Big MN Man Small Bike
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- Tricycle Squid
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- Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:47 pm
- Sex: Male
- Location: Duluth, MN
Big MN Man Small Bike
Hey there, I just wanted to say hello . I'm new to the site and a relativly new rider. I heve always loved bikes, (all bikes) I have never been one of the people who can't appreciate a ride because it's not a Harley Though I do love Harleys' to. Anyway Right now I Ride an 89 kawasaki 454 ltd en.
Most people laugh when I tell them this because I tip the scales at about 350lbs. I have ridden sevral diffrent bikes. but this is the first one I have owned. Now this wouldn't have been my fist choice but I kind of fell into it
so our journey bagan and I'de be lying of I said I havn't loved every second of it.
Most people laugh when I tell them this because I tip the scales at about 350lbs. I have ridden sevral diffrent bikes. but this is the first one I have owned. Now this wouldn't have been my fist choice but I kind of fell into it
so our journey bagan and I'de be lying of I said I havn't loved every second of it.
- Social Distortion
- Legendary 300
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- Sex: Male
- My Motorcycle: 2004 triumph thruxton
- Location: Chicago
welcome abord!
my 1st MC that i purchased was an 85 honda nighthawk cb650sc.
Loved it and though it felt right, when i had my photo taken of me on my MC, i looked XXL!
Regardless, i miss the nighthawk-
stay safe and enjoy riding!
Nothing is better than riding a motorcycle that you really like!
my 1st MC that i purchased was an 85 honda nighthawk cb650sc.
Loved it and though it felt right, when i had my photo taken of me on my MC, i looked XXL!
Regardless, i miss the nighthawk-
stay safe and enjoy riding!
Nothing is better than riding a motorcycle that you really like!
"Born to Lose and Destined to Fail"
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- Elite
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Do what you Like
I gotta admit, I think it sounds like you're too big for the bike, but thats just me. I've had a couple guys in my club say that my bike was too small for me too, but I know they'e wrong. I'm 6'2, 195 lbs on my M50 (805cc), yet I know guys who are short and skinny who are riding Honda VTX 1800's, and believe me they are on tiptoes with a big bike. So really, just ride what you like,......I do. 

- Fast Eddy B
- Legendary 500
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- safety-boy
- Legendary 300
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I had an '86 454. It is a good bike.
You might check out the 454 forum at http://www.thegreatwhiteknight.com/ - lots of good info there from other 454 riders.
Your weight is probably not much of a problem. Me and the wife rode 2-up on her Ninja 500-R, which is basically the same engine, and probably hot your weight mark - probably pass it. You might be close to standard load tire pressure, so take a look there - left rear fork should have the pressure stats.
Two things I remember about the 454 you might want to know... I called mine "Lucy", becase the back end likes to slide when hard on the rear brake. Also, braking issue, because the front forks are so long, in a hard stop I had a problem where the forks twisted and the bike high-sided. When I got it up, the forks were about 15 degrees out of alignment. Part of that might be from the drop, but they definitely twisted before hand. Don't be discouraged, it is just something to know might be an issue.
--Dave
You might check out the 454 forum at http://www.thegreatwhiteknight.com/ - lots of good info there from other 454 riders.
Your weight is probably not much of a problem. Me and the wife rode 2-up on her Ninja 500-R, which is basically the same engine, and probably hot your weight mark - probably pass it. You might be close to standard load tire pressure, so take a look there - left rear fork should have the pressure stats.
Two things I remember about the 454 you might want to know... I called mine "Lucy", becase the back end likes to slide when hard on the rear brake. Also, braking issue, because the front forks are so long, in a hard stop I had a problem where the forks twisted and the bike high-sided. When I got it up, the forks were about 15 degrees out of alignment. Part of that might be from the drop, but they definitely twisted before hand. Don't be discouraged, it is just something to know might be an issue.
--Dave
Don't think of it as a stop light. Think of it as a chance-to-show-off light.
Vulcan 900 Classic LT (2007)
Ninja ZX-6R (2006)
Ninja 500-R (2004)
454 Ltd. (1986)
Boulevard S-40 (2005)
Vulcan 900 Classic LT (2007)
Ninja ZX-6R (2006)
Ninja 500-R (2004)
454 Ltd. (1986)
Boulevard S-40 (2005)
- Apollofrost
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