Beginner Needing some Advice!

[Artticus]

Hi,

Im a relative beginner mostly driven vespas and scooters and would like to get into driving motorcycles. I have my motorcycles drivers lisense and have driven on the road quite a bit on my 150cc vespa.

Here are my questions:

Im looking at getting a Honda cx750 custom

Im about 150lbs and wondering if this is to much of a bike for me? Does anyone know what the weight of the bike should be in comparison to you. I know it's mostly up to me just wonding.

Is that to fast for my first bike?

I'd eventually like to get into Sportbikes but would like to learn on a cruiser first. Please any help will be appreciated.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m19/ ... stom-7.jpg

[Z (fka Sweet Tooth)]

There is no ratio when it comes to bike weight vs. rider weight...it's more like bike size vs. rider skill. The first thing you should be looking at is that you can comfortably sit on the bike with your feet flat on the floor, at the VERY least that balls of your feet are on the floor. Also, that all of the controls are within a comfortable reach.

Whatever bike you start on is dangerous and can get you into serious trouble. The key is to practice as much as possible, practice emergency manuvers as much as you do regualr turns and shifting. Having said that I don't think that the 750 is an unreasonable bike to start on.

[tropicalhotdog]

I was in a very similar position a few months ago. I ride a Vespa LX150 around NYC and took the MSF BRC course to improve my riding skills. Since the MSF course is taken on a MC, by the end of the course I was smitten and knew I had to get a bike. I had a small amount of experience on a 200cc dual sport bike, but never felt comfortable on it due to the high center of gravity (I'm 5'8" and 150 lbs by the way).

Last month I bought a Suzuki Boulevard C50T, which is an 800cc cruiser. Probably a bit bigger and heavier than I should have gone for in a perfect world, but I'm 44 years old, not a speed junky, and not embarrassed to take things real slow in order to learn safely. I have to say that I couldn't be happier with the bike and have had no problems (apart from a complete disregard for my job, now that I think about nothing but the bike, where to ride, how to customize, etc.).

If you go this route - jumping to a 750 - just make sure you're comfortable on the bike, that ergonomically it feels good, and you take it slow and practice in a parking lot or quiet street. And DEFINITELY take the MSF Basic Rider Course. No joke. Can't underscore that enough. You don't really develop the proper countersteering, counterbalancing, braking or shifting skills on a Vespa that you need for a MC.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

[JC Viper]

I was in a very similar position a few months ago. I ride a Vespa LX150 around NYC and took the MSF BRC course to improve my riding skills. Since the MSF course is taken on a MC, by the end of the course I was smitten and knew I had to get a bike. I had a small amount of experience on a 200cc dual sport bike, but never felt comfortable on it due to the high center of gravity (I'm 5'8" and 150 lbs by the way).

Last month I bought a Suzuki Boulevard C50T, which is an 800cc cruiser. Probably a bit bigger and heavier than I should have gone for in a perfect world, but I'm 44 years old, not a speed junky, and not embarrassed to take things real slow in order to learn safely. I have to say that I couldn't be happier with the bike and have had no problems (apart from a complete disregard for my job, now that I think about nothing but the bike, where to ride, how to customize, etc.).

If you go this route - jumping to a 750 - just make sure you're comfortable on the bike, that ergonomically it feels good, and you take it slow and practice in a parking lot or quiet street. And DEFINITELY take the MSF Basic Rider Course. No joke. Can't underscore that enough. You don't really develop the proper countersteering, counterbalancing, braking or shifting skills on a Vespa that you need for a MC.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

Wow, you live in NYC and you can still take things slowly?

[Septimus]

Not all of us are neurotic.

...yet.