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For my first bike (after many years without one) I've narrowed it down to a Yamaha V Star 650, Honda Shadow Aero 750, Honda Shadow Spirit 750, and Suzuki 800 Boulevard M50. Price is not a factor as the differences are only in the $ 500 range.

After reading numerous reviews, rider comments, specs & features of each bike, I visited a dealer yestarday and left more confused that ever. The most confortable (for me) was the Honda Aero 750 as it had the lowest seat and at 5 ft 5 1/2 in, I could plant my feet solidly on the floor with my knees slightly bent. The Suzuki M50 (was my slight preference before the visit- I really like the chopped rear fender, fuel injection & shaft drive), seemed to have the highest seat; I could still reach the floor, but without my knees bent. I'm concerned that the 650 V Star won't have enough power to climb mountain passes with my wife on the back. The Honda Shadow Spirit won't have shaft drive (at least in Canada) until sometime next year according to an internet article.

I'd appreciate any comments/recommendations for my next bike purchase.

welcome aboard. Try the Suzuki C-50. Same engine as the M-50 but different riding position and seat height. It's more like the Aero & V-Star anyways. Good Luck.

Have you looked at a Kawasaki Vulcan 900?

I think you are right about the 650 V-Star. I have one and although it has plenty of power, it would have a hard time with an extra person on mountain roads.

If you can get up to speed before you start the climb it will maintain the speed. But if you lose rpm's on the hill...because of getting stuck behind a slow moving vehicle, it really struggles to get the rpm's back up.

I checked out the specs for the Suzuki C50 and the seat height & weight are the same as the M50; the dealer didn't have any C50's on the floor. I'll check out the Vulcan 900 which has a seat height listed at 26.77 inches, almost identical to the Honda Shadow Spirit. I'm not too sure if I want a bike that weighs in at 557.77 lbs however. The Suzuki M50 at 540 lbs seems a little heavy for me. I don't weigh much more than 150 lbs and I question how much weight I should take on as far as a bike is concerned. How do you figure that out?

If it were me i would go with the most comfortable.

The aeros fit me like they were designed around me. how i sit is exactly how those bikes are set up.

I have a friend who has and rides both a 900 and 1500 vulcan. shes ~120... the 1500 is 644lbs. she handles it well. Really though the weight on a well made bike should only be a burden when you're either picking it up, or at a stop. At which point unless you're doing a caveman impression, All of em are gonna be heavy.

Wasn't there a video with either a kid, or a small woman picking up like a goldwing?

Good luck and hope you enjoy what you pick

I'd get whatever you're more comfortable with. It makes no difference what the specs are, if you don't like riding it then why bother?

the Spirit is what i ride. i like the way it looks and the shaft drive is about the only sticking point but the chain upkeep isn't a real hard thing even for those of us who aren't all that mechanical.

Any of the bikes you listed would be good, i'm partial to Honda so i'd say get the Aero since it seems to fit you well and it's still a nice bike.

Some people will tell you that the 750s are weak two up in the mountains but i run mine with a passenger all the time and it works well for me.

I would also recommend taking a Basic Riders Course, since it's a good refresher especially for those who have been away from riding and maybe taught themselves.

you say you used to ride so don't limit yourself to the 750s. Depending on what kind of previous experience you had an 1100 or 1300 isn't out of the question, especially if you take a riding course.

I would personally choose the Aero or the Vulcan 900. The M50 isn't as good for passengers from what I hear. The Shadow Spirit 750 is horrible for passengers over 5 ft tall... the pegs are just too high.

If you can swing it, the Shadow Spirit 1100 would actually be an ideal choice. I dont know about the seat height for you, but the 1100 only has about 10 more horsepower than the 750, but it has more torque (~60hp and ~70ft-lbs of torque, which is better for riding 2-up). It also has hydraulic valves, shaft drive, and is very very reliable. You can probably get a used one for a good price too.

DivideOverflow wrote:The Shadow Spirit 750 is horrible for passengers over 5 ft tall... the pegs are just too high.

that's not entirely true, my fiance rides on the back of my spirit and while it's not like sitting in a gold wing, it still fits her fine and she's more like 5'6". some folks might hate it, some might like it.

..to the OP, take your wife with you and have her sit in the passnger spot and see how she feels on the bikes too, that might make your decision easier.

Like you, I was in the same confusion and I checked too in internet and all about th Honda Shadow 750, the Kawasaki Star Clasicc 650 and the Suzuki M50, all of them in the same price range.

No one of the dealers in my city had the bikes in stock, so I didn´t seat on them. I choose the M50 because his style, power (800cc), liquid cooled, fuel injection and shaft drive.

If you have the chance of seat in each one, hear his motor, look his style, not only in photo, and maybe a small ride, you have a will a better point to choose than me.

I think that on the paper, (price, hp, liquid, shaft) M50 is the best choice.....

However, the best choice is in your hands, and after you decide, it will be the best.....

I hope you´ll be happy with your desicion....