i'm returning back to the states in december after a 15 month deployment to iraq i have money to spend and a MSF class scheduled in march and plan to pratice with my buddies bike till then was wanting to get advice on whether the 2007 Honda VT750 Shadow Aero is a good bike to begin with or is it to powerful i plan on getting crash bars put on it any way since i'll be a newbie, i've never even been on a bike before except when i was really young then only rode with. i usally pick things up quickly however i heard of people saying the same thing then getting in a bad wreck. so let me know all you guys opinion and i don't mind constructive critism.
morales
i have questions looking for serious answers
I am a beginner myself, I've been taking my husband's VT800 out in parking lots and practicing. I'm taking the MSF on Sept 14-16. I feel personally that the 800 is a bit heavy for me and looking forward to learning on the 250cc that they provide at MSF.
Most guides and experts say you shouldn't start on anything bigger than a 500. I'm sure someone much more qualified will come along and help you out with that.
Lastly, thank you for helping to protect our country and welcome home.
Most guides and experts say you shouldn't start on anything bigger than a 500. I'm sure someone much more qualified will come along and help you out with that.
Lastly, thank you for helping to protect our country and welcome home.
first of all, thank you and welcome home!!
i never rode a bike before i decided to get into it this year. i did it the right way and scheduled the msf course. coincidentally, i wound up buying a bike (ducati monster 620) while i was waiting for the course. i only rode it once before i took the course and that was with my buddy who rode it to the parking lot and showed me the basics. i rode around the parking lot for an hour and felt really comfortable and confident.
after passing the msf class, i noticed that i still needed alot of practice. i was a bit intimidated by the box drills and my bike was so much bigger that i knew i had to practice more and often.
for the first two or three months, really until now. i would take the bike out on early sunday mornings and cruise that same parking lot i learned in for about 15-20 mins. after that i ventured out on some back roads ( i live in a really congested area ). i would ride my bike to giant stadium parking lot and practice there too. ultimately, but it took awhile, i hit the local streets. you know keeping in mind all the intersection horror stories you hear. AGAAT (all gear at all times!) even in the dead of summer here. i never dropped the bike but almost did at a turn in town which further gave me a little bit of a scare. i stalled on a hill once and it scared the crap out of me. so i read up some more. practice, read, practice, read.
everytime i rode i tried something new, backstreets, busy town roads, highways with minimal traffic (to get speed), highways, freeways, etc etc.
bottomline, i was pretty nervous too even after being licensed. however, i think all the practice has paid off in confidence. i ride the highways and am not really scared but confident and cautious.
i dont know much about the bike but if it fits you and will grow with you, be safe and go for it. i feel great about the size of my bike and have no issues with it being >500cc
i never rode a bike before i decided to get into it this year. i did it the right way and scheduled the msf course. coincidentally, i wound up buying a bike (ducati monster 620) while i was waiting for the course. i only rode it once before i took the course and that was with my buddy who rode it to the parking lot and showed me the basics. i rode around the parking lot for an hour and felt really comfortable and confident.
after passing the msf class, i noticed that i still needed alot of practice. i was a bit intimidated by the box drills and my bike was so much bigger that i knew i had to practice more and often.
for the first two or three months, really until now. i would take the bike out on early sunday mornings and cruise that same parking lot i learned in for about 15-20 mins. after that i ventured out on some back roads ( i live in a really congested area ). i would ride my bike to giant stadium parking lot and practice there too. ultimately, but it took awhile, i hit the local streets. you know keeping in mind all the intersection horror stories you hear. AGAAT (all gear at all times!) even in the dead of summer here. i never dropped the bike but almost did at a turn in town which further gave me a little bit of a scare. i stalled on a hill once and it scared the crap out of me. so i read up some more. practice, read, practice, read.
everytime i rode i tried something new, backstreets, busy town roads, highways with minimal traffic (to get speed), highways, freeways, etc etc.
bottomline, i was pretty nervous too even after being licensed. however, i think all the practice has paid off in confidence. i ride the highways and am not really scared but confident and cautious.
i dont know much about the bike but if it fits you and will grow with you, be safe and go for it. i feel great about the size of my bike and have no issues with it being >500cc
2004 Ducati Monster Dark 620 ie
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Brackstone
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I haven't been riding very long but I have to say my 250cc ninja seems to have enough power to satisfy me for a while.
The problem with getting a larger bike is that you can make some mistakes on it. This is where a bike with less power and much lighter can be more forgiving.
My friends teased me a lot for getting a 250cc bike but I did it anyway. It only takes one mistake to mess you up and possibly ruin your riding season. Why take the chance your going to limit what you do enjoying?
That's just my stance
The problem with getting a larger bike is that you can make some mistakes on it. This is where a bike with less power and much lighter can be more forgiving.
My friends teased me a lot for getting a 250cc bike but I did it anyway. It only takes one mistake to mess you up and possibly ruin your riding season. Why take the chance your going to limit what you do enjoying?
That's just my stance
Ducati Monster 1100 (Vrooom!!)
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Aprilia Shiver 750 (sold)
2007 Kawasaki Ninja 250cc (sold)
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Wrider
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That's a pretty good starter bike there. You're unlike most of your military brethren around here... (Colorado Springs, CO, with Army, Air Force, and a few Marines) But yeah, take the MSF course, learn the bike, and have fun!
Wrider
Wrider
Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
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Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha
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DivideOverflow
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A Shadow 750 is completely fine to start on. The 500cc thing is more for sportbikes... with bikes, the general rule thumb is 50hp, 500lbs.
The 750 has about 40hp and weighs less than 500lbs. It would be a good choice. However, you might also want to look at the Suzuki S50, C50 and M50. They are fuel injected 800cc bikes, and I can speak from experience that they are pretty good first bikes.. My brother is still riding his M50 and loving it.
The 750 has about 40hp and weighs less than 500lbs. It would be a good choice. However, you might also want to look at the Suzuki S50, C50 and M50. They are fuel injected 800cc bikes, and I can speak from experience that they are pretty good first bikes.. My brother is still riding his M50 and loving it.
2008 BMW K1200S
2003 Z1000 - For Sale
1979 KZ650B - Work in progress
2005 Ducati SS 1000DS - sold :'(
1994 VFR750 Interceptor - sold
1984 VF700F Interceptor - sold
2004 Hyosung GV250 - sold
2003 Z1000 - For Sale
1979 KZ650B - Work in progress
2005 Ducati SS 1000DS - sold :'(
1994 VFR750 Interceptor - sold
1984 VF700F Interceptor - sold
2004 Hyosung GV250 - sold
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Scoutmedic
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In regards to the size of the engine (cc), it will matter what kind of bike you're looking at (sportbike/cruiser) as to where to draw the line. But for the most part, the mid-sized cruisers are acceptable first rides, but you do need to be considerate of their weight. Which for new riders, can be a challenge.
<50hp (gray area 60hp) is general acceptable range for first rides.
<50hp (gray area 60hp) is general acceptable range for first rides.
Morales,
First off, congrats on your impending homecoming, if this is your first deployment, take your time adjusting to coming home and getting your bearings. I've seen guys rush and try to cram in everything they've been deprived of in one shot, after 15 months you've probably been able to put away some cash, don't deprive yourself of some well deserved "toys" but put some serious thought into funding a Roth IRA or something similar, your unit should have a financial specialist to help you with that.
I'm assuming you're Army, and probably no slouch physically. That should help with a cruiser. I'm not speaking of the argument that alot of noobs make, "I'm a big guy, so I need a big motor". But if you've got some mass and strength behind you, it will help in muscling the bike while you're at a stop light, backing it up, etc. Good call on the crash bars, it'd be a shame to scratch up a shiny new bike.
Sounds like you have a good plan in place, are you going back to Alaska? If so, you'll have a few months to get your stuff together before riding season starts, even if you buy the bike before MSF, if you can afford it, I'd think about taking it in town where you can ride their bikes, especially since you're starting with no riding experience like I did. That way there's no risk if you dump it during the class. Good luck.
First off, congrats on your impending homecoming, if this is your first deployment, take your time adjusting to coming home and getting your bearings. I've seen guys rush and try to cram in everything they've been deprived of in one shot, after 15 months you've probably been able to put away some cash, don't deprive yourself of some well deserved "toys" but put some serious thought into funding a Roth IRA or something similar, your unit should have a financial specialist to help you with that.
I'm assuming you're Army, and probably no slouch physically. That should help with a cruiser. I'm not speaking of the argument that alot of noobs make, "I'm a big guy, so I need a big motor". But if you've got some mass and strength behind you, it will help in muscling the bike while you're at a stop light, backing it up, etc. Good call on the crash bars, it'd be a shame to scratch up a shiny new bike.
Sounds like you have a good plan in place, are you going back to Alaska? If so, you'll have a few months to get your stuff together before riding season starts, even if you buy the bike before MSF, if you can afford it, I'd think about taking it in town where you can ride their bikes, especially since you're starting with no riding experience like I did. That way there's no risk if you dump it during the class. Good luck.