Which kind of bike to go with?

[streetmaster]

Hey, Im very new to this forum, and bikes in general, but i do know how to ride one though. My deal is, way back about 25yrs ago, i had a wreck on a small 125cc dirt bike, and havent been back on one since. But im slowly regaining my desire to get back on one. My other problem is, im not sure as to what kind of street bike im fond of more. I kind'a like all of them, mostly Harleys, but they are above my budget. So i need some input on what a guy looks for in when he a Honda, Yamaha, or what ever. Im not into crotch rockets, mopeds, or the big fully dressed bikes. Just a nice street bike around 650+.

[SBK15]

Hey, Im very new to this forum, and bikes in general, but i do know how to ride one though. My deal is, way back about 25yrs ago, i had a wreck on a small 125cc dirt bike, and havent been back on one since. But im slowly regaining my desire to get back on one. My other problem is, im not sure as to what kind of street bike im fond of more. I kind'a like all of them, mostly Harleys, but they are above my budget. So i need some input on what a guy looks for in when he a Honda, Yamaha, or what ever. Im not into crotch rockets, mopeds, or the big fully dressed bikes. Just a nice street bike around 650+.

You can start out on dual sports if you like dirt bikes..
I have a DR650 and its freakin powerfull 1st gear goes to like 25 MPH..
So, i wouldn't advise a 650 dual sports as a beginners bike..because its tall/heavy and powerfull.

Yamaha makes a WR250R dual sport around 30 HP. The only thing is..it only starts making a lotta power around 5200 RPM. So, that means from 0-5100 RPM its gonna lag a lot.

Yamaha WR250R:
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... WR250R.htm

Kawasaki's KLX250S:
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... LX250S.htm

Heres cruisers:

Yamaha V-STAR650 i've never actually ridden a VSTAR 650 before but i've heard that its a good beginner's bike and will have enought power to get you pretty much everwhere.
They come is classic or custom models. I like custom better. Link:
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... Custom.htm

Honda's Shadow VLX. I liked this bike better in person than the V-STAR. It looks weird in the photo but its actually a gorgeous bike in person.
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... dowVLX.htm

[streetmaster]

Thanx for the great input (SBK15) your right about the Honda Shadow, its a real nice bike. I really like the look of a Bobber style of bike, with the single seat, and streight handle bars.

[NewGuy]

I kind'a like all of them, mostly Harleys, but they are above my budget. So i need some input on what a guy looks for in when he a Honda, Yamaha, or what ever. Im not into crotch rockets, mopeds, or the big fully dressed bikes. Just a nice street bike around 650+.

Well there are plenty of bikes that look similar to Harleys, but have smaller engines and are less expensive, both in initial cost and insurance costs. Generally those bikes are classified as "cruisers."

The Suzuki S40 (aka Savage 650), V-star 650 (Classic or Custom), the Kawasaki Vulcan 500LTD, and the Honda Shadow VLX, are all between 500cc to 650cc, and are cruisers with a look similar to the Harleys. In fact the V-star is an air cooled V-twin bike, just like the H-D bikes. The S40 and Vulcan 500 are not V-twins, and the S40 is only a single cylinder motor, and the others are liquid cooled.

Some things to keep in mind with those bikes:
S40 gets 60+ mpg, but some complain that the single cylinder engine causes excessive vibration. You will get a little less power out of a single cylinder engine, than it's 650cc V-twin competitors, but that is made up for with it's light weight, it's only 350 pounds compared to it's competitors that weight around 500 pounds.

Vulcan 500 puts out a lot power for a 500cc bike (it's the same engine as a the Ninja 500), and offers a 6 speed transmission, but it's a small bike and some larger folks won't feel comfortable on it.

Shadow VLX is know for being reliable, but many complain about the 4 speed transmission, especially if you plan to take the bike out on the highway.

V-star 650, air cooled V-twin. Some prefer the simplicity of air cooling, but there are advantages to a liquid cooled engine. It's definitely made to mimic the Harley book, and look like a bigger bike, but that look comes with a price, the bike is over 500 pounds.

If you are willing to get a slightly larger bike, say as big as 1000cc or so, you expand your options even further. Yamaha makes an 1100cc version of the V-star, Kawasaki has a 900cc version of the Vulcan (with used ones in 750cc and 800cc also available), Honda has 750cc and 1100cc versions of the Shadows, Suzuki has 800cc cruisers currently under the Boulevard badging, but some used ones used the names Volusia, Intruder, and Marauder, and Harley has a few models of the 883cc Sportster, whose price is actually in line with similiarly sized bikes.

If you are willing to get away from the classic "cruiser" look, you will can your options to the "standards" which look more modern, but have a more upright riding position than the sport bikes do.

A resource I found valuable when looking for bikes was "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles" which gives a synopsis of several models of bikes from various manufacturers, and even designates several models as "Best First Bikes."

Good luck.

[streetmaster]

Point well taken but so far the shadow really got my attention. I like the price of the 600 aswell.

[NewGuy]

The Honda is nice bike, but that 4 speed tranny is what kept me from that bike when I was looking for a cruiser.

Here are some other resources you might want to check out:

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadte ... otorcycles

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadte ... index.html - The review is from '99 but the bike is essentially the same now as it was then.

http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/20 ... -3972.html

[oxbow1]

take a look at the kawasaki volcan 500,it is a 6 speed and will do anything the 600 will do for less money,I almost bought one before the tax man took all my money.

[MZ33]

There's also fit and comfort to consider. Have you sat on a bunch of them yet?

[streetmaster]

There's also fit and comfort to consider. Have you sat on a bunch of them yet?

No i have not, untill recently with the price of gass, i've had next to no intrest in a bike, reason being= i've been up to the hilt with 2 car payments and such. But a buddy of mine has an older 82 Yamaha Maxim 500 that has a few problems, which i can get real cheep if i wanted to mess with a fixer upper, i guess it would no different than buying an old car or truck to fix up, in this case its a bike. I sat on the bike, which seem to fill ok to me. So far i've had ideas about turning the old Yamaha Maxim 500 into a bobber. I guess its what ever floats your boat.

[Captain Pete]

I just bought a brand new VLX Shadow, and it is a great bike to ride. The 4 speed tranny is actually a very good way to go with this engine, and the bike's intended purpose. At around 30, you're shifting into 3d, and you don't have to shift into 4th until around 50. But, once in 4th you still have lots of pull away power even if you drop down to 35. The tall gearing works very well, and the shifting is nice and solid, no false neutrals. I'm still breaking this bike in, so haven't taken it out and run it to the end of the speedo, but it accelerates pretty quick. It just doesn't seem quick because it's so smooth.

Another good buy would be a used Suzuki Savage (now the S40). These are 650cc single cylinder 'thumpers' that have proven super reliable. And the local HD dealership where I live actually has a 96' with 2300 miles on it for $2100 (needs new muffler-dipstick owner tried hacksaw mod). It does need new tires, as the ones on it are the original, and have some dry rot. The point is, these bikes can be had for $2500 or so with low miles, and in great shape. They are rather smallish, though. So if you are over 5'8", you might feel like you need about another three inches of reach on the foot controls. But for short trips around town, it shouldn't be a big deal anyway.