Future rider needs some advice

[Kuhnfyoozed]

Hi everyone, first post, I'm looking into motorcycles for the first time. I am not yet 18 and cannot get a motorcycle endorsement yet, but I have been doing my research, looking around craigslist, in the papers, etc etc, trying to find a good bike to learn on/use for a few years. I've learned a lot from the articles on the site, they've been very helpful.

I am having a hard time finding a suitable bike on craigslist, and the listings in the paper are all out of my price range. I'm looking for a cruiser style bike, I'm trying to stay under 2000 dollars (although I will go over if its well worth the extra money). I've seen a few that might work, but I have my doubts.

Question 1:
Whats the general consensus about Honda Rebels? I've seen many for 2200, but thats a bit out of my price range and I've read that they're not much more than a beginner bike. Now I realize that I'm technically not even a beginner yet, but I don't have the money and don't think I will have it later on in life to replace it before I outgrow it, so I am looking for something thats suitable for a beginner AND the subsequent years.

Question 2:
I've found a Verucci bike, but I can't find any information about them. Is this company/bike worth considering? The price is certainly good, and I like how it looks. Its 250cc, so its not gonna be too much power for me to start with, I hope. I would like to know your opinions.



I know its a long first post, and if you read it all, thanks, I appreciate it. I'm going to take a motorcycle skills course soon, or at least thats my plan, and I don't want to waste any time learning how to ride on my own bike.

[Wrider]

Well, here's answers for ya!

1. Honda Rebels are great starter bikes, not too fast, will carry the average person without complaining. They've been around basically unchanged since the 80s so it's a good design. They're worth the 2200, but most people graduate to bigger-than-250 cruisers after a year or two. Personally I started on an 800cc cruiser that cost me 3150. And they've just been going down in price since, look for Suzuki Volusia. Good bike, reliable, etc.

2. I've never heard of a Verucci. It's a V-twin 250 unlike most which are parallel twins, so it's got less power than usual. Chances are it won't do highway speeds. Anyone else here know of Verucci?
Wrider

[Kuhnfyoozed]

So the Rebel is a good starter bike, but will I be satisfied with it in, say, a few years, once I've learned to handle a bike well enough to get a more powerful bike?

I won't give the verucci more thought, it seems a little small from what I can tell.

The Volusia looks pretty cool, but its a bit out of my price range. The absolute most I want to spend would be 3 grand. Any other suggestions for me?

Edit: What do we think of Suzuki Boulevards?

[dean owens]

first thing you need to realize is that right now you don't know what you will want. i don't mean that in a bad way. i knew i would always be a cruiser guy. always loved the harleys. about a year ago my wife told me if i could find a bike for $1200.00 i could get one. well, as you know, cruisers are hard to come by at that price. so i started looking at the 70's and 80's honda CB bike (UJM bikes). i started to like the standard look they had and they fit the price. then a friend of mine gave me an 83 honda silverwing. it's a full dresser. never thought i would like it but it was a free bike. i now love it. but, i have recently started liking the yamaha fz6 and various bmw's.

i say all of that to say, don't limit yourself. your first bike will be exactly that, your FIRST bike. don't worry so much about getting the bike of your dreams. if you find a good ninja 250 for cheap, get it and learn. another great bike is the suzuki gs500. you can get them for a great price, they sit pretty standard, and get 60 mpg.

if you really want a cruiser type for cheap, be on the look out for a honda cx500, cx650, gl500 or gl 650. these bikes were made from 79-83 and are great bikes. and you can find them on craigslist every now and then for $800.00 - $1500.00

one last thing, just as you're wanting to start out and find a good beginners bike... when you're ready to move up there will be someone else looking for a good beginners bike. if you get a rebel and keep it in good shape, you will get what you put into it most likely with no problem.

[Kuhnfyoozed]

Thanks man, good advice. I haven't been able to find any of those Hondas on craigslist, but I have heard about them before.

Edit: This Honda Shadow looks good to me, what do we think?
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/525439005.html

[dean owens]

Thanks man, good advice. I haven't been able to find any of those Hondas on craigslist, but I have heard about them before.

What do we think about the Yamaha Virago?

so you're in the triangle area... i keep a look at craigslist and there really hasn't been much up there recently. it'll get better - trust me.

i don't know much about the viragos. i think there are a few people on here that have them. i think nightnurse had one but i haven't seen her on here in a while.

when are you looking to get a bike?

[Kuhnfyoozed]

I'm going to try and take a MSF course soon, and I turn 18 in september. I should have the money by then, too, so I just want to get a good idea of what to look for, whats out there.

[dean owens]

a quick search for a honda cb (and then started punching in numbers) brings up this

are you (or a family member) at all mechanical? i ask because there are always bikes that come up that need a carb cleaning and things like that. also, being 17, what sort of hight are we talking about?

personally, i would look for the cx/gl's like i said, cb's (and other UJM), the gs500, ninja 250 and all the cruisers you're naturally going to look at.

the great thing about the BRC is that they have different bikes (standards, cruisers, and sporties) so you can see what will really feel comfortable to you. and if you're looking at september, i would go ahead and look into signing up. the course at wake tech stays pretty packed. i took mine at ray price on s. saunders because i could get in to the class in like 2 weeks, but it's twice as much (270 if i remember correctly).

[Wrider]

Dean brings a lot of good bikes to add to your list. Oh, and the Suzuki Boulevard is just the new, Fuel Injected version of the Volusia. Only differences are Fuel Injection, floorboards instead of pegs, and a rocker shifter instead of a regular lever.
Good bikes IMO and I haven't found anyone who disagrees with me on that.
Wrider

[dean owens]

wrider, do those boulevards/volusias have mid or forward controls?