Midlife Crisis Bike...

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JediNut · #1 Unread post by **JediNut** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:24 am

Well, I am admitting that this is totally a midlife crisis thing, but I am doing it anyway.

I have never ridden a bike before (unless you count a Honda minibike 25 years ago), but I'm gonna start. I have signed up for the local MSF course and will be a total fair weather rider!

I am 6'4" and weigh in at about 230lbs.

I (like all midlife crisis victims) want a cruiser. I *really* like the Victory Vegas and Kingpin, but I think they might be a bit too much for me to handle at first.

What would be the best cruiser for me to start out with?

Thanks!

camthepyro · Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:05 am

Haha, you remind me of my father. After I got my bike, he's been wanting to learn to ride, but his wife absolutely will not let him, too bad, it would have been fun to ride with him.

Dash Riproc · Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:07 am

Welcome...I think I got an early jump on my mid-life crisis: I'm 39 and got my first street bike just a few weeks ago

Actually, I wanted to ride all my life and just now finally pulled the trigger. Nice choice, those Victory's are. You sound like you have some size to you, but IMHO, nothing in the Victory line is anywhere NEAR a starter bike, no matter your age.

Take the MSF course and sit on every bike you can find. I too would like to someday straddle a Victory, but my first bike ('93 Honda Nighthawk 750) that I'm currently riding feels so perfect, I may never get rid of it.

Often what you think you may want, and what you come to desire and eventually purchase, are two different things...let the feelings flow through you and count nothing out.

Check out the new Boulevard line from Suzuki, or the V-Star's from Yamaha. Both have their strong points. Go in with your eyes open and look around for a used one.

All the different m/c makes are too many to list...sit on as many as you can find and keep your wallet closed for as long as you can.

Again, this is free advice...and it's worth what you pay for it.

Try not to rush...the roads aren't going anywhere...

JediNut · #4 Unread post by **JediNut** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:15 am

Dash Riproc wrote:Welcome...I think I got an early jump on my mid-life crisis: I'm 39 and got my first street bike just a few weeks ago

Check out the new Boulevard line from Suzuki, or the V-Star's from Yamaha. Both have their strong points. Go in with your eyes open and look around for a used one.

I'm only a few years behind you (I turn 45 this year).

I had heard the V-Star's are decent "starter bikes"...and they look nice too!

I really had my mind set on a Victory, but I have talked myself out of it...at least as a starter!

#5 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:15 am

Grab up a nice late 80's or early 90's UJM, something between 500 and 750cc's, for around $3,000. Ride that around this season and get used to everything. Then, about this time next year, advertise that bike in Cycle Trader and move up to the Victory you've been eyeballing.

#6 Unread post by **yoda731** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:05 am

Take some advice from Yoda, young Jedi.

Sorry, couldn't resist that. Its total BS, as I am a total newbie (no riding experience at all) in the midst of MSF (finish up this weekend). Just thought it was funny that you are JediNut and I am yoda731.

Anyways, building on what ZooTech just said, I consulted the gurus in this forum, and found an 80's UJM on cycletrader.com in good running condition. I am enjoying tinkering with it and riding in parking lots to get my confidence up.

My friends that ride told me to go in with this attitude-- its not if I will drop it or lay it down, its WHEN I will drop it or lay it down. With that in mind, I opted to go with the cheap used as my learner and (gasp) beater bike. Its 500cc, but it is DEFINITELY enough power to learn on (I am 6'0 and weigh 245 lbs). It still startles the sh** out of me when I throttle on a little more than I intended and the bike drops and rockets forward, so I am glad I did not get into a 650 or 700 or similar this early on.

Hope that helps.
JC

#7 Unread post by **Kal** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:11 am

ZooTech wrote:Grab up a nice late 80's or early 90's UJM, something between 500 and 750cc's, for around $3,000. Ride that around this season and get used to everything. Then, about this time next year, advertise that bike in Cycle Trader and move up to the Victory you've been eyeballing.

We agree? This is truely the end of days...

The Grinch · Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:25 am

I (like all midlife crisis victims) want a cruiser.

Speak for yourself. I got a sportbike for my mid-life crisis.

VermilionX · Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:31 am

#10 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:40 am

yoda731 wrote:My friends that ride told me to go in with this attitude-- its not if I will drop it or lay it down, its WHEN I will drop it or lay it down.

If I may....that is a HORRIBLE attitude to have going in, in my opinion. It is a popular mindset, but not at all helpful. You're setting yourself up for failure. You can and probably should buy a beater to start on with the understanding that you are more prone to making mistakes early on, but you should never go into it with the understanding that you will fall. With that concept eating at the back of your mind, you will almost want to wreck just to get it over with.

Kal wrote:We agree? This is truely the end of days...

I would just hate to see a hella nice Kingpin all banged up! I hear they handle great, and I think the power is manageable, but I wouldn't run right out and buy one to fulfill a midlife crisis.