onin24eagle wrote:ceemes wrote:onin24eagle wrote:blues2cruise wrote:First of all......
to TMW from
We are glad you found us.
Let us know what you eventually decide on.....pics are good, too.
Thanks for the welcome. I went to a local strore today for my first look at what's out there. Sat on a Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 I found to be very comfortable for me. I asked the salesman if I would regret buying a bike this big, and he was pretty clear that getting anything smaller would be a mistake. He said if I got a 750 cc I'd be wanting to trade up 2 weeks later, and that the 1100cc was a much better choice for a guy my size at 6'4" 240 lbs. Anyway, so far that Honda is catching my eye. I'll definitely post more and when I do purchase, post up some pics.
First off welcome.......secondly....the dealer sounds like a commission chasing lying sack of dodo scumbag to me.
This is your first bike in twenty five years if I am not mistaken, no way will you get bored with a 750 in two weeks. I've recently returned to riding again after 13 years and figured I could just jump back on a 1100 CC bike. Not a chance, as luck would have it, the used V65 (1100CC) Sabre I thought I bought turned out to be a V45 (750CC) instead and it has more then enough power to haul my ample frame (6'3" pushing around 280 lbs) around at highway speed and I have a hell of a lot of fun doing so.
Since you are a retread like myself and have been off bikes even longer, I strongly suggest you look at a used bike around the 750CC mark max. That way if you decide that you really don't want to get back in the saddle again, you wont be so out of pocket.
Plus you are gonna have to remaster the basics again and might drop the bike in doing so. Better to do that with a used machine then a brand spanking new one. And when you relearned the lost skills and you have really decided to get back into the sport, then you can get that big bad-arsed 1100CC cruiser.
I suggest you go back to that dealership, find that sales rep and spit in his eye or knee him in the 'nads. Then find a good sales rep and tell him what you need and want. Explain that you are getting back into the game after a long absence and need a good reliable used bike to relearn on.
Wow, but how do you really feel? Just kidding.
You certainly make good points, especially about getting a used bike. I do want to get a used one, and I only went to the dealer to see and touch many bikes in one place at the same time. As far as the salesman only trying to get a larger commision, I must disagree. Having been a retail commisioned salesperson for 15 years, I can spot a poor salesperson. I really think this guy honestly thought I could handle the bigger bike. Also, no kidding, while I was there, at least 5 customers stopped by to talk to him. I could tell right away this guys probably been working there awhile , and gets a lot of repeat business. You don't get a lot of repeat business lying to people and pushing them into bikes they can't handle. I'm not saying I can handle an 1100cc bike, but I do think he honestly thought I could. Anyway, I have a bunch to learn and I do appreciate the welcome and advice.
A salesman died and ended up in front of St. Peter. St. Peter looking at his recorded stated "Well, to be honest your record is borderline at best, you could go either way, up to heaven or down to hell. In such situations, we like to give you the choice. You will get to spend a day in heaven and then a day in hell, after which, you decided where you want to spend eternity."
So the salesman gets to spend a day in heaven, floating around on cloud, playing a harp, singing with the heavenly choir, all in all a very peaceful time.
The next day he goes down to hell, and discovers a salesman's paradise. Deals were being cut left, right and centre, money was being made hand over fist, fat Cuban cigars were readily available, thick steaks and lobster tails were abundant, booze flowed endlessly, willing nubile women at his beak and call.
At the end of the day the salesman reappeared in front of St. Peter. "Well ask Peter, what is you decision?" To which the salesman replied "Well Peter old boy, heaven is nice and all that but its a bit too boring and dull for me, to be honest I think hell is the place for me." "So be it" says St. Peter and in a flash, the salesman is sent straight down to hell......
Only the place had changed radically, instead of deals being cut, people were pleading for mercy and forgiveness and hot coals have replaced the steak and lobsters and molten lava the booze. And where there were once willing and nubile young girls there were now demons shoving red hot pokers up into various body orifices. The salesman ran straight to Satan and asked what happened to the hell he visited yesterday, to which Satan replied "Oh come on, you were in sales, you of all people should know the difference between a prospect and a client."
You'll have to excuse me, but I am in operations and pricing, and a large part of my job is trying to bring my various sales reps back to reality and stop them from making outlandish and impossible promises to their respective clients.
From you own admission, you only did road riding for about six months and that was 25 years ago. Prior to my accident, I was a motorcycle courier, riding daily for about six year through all sorts of weather and traffic and considered myself to be a professional and highly experienced rider. I started riding again this summer after a 13 year break and soon discovered I forgotten most of what I knew and learned back then.
Todays bikes are a lot different from the bikes of 25 years ago in terms of power and handling capabilities. They are basically light years ahead of the KZ1000 you rode before, even the cruisers. Which is one of the reasons I opted for an '80s standard to relearn on.
Ultimately, what you ride and buy is your decision, but I firmly believe you would be doing yourself a big favour if you tried to walk before you ran, that and take a refresher riding course before you buy a new bike. Just some friendly advice from one retread to another.
