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Yeah I have all but abandoned the Katana's in my search. I think a smaller cruiser like the Virago or Shadow is what will be the best for me. Good price point for the used ones. I guess the other question is how old is too old? If I buy a 1996 am I getting into something that will be have HUGE maintenance cost?

if you're looking for an older bike that is very reliable, cheap, and easy to work on i would look at the cx/gl family of bikes. they're water cooled, shaft driven, v-twins. the engines have been known to last 100,000 miles with proper care. these bikes can be had anywhere from 1000-2500 depending on the day and the seller.

edit......

went and did some looking and saw this
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/665476012.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/671623671.html

in good working order these bikes get anywhere from 45-55mpg

BGee wrote:Yeah I have all but abandoned the Katana's in my search. I think a smaller cruiser like the Virago or Shadow is what will be the best for me. Good price point for the used ones. I guess the other question is how old is too old? If I buy a 1996 am I getting into something that will be have HUGE maintenance cost?

One of the most exciting things about the Katana, which you would be hard pressed to find in any other bike, is;

It has a super invisible, naturally occurring inbuilt security system.

You could park this bike out the front of any department store for month with the keys in the ignition and I guarantee, no one will steal it.


Its that fukin ugly !!!!!!

I guess the other question is how old is too old?

That's a tough question. The most accurate answer is "It depends". A '96 model that has been ridden and maintained regularly could be very reliable. On the other hand, an '03 model with a few hundred miles on the clock that has been sitting in the back of a garage for 5 yrs., can be a maintenance pig. Bikes deteriorate when they are not used regularly. I'd sooner buy a '96 model with 20K on it, than a garage queen '03 with 500 miles on it.

Fortunately, you're in Florida where a lot of folks ride year round. When checking out a bike, try to get a feel for the type of life it's had from the owner. Regular use and regular maintenance are more important than calendar age.

Thats a good idea, get a sportbike as your first bike
before you do that go to the dentist and make sure your dental reords are current so when they find you they will know who you are.
sorry for the sarcasm I'm from NJ.
find a bike that fits you that you feel you can control and learn to ride before you decide the type of bike you want.
you have to learn to walk before you run, if you want to be cool, wear sunglasses indoors, if you want to learn to ride know your limits and ride a bike you feel comfortable on, even if it isn't the bike of your dreams.
I have found that riding isn't a short term thing, it is a continuous thing that changes with skill level and grows depending on what you put into it.
you wouldn't do an olympic ski jump your first day on ski's,why would you want a sport bike before you know how to ride?
Vets feel free to critique this post.

just trying to promote long term riders

If physical size is not an issue for you, like you're a normal human size around 6' or under, and less than 250 pounds, look for a used Yamaha XS400, or Suzuki GS550. These are usually cheaper than their Honda and Kawasaki counterparts, which are popular for guys to caffeinate. Plus, either the Yamaha or the Suzuki would still make good commuter bikes that you could keep if you get a big cruiser later on.

If physical size is not an issue for you, like you're a normal human size around 6' or under, and less than 250 pounds, look for a used Yamaha XS400, or Suzuki GS550. These are usually cheaper than their Honda and Kawasaki counterparts, which are popular for guys to caffeinate. Plus, either the Yamaha or the Suzuki would still make good commuter bikes that you could keep if you get a big cruiser later on.