jonnythan wrote:You guys are laughing, which is understandable, but I want to make it clear that I think this is no laughing matter and I did not intend the clip to be humorous.
I meant it to be sobering. The clip wouldn't have been funny if the guy went into the road like that and hit a moving car, or hit a brick wall and broke several bones, or if he went face first into the window. It wouldn't be funny if the daughter of the OP did that, wrecked her bike, and ended up in a coma.
Yeah I'm sorry, I know you were trying to teach a lesson.
It's clips like this that keep me off a 600 cc motorcycle. Even though my friends keep digging into me to get one *sigh*
Okay. I'm just 5'9" tall, but I've got a 34" inseam. (I'm blond also, if that makes any difference - )
Height alone isn't so much the important part of bike fit. It is proportions. I'm shorter of body, but long limbed. I need leg room, but have to pay attention to the distance between seat and handgrips. Reaching/bending to far forward is uncomfortable.
It sounds like your daughter might fit well on a dual sport bike, such as a V-Strom by Suzuki. Though of course they are NOT generally accepted as a part of the biker scene.
My Rockster has a 33+ inch seat height. I LOVE it! But it can be a challenge to manage on a soft surface. If I'm parking or moving slowly.
P
Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity - Alice Paul
However now at 26 I love my mother very much and I also love her enough to not tell her I'm getting a motorcycle right now. If not ever, I don't want her to worry at all.
Thank you for your openness. I'm glad you had a change of heart and mind towards your parents. We're all learning, parents and children alike.
An important part in family relationship is that parents will admit to their children, that they also make mistakes (and sometimes big ones). If we are not learning anything from our experiences, our life is just a waste of time. OOps, I'm getting into psychology now.....
I believe things will be OK, even if she has the bike. It may be in her garage for a long time. She let me know that she understood my concern, and that she will pay attention to it. She realizes now the danger of riding that bike and to first take the MSC before even dare to ride it.
Our son, police officer, has a Honda 1200, I think, and of course he would love to ride the V-star 1100, paid for by his sister. He didn't give her much warning about it, because he sees a challenge in riding it himself (this is my interpretation).
Overall I think, together with you "bikers", I have accomplished a great deal, and I'm greatful for that.
I will let you know her reaction once she's gets the machine home.
I've had my Vstar 1100 for 3 years now, and it comes stock with 52hp.
For reference, the 650 version comes with 41hp.
The 1100 weighs in at just over 600lbs. wet.
As for it being a decent starter bike, it can be (before you flame me, read on). I rode for 3 seasons, then was away from 2 wheels for 10 years. Then I bought the 1100.
There was a bit of a learning curve, but I treated the bike with respect and did not push it to its potential while I was regaining my skills. Looking back on when I was first licensed, and honestly evaluating my skills then and how I treated my first bike (with similar levels of respect); the answer is yes, the 1100 would have been a decent 1st bike for me.
This is not the answer for everybody. My buddy has just finished his MSF course, and has bought a new C50, a similar ride, with a bit smaller engine and lighter in weight. He is having a rather difficult time with it. I would say he'd have an even tougher go of it if he was on my ride.
Having said all that, this daughter of yours has a dangerous attitude. I would submit that (and this comes from only what's been written here) this would not be a good first bike for HER, as it can be a bit unnerving in certain situations, and if someone is not treating it with respect, it can grow to an unstable situation.
This bike is not the most stable thing at slow speeds. As a matter of fact, compared to other cruisers I've ridden, it handles like a pig at slow speeds and it takes a lot of skill to maneuver it slowly. While smooth in the curves, it is not smooth when taking a sharp turn at an intersection.
More info?
Tell your daughter to go to delphiforums.com and register as a user.
Then she should search their forums for "v-star 1100 riders".
There, she will find people who are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their V-stars.
She might want to look at another forum that is there. Tell her to search for "v-star 650 riders". Many people start on the 650s. Many of them sell them within a couple years because they desire more power. But again, your daughter sounds like a person who SHOULD start smaller.
Well..... Our daughter got her Vstar 1100. She and our son brought it home on the truck and it is now standing in her garage.
She called me and said: "Mom, it's a BEAUTY."
We saw the bike, and it is indeed beautiful. But I prefer my Yamaha Majesty.
Whatever drove her to buy that machine... I can only guess. The insurance is sky high, which she didn't check out in advance either. She will take the safety course in spring 2008. So, who knows what will happen to the Vstar between now and then.
Tell your daughter to go to delphiforums.com and register as a user.
Then she should search their forums for "v-star 1100 riders".
Thank you for your advice canuckerjay. I will pass on the delphiforum.
A Great-Grandma scooter enthusiast.
Last edited by Gui on Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Gui wrote:Whatever drove her to by that machine... I can only guess. The insurance is sky high, which she didn't check out in advance either. She will take the safety course in spring 2008. So, who knows what will happen to the Vstar between now and then.
Well, if she's not going to ride it until then, she should drain the fuel tank and the carbs. If not that, at least put fuel stabilizer in the tank and start the bike up to run the stabilizer through the carbs. And buy a Battery Tender and hook it up to the battery.
Well, if she's not going to ride it until then, she should drain the fuel tank and the carbs. If not that, at least put fuel stabilizer in the tank and start the bike up to run the stabilizer through the carbs. And buy a Battery Tender and hook it up to the battery.
I will give her these information, athough I think her brother, Amsoil dealer/Police officer/Honda 1300 rider, will remind her as well.
Gui wrote:Whatever drove her to by that machine... I can only guess. The insurance is sky high, which she didn't check out in advance either. She will take the safety course in spring 2008. So, who knows what will happen to the Vstar between now and then.
Well, if she's not going to ride it until then, she should drain the fuel tank and the carbs. If not that, at least put fuel stabilizer in the tank and start the bike up to run the stabilizer through the carbs. And buy a Battery Tender and hook it up to the battery.
Draining the tank is a good way to get it to rust out.
She should fill the tank, put some Stabil fuel stabilizer in, let it run with the Stabil in for about 5-10 minutes (so that the stabilized fuel can get circulated into the carbs or fuel injectors), and then store it somewhere safe and out of the elements. With a cover on it.
She should fill the tank, put some Stabil fuel stabilizer in, let it run with the Stabil in for about 5-10 minutes (so that the stabilized fuel can get circulated into the carbs or fuel injectors), and then store it somewhere safe and out of the elements. With a cover on it.
We're here in the "cold" zone of Canada. Snow may fly here as early as October and still may hit the ground in April.
As you can figure out our riding "fun" is short but sweet, at the most 6 months!!!
My manual recommends to fill up the tank and use Stabilizer. Perhaps she should consult the local Yamaha dealer.
)
(this is my interpretation).
Our daughter got her Vstar 1100. She and our son brought it home on the truck and it is now standing in her garage.
