Help me choose a cruiser...

Message

JustBarno · #1 Unread post by **JustBarno** » Tue May 16, 2006 7:37 pm

Rules,

5000 budget (used is AOK)
Must be a good starter bike (not 1400 cc)

The more info on WHY the better, from reliability to looks to performance. But even just the name of the bike would get me in the right direction.

think more this

than this

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

FlyerPhil · #2 Unread post by **FlyerPhil** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:55 pm

From the pics it looks like you want a leaner sportster looking bike rather than a low and fat cruiser:

You should look into:
Harley Sportsters 883 (though I wouldn't buy older than a 2004 model when they started rubber mounting the engines)
Honda Shadow Spirit 750
Kawasaki Vulcan 500s + 750s
Susuki 800 Intruders + Marauders

You should be able to get a late model of any of those (except the Harley probably) and have enough left in your budget for some really nice riding gear.

MotoF150 · #3 Unread post by **MotoF150** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:32 pm

for $5K I would suggest a new 06 Yamaha 650 V Star Custom for $5199, or a used 05 for $4299, if you want a bigger bike you can get the used 03 1100 V Star for $4899. The Harley 883 is too slow, the Honda Shadow 750 is quick if ur not planning on riding a passenger on the back, and I personally don't like anything Kawasaki or Suzuki makes, but these bikes have more power than Honda and Yamaha. You have to figure out what you want first, do you want a good reliable bike that looks and sounds good, or do u want a fast bike that shakes and rattles ?

secgeek · #4 Unread post by **secgeek** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:17 am

Spirit 750.... I have seen tons between 02-04 in the 5K range.... And it can handle the load... My wife and I together are around 400 and we went for a nice long ride this past Sunday.... I will probably go bigger next season but being this is my first season in 10 years and on a cruiser.. I think this bike is awesome....

Locopez · #5 Unread post by **Locopez** » Wed May 17, 2006 2:10 am

well for 5k...the only kinda of Harley you are going to be able to get your hands on is a used Sportster about a mid 90's. But the two you showed...A softtail Duece, and road king...well lets just say that you are going to need at least another 10 to 11k...for either one of those. But good luck....my first bike ever was a 1995 1200 Sportster...it was a great bike!

#6 Unread post by **bok** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:18 am

you can get a used shadow spirit 750 for a decent price. i love mine. honda is pretty rock solid reliable as long as you do the basic maintenance. it's chain drive so you have to lube that every 500 miles or so, but that's not difficult.

roscowgo · #7 Unread post by **roscowgo** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:23 am

S40 Heard nothing but good about these bikes. And because i've been going bike nuts lately, i've seriously considered swapping out my katana for one.

Virago Heard lots of good about these too. small, good on gas, looks decent, $$$

V-Star

LTD

Rebel Small, (might be too small, have a seat on one and let your butt and knees decide. actually that goes for all of these) been around a good long while, cheap insurance, cheap price, leaves you leeway to get gear too. good good resale price when/if you decide you want something meatier on the 250's

nighthawk same story as the rebel i would say, not exactly a cruiser. but its got 2 wheels. thats enough for me.

VLX with 5k to spend you are going to be gear poor.

Then of course there are the hyosung bikes. some people are nervous about em, id snatch one up in a heartbeat. And there is a review floating around somewhere that has the virago, rebel, gz250, and the hyosung cruiser all being reviewed by newer riders.

JustBarno · #8 Unread post by **JustBarno** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:34 am

Awesome guys! So far the only one mentioned that I already had on my list of bikes to check out was the v star. From the picture, the Spirit looks right up my alley.

Additional Info, I'm 6'2'' 210 lbs, and I don't want to look like a "Fat boy in a little coat", so smaller bikes are somewhat out of the question (medium is ok, just not small).

That is primarily why I wasn't planning on looking at sportsters (plus I heard bad things about thier reliability).

My "dream bike" is a V-Rod, but I figure I'm about 2 years from being able to handle a 115hp bike.

jstark47 · #9 Unread post by **jstark47** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:47 am

As a real-world example of what you can get, I have a 2004 Suzuki Marauder 800 for sale for $4500 with 3000 miles on it. This is a decent medium-size cruiser, and is probably do-able as a starter bike, though on the upper end of the range due to weight & handling characteristics. (Unfortunately, I'm in New Jersey and you're in California........) Check Craigslist for your area, I'm sure you can find something similar.

roscowgo · #10 Unread post by **roscowgo** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:48 am

i'm 6' and heavier than you are. go have a seat on all the aforementioned one and find whats comfy. i ride a (to me anyway) sport bike. yea yea i know katana isnt one of the Real crotch rockets. mine looks all kindsa nifty to me, but is about as comfy as the weekend of the 28th at a sorority.