Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi, first post... I was reading alot of back posts and you guys are pretty helpful, so I wouldn't mind some input

Anyway, I'm tempted to start riding motorcycles because it seems like a blast and its cheaper than driving a car (depends). Heres a few Q's

1) I'm a 17 year old student @ 6'2" 245lb looking at older cruisers, what size bike should I be thinking about? I was thinking 500 or 700 cc.

2) What is a ballpark figure for young rider insurance? (liability) (no driving record, clean slate, MSF course -plan on it)

3) I live in washington, as a young rider.. will rain give me alot of hassle?

4) If you are aware of MSF courses in washington, will I need a bike to use or is one supplied? Or does it depend on the instructors?

5) Gear, what is a good budget for how much I should spend on gear?


My main peeve with motorcycles I have tried in the past was that they were too big for me. At age 11 or 12 iirc I would put around on my friends cr 125.. but I didn't like it much because I couldn't stablize with my feet very well. I don't think that should be a issue now but as far as bikes I'm looking at, I just want it to be capable of doing highway speeds but sub 580lb. Thanks alot I look forward to your responses

err0r wrote:Hi, first post... I was reading alot of back posts and you guys are pretty helpful, so I wouldn't mind some input

Anyway, I'm tempted to start riding motorcycles because it seems like a blast and its cheaper than driving a car (depends). Heres a few Q's

1) I'm a 17 year old student @ 6'2" 245lb looking at older cruisers, what size bike should I be thinking about? I was thinking 500 or 700 cc.

You're thinking in the right direction. Just be sure you're getting the right type of cruiser. A 750 Magna is a cruiser, for example but it's V-4 puts out too much power for a beginner. Even a 700+CC V-Twin is a bit much. You might consider looking at something like a Honda Shadow VLX 600, and Kawasaki Vulcan 500, a Yamaha Virago 535 or V-Star 650, a Suzuki LS 650 Savage, etc. There are many choices out there.

2) What is a ballpark figure for young rider insurance? (liability) (no driving record, clean slate, MSF course -plan on it)

That question is more difficult to answer. There are too many factors in insurance costs, like where do you live, where will the bike be parked, how often will you ride it, etc. Your best bet is to call around to some insurance carriers and get some quotes.

3) I live in washington, as a young rider.. will rain give me alot of hassle?

Do you mind getting wet? If you ride in the rain, you will get wet, unless you have the bucks for the top-shelf wet weather gear. Will you be able to handle the bike in the wet stuff? Common sense says wet roads offer less traction. Two wheels on a slippery road is an even dicier situation than four wheels. There are plenty of people who ride in the wet all the time, it just takes an extra measure of caution, and a willingness to deal with getting wet.

4) If you are aware of MSF courses in washington, will I need a bike to use or is one supplied? Or does it depend on the instructors?

To my knowledge, MSF is universal in supplying bikes for the BASIC rider course. You will be required to supply minimal protective gear. They may even have helmets supplied. Check with your local MSF course to be sure.

5) Gear, what is a good budget for how much I should spend on gear?

That is subjective. It depends on what you can afford. The general rule is buy the best you can afford. If you can't afford gear sufficient to protect you in a crash, save a bit longer before you buy the bike. Maybe even buy the gear first. My personal rule: Full-face helmet, gloves, riding jacket (leather or textile with armor) riding pants (leather or textile with armor) and sturdy boots. (My boots aren't motorcycle -specific, but they are leather, padded and cover the ankles.)


My main peeve with motorcycles I have tried in the past was that they were too big for me. At age 11 or 12 iirc I would put around on my friends cr 125.. but I didn't like it much because I couldn't stablize with my feet very well. I don't think that should be a issue now but as far as bikes I'm looking at, I just want it to be capable of doing highway speeds but sub 580lb. Thanks alot I look forward to your responses

Good luck with your motorcycling experience! I hope it is everything you hope it will be. I know it is for me.

err0r wrote:1) I'm a 17 year old student @ 6'2" 245lb looking at older cruisers, what size bike should I be thinking about? I was thinking 500 or 700 cc.

You're in the ballpark; I am familiar with the Honda Shadow VLX 600 and it is indeed a good starter bike.

err0r wrote:2) What is a ballpark figure for young rider insurance? (liability) (no driving record, clean slate, MSF course -plan on it)

You need to call around, age, credit report (sometimes), experience, etc... will affect the pricing. Call Progressive Direct, they had the best price for me! Note: check with your current medical insurance provider regarding any motorcycle rider exclusions, and consider getting medical coverage from your bike insurance if your private insurance does not adequately cover you in case of an accident.

err0r wrote:3) I live in washington, as a young rider.. will rain give me alot of hassle?

The short answer is YES, riding in the rain requires experience, practice, and patience. Not only does it reduce road visibility, but it also reduces your visibility to other drivers (especially cagers ), and introduces the risk of aqua-planning; scary in a car, could be disasterous on a bike!

err0r wrote:4) If you are aware of MSF courses in washington, will I need a bike to use or is one supplied? Or does it depend on the instructors?

The MSF beginner course will provide a 125/250cc (depening on course location) bike for you to learn and test on.

err0r wrote:5) Gear, what is a good budget for how much I should spend on gear?

My personal opinion is, you can go cheap on the bike and its accessories but not on safety gear for yourself unless you enjoy pain! I would not hesitate to spend over $1000 on safety gear to be used on a $500 bike, meaning the gear is more important than the bike itself. That does not mean you shouldn't shop around and find good deals. For example, HJC makes good DOT/Snell approved/certified helmets that run around $150-$200, while Shoei makes good DOT/Snell approved/certified helmet for around $380+. So HJC makes better sense but only if they fit you well. Get a good jacket, pants, boots, and gloves, they'll pay for themselves the first time you drop your bike and you hit the ground - hopefully never though

err0r wrote:My main peeve with motorcycles I have tried in the past was that they were too big for me. At age 11 or 12 iirc I would put around on my friends cr 125.. but I didn't like it much because I couldn't stablize with my feet very well. I don't think that should be a issue now but as far as bikes I'm looking at, I just want it to be capable of doing highway speeds but sub 580lb. Thanks alot I look forward to your responses

I think you'll be just fine with the VLX 600 or similar bike, you are over 6 ft. and 240+lb and you'll be able to handle the weight of this bike!

Good luck...

allawybiker wrote:

err0r wrote:1) I'm a 17 year old student @ 6'2" 245lb looking at older cruisers, what size bike should I be thinking about? I was thinking 500 or 700 cc.

You're in the ballpark; I am familiar with the Honda Shadow VLX 600 and it is indeed a good starter bike.

I'm 6'6", 270lb, and my first (and current) bike is a VLX Deluxe.

Great beginner bike.

One of the big reasons I picked this bike was because the foot controls provided a much more comfortable riding position for me than other bikes I tried. Sometimes I do feel like the bike might be a little small, but it certainly sat better than some of the other (and even bigger, for that matter) bikes I tried out.

Right now I'm averaging around 450-500 miles per week, and the seat isn't killing me. There's no vibration worth mentioning until you hit around 75-80 MPH, which is pretty much top-speed for this bike and it's 4 speed tranny.

This bike is easily capable of highway speeds, and only weighs around 400-450lbs dry, I believe (at most I'd say it might push 500lbs, but not likely).

This bike, or a similar one, is a good place to start for a middle weight cruiser.

(Hmmm. Maybe I should just write a review on this. )

Thanks for all the replies guys, need to do some calling around now.

Jesus Telesque 6'6" 270 what do you do for a living ? Kill bears with your bare hands? I would think you are so big you have to ride two motorycles at the same time, just strap one to each foot.

Randy wrote:Jesus Telesque 6'6" 270 what do you do for a living ? Kill bears with your bare hands? I would think you are so big you have to ride two motorycles at the same time, just strap one to each foot.

Randy wrote:Jesus Telesque 6'6" 270 what do you do for a living ? Kill bears with your bare hands? I would think you are so big you have to ride two motorycles at the same time, just strap one to each foot.

Wow now I feel small.

I'm eyeing those Honda Shadows...I'm 5'10" 170