Need help deciding on a bike (yes i am a newb)

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Kaige · #11 Unread post by **Kaige** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:54 pm

I dunno much about the V Star, but I like my Spirit 750

It is also my first bike.

flynrider · Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:01 am

It takes a lot of abuse to overheat an air cooled engine, but it can be done. Here in Phoenix, when the official temp tops 100 degrees, it's actually about 130 degrees in the sun, near the pavement. If you ride an air cooled bike in heavy stop and go traffic, it will overheat. The first sign on my Nighthawk is a drop in the normally rock-steady idle.

Several years ago I took the Nighthawk for it's emissions test. The battery was low, so I couldn't risk shutting the bike off while waiting in the long line. After about 10 min. the idle started to go down. When I got to the head of the line after 20 min., the bike wouldn't pass the emissions test. It was just too hot. A few weeks later, I took it back for a re-test and shut it down while waiting in line. It passed with almost zero emission output.

I wish Honda and other manufacturers would spend the few bucks to put an oil temp gauge on their air cooled engines. It would be well worth it for us desert dwellers.

redbar1 · #13 Unread post by **redbar1** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:34 am

I have a question about HP and torque. The manufacturers all boast about great low-end torque. However, no one, other than Buell, seems to list HP and torque. Is there somewhere I can look to get that information, e.g., dyno charts for various bikes? TMW's site is still incomplete.

Being a newbie looking for his first bike, I feel the more information the better.

Thanks for any insight or suggestions.

VermilionX · Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:01 am

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/Suzuki/2005/GSX-R%201000/

most bikes on that site have their HP and torque listed.

they only have the '05 model for my bike, but since the '05 and '06 have the same specs. i was still able to have an idea of how much HP and torque my bike has.

redbar1 · #15 Unread post by **redbar1** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:58 pm

I am another newbie beating his head against the wall deciding what bike to get. Now, I am attracted to Kawasaki's Vulcan 500 LTD for a first bike. What do people have to say about it?

#16 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 3:05 pm

It's a great bike, you only need to post in one place though

jackM50black · Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:15 pm

I read a really good review of the Kawasaki Vulcan ES 500 (I hope I got that right). It's a cruiser bike, and was considered by a magazine review a year to two years ago to be the best beginner bike. Only its not just good for a beginner bike, its a good bike period and some folks end up keeping it for quite a while. A friend has the V-Star 650 and that is also a tried and true bike that is not overwhelming for a beginning rider. I bought the Suzuki Boulevard M-50 as my first bike almost a year ago. In comparison to the V Star 650, my M50 is more powerful in all respects, but then again it should be for an 805cc bike. Good luck and take it easy.

jackM50black · Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:16 pm

I read a really good review of the Kawasaki Vulcan ES 500 (I hope I got that right). It's a cruiser bike, and was considered by a magazine review a year to two years ago to be the best beginner bike. Only its not just good for a beginner bike, its a good bike period and some folks end up keeping it for quite a while. A friend has the V-Star 650 and that is also a tried and true bike that is not overwhelming for a beginning rider. I bought the Suzuki Boulevard M-50 as my first bike almost a year ago. In comparison to the V Star 650, my M50 is more powerful in all respects, but then again it should be for an 805cc bike. Good luck and take it easy.

#19 Unread post by **Kal** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:40 am

I've part one of an autobiography around here somewhere by Merlin Marshall. He isnt famous, but his boss during the war was Ian Fleming.

Anyways. Merlin took an air-cooled sidecar outfit across the Sahara in the late twenties/early thirties. A few years later the German army did the same thing.

canuckerjay · Wed Feb 15, 2006 2:38 am

I have a V-star 1100 in my basement. Haven't ridden it since I bought it in January. From what I've read, that engine is pretty much bulletproof. However, you also can't go wrong with a Honda engine, either. I've never owned a liquid cooled bike, and have never had an issue with air cooled, either. Like desert dweller said, depends on where you live and if you're in traffic all day. Personally, I'd never want to ride a bike in heavy traffic all the time, anyway.