Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Anything over 500cc's should get you there....

No offence, but riding is more about 'getting there'; or we'd all be driving Yugo's (wait; they won't get us there) or Smart cars.

Find a bike that you're happy with now in terms of looks, comfort and power; as well as one that will make you happy for the duration of your ownership (some plan to own a bike for 10 years, others for 2 years).

canuckerjay wrote:No offence, but riding is more about 'getting there'; or we'd all be driving Yugo's (wait; they won't get us there) or Smart cars.

Find a bike that you're happy with now in terms of looks, comfort and power; as well as one that will make you happy for the duration of your ownership (some plan to own a bike for 10 years, others for 2 years).

canuckerjay- Only slight offence taken....I think I can qualify as a person who rides for more than "just getting there"- I've been on the road for25+ years.......

Anyhow, I didn't mean it that way. What I meant was "500cc will be enough to do what you want to do"....

I'm new to this group and wanted to relate my recent experience with both research on the WEB and my recent jaunt spent at a few of the local (Phoenix, AZ) dealers.

A little about myself that will perhaps put a few things in context. I am nearing 40, am 6'4, 230 lbs. w/ a 36'' inseam. I have a huge interest in the cruisers. My bike riding will not be day to day riding within the city limits but rather rides up North to Flagstaff and other areas of Northern Arizona. The elevation in Northern Arizona is anywhere between 7k-12k, whereas in Phoenix its about 1250 ft.

Following everyone's advice I will be taking the MSF course in two weeks.

My opinion of the information found on the WEB is oxymoronic. Beginners really rely upon the more experienced riders to provide good advice. One person says "...a 250cc bike is exactly what a newbie needs..." while another person says "...get whatever feels comfortable...". I've found WEB sites that attempt to list good bikes for beginners, typically in the 250-500cc range. Well, my recent visit to the dealers contradicts this statement. What is a well intentioned beginner to do?

Now, let me first say I, by no means, trust most salespersons. Cycle dealers are no different than car dealers, vacuum dealers, or any other kind of dealer. They work for a commercial entity whose main goal is the bottom line. When I went into three separate dealers this past week (two of which were owned by the same company) all immediately pointed me upwards to the bigger bikes. Once I was done explaining my skill level and interest ( i.e. a smaller cc bike per everyone's advice ) all of them told me that I would be back in the shop within a very short period of time wanting to upgrade. Why? My physical size and the size of the bike that I was interested in.

Let me first theorize the latter argument. I theorize, that for a lot of people, or at least the people that shop at these dealers, that no matter what size bike you get you soon begin to realize that what you purchased is not adequate and perhaps should have gone bigger. Perhaps that is the culture here in Phoenix, a male thing, I don't know. Or perhaps its the fact that a lot of bikers like to go up North and struggle with the higher altitudes on lower cc bikes. The hills in Northern Arizona bring 18 wheelers to their knees. So I suspect that these bikers are looking for more torque. According to the salespeople that I spoke with they all said the same thing, "...you can never have enough Cruiser...". One salesperson told me not be to afraid of the bigger bikes, but rather respect them.

As for the former argument, my physical size. I am by no means the size of a refrigerator, but I am larger than the average man and do have long legs. When I sat down on the 800cc bikes, they felt okay. When I sat down on the 1100-1800cc bikes they felt much better. In fact, the bigger the bike the more comfortable I felt. I believe that it had to do with the frame size. On the 800cc bikes the frames tend to be smaller and didn't fit me well.

On one hand I'm really apprehensive to look at the bigger bikes because everyone tends to steer beginners away from them. However, on the other hand, the bigger bikes felt more natural and comfortable. After all what is more important when choosing a bike, comfort, or a size that everyone deems more appropriate for a beginner.

Having lived in Arizona and having visited those very places (Flagstaff, etc.) I agree that combined with your stature your choice of bike should be a bit larger than most would steer you towards. While true that most salesmen are lying scumbags interested only in the bottom line, you have to wonder then why they don't just sell you a small bike and then wait three months to sell you a bigger one, too. By doing so, they'll make two commissions instead of one. I had a salesperson here in Central Ohio steer me away from a Ninja 250 and I'm glad he did. I was just wanting to buy new like a lot of us do and the 250 was the only new bike I could afford. He told me I'd be stuck with a payment on a bike I no longer felt happy on and would probably take a huge hit trading it in on something bigger. He was right, and I took his advice as pure honesty and not as a means to sell me a more expensive bike because I explained my finances to him beforehand yet he talked me out of the 250 anyway, causing a loss of business for him.

Another thing to remember is that cruisers are different than standards and sportbikes. Their displacement is disproportionate to their power. A 1000cc sportbike is pretty big, but a 1000cc cruiser is not. My brother-in-law has a V-Star 1100 Classic with a Big Air kit and slipons yet its power is nothing a newbie rider couldn't manage. It is powerful, but you have to make a conscious effort to make it go fast. In addition, it's also really easy to handle. It's well-balanced and quite comfortable, affording the rider with great control and plenty of leg room.

In the end, whatever bike you choose will feel a lot different out in traffic than it does on a carpeted showroom. However, don't be frightened off from midsized cruisers by the "small bikes for newbies" crowd. First and foremost, pick a bike that you can flat-foot and easily hold up. Then take into consideration your tastes and style. Then factor in your budget and I'm sure you'll end up with just the right bike...for a couple of years at least!

Let me ask you this- Would you rather wrestle with a 350 pound elk or a 850 pound bear?

I would suggest, for a guy your size a dual purpose bike that is used as a good beginners bike- 250cc-650cc, or a middleweight cruiser.
My brother has an old Kaw KLR 250 and ride the crap out of it, he weighs around 230-240. He doesn't do a lot of off roading with it though.

I would never recommend a new bike for a beginner, ever.

just thought i'd throw in my 2cents....i used to sell cars for a short stint last year (knew the owner, he gave me a job, but i realized i'm not a scumbag....i like to feel i really helped out a lot of folks when i was selling cars...anyway...) BUT my point is this. not all dealers pay commissions the same. i'm sure some pay "the more the bike costs, the more money you make" but some also pay "the more you sell for over 'invoice', the more you make (salesperson gets a percentage of that amount)". for instance, selling a new, 800cc bike, invoicing for 8 grand for 8500...thats only 500 dollars commissionable....SO my point being, not all salesman are jerks or dishonest (i wasn't) and how they get paid can vary. so in my previous example, it may be more beneficial for the salesman to sell you a used, 250cc, that the dealership owns (invoice) for 2 grand but you buy for 3 grand ($1000 commisionable vs $500)....to bad buying things at a fair price takes so much effort, i'd rather be riding than haggling with a salesperson!

I have read this post from top to bottom. Big man, needs a big bike, my call would be the GS1200 BMW. That boxer motor would be easy to handle and the bike itself is very very sweet and kind to newbies. If you take the MSF then this would be an option.

I have to add something here for the "non-newbies".... A lot of you keep suggesting big bikes for the newbie, just because they are large in size or weight.

Don't any of you remember the first time you got on a bike? Do you really think it's a good idea for a rank beginner to get on a 1200-1600cc bike as their first bike? Weight and power alone could overwhelm even a big guy.

Not everyone is a natural, or even a "fair" rider, and suggesting a large, powerful bike (no matter how "forgiving" you think it is) for a new rider is just plain silly...in my opinion.

I've seen people (full sized adults) get on a 50cc scooter, with an automatic trans, hit the gas and panic. Then from there it was all over but the shouting.

Can you imagine a newb getting on a big boxer or a 1600cc power cruiser and dropping it the first time they hit the front brakes too hard in a little gravel?

Do you guys really think it's a good idea for a beginner to get a new or large bike for their first bike?

All I'm saying here is at least get a few hours on a small used bike, with some really good rider(s) to instruct you, then go and find a big expensive bike when you are sure you aren't going to drop it, or worse yet, loose it in a corner, or panic situation.

Even some riders with a little dirt time find the power/weight of a big streetbike overwhelming at first.

Think about it, would you REALLY turn your own child or best friend loose on something like you guys have been suggesting?

Alright, let me have it, I've got my nomex suit on.....