Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I have recently completed my Safety Course and I am ready to purchase a good used bike and start riding. Friends have suggested a Honda Shadow, Harley Sportster 883 and a VSTAR. Any suggestions? I am 6', 200lb and want a bike for riding in the country and need to keep up on the freeways as well.

Mick,

Welcome to TMW! You've come to the right place.

Any of those three would be excellent started bikes, though my vote is for the Shadow. Honda builds a bulletproof bike you can count on, and honestly the price point is going to be a lot easier to swallow than the VStar or the H-D. You should be able to pick up a new-ish Honda Shadow for between $2500 - $4000 depending on what size you want. We have a Shadow 750 in our stable and it's totally sufficient for country riding, but on the freeway it tends to struggle a bit. Especially where we are out west, where the limit on some roads is 80mph. You may want to consider an 1100, which might seem a bit big for a starter bike but they're totally manageable.

Just my $0.02.

Honda Rebel is a fun bike also. It offers a comfortable ride.