max03 wrote:I just finished up the beginners rider course at the DMV yesterday and have the certificate to redeem for my bike license. I am now looking to buy a standard used bike, helmet, clothing gear, etc. Any recommendations on any of these topics for a beginner rider would be great.
On another thread I posted about buying my initial gear. I got my helmet and jacket from motogearoutlet.com. I got a Scorpion EXO-400 helmet for $100 because it was a closeout deal. I also got a Tourmaster Draft mesh jacket, with the wind/waterproof liner, and insulated liner for $105. Most other places are selling that jacket without the liners for $90+. The jacket has elbow and shoulder armor and a back pad. Check their site and see what they have available now.
However, try to buy the helmet locally, as you can have someone help you fit it. Luckily, I was local to motogearoutlet when I bought my helmet. Do NOT get a used helmet. For boots I either wear some old all leather military boots, or cheap work boots I got at Payless. For gloves I use leather work gloves from Home Depot.
What would be a good beginner bike in the 500cc range? I've come across four: Honda Shadow VLX, Suzuki Savage, Yamaha V-Star and the Kawasaki Vulcan LTD. Any of these stand out above the rest?
I was looking at many of the same bikes initially.
I gave up on the Honda VLX because it's only got a four speed transmission, and there are plenty of other bikes in that category that have a five speed. Plus it didn't fit me well. At 5'10" alot of the smaller bikes were cramped for me.
I looked long and hard for a used Suzuki Savage or S40, because I liked the idea of starting off with a light bike, but also having enough power to handle highway speeds. Unfortunately there weren't a whole lot of those for sale in my area. For some reason the Kawasaki Vulcan 500 didn't feel right to me, but if it fits you it's got a 6 speed transmission, and puts out decent power for a 500cc bike.
I liked the V-star a great deal in that class. Air cooled, so I didn't have to worry about maintaining a cooling system. Shaft drive, which is a little easier to maintain than chains or belts. However, it's 500 pounds, and only powered by a 650cc engine. Fit me a lot better than some of the other bikes, and for a little more room there is a cheap after market extension to move the foot controls forward.
Frankly, after I took the MSF class, and test riding a few bikes I was comfortable enough to handle a bigger bike. I started looking at Honda 750s and 1100s, V-star 1100, Suzuki C50 and M50, Kawasaki Vulcan 900, and H-D Sportster 883C and 1200C. If I had more money I would have purchased one of those. I liked the Sporsters and the Suzuki C50 the best.
In the end I bought a 2001 V-star 650 Classic, purely because I could afford to pay cash for the bike, and the insurance on a 650 is much lower than the bigger bikes. Great bike, and I'm enjoying it, however had money not been as much of a factor I would have gotten a bigger bike. I'm already considering modifying the intake and exhaust to my 650 to get a little more power out of it.
I'd say go out and test ride some of the bikes you listed. Then go and ride a few of the slightly larger bikes. I think you'll find that you can easily handle the bigger bikes, and enjoy them more. Hell a friend of mine got an '07 H-D Softail Heritage as her first bike, and she's only 5'4" 120lbs. Another friend of mine got a H-D Softail Nightrain as her first bike and she's 5'3" 115lbs. So if you can afford it try to get a bike that you won't outgrow in the first few months of riding.
