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Posted: **Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:06 pm**

This post is for nobody in particular, only those who identify with being "a big dude".

At my heaviest I was 245lbs. Got back into cycling, commuting to work and school and got down to 190. Then started going to the gym to lift weights, and now weigh 220, but still fit into 36inch waist jeans. This has been over 8 years.

If any of you start doing regular, small trips by bicycle the pounds will MELT off. And if you pack some muscle on, and eat lean protein/complex carbs (not refined sugars, or bleached flours) you can maintain a larger frame. Stretch, drink lots of water, cut down on alcohol, ride bikes, get fit.

Then get a sweet new leather jacket, some kick-a$$ draggin jeans, and a new helmet, and practice posing!

You look good!

Posted: **Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:26 pm**

flw wrote:
ofblong wrote:
flw wrote:
zenman wrote: So my 2 cents is go with a cruiser with at least 500 cc's but not over 750 and at least 5 gears. Warning Honda has a shadow 600 (cc's) that has only 4 gears and stuggles with anyone to be on the highway due to gearing, not the power or size of rider. Otherwise nice bike.

I'll have to disagree. People use 250cc rebels all the time on the highway... and theres been a few ninja 250's that compete yearly at the iron butt stuff too. They are plenty fine... one of my msf instructors has a FJR1300, but also bought a 125cc (suzuki intruder I think it is) and he takes that thing on the highway all the time too btw.

Im sorry but im 5'8" (was 212 but im down to 194 now) and I have the 4 speed and cruise at 95mph on the highway with no issues whatsoever. The bike does over 100mph with me on it (speedo only shows 105). I dont know where you heard it struggles but it definatly does not struggle. You may "think" it struggles because of the sound but thats because it doesnt have a 5th cruising gear. thats all 5th gear is a cruising gear.

Cool.

What I said came directly from a dealer. Honda of Rockford (Illinois). Most dealers won't downgrade there own bikes. Yet I believe you if you have one and its not on the virge of destruction at those speeds.

If they think they can get you sold on a larger, more expensive and profitable bike... they don't care what they say. And even more so if they don't really know anything about bikes, if its the case.

As far as the purpose of 5th gear, it depends on the type of bike its made for. Dirt or sport bikes don't use 5th gear to cruise, where touring or cruisers do.

Nope, I don't use 5th gear... I use 6th gear, even if it is just a sporty standard bike. In my other dirt bikes, 5th gear got alot of use if I was cruising the vast desert trails... off the trails it was usually 3rd gear... heavy terrain second gear. 4 gears for a cruiser isn't bad at all.

Posted: **Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:06 pm**

zenman wrote:I'm 260 lbs and 5'11" (don't know my inseam). What would be a good starter bike for me? Would it make a difference?

I bought a Suzuki M50 (C50, S50, Intruder, Volusia are all similar to this bike as far as this post is concerned, all cruisers of one sort or another) And I played around a bit in a parking lot, with my permit. I was a bit scared.

I took the MSF and rode a Suzuki G(z or s?) 250, basically the suzuki version of a rebel.

I weight 300lbs. I'm 6'3". It worked, but it wasn't happy about it, lemme tell you. But I did learn how to ride, and it helped me to learn in a way that a bigger bike may not have, confidence inspiring is probably a good way to say it.

But after only 400 miles on my own bike, on a straight road I've worked up to the point where the power put out by an 800cc cruiser is tame to me. Oh there's still PLENTY of riding left in it for me, and PLENTY more I *need* to learn, but a smaller cruiser would leave me BORED.

Now, you start talking standards/sport/touring/dual sport/supermoto etc and it's a WHOLE 'nother ball o' wax indeed.

\/\/

Posted: **Mon Apr 09, 2007 3:19 am**

zenman wrote:I'm 260 lbs and 5'11" (don't know my inseam). What would be a good starter bike for me? Would it make a difference?

How about a "FAT BOY".

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