Motorbike riders...?

Any of you tech types out there ever ridden, still ride a motorbike?
I'm looking into buying one (Australian law says I need to ride a 250cc or less for 12 months before I get a larger cc bike, so please keep this in mind), and was wondering if anyone out there had some advice?
Also please keep in mind that I'm not a grease head and know little about the mech side of life.
Also I'm looking at road bikes not off road.

And guys... Spare me the speach about how they're nothing but Death on two wheels... I could care less ;-)
Thanks

I've got a Honda CBR 600 F4i. It rocks! I would personally see if there is a way around the limitation of 250cc's. My bike is 600cc and I started on a 929cc. I've never heard of such crap. Are you sure you were talking to the right people?

Have 500cc License.
Have ridden (and still does) many bikes.
Come from a Family of Bikers (Mom/Dad, Brother)
3 weeks ago crushed myself with a Scooter...

I love motobikes - All kinds of them(Road/Offroad).

BUT I always keep in mind that those are Dangerous Vehicles

im a "GREASE HEAD" i typically off road, first bike is an old antiuqe yamaha dt250,1 f, last pre read bike, ported nastily anything below 5 mph without a goose of the throttle leads to a stall and a long push start, she runs like a 400, original investment, a 12 pack of bud.. got it from a local gear head willing to give it away, its been dubbed "the trap of death" its been brought back by a few inexperianced riders white pale, and still shakin, i watched a friend dump the bike,, he goosed it and let out the clutch still on the throttle, in first in amud bogg, he launched the bike out of the hole , made a sharp left into the woods, i had to switch bikes at that point, second is a kawasaki kl 250, old bike 4 stroke, custom exaust,, a set of chevy headers 1 5/8th meets my hacksaw grinder and mig welder whalla,,motor seldome ly revved below 9 gs, and a little fade and fog on bothe bikes in laquere paint, ala 50s ish, yeah stops em dead at the look of the paint,, so any way from what i hear certain places a 400 is an extreemly large bike like japan , my old kaw 350 s2d ran in the low 13,s neer the 12,s,yep , try lookin for a late 80's kawasaki 250 twin two stroke ninja, rare piece, very light and manuverable with gobs o power, i think stock around 65 horseys,, advise look for somethin used in farly respectable mechanical condition that some one didnt beet on too badley,, a few ripps, scrapes is fine as long as no leaks, sprokets are in good shape, motor doesent leak, or smoke when first started cold, look for laekage around the crank seal, neer the front sprokett, good sighn shees ben wooped on ,, the bearing usually wears funny and it has some endplay that kills the seal.. im not lookin for a bike that looks good, i want something to ride,, the plastic is cheep, everything else gets expensive,,, my-2-k

LOL!...I havent had a motorbike since the YZ-80 I had when I was a kid....you got me thinkin about it myself now... :D

ohh i forgot para medics call em donor cycles for a reason,, i dont drive on the streets for this reason, so be careful

[quote]Originally posted by opiate:
<strong>I've got a Honda CBR 600 F4i. It rocks! I would personally see if there is a way around the limitation of 250cc's. My bike is 600cc and I started on a 929cc. I've never heard of such crap. Are you sure you were talking to the right people?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Opiate, I didn't know you knew Australian Law :) I bet they can ride 2-stroke street bikes there which would be very cool if they brought it back in America. Sorry senectus, I can't think of any 250's that would be good for ya since in America there is no such limitation, the only thingI could think of is a ninja 250 or maybe a dual purpose bike or make a supermotard :)

[quote]Originally posted by amcfreek:
<strong>im a "GREASE HEAD" i typically off road, first bike is an old antiuqe yamaha dt250,1 f, last pre read bike, ported nastily anything below 5 mph without a goose of the throttle leads to a stall and a long push start, she runs like a 400, original investment, a 12 pack of bud.. got it from a local gear head willing to give it away, its been dubbed "the trap of death" its been brought back by a few inexperianced riders white pale, and still shakin, i watched a friend dump the bike,, he goosed it and let out the clutch still on the throttle, in first in amud bogg, he launched the bike out of the hole , made a sharp left into the woods, i had to switch bikes at that point, second is a kawasaki kl 250, old bike 4 stroke, custom exaust,, a set of chevy headers 1 5/8th meets my hacksaw grinder and mig welder whalla,,motor seldome ly revved below 9 gs, and a little fade and fog on bothe bikes in laquere paint, ala 50s ish, yeah stops em dead at the look of the paint,, so any way from what i hear certain places a 400 is an extreemly large bike like japan , my old kaw 350 s2d ran in the low 13,s neer the 12,s,yep , try lookin for a late 80's kawasaki 250 twin two stroke ninja, rare piece, very light and manuverable with gobs o power, i think stock around 65 horseys,, advise look for somethin used in farly respectable mechanical condition that some one didnt beet on too badley,, a few ripps, scrapes is fine as long as no leaks, sprokets are in good shape, motor doesent leak, or smoke when first started cold, look for laekage around the crank seal, neer the front sprokett, good sighn shees ben wooped on ,, the bearing usually wears funny and it has some endplay that kills the seal.. im not lookin for a bike that looks good, i want something to ride,, the plastic is cheep, everything else gets expensive,,, my-2-k</strong><hr></blockquote>

I didn't even need to look at your name to know who wrote this! Gees dude, take a class!

[quote]Originally posted by thirdfey:
<strong>

Opiate, I didn't know you knew Australian Law :) I bet they can ride 2-stroke street bikes there which would be very cool if they brought it back in America. Sorry senectus, I can't think of any 250's that would be good for ya since in America there is no such limitation, the only thingI could think of is a ninja 250 or maybe a dual purpose bike or make a supermotard :) </strong><hr></blockquote>

He should buy a scooter or mo-pad! Or just fuagetaboutit...

Oh yeah, Opiate, nice choice in bike. I wanted to get one but I got a good deal on my Laverda that I couldn't pass up.

[quote]Originally posted by opiate:
<strong>I've got a Honda CBR 600 F4i. It rocks! I would personally see if there is a way around the limitation of 250cc's. My bike is 600cc and I started on a 929cc. I've never heard of such crap. Are you sure you were talking to the right people?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Unfortunatly it has been the law in australia for a very long time.
The idea is that you get used to a low powered machine before you move up to a beasty thing.
All this means is that the first bike I get will be a highly tweaked 250 cc kowasaki or Honda ;-)
Because although the law says your first 12 mnths says 250 cc or less it doesn't say you can't tweak the hell out of the engine and make it faster than any other 250 cc on the road *grin*

opiate ,, paleeze dont try and burn here dude ok
pain sucks ,wich is what im in most of the time and cant really ride any more,, any way so have fun,, any way still think youre beetin down the right path though dude, get a honda or a kawasaki,, there was a war going on back in the late 80's , over seas, you would have to import a bike from new zeeland austrailia, ect to get one here most werent released over here,, the 2 sroke is probablly the fastest of em, between the kaw and the honda i think the kaw was faster though, still room for some mods like pipes, and muff, and a jet kit . wich is the norm... any way again make sure youre not getting ahead ache eaven though it is the one you want, they are no fun to push, eaven putt around on an enduro, till ya can ride a z1 or so

Senectus, I dont know what style bike your looking for or what is available down under, you did mention Honda. They have one model called The rebel that has a 250, and I consider a good starter bike. And as for your law, it meets that requirement. Its a cruiser not a crotch rocket.
Check it out
<a href="http://www.hondamotorcycles.com/models/2002/index.html?model_number=CMX250C" target="_blank">http://www.hondamotorcycles.com/models/2002/index.html?model_number=CMX250C</a>

I had forgot to mention what sort of bike I'm after...
I'd rather a Cruiser / C-rocket typr bike.
I'm planning some 3-4000 km trips on it... Like a backpack holiday but on a "Donorbike" ;-)

Well I am an Aussie and subject to similar rules but with one difference
12 years ago I got my license on a honda 90 scooter auto....
now I have my full license to ride anything I damm well please but and heres the but..I can't ride a powerful bike with gears properly..yet im licensed to ride my hubbys fj1100
..aussie laws suck about bikes..
anyway for comfort go the kawaski zzr250 nice bike but if your really keen and western Australia allows it (I know Queensland does casue Im getting one) go the aprilla 250
costs more but its worth every cent.....
and me being a 5 foot 49 kilo female can ride it no worries
:)