Virago 250 vs V-Star 650

[Fropa]

Hello. I posted this question in the introduction section, but think it is better placed here. I am going to be taking the Motorcycle Safety Course in the next couple months and I'm trying to decide on my first bike. I'm 5'10" and 200lbs and haven't actually sat on any bikes yet. Through allot of reading on the net I had decided that the Virago 250 was probably the right bike for me to learn on. Then a woman I work with told me she got a V-Star 650 as her first bike last June and has had no problems handling it around town or on 2-3 hour trips. She is about 5'6" and 120lbs. That made me start thinking the 250 may look/feel too small for me.

Any advice from the experts here would be greatly appreciated.

[TechTMW]

I think a V-Star 650 is a decent first bike. Good power, and its weight is low down, plus you have the convenience of a shaft drive. I would suggest looking for a used on though! It sux to dump a brand new bike.

[Mer]

I'd go with the V-Star. I started on an ACE (750) and had no problems. Just take it slow and do lot's of parking lot practice. Good luck!

[bikeguy joe]

The V-Star, yeah, definitely the V-Star......drive slow in the driveway....

[isaac]

I'm 5'6 135lbs and a Rebel looks strangely small on me. Imagine what'd be like on you. I've got a Suzuki GZ 250 (nearly identical) and I find myself constantly stretching my legs and sitting up on the back of the front seat to feel right.

I'd get the V-star and do a lot of low speed practice to get used to cornering with its wheelbase.

[Fropa]

Thanks for the advice. I'll see how the 250s feel during the course and then check out the V-Star.

[bikeguy joe]

Fropa,

For what it's worth-

I take it you're a Yamaha guy...

I checked out the V-Star 650, the Honda A.C.E. 750, Suzuki Marauder and the Suzuki Volusia 800 (C50) and the Volusia got my cash. The Marauder was smaller, and the suspension was nealry bottoming with two of us on it, and we aren't big people. The V-Star was just a little on the small side for me, and I'm only 5'9".
The Suzuki (Volusia-C50) is shaft drive, liquid cooled, and just a bit more beefy.

[Fropa]

I'm not necessarily a Yamaha guy. After researching 250s I decided the Virago would work best for me. Now that I'm looking at possibly something bigger, I guess I just continued to gravitate to the Yamaha site. I talked to a friend of mine today and he said I should look at Honda and Suzuki before Yamaha.

Since I have never owned a bike before, I'm really open to any make/model as long as it fits right and runs well.

[jrod]

Hi Fropa I'm Jose I'v been riding for only 10 months and I bougth a Suzuki Volusia 800 now the C 50 I took the classes they had 175s and 250s I'm 5 8" 180 and the 250 was to small for me they were prefect to pass the classe but that is about it ,I took two years to make up my mine on the bike that I was going to buy I read and went every week to the motocycle shops to sit on them.I did not want to buy a bike that I would out grow it is not like buying a pair of shoes if somethingh happens you just buy another pair.the 650 vstar is a nice bike but was a tad small but when I sat on the Volusia 800 it had the feel of the big bikes but not the weigth she only 30 to 40 lbs more then the 650 v star and she has nice power I ride with some guys they have 1100s and 1300s and I don't have any problems keepen up with them.Even a 750 is nice if you get the 250 you will not be happy in a couple of months.good luck in your quest to fine the rigth bike for you,I hope this was helpfull to you Ride Safe.

[stock28]

Just got my v star custom 650 and am very happy with it. It is my first bike as well and had no problem going to it from the MSF bikes. I spent several days on subdivision and parking lot drills before venturing out onto side streets on a Sunday morning. It has more than enough power for me and handles very well. I don't think you would be disappointed with it.