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Hi ezybass..Sorry to intrude. Husband (64) and myself (50) took the basic MSF course in June. I bought my bike about a month earlier and tho I some times wish I had bought a bigger bike I now know I did the right thing for me by starting smaller (ShadowVLX Deluxe) and moving up in a year or so. Neither I or my husband have EVER ridden a motorcycle before. He, BTW opted to get a Voyager kit for his 750 Aero that will allow us to ride together as he has problems with balancing. If he decides to ride on two wheels he will still be able to. As long as he enjoys the ride by my side I don't care how many wheels are on the ground. At this time I have been riding to work solo for about three weeks (1400 miles approx) and my little bike has humbled me a couple of times. I live in the mountains and have no problems with my 600 but as I said thats riding solo. Good Luck and Be Safe!

Almost bought a bike today, a brand new 2005 Suzuki Boulevard S50 that was sitting on the showroom floor with the price tag showing "REDUCED" at a price of $ 7,499 Cdn. What attracted me to the bike was the weight at 443 lbs, shaft drive and the salesman saying that it had fuel injection. I got home and looked it up on the internet and it has twin carbs, not fuel injection! Never believe the salesmen, do your own research.

Right. ALOT of research! Good luck!

ezybass wrote:Almost bought a bike today, a brand new 2005 Suzuki Boulevard S50 that was sitting on the showroom floor with the price tag showing "REDUCED" at a price of $ 7,499 Cdn. What attracted me to the bike was the weight at 443 lbs, shaft drive and the salesman saying that it had fuel injection. I got home and looked it up on the internet and it has twin carbs, not fuel injection! Never believe the salesmen, do your own research.

Easy mistake for a [uneducated] salesman to make. The C50 and M50 both have fuel injection, so the S50 is sort of an oddball in the family.

I grew up riding dirt bikes and like most folks left the toys behind while I started a career, raised a family, etc. About 5 years ago, I got back into bikes. My first "adult" bike was a 92 Kawasaki Vulcan 500. It is a great bike and I still like to tool around on it from time to time but I found that after about 6 months of riding, I felt like I outgrew it and moved on to a bigger one. The Vulcan 500 is also very forgiving for a new rider and you can pretty much get it in high gear and leave it there without a lot of downshifting.

The MSF course is a great start as well. I definitely recommend taking it before you even think about getting out on the road.

I just turned 64 a couple of days back and have done a lot of riding over the years. I traded away my last bike about 12 years ago and haven't riden since. I have been shopping (well really, just looking) for a bike for the last month or two and definitely want to get another one. My wife was never very supportive of my bike riding and probably will not be again, but I think she will tolerate it. She has never had an interest in bikes and I don't think she has ever been on one. I've had three bikes since we've been married and she has not been on any of them.

I have just the opposite problem with many of today's bikes; I am 6' 1" with long legs and am having difficulty finding a bike that I am comfortable on. I've been looking mostly at cruisers and am thinking now that I'll find an older Yamaha Virago or Suzuki Intruder. The Intruder doesn't seem to fit very well but it has the other options that I want (shaft drive, 800cc, 5 speed). Maybe I should look at some standard bikes before I buy anything.

I plan to take the MSF course also. My major concern is that I now weigh about 30 pounds more than when I last rode and of course am about 12 years older. I think I am about the same as far as strength goes, but I'm sure that I have less stamina at this age than I had years ago.

One other thing that concerns me is the area where I live. I live out in the country in Central Ohio which normally would seem like the ideal place to ride. The problem however, is that these country roads are heavily traveled and no one drives at the posted speed limits. I was on a two lane state route yesterday that has a 55 mph speed limit. I was already going 65 and was passed by someone who must have been doing 75. Even on the county and township roads where the speed limit is 45 MPH most people drive at 55 or 60. What ever happened to those quiet backroads that we used to ride on?

JR

Take the Motor Cycle Safety course then go buy a Harley Sportster. You will not be sorry!

jrdudas wrote:I've been looking mostly at cruisers and am thinking now that I'll find an older Yamaha Virago or Suzuki Intruder. The Intruder doesn't seem to fit very well but it has the other options that I want (shaft drive, 800cc, 5 speed). Maybe I should look at some standard bikes before I buy anything.

I would recommend finding one that fit, as opposed to one that had the options you want. I ride a '95 Virago 1100 that has treated me well for the last 3+ years, but it's not a really good fit for me. Even though I have short legs I find the Virago too cramped for lengthy rides, (although I never let that get in the way of a trip of 700 miles or so... )

Sit on every bike you come across, you'll find one that just screams out your name when you sit on it. You'll fall in love and life will never be the same...

You should move to northwest NJ which has a couple of thousand miles of narrow, windy, hilly, back-country farm/forest roads with practicaly no traffic. I generally see fewer than 3 cars an hour on these roads most days of the week. I bought a 2006 Suzuki GZ250 four months ago after being away from the sport for 55 years and it's perfect for me as I'm not into speed, noise, acceleration nor add-ons. I'll be 80 in 3 months and not as strong as I once was, my reactions aren't as fast, my eyesight is not as good and I don't hear too well so this bike on this kind of road is exactly what I need. I don't ride fast and I ride alone. It's absolutely great to be back on a bike.

Wyosemrider, that's a great story. Welcome back to the sport. Why don't you drop in at the "Start Your Engines" board on this forum and get introduced? There's a bunch of people here who are ... um..... "post-25" who would like to meet you.

Jonathan