| Author | Message | ||
     Zane |
My 20 year old son is looking at getting a motorcycle instead of a beater car as a daily rider. He's looking at a 06 Katana. This will be his first bike. Does anyone know anything about this machine? I'd like to know things like it's reputation for reliability, and ridability. How easy/hard is it to work on? What is the after market for farkles like? Things like that. Also what is a good source for inexpensive helmets and jackets? I've got a RF1000 but still need a jacket. Son needs both before he gets on. Any input you guys can give is more than appreciated | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
If you want good gear cheap, this is a great site: http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/ You just can't always have your first choice of colors since all the really amazing deals are closeouts. A friend of mine and fellow Badwebber just bought a Bell Star from them and loves it. Brand new for $200.. can't beat that. | ||
| Zane |
Wow, some great helmet prices on the front page. Will definitely check this out. Thanks. Anyone else got good websites hidden away? | ||
| Swampy |
Whatever you do, do not let him ride your Buell after he has ridden the Kantana for a while, you will never get it back. Basement Bobby has a Kantana, he wore his chain out last summer and still needed transportation back and forth to work, about 200 miles a day. I had just put new tires and a new belt on the Uly and I let him use it till he got his chain replaced. Well two weeks later and many thousand miles, I am explaining to my dear wife why it was not such a good deal loaning the Uly out like that, I mean, I JUST put tires on it and now the darn things were squaring off. Anyways, I don't remember how I got the bike back, but I did. | ||
| 1125rcya |
Other than being made fun of, for riding a kan a tuna..just the simple thoughts It's an 06 so some carb work might me coming down the pipe IE carb clean out, sync carbs...valve adjustment, new chain, change all brake fluids, have the shock recharged, check steering head bearings... | ||
| Zane |
1125rcya, So just expect routine maintenance stuff? The bike has less than 5k miles on the odo. Carb work seem almost a given after sitting that much. Nothing on your list is too scary to loose any sleep over. Good info, thanks. | ||
| Hhg |
Competition accessories has awesome deals on helmets for first time buyers, way cheaper than anyone else and u can get jackets cheap too!! | ||
| U4euh |
If you have a CycleGear near you go in and see what they have on sale. i just scored a Shark and picked up a Scorpion for my wife, both for 300. Like the others say, it may not be your first choice, but actually going in and seeing what is on sale, you can usually find SOMEthing that is nice. As far as the motor on the KT, pretty much rock solid. Not a bad bike to learn on. | ||
| Kyrocket |
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/default.aspx? SITEID=MSN_motorcycledashsuperstore&WT.mc_ID=10007 &WT.srch=1&esvt=MSUSe337952725&esvadt=999999-58095 84-3888019-1&esvid=333785 Just bought a Fieldsheer Congo mesh jacket for $70. I haven't got to ride in it yet but it seems like a really nice jacket. Fits perfect. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Another good site. Easy to deal with, even closeout items can be returned if needed. Formerly know as New Enough. http://www.motorcyclegear.com/?n | ||
| Augustus74 |
Good first bike. I usually check leatherup.com | ||
| Zane |
Great stuff guys, Thanks for all the info. | ||
| Tom_b |
Katana is a good reliable bike. Is it the 600 or 750. Either way with proper maintenance will last years. Have had friends that owned them. Not much complaints from any of them | ||
| Badlionsfan |
www.sportbiketrackgear.com has good closeout deals too, especially on helmets and gloves right now. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Personally, I think its a ridiculous first bike. Way overpowered and with much damage possible from a simple drop. | ||
| Tom_b |
I have to agree with Dave unless he has some riding experience under his belt. The power on even the 600 can be a handful for a novice | ||
| Zane |
The bike is the 750 model. He has about 1000 miles under his belt on my old Blast but hasn't been on a bike in about a year. Biggest problem is that we're pretty poor right now and a used Katanga is only in the 4 grand range. That's about the high end of what he can afford. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Convince him a motard is way cool and tart up a used RMZ. | ||
| Guell |
For 4k id look into a xb9s over a 750 katana. | ||
| Zane |
I would too, but he's just not into Buells. | ||
| Iman501 |
yea i'll agree with some others, its not a very good looking bike. What you cant talk him into a buell?! for 4k you can get a pretty nice bike from any of the makes, honda suzuki yamaha buell.... i paid 2800 for my 9R 1000 miles on a blast a year ago isnt very much riding time. i can put that much on in about 10 days if i try! have him get something without as much plastic as the katana in case he drops it! (Message edited by iman501 on February 20, 2011) | ||
| Zane |
A Katana wouldn't be my first choice for him either but that is what he has his heart set on. He also looked at a new GS500F. Frame really wasn't big enough for him. He's 6 foot 2 and his knees were almost to his ears on the GS. At least the Katana fits him better. | ||
| 86129squids |
Zane: The KanoTunas, despite the nickname, are basically somewhat detuned GSXR's from model years previous- a newbie grabbing a handful o' throttle WILL get in trouble. $4K? C'mon now, there's a bunch of good stuff out there for less than half that much, with more appropriate amounts of power for a noob. Check Craigslist regularly. Take your time looking- in all seriousness, as big as he is you should look at a 400-650cc single D/S, cheep but not a beater, spend the extra $$$ on gear, then some motard wheels and gearing, make HIM do the wrenching, sit back and watch. 6"2", he'll fit it just fine, especially a DR650. I don't care if he's not into Buells. I don't care if he has his "heart" set on a Katana. At this stage of his riding, NOT the best choice. | ||
| Jandj_davis |
The Katana motor is pretty nice. The motor DEFINITELY will out perform the suspension and tires on it though, making for some hairy moments. It is also an oil-cooled motor, which, if nothing else, is odd. However, I would recommend looking for a CBR600F4i. You get Fuel injection, better suspension, and an absolutely bulletproof motorcycle that should definitely last and perform as a first bike. But, a 750 I4 as a "first" bike? I gotta agree with some of the other guys here. THe Katana may not be up to todays spec, but it USED to be the suzuki racing platform, and has the performance to prove it. But, here's the last word. You know your son better than any of us here. If he is a responsible mature young man, He will do fine regardless of what you put him on. If he tends toward reckless and "do-first-think-second" judgements, you might want to pull a "I'm the dad" card and guide him toward something with a little less go. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
+1 on what Jandj said in the last part. I have a friend with an older Katana he's riden forever and it's been a good bike for him. As far as your son not liking buells i would recomend beating him with a stick until he loves them... J/k my son doesn't really like them either he likes old cafe bikes. Not that he rides.. | ||
| 86129squids |
+1, what Jandj said about knowing your son... I just remember my years at that age, and my propensity for "Watch This!" moments... (I'dve never survived an IL4, chances are...) I still say a big D/S Thumper would be the best choice, otherwise maybe up to a 650 twin streetbike- just try to find a machine that's simple enough to allow HIM to learn to wrench on it- one more plus for a D/S would be the ability to convert from street to dirt, which would allow the BEST possible platform to develop his riding skills. With a spare set of street/motard wheels and gearing, not to mention the tunability of a big Thumper, he'd learn a LOT about motorcycle ownership. Good luck! Keep us posted, eventually with pics!!! | ||
| Drkside79 |
I learned to ride on my XB9SX. It worked for me. Suzuki makes some affordable naked bikes that may work for him. | ||
| Swordsman |
'06 Katanas have carbs? And they call my Buell primitive!  ~SM | ||
| 01_turbowolf |
i have a friend that bought a 06 katana 600 for 3600 with less than 5k on it about 2.5yrs ago. it was his first bike too. it seems a little heavy and to big of frame for 6 or 750. kinda like a hayabusa with a go kart engine. the only time he ever had problems was layin it down in the driveway  . i dont think it's a bad starter. course what do i know i started on a 1125cr  | ||
| Zane |
So we went to look and talk numbers on the Katana tonight. Son loved the bike and it seemed like it was in good shape. Dealer came down to $3800 and son was ready to sign on the dotted line. They would lend him money but wanted 17% for the interest rate. Son, to his credit said thanks but no thanks. The prime rate is 3.25% I know he's young and has no credit history but 17 freakin' percent??? I don't flippin' think so. So now he's looking at a Suzuki GS500F. It a brand new 09 that with the extended warranty will be out the door for about $4200. Seems like a better starter bike and makes better financial sense to me. I also like the idea of warranty. So what is the collective wisdom on this bike? Press seems to like it but I trust you guys more. |
