Re: New rider looking for a bike!
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 5:41 pm
With your height and weight you should feel comfortable on anything in the 500cc range. Any cruiser at that displacement should take you to highway speeds easily, especially riding solo. I'm partial to Honda's but all the bike makers have decent models. You will probably be on something much lighter for the MSF course - which you should do - and after that it really is a matter of getting enough un-hurried experience to handle the weight of something bigger.
My 750 Shadow really doesn't feel much heavier than my 125 that I had years ago - until you have a passenger on the back, or go to put it on the center-stand.
Look through the Craigslist or Kijiji (or your local equivalent) for a few weeks and you will get a feel for what is out there and for how much. I spent 4 months looking for my last purchase (the Shadow 750) and when I saw it I knew what a good deal it was because I spent the time. In that case I had picked out the model and year range already. But it's winter so you do have the time to sift through things a bit. Also, do you have a friend that rides? I had several who I considered more knowledgeable on bikes and I got them to come look at bikes with me whenever I could. They sometimes see things you don't. ( I am assuming you will be buying used)
As mentioned above, if you are planning to move up after a bit of riding, the Rebel would be an excellent starter bike. And definitely more forgiving for those awkward learning curve moments. And available a lot cheaper. If you want to just jump in I agree with blues2cruise, the Yamaha 650 is a great bike, considering it's not made by Honda (just kidding lady blues). If you can find one, Honda made a Shadow 500 in the 80's that is the same styling as my 750. While it's not likely to have low km's they are way simpler to maintain than a lot of later model bikes. But keep looking - I found an 84 Honda 750 with 6300km (4000miles) on the clock! Now to be honest I did have to replace the gas tanks, but that was really about it.
Enjoy the adventure! Keep us posted on what you choose.
My 750 Shadow really doesn't feel much heavier than my 125 that I had years ago - until you have a passenger on the back, or go to put it on the center-stand.
Look through the Craigslist or Kijiji (or your local equivalent) for a few weeks and you will get a feel for what is out there and for how much. I spent 4 months looking for my last purchase (the Shadow 750) and when I saw it I knew what a good deal it was because I spent the time. In that case I had picked out the model and year range already. But it's winter so you do have the time to sift through things a bit. Also, do you have a friend that rides? I had several who I considered more knowledgeable on bikes and I got them to come look at bikes with me whenever I could. They sometimes see things you don't. ( I am assuming you will be buying used)
As mentioned above, if you are planning to move up after a bit of riding, the Rebel would be an excellent starter bike. And definitely more forgiving for those awkward learning curve moments. And available a lot cheaper. If you want to just jump in I agree with blues2cruise, the Yamaha 650 is a great bike, considering it's not made by Honda (just kidding lady blues). If you can find one, Honda made a Shadow 500 in the 80's that is the same styling as my 750. While it's not likely to have low km's they are way simpler to maintain than a lot of later model bikes. But keep looking - I found an 84 Honda 750 with 6300km (4000miles) on the clock! Now to be honest I did have to replace the gas tanks, but that was really about it.
Enjoy the adventure! Keep us posted on what you choose.