Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi, I am new and just found this website...looks great, lots of info, been reading the noob forums and getting some opinions from all of you. Want to narrow it down and I need some help to finally just decide on the bike and some gear.

I am 37 y/o male 5'8", 165 lbs. I live in Lincoln Ne which has a population of about 250k. A couple busy highways run through it and its just South of a major interstate (I -80) which leads to a very big city, Omaha. Would like to eventually take the Interstate to Omaha and the smaller highways SE to Iowa where I have some friends, thats why mostly looking at bigger bikes).

I have taken the basic riding coarse and passed that and now have my M endorsement. I go to school full time and will be driving on mostly surface streets, through busy parts of town (including a couple large round abouts) to get to UNL (college). I have no street experience but I do have some prior dirt bike and atv experience. I feel like I like the standard riding position more than cruiser and more than sport position. The little kawasaki 250 during the riding coarse was ok but my hands were getting sore a lot and my thumb even went numb, but maybe I was just nervous and leaning to hard on my wrists?

I like the new Shadow RS a lot, test drove one around the dealers parking lot, it seems easy to drive, like the looks, classic and upright. That being said I also like the HD sporty and always wanted to see if I would like Harley's. Went into the dealership just to sit on some sportsters and the salesman was basically a knob. A lot of people in there were all dew ragged out and kinda snobby.

I am a little hesitant to buy a used Harley, not sure why, but there are nice ones around for about the same price as a new (last years model) Honda Shadow RS. I feel completely comfortable buying a new or used Honda. I have had a couple of there cars and they were almost bulletproof.

I like this:
http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcd/2967877377.html

This looks even better, mileage is a little high?
http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcy/2974803372.html

But I also think this bike looks great:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-ri ... o-2920363/


On the flip side it seems a lot of people recommend used, which I am ok with but my wife thinks I am taking a risk trying to learn to ride on the street on a maybe not so dependable bike. I dont have a bike mechanic friend I can drag along with me so would be kinda buying blind, here is some stuff that looks good/ decent reviews:

http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcd/2966185119.html -02 Spirit
http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcd/2956493297.html -10 Vulcan
http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcy/2964050447.html -07 S40
http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcy/2975130915.html -78 Yamaha xs650
http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcy/2976389143.html -84 Nighthawk

Think I just need pushed in the right direction, I have a garage and tools and am fairly competent around cars, so I should be able to pick up fairly quickly wrenching on a bike.

I have also bought a Bell Vortex full face helmet. But I have not sorted gloves or jacket. Should I buy heavy with zip out liner so I can wear in summer and fall? Same with gloves, not sure what to buy.

Sorry for the long winded post, any help would be great!

Ultimately you need to make this choice...but this is what my first bike was...



2003 Suzuki GS500

Great little bike. No problem hitting the hiway/freeway and keeping up...decent comfort, light & easy to ride. Enough power to give a Mustang GT a run for the money...I would still own it if wifey would let me own two bikes...

The Kawasaki Ninja 500R is another sporty standard bike...the reason for suggesting older bikes for your first one is that you are likely to drop your first bike a time or two...much more painful to drop a shiney new one than one that already has a few scratches...

The Ninja and the Suzuki are both excellent first bikes...good on fuel, cheap to insure, reliable and quick enough to keep your interest for quite a while...and quite cheap to purchase...lots of decent examples for sale.

Later.

I almost spit coffee laughing when I saw 11k miles in 4-5 years referred to as "high"

The 883 is a handfull. It's relatively agile and very responsive to throttle input. My ex had one. Great bike, but way more power and noise than I'll ever want.

I've ridden my Shadow for eight years, now, and have found it to be completely reliable, and comfortable on long trips. Not the most agile creature available, but she rides smooth and quiet, and happily exceeds those pesky numbers on the speed limit signs.

If you buy used, pick something less than 10 years old - easier to find parts.

Going over 750cc displacement will push you into the heavy bike category with the insurance company and cost more.