Just read the Begginer v.s 600cc post. What about a cruiser

[kainthedragoonx]

I bought a 750 Magna, and I have to say that it has not been too muc yet...though I have not really opened her up cause I'm still learning!

[Doggy Boy]

I bought a vstar 1100 right out of the gate. It seemed intimidating the first couple times but now I am glad I did not get the 650. I take it as easy as I would any bike.

having said that - you can picup a used one - depreciated. Maybe older bikes, i.e. "transportation" don't depreciate much as long as they are in decent shape and run but new bikes depreciate quite a lot just like cars. Just check the blue book vs. the new price a year later.

I did not want to take a chance on buying something I would have to sink a bunch of money into so I bought new. I know how, when, and where the bike is ridden. I know a lot more now about my bike than when I bought it.

One thing I did not fully realize, as in really understand, is the cost of maintaining a vstar 1100. Unless you are mech. inclined and or don't pay much attention to manufact. recommendations, and have time and desire to work on it, it is a costly bike to maintain. Adjust valves every 4k - pull the exhaust to change oil. check it out. I knew about this but didn't care i bought it anyway. looks like I will be spending $ and or more time maintaing the bike after all.

I like the look of the bike, it is smooth riding, but given the maintenance requirements and my time and $ commitment, I might have bought the same type of bike but the one with the least amount of maintenance. Then again maybe not.

Good luck.

take the plunge and start somewhere.

[dmothersill]

Just a note to put this all into perspective: When I was 18, I bought a Honda CB750-4. (This was WAY BACK in 1972.) At the time, it was the fastest bike on the road, blowing away BSA's Triumph's and Norton's. Now, such a bike would be considered a "girlie bike". Go figure!

Buy a bike that you can master; not one that will scare the shyte out of you. Riding is supposed to be fun, and remember, if you do it right, you've got the rest of your life to enjoy it. If not.......

Remember, first you get good, then you get fast.

[Spiff]

I bought a LS650 now called the... C40 by Suzuki, it's a great starter bike. 250cc FRAME, with a single piston 650cc engine shoehorned in.

Twenty years after selling my first (and only) bike, I'm going to re-join the riding ranks.

Sevulturus, I've also looked at the Suzuki S40, and will test ride that bike and its bigger brother the S50 after I finish my MSF course in June.

They are both lightweight, as far as middle cruisers go, and have a more forgiving throttle than the sport bikes.

My only decision is which of these two Suzukis to buy, and that depends on how much confidence I have after riding the 250cc bikes in the safety course.

The one bike I owned was a 250cc, but I was too big for that (5' 11") 20 years ago, and I just think I need a larger bike for my frame.