Total Motorcycle Community Forums

hey all. im new here and a new rider. just got my license today. took the saftey course last summer and have been lurkin' ever since.

so i now need a bike. thinking used for a few reasons. I like the mid-weight cruiser style. prefer Japanese for reliability and good price point. I'm 6'2 190 lbs. longish legs.

read a lot about vstars, suzuki boulevards, honda shadows and others.

i have a line on a used '02 Honda Shadow Spirit 750. about 1,600 miles. never dropped. bone stock. garage kept. owner may be the 2nd owner though. i have to double check. he's a retired gentleman. he's asking only $3750 which seems very cheap from my research. I am thinking of going to see it tomorrow.

any tips?? the price is right for my budget. but may be too good to be true. i wish i had someone i could take with me to go check it out.

thanks in advance.
Hal

to the Total Motorcycle family Hal!

That is a very good price for the bike, while I like to see new riders on less than a 600cc cruiser, if you did very well on your safety course and feel fine about a 750cc, then it would be ok. When you go see it don't be concerned about the price first, since it's your first bike you'll want to feel "comfortable" on it, with it's weight, it's layout, ect. If it's comfortable I wouldn't recommend a test ride, just ask him to ride it to your garage/home, etc. Then you can start off real slow like on familiar streets. I did the same when I got my first bike long ago.

About the bike: With 1,600 miles on it and being an '02 you'll want to replace both tires as they are over 4 years old and tires get hard and "bowling ball like" = bad for traction. So get some Bridgestone Spitfire S11's for it (good tire, great price). Also you'll need to check the gas tank and bike for any rust, check that the brake fluid is clear, hear how it idles (does it start ok) has it been started this year etc...

It's too bad you don't have anyone to go with you to see the bike.

Have fun and enjoy!

mike

hi mike. Thanks for the nice welcome and great advice. i'm really liking this forum and the general web site has been extremely informative!

before i went to see this bike yesterday afternoon, i called another ad for an '06 Vulcan 500 with 1600 miles still under warranty. he wanted just 3700 for it. so seemed like a good deal, and I've really liked what i've heard about those bikes. he was a college student and had dropped it once, so it has a single dent in the tank. probably not the worst thing. maybe some rust on that dent i imagine. I had planned to go see it today.

BUT, i went to check the 750 shadow and well, it was just incredible. owned by a retired gent who had the most amazing house i ever saw. had a fully climate controlled 2 story garage where he kept various restored old cars. I wish my house was a clean and nice as this garage. for real. haha.

i took my wife with me to keep me from making any rash decisions. haha.

needless to say, his bike looked virtually brand new. he hadn;t warmed it up so had to engage the choke for a couple seconds and it ran/idled really nice. smooth. no rust at all anywhere. i didn;t ride it, but sat on it and it felt very comfortable. the tires looked great, but will heed your advice and have them looked at by a pro and changed if necessary.

i asked why he was selling it, and he just said he's ridden his whole life, but at 65 he feels his reflexes aren;t so hot anymore and just doesn;t feel as safe on the more crowded roads of today. it sounds like a honest personal decision.

I could tell my wife was really approving of the deal and well, i gave him a $100 deposit, and will go back next week with the remainder and my pickup truck and ramp to bring her home. I'll post some pix when i get it all set. Plus he let it got $250 cheaper for a total of $3500. I can use the savings to get a nice new helmet and some gloves.

i really made my decision based on the way it felt when i got on it, the stuff i've read about this bike, and great GUT feeling i got off the seller. he was a real straight shooter. The college kid's vulcan could have been great too, but the single drop it took and it was likely stored outside swayed me back to the Honda.

thanks for listening... if you got this far into my 'book'! lol. can;t wait till mid-next week.

HAL

Honda's reputation is built on reliability. The price seems good. The comment on the tires is correct as their is no practical way to prevent dry rot in rubber base products, including belt drives.

I don't recall but if that bike has tube tires but you should replace both.

The Honda is very newb friendly even at 750cc. The seat's nice and low and friendly power band.

The Vulcan 500 is a good bike and quick for a 500 but you said it has a dent and might also have rust on it? pass... it may cause future problems if it wasn't dealt with early enough.

thanks again all. yeah i believe the spirit has tube tires. so i'll replace them as well.

good thing is i got a neighbor to come help me pick the bike up and he's a veteran rider, and used to sell bikes years ago. rides and maintains a very old harley. so i'm sure he'll give me some good pointers.

3 or 4 more days and i'll have that horse home.

-hal