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Hi all-newbie here with a quick question

I have a chance to buy a 2004 V Star 650 Classic with 1800 miles on it from someone I know. He bought the bike new and has moved up in size so I know there hasn't been any monkey business with the speedo, etc. The bike is like new-there is one dent about the size of a thumbprint in the exhaust pipe. There are no mods-it is all stock. I can get the bike for $3500. That seems like a great deal to me. Agree or disagree?

Hmm...well i think it sounds to be a good price for what it it but please dont tell me that this is ur first bike...this is a heavy, very torque, cruiser....meaning....its heavy which isnt that good for a beginer...torque is that throws u off the seat when u arent a gental and u should have been and its a cruiser meaning the handleing isnt that amazing....this is not a beginers bike...though for the price it may be worth buying and keeping up till u work ur way up to it....

The v-star 650 at around 500 pounds is slightly heavy for a first bike...but its only like 40 horsepower, so no worries about it having too much power. It would make a good first bike if you are careful with low speed maneuvers until you get used to the weight. Maybe have a crash bar installed just in case you have a low speed drop while you are learning.

And $3500 seems like a good price for an '04. Take an MSF course if you havent already.

40 horse?? Which formula are you using to calculate? (there are over eight different ways to calculate hp, each giving a slightly different result) Sure this is not PS? (this is the term now used on foreign bikes like Triumph) My HD is rated at 9.44 horses (NACC National automotive Chamber of Commerce , also known as taxable hp) (Also used by the RAC Royal auto Club)The formula is
Horsepower = Bore diameter in inches squared, multiplied by the number of cylinders, divided by 2.5.
However using the SAE (Society of Automotive Eng)torque conversion it is 60 hp
With the coming of the EU, the only acceptable way in the SI system to rate horsepower is in Watts anyway. Not in horsepower or PS!

And for original post check this out.
http://www.kbb.com/kbb/OtherVehicles/Pr ... Motorcycle

As for 650 being underpowered, a friend of mine just bought one and says it has much more power and speed than his old (920) Virago

Thanks for the input so far. Yes this will be my first bike and for the only reason that eventually (after several months) I will be doubling with my wife. I realize this is a big bike to start on and a small one to ride double but I can't afford to trade up and this seems to be a really good deal. I plan on practicing A LOT in parking lots and taking the MSF course. Again thanks and keep the opinions coming.

Brake horse power, is a rating of torque at engine speed (basically what ever the highest amount of torque X RPM is attainable from the engine)

im not familiar with those "formulas." This is where im getting my information. http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/buyersgu ... verado.htm

nate1714 wrote:Hmm...well i think it sounds to be a good price for what it it but please dont tell me that this is ur first bike...this is a heavy, very torque, cruiser....meaning....its heavy which isnt that good for a beginer...torque is that throws u off the seat when u arent a gental and u should have been and its a cruiser meaning the handleing isnt that amazing....this is not a beginers bike...though for the price it may be worth buying and keeping up till u work ur way up to it....

WTF?

That's a good price on a good first bike. It's low horsepower with good torque.

I can't imagine what planet you'd have to come from to think that a 650cc V-twin is too much for a first bike.