Future rider needs some advice

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Thumper · #11 Unread post by **Thumper** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:43 pm

I started out on a Rebel; terrific beginner bike, awesome for learning on, but a year on it and I was jonesing for something a little bigger and something that would maintain higher speeds without having the throttle totally cranked open for long periods.

If I could go back knowing what I know now, I would have gotten a Honda VLX, Vulcan 500, or even the Suzuki Boulevard S50. The latter is an 800cc bike but it's as light as the VLX... I'd even look at the Ninja 250 and Ninja 500.

That said...if you get a used Rebel, chances are you can sell it a year later for what you paid for it. If it fits you (and should if you're under 5'8" or so) and you don't mind basically flipping a bike in a year, it's very good for learning on. My mistake was buying new...

#12 Unread post by **Kal** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:47 pm

All the Hondas I would normally recomend have already been mentioned

so as much as it goes against my personal grain to recommend another manufactuer I am going to suggest the Suzuki Savage LS650

My O/H Ex has had one for a decade. It's a good solid, simple single thumper that was pretty much unchanged from 1995 until 2005.

Prior to that they only had 4 gears. Raf has done countless miles on his with only the occassional hiccup, including visiting relatives on Gibralter two up.

The only real modification Raf has done to his was a respray to avoid the usual Suzuki finish issues. Fairly nice solid bike.

BTW there are no boring bikes, just boring roads. If you find you are bored on your bike you need to find better roads.

#13 Unread post by **Wrider** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:24 pm

They've got forward controls, but not too far forward. My sister could control the foot levers, and she's 5'4", I'm 6'2" and I was comfortably cramped... lol I found it a better cruiser for taking around town and into the twisties than for long rides, but either way it was a good one!
Wrider

Kuhnfyoozed · Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:23 am

I am nearly 6' tall, so a smaller bike might feel a bit cramped, I'm guessing. The bikes I am considering, with my limited knowledge of them:

Honda Shadow VLX600 - Found a '95 for $1800
Suzuki Savage LS650 - Average about $2600 on CL, a bit out of my range
Suzuki Boulevard S50 - I'm seeing them for around $3000, so thats too much for me.

Feel free to tell my why these are good/poor choices for me.

I am somewhat mechanical, I can fix things with little/no instruction in how to do so. I work in a hardware store, and I assemble things frequently, so I know my way around most tools you would need for maintenance. My dad is very mechanical, and he could certainly help me out if we had the appropriate information.

gsJack · #15 Unread post by **gsJack** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:47 am

VLX, LS650, and S50 are all good choices. So is that 535 Virago you mentioned above, that engine slightly enlarged lives on in the popular V-Star 650 cruisers. I think any of these would satisfy you longer than a 250cc model.

If you're not completely sold on cruisers don't overlook the GS500 and EX500 (Ninja) bikes. Good all around bikes you could run as far as you want to and for as long as you want to. I've put the last 130k miles of my 360k miles on a couple of GS500s. Did 400-500 mile interstate days on them getting to the mountains to play.

I'm just under 6' now but was 6' 2" when I bought the first GS500. I started on a CB400T back in 84.

dean owens · Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:12 pm

man, wish i had the money. there's a cx500 with sidecar on craigslist right now for 1500... a cb650 for 1500 (in great shape)... and a vstar 650 for 2000... there are bikes that come up and they are all great bikes that would fit you. the cx/gl bikes are just about the easiest to work on and run forever.

Kuhnfyoozed · Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:11 pm

Ooh, I found a Honda CB550 from '75 on CL, thats pretty cool. I don't really prefer the style to a cruiser, but it is one that was previously mentioned.

dean owens · Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:51 pm

Kuhnfyoozed wrote:Ooh, I found a Honda CB550 from '75 on CL, thats pretty cool. I don't really prefer the style to a cruiser, but it is one that was previously mentioned.

that's actually the one i meant when i typed cb650. it wasn't my style when i first started looking for a bike either. i've come to really like them though. but, the more options you leave yourself for a first bike, the better chance you have of finding something in your price range. and remember, it'll be your FIRST bike. personally, i wouldn't worry about buying a bike until i had taken the BRC. keep shopping. who knows, maybe something will turn up that you can't pass up. but unless there is an amazing deal, i would just keep taking notes until i had passed my class. then you know how a motorcycle should feel and you can start sitting on bikes and find bikes that feel good to you.

i'll tell you what though, i would love to have the money to get that cb550 and/or that cx500 with a sidecar.

anyway, happy hunting

Kuhnfyoozed · Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:44 am

I am not looking to buy a bike until after I've taken the BRC, so I'm just trying to see whats out there, watching out for something I like. I wasn't planning on buying before, so we're on the same page there.

Dragonhawk · Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:17 pm

Kuhnfyoozed wrote:I am not looking to buy a bike until after I've taken the BRC, so I'm just trying to see whats out there, watching out for something I like. I wasn't planning on buying before, so we're on the same page there.

This is a GREAT approach.

Do NOT buy a bike before you take the course. After you learn to ride, the style of bike that appeals to you might completely change. Waiting is a very wise move.

It's always refreshing to see a kid like yourself approaching the idea of motorcycling with maturity and intelligence. I made a webpage specifically for beginners like yourself that might help you a lot. The link is below in my signature.