Experience: What have you ridden, how did you like it?

[Silenti]

After reading a number of forums, and finally getting into the MSF (which I take in a few weeks here) I wondered what kind of bikes everyone had tried. What they liked, were annoyed by or downright hated about different models and styles. It might help some in their thinking about what to look at or look for. What to dismiss, or not to dismiss, about bikes they don't like. Maybe tell the difference between a real problem with the fit or feel or just something they are not used to since they are new to motorcycles.

My riding experience is minimal, and dated, as far as I'm concerned. I offer this in hopes of feedback more than in hopes of spreading my personal limited experience. It just would be nice to see a thread where people could list what they had done and what they thought of it.

Dirt Bikes - Rode a pair of dirtbikes years ago. A 250 and a 350 Enduro. Don't even remember the manufacturers. Friend owned one, his father the other, and they would take us out riding fairly often near a river. I don't think I have hated anything more than this. The riding position felt so wrong I'm not even sure how to discuss it. I kept wanting to stand up. Felt like I was eating my knees. The ground was covered with grass around a foot and a half tall, so you had no idea what the contours were and no idea what to prepare yourself for. While I understand the design, I hated it. Never did figure it out. Note: Not trail riding, just tooling around in, relatively open areas. Except for the ravine about 100 yards off that a friend rode a wheelie straight into. Moments of panic, followed by sheer shock as the front tire poked back up out of the ravine (it was filled with small trees and brush) then it pitched backwards. He cracked a couple of ribs, and a**hats that the rest of us were, we took perverse pleasure in telling him jokes for days afterwards. There was also a dirt mound for jumping, which I never went near. No interest.

100CC?? - Some might not even call this a motorcycle. You sat astride it, it was not a scooter. Clutch, 5 gears, all the usual parts. It was so underpowered though. I don't mean in a "performance" way either. Wouldn't pull me up a hill in anything higher than 2nd gear (6'2" - 230lbs) and wouldn't allow the owner to get above 55mph (5'10" - 140lbs.) Never had any problem riding it around the neighborhood beyond the complete lack of useable power. Seating positiong was like a standard bicycle. That's what it felt like, without pedaling. Maybe this thing would make a decent learner bike in someways, but it was dangerous off of city streets, you couldn't really take it on the highway, due to the sheer lack of power.

Cagiva Allazura - Early 80's(?) Italian Sportbike. Funny thing here, I was the only person who didn't crash the damned thing. Hardly ran when we got it. Carbs had to be rebuilt. (Wish I had taped us stripping and trying to rebuild those things. We had no idea what we were doing.) The riding position felt relatively ok. Still felt a bit upright. A bit wrong. Like I was sitting too upright for where I wanted to be for balance. The dirt bikes felt too upright and my butt was too far forward. This felt a lot closer to where I wanted to be. Was not fun to turn at low speed. Throttle wasn't twitchy though. Never felt like I was going to lose it and have the thing take off on me. Brakes didn't feel overpowered either.

I have never had a license and never owned a bike myself. I may break the rules regarding a "first" bike. At least a little. It depends. I hate looking at a "learner" Ninja 500 that costs 4k used (the ONLY one I have seen), is an inline 4(which I really don't want) and I really dislike the appearance of, when what I want could be had for a couple more, used. Things are DAMNED hard to find too. (That goes for any of the learner listed bikes in the above thread. Where I am, they just don't exist. Hard to buy one if you cannot find one. And when you do find the rare listing or see one sitting at a dealership and they want 4k$ for something you expect to hate.... that's a hard sell in anyone's book.)

(Note: No I don't want a 600CC Big 4. I am not looking for validation of my choice, which I have not even made yet. What I want happens to have a bit more horsepower than is generally recommended in the "So you want a.." thread, but nothing like the peaky 120hp 600CC sportbikes.)

[Wrider]

So... ummm, what DO you want? Sounds like you've got a little bit of experience riding around at least, which is more than most beginners. Also, the Ninja 500 isn't an I-4, it's a parallel twin, just like the 650 is.
Wrider

[Silenti]

Well, what I was hoping for from this thread was more a list of experiences, new and veteran, riders got from different bikes more than a list of possible bikes for me. I'm a couple of months from buying anything yet. Just what people have ridden and what they thought of the different bikes. Stuff like "Got on a cruiser and my legs finally fit right." or "Headshake all the damned time." Items like that.

As to the question. Well what I really want is a Ducati SBK, but that seems like a really stupid idea for a number of reasons. (Too much power, money, maybe twitchy for me, etc, etc. - I.E. Not happening) So, not really going there. I know I want a twin or a triple for that lovely sound . Other than that, a smooth powerband (no spikes preferred) and a riding position I like and a visual style that doesn't offend my senses.

Sorry bout the Ninja, didn't know it wasn't an inline four. Really just don't care for the visual style and cannot see myself spending that kind of money on it. No offense to any owners out there, just don't care for it myself. Sat on a Buell sportbike of some kind a year or so ago. They had a longer frame (L version?) that seemed like a good idea in a way. Problem was it was new, seemed like it was just added to the product line that year, don't care much for the Buell's appearance, throw in that is was a new sportbike (think it was an XB9R or something like that = boat loads more power than I should be near), none of it added up to a good idea.

Edit: Don't read too much into my experiences. It has been awhile and the riding seesions were spread out over 18 years. Got on the dirts when I was 15 and I'm 33 now. Damn glad I never quite bought a street bike in years past because I was looking at new sportbikes at the time not having a clue as to what I was getting in to.

[gsJack]

I have never had a license and never owned a bike myself. I may break the rules regarding a "first" bike. At least a little. It depends. I hate looking at a "learner" Ninja 500 that costs 4k used (the ONLY one I have seen), is an inline 4(which I really don't want) and I really dislike the appearance of, when what I want could be had for a couple more, used. Things are DAMNED hard to find too. (That goes for any of the learner listed bikes in the above thread. Where I am, they just don't exist. Hard to buy one if you cannot find one. And when you do find the rare listing or see one sitting at a dealership and they want 4k$ for something you expect to hate.... that's a hard sell in anyone's book.)

(Note: No I don't want a 600CC Big 4. I am not looking for validation of my choice, which I have not even made yet. What I want happens to have a bit more horsepower than is generally recommended in the "So you want a.." thread, but nothing like the peaky 120hp 600CC sportbikes.)

Well I bought my first bike 23 years and 350k miles ago and put my first 230k miles on 4 Hondas, a CB400T, CB750K, CM400A, and a CB650SC that I traded in on a 97 GS500E in Mar 99. I have put over 120K miles on that GS and a 02 GS500 that replaced it in Sept 03. It's all the bike I need and if I should use it up in the next couple years, I'd get that Ninja 500 that turns you off. Bought the GS500 instead of the Ninja 500 in the first place because I prefer the naked bikes. They're both covered in plastic now so I'd go with the Ninja because of it's slight performance edge.

I started on a CB400 and traded it in on a CB750 six months and 6k miles later because I needed a bigger bike. After I really learned how to ride I didn't need a bigger bike.

How do I like it? Well I do really like it or I wouldn't have gone searching for a replacement like new naked GS500 when my first one was totalled in 03. I've done quite a few 400-500 mile days down the Interstates at 75-80 mph indicated to get to the mountains to play with the big boys. I was 6' 2" tall, 230#, and 52 years old when I bought that first CB400 back in 84 and am now just under 6' and about 250#, am still comfortable on a 500cc twin, and can still run with most anyone on anything if they're being at least somewhat reasonable on the public roads.

Most often it's not what one needs but what one wants in choosing a bike.

[Wrider]

No biggie, didn't mean to offend ya or "pee" ya off... Anyway, if you're looking for a twin, with the naked look, I'd have to recommend the SV650, although that might be a bit much (horsepower wise). Ummm, a friend has the Ninja 650 and it's quite nice. If you're looking for a cruiser, anything with a V-twin under 800ccs is a decent beginner bike. My Volusia was 805ccs and kept up with a Gixxer 600 that my sister's bf has up to about 40 MPH. Plus the sound, even with stock pipes, was great, quiet enough to not "pee" off the neighbors, but loud enough to scare the crap out of cages not paying attention when you got on it.
Wrider

[DivideOverflow]

Well, what I was hoping for from this thread was more a list of experiences, new and veteran, riders got from different bikes more than a list of possible bikes for me. I'm a couple of months from buying anything yet. Just what people have ridden and what they thought of the different bikes. Stuff like "Got on a cruiser and my legs finally fit right." or "Headshake all the damned time." Items like that.

As to the question. Well what I really want is a Ducati SBK, but that seems like a really stupid idea for a number of reasons. (Too much power, money, maybe twitchy for me, etc, etc. - I.E. Not happening) So, not really going there. I know I want a twin or a triple for that lovely sound . Other than that, a smooth powerband (no spikes preferred) and a riding position I like and a visual style that doesn't offend my senses.

Sorry bout the Ninja, didn't know it wasn't an inline four. Really just don't care for the visual style and cannot see myself spending that kind of money on it. No offense to any owners out there, just don't care for it myself. Sat on a Buell sportbike of some kind a year or so ago. They had a longer frame (L version?) that seemed like a good idea in a way. Problem was it was new, seemed like it was just added to the product line that year, don't care much for the Buell's appearance, throw in that is was a new sportbike (think it was an XB9R or something like that = boat loads more power than I should be near), none of it added up to a good idea.

Edit: Don't read too much into my experiences. It has been awhile and the riding seesions were spread out over 18 years. Got on the dirts when I was 15 and I'm 33 now. Damn glad I never quite bought a street bike in years past because I was looking at new sportbikes at the time not having a clue as to what I was getting in to.

As I was reading your first post I was thinking "I bet this guy would like a Ducati".

Dude, go find a Supersport 800. It isn't as crazy as the superbikes, and it would probably be good for your level of experience. It is the same dimensionally and visually as my Supersport 1000DS, but it has a wet clutch, it is lighter, and has a much more road-friendly powerband than the superbikes and my 1000DS. To be honest, if they had an 800 SS with the ohlins like the 1000DS, I probably would have got it.

The Supersports are GREAT handling bikes, and they are more comfortable than the superbikes, but they definitely do NOT sit upright.

[Silenti]

gsJack - Think I will have to get used to how one sits on various styles. The local MSF I'll be going to uses Buell Blasts. Thanks for that info. Allows me to feel a bit better about being "our" size and worries about not fitting. "Most of often it's not what one needs but what one wants in choosing a bike." - I hear ya, problem with me is I like the sportier, semi-useless and expensive plastic styling on the sportbikes, just don't want to get killed on one through stupidity. That bit I read in another forum about someone panicing, grabbing the bars which opens the throttle = situation worse FAST - that happened to me the first time I ever got on one of those dirt bikes. Kinda hard to call it panic on my part really though, couldn't see the ground contours, got kicked up and basically off the seat by the dip in the ground I couldn't see. Just don't want that to happen on a street bike and run myself straight in to a parked car. I means that's just downright embarrassing!

Wrider: Nope. None taken man. Just thought what I was looking for was misintepreted, sorry if it came off as annoyed. Nice to have replies to my needs/desires, but was really just looking for what people had purchased/ridden and wanted their thoughts. Plenty of those threads scattered around, figured it would be nice to have more consolidated thread where people could see what others who own them thought about various models. I like the Ducatis a great deal, then you go poking around in the forums about them and can get really freaked out about the possible problems. Looks like you have a big ole' cruiser. Any problems, stuff you like or don't?

DivideOverflow: Oh hell yes. 800SS is pretty. Now would I ever forgive myself if i damaged a rolling work of art by dropping it? Looked up the power though and it is around 75hp. That's just 5hp short of a 5 year old, stock, 748. Now those are beautiful as well. Just not sure that getting on an 80hp SBK as my first full time ride is a particularly smart idea. I also understand that their riding position has been described as rolling torture racks. Damn pretty though. That 800SS looks like a solid idea in some ways. Think I will just have to see how I do getting back in the saddle again and maybe I could find an older version that is a bit more underpowered than a new model. If the sv650 puts out 60-65 and is considered a "grey" area for new riders, then this might be just a tad much. I'm less worried about myself doing something deliberately stupid and more concerned about doing something accidentally stupid.

[JCS]

The bit with the dirt bikes wanting to make you stand up is easy to explain. When you are riding dirt you DO stand up much of the time. You use your legs and body position to help control the bike.

Cruisers. I just can not get around the bit of having my feet stuck out in front of me. The times I have rode friends cruisers I could not find a seating position that would work for me for any amount of time. I felt like I could not control the bike the way I was used to. I freely admit that a lot of this was because the bikes were so different than I was used to riding that it just felt odd to me. Not to say that I would mind a cruiser but not as my primary ride and I think I would have trouble going distance on one. Too much weight on my tailbone and not enough ways to shift my riding position. If I could find one with the pegs in the right place though...

You need to sit on some stuff to see what feels good to you. Remember that what can feel good on the show room may not feel so good after a couple of hours in the saddle.

What use do you want of a bike? You want to cruise, commute, tour, track days? This will make a huge difference in your choice. Look at service intervals and what is involved in the required maintainance. How much can you do on your own?

I know, I know. Not enough solid answers from me. Just things to think about.

[Wrider]

Ah, well, as for my cruiser, the only things I didn't like were that it backfired when I first got it. I rejetted and bypassed the PAIR valve, and that solved it. I also wanted more acceleration, but other than that I liked it. Oh, and it could have used another front disc, as it only had one.
Wrider

[Jadien]

Having ridden a total of three bikes in my life (my GS500F, MSF's nighthawk, and my schwinn), I whole-heartedly suggest you look into the GS500F. It has the sporty look you said you like; alot of people mistake it for a gixxer, until they see the rear tire (kinda skinny...). It has good power for a beginner; around 50hp IMS. And, it is a standard seating style; I'm 6' 265 on a good day and it fits me like a glove. Plus, you can find a good one for around 3-4k.

I honestly love it!

I think I'll be on it for at least a year, then move to the SV650S. If you wanna wait a year, I'll sell it to you...