Second bike?

Message

DJGroove · #1 Unread post by **DJGroove** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:39 am

Hello all, first post.

I recently bought an '06 Honda Rebel 250 to learn on and I love it. It is perfect for tooling around the city, riding to work, etc. I can already tell that I will want a bigger bike in the near future (~2 years).

My question is about my second bike. My dream bike right now is a HD VRSC Night Rod. I want to go the cruiser route, and the Night Rod seems perfect. However, it is a much larger bike, with a lot more power, than the little 350lb Rebel.

How did you progress from your first bike (assuming you didn't start off riding a 600cc+ bike) to your second? Should I give up the dream and just take it one step at a time and grab a Sportster or something? Any sage advice?

Thanks, I appreciate the help!

~DJ

Lion_Lady · Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:03 am

A mid step would make for an easier move to your dream bike. But sometimes it just isn't practical. My best suggestion is to really master the 250 so you know everything it can do and how to make it do what you want without using your muscle, but your brain.

p

DJGroove · #3 Unread post by **DJGroove** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:11 am

(Sorry, I'm lurking)

That's my point, I don't think I want to have to afford another bike before I get the bike I want to end up with. So, you suggest biting the bullet and moving to the Night Rod? I'm just worried that, even after 2+ years with the Rebel, riding the new bike will be very difficult.

I need more friends that ride and trust me unconditionally...

Thanks,

~DJ

TechTMW · #4 Unread post by **TechTMW** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:48 pm

Hi DJ, welcome to the forum -

Your experience on your 250 is good, you should befine with the night rod. If I recall, the nightrod has both forward and midset pegs, so you won't have to do too much to get used to the riding position (As opposed to the v-rod, which has only front pegs)

I've ridden a v-rod, and it's got a very usable powerband, Plus it's a heavy bike. So unless you are cranking the hell out of the throttle you should be OK with it. Once you get rolling though, it will take you to the Ton and in a HURRY.

The weight is down pretty low on the bike, and so is the seat, so it doesn't feel nearly as heavy as it is, especially on the road.

I think you'll really like this bike as your next ... maybe your local h-d dealer has a model that they are willing to let out on a test ride, or you could check into prices and rent one for the day to get a feel for it. (Even if you get a plain v-rod, it's basically the same bike.)

Good luck.

#5 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 1:17 am

You'll be fine. The V-Rod and Night Rod are well-balanced bikes, so their weight all but disappears once you're rolling. I stepped off a NightHawk 700SC and onto a 1600 with no problem (not quite the same leap, but close enough). In fact, I'm not so sure you're gonna be able to wait 2-years! But in any case, don't waste your time/money on a mid-size if the Night Rod is what you want. You'll just be lookin' to get rid of the 2nd bike any way you can to obtain your goal, and that's the easiest way to make motorcycling more expensive than it already is.

Scott58 · #6 Unread post by **Scott58** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 3:42 am

I go back and forth from my Rebel to my S50. Rolling isn't the big deal. Parking lot manuvers however can be. I also ride a friends goldwing and magna fro time to time. Again rolling isn't the problem. The higher the weight the less fun you have a low speed. That includes just pushing it around in the garage.

DJGroove · #7 Unread post by **DJGroove** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:08 am

Thank you all for your responses. Zoo, I agree, I'm not sure I can wait 2 years either...

I think I am more worried about the low speed stuff, I do a good amount of riding in the city (not a major metropolian area, though). Not to turn this into a V-rod Q&A, but how is the clutch? On the Rebel, I give it a good amount of gas and let the clutch out. It sounds like if I do that on the Rod, I'll be in the next state.

Too bad no dealers will let me test ride. The rental idea is a good one, I'll have to look into it.

~DJ

#8 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:05 am

DJGroove wrote:I think I am more worried about the low speed stuff, I do a good amount of riding in the city

I make regular jaunts through downtown Columbus (around OSU campus and the Brewery District) and low-speed maneuvering is not an issue, and the V-Rod will outrun my bike and corner and brake better, too. So, you shouldn't have a problem. The issue you're having is that you're imagining the sensations you experience on the Rebel multiplied by the same factor the engine displacement is, and that's just not the way it works. I think that's the reason why so many here are reluctant to buy/ride/try larger bikes, but for those of us who have ridden both small displacement and big-bore bikes that misconception has been proven nothing more than a myth. Yes, the extra weight is evident, but not to the order or magnitude you might think, especially once you're rolling.

canuckerjay · Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:49 pm

After a couple years on your bike, you'll be fine on a V-Rod. I personally see the appeal, but didn't find the riding position appealing.

#10 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 1:02 pm

canuckerjay wrote:After a couple years on your bike, you'll be fine on a V-Rod. I personally see the appeal, but didn't find the riding position appealing.

I concur. I think the V-Rod is a very sexy motorcycle, but after sitting on one I decided it's just too cramped for me...and I'm not a tall guy. I know different seats/bars/controls can be mounted to remedy this, but I prefer to buy a bike that pretty much fits from the get-go. Add to that the fact that a properly equipped V-Rod would cost twice as much as my bike and...well...there you have it!