What size engine do I need?

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carrielu · #1 Unread post by **carrielu** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:37 pm

I am buying a bike for my hubby for his 40th...His first bike and a total surprise for him. I want to get him a nice starter bike but I am worried about getting one that will not be strong enough to pull him up a hill...He is about 300lbs and well if I get on then it would be even more

I found a nice cheap starter bike but was wondering if anyone could tell me if the engine size is big enough for him?

It is a 1983 Honda Shadow 500...What do you think? Any help would be great

jonnythan · #2 Unread post by **jonnythan** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:51 pm

carrielu wrote:I am buying a bike for my hubby for his 40th...His first bike and a total surprise for him. I want to get him a nice starter bike but I am worried about getting one that will not be strong enough to pull him up a hill...He is about 300lbs and well if I get on then it would be even more

I found a nice cheap starter bike but was wondering if anyone could tell me if the engine size is big enough for him?

It is a 1983 Honda Shadow 500...What do you think? Any help would be great

Should be perfect, assuming it's in good condition.

Trust me when I say that the bike will hardly notice him on it. I'm 175 lbs and my gf is 130... the bike performs identically up and down hills whether she is on it or not.

He *may* want some upgraded shocks if he notices it bottoming out on bumps. You're looking at about $200 or so for that.

shane-o · #3 Unread post by **shane-o** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:46 pm

hmmmm nah dont do it !!!!

Great idea with one minor flaw, most doods, me included, prefer to stalk their own choice of machine, for instances, My wife likes me to pay for her jewels and she picks them out, I like to select my own bikes and I get to pay for them to, see how it works.

If my wife was to buy me a bike id end up with a pink stepthrough, with a roof, prolly 45cc, with a purple topbox, and matching mirrors, she would have paid 12k for it and it would have 20000k on the clock, not quite the zx14r or 1300r I would be hoping for now is it.

Just give him the cash and tell him to find his own its a personal thing.

#4 Unread post by **Wrider** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:18 pm

Well, my Volusia was an 805cc V-twin, I'm 300 lbs, and I took some friends (male) that weighed about 150 and it performed beautifully. It was my first bike, and I liked it. Also, make sure your husband wants a cruiser and not a sportbike. Big differences in power/handling/ergonomics/looks, etc. Oh, and if you look around, you can usually find Volusias for about 3-4 grand.
Wrider

flynrider · #5 Unread post by **flynrider** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:24 am

carrielu wrote: It is a 1983 Honda Shadow 500...What do you think? Any help would be great

Does your husband have good mechanical skills? They're required if you're going to ride a 24 yr. old bike.

Jadien · #6 Unread post by **Jadien** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:36 am

+1 to the needed mechanical skills.

I'm thinking a 500cc shadow would work, but 2000-ish 800-ish cc Shadow would probably be the way to go. You might shell out an extra thousand or so, but it'd be well worth the piece of mind.

Also, extreme amounts of kudos for wanting to get him a bike for his big 4-0!!! I would suggest getting his buddies to take him to a dealer or a show and get a feel for what he likes, just to be sure that he doesn't want a different kind of bike as wrider said. The International Motorcycle Show is making its rounds this time of year, see if there'd be one near you they could take the hubby to.

scan · #7 Unread post by **scan** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:17 am

shane-o wrote:hmmmm nah dont do it !!!!

Great idea with one minor flaw, most doods, me included, prefer to stalk their own choice of machine, for instances, My wife likes me to pay for her jewels and she picks them out, I like to select my own bikes and I get to pay for them to, see how it works.

If my wife was to buy me a bike id end up with a pink stepthrough, with a roof, prolly 45cc, with a purple topbox, and matching mirrors, she would have paid 12k for it and it would have 20000k on the clock, not quite the zx14r or 1300r I would be hoping for now is it.

Just give him the cash and tell him to find his own its a personal thing.

I have to say there is some wisdom in this thinking. I know I have been very picky about he bikes I've owned, and if someone got me a bike, I'd be gratious, but probably trying to figure out how to trade it in - unless it was exacly what I wanted.

slimcolo · #8 Unread post by **slimcolo** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:08 pm

500 cc is pretty small for some one that size. My friend has a 30.02CI (500cc) Indian Scout and top speed is 50mph (according to the manual) He only weighs about 180. Coarse japanese bikes run faster but not as long!

jonnythan · #9 Unread post by **jonnythan** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:23 pm

slimcolo wrote:500 cc is pretty small for some one that size. My friend has a 30.02CI (500cc) Indian Scout and top speed is 50mph (according to the manual) He only weighs about 180. Coarse japanese bikes run faster but not as long!

WTF?

My 535CC Virago V-twin goes almost 100 mph on the highway with 310 lbs of humans on it.

"japanese bikes run faster but not as long!" <--What is that?! That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

jstark47 · #10 Unread post by **jstark47** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:36 pm

slimcolo wrote:500 cc is pretty small for some one that size. My friend has a 30.02CI (500cc) Indian Scout and top speed is 50mph (according to the manual) He only weighs about 180. Coarse japanese bikes run faster but not as long!

Huh? 500cc Scouts were last made in the early 1940's. You're deciding what an engine can do based on WWII-era technology?

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