yamaha belt drive v-star 1300
I've been browsing different cruiser motorcycles. fuel injectors and liquid cooling seem modern! the Suzuki Boulevard c50 (805cc, shaft drive) looks interesting with the plastic fenders and net weight of 542 lbs. the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 (belt drive) is pretty at 558 lbs. the Yamaha v-star 1300 (belt drive) is attractive and weighs 624 lbs. I've never ridden a motorcycle so this search is like looking for a wife. I weigh 180 lbs, stand 5' 08, know nothing about choosing a wife, and less about choosing a motorcycle for recreational riding through the streets of Los Angeles. Ignoring price for this candy store fantasy, which one of these three would you get and why?
Yamaha belt drive v-star 1300
I suggest you read the "Why a 600cc Motorcycle is Not a Good Beginner Bike" Guide on this web site.
Do yourself a huge favor and get a used 250 c.c. Honda Nighthawk or similar for your first bike. If you simply must have a bigger bike than that, consider a Suzuki Savage (renamed the Boulevard S40), which is cruiser styled, 650 c.c. and very light weight.
Believe me, those bikes you're talking about are far too heavy for a beginner to handle.
Yamaha V-Star 1300
Hi Jay,
I agree with the previous poster. The V-star is a very heavy bike. The 624lbs is the dry weight of the bike, not the curb weight.
I am a beginning rider as well, my husband owns a V-Star 1100 Silverado which has a dry weight of 639lbs, but with full tank of gas, all the fluids, saddle bags, windshield and all it is close to 700lbs if not well over (depending on how much junk we have in the saddlebags lol).
I have ridden it a few times in an empty parking lot, but the bike is just extremely heavy to try and learn on. Hard to learn while your fighting the bike to keep it from falling in curves & what not.
If you like the V-stars have you checked out the V-star 650? Looks just like the 1100 & 1300's but lighter weight and more forgiving for new riders. Or as the previous poster mentioned the Savage/S40 is a sharp cruiser and lighter then the C50 & Vstar 1300 would be.
While at a Suzuki dealership a few weeks ago looking at used bikes, the salesman had me sit on the C50 & M50. Both extremely nice bikes. Problem was that I could barely stand either of them up off the kickstand....So for me, those were definately too heavy. I also sat on the new GSX650F (Im in love!!!) is brand new to 08 and is the replacement to the Katana. Suzuki is apparently billing this as a entry level bike alongside the GS500f. But have decided that bike will have to wait to be my 2nd bike - its pretty heavy also for a sport bike at around 500lbs (476 dry weight) also alot of HP for the newbie at 85bhp.
Im currently looking for a lighter bike to learn & build confidence on because the v-star 1100 is way too much for me to handle in the weight dept. Im assuming that the 1300 would be even heavier after you add all the gas, fluids & extras. Im not a petite lil girl either, about 5'10. Currently I'm looking for good used Ninja 500/ GS500e or if I can hold out, the new Ninja 250 if the dealerships here ever get them.
Just my .02 cents. Happy Hunting & visit LOTS of dealerships and sit on everything so you can get a better feel for weight and sitting position/comfort of all types of bikes. Take a small notebook with you so when you leave the dealership you can make notes on what bikes you liked/didnt like and why.
Kari
All of your dreams can come true - if you have the courage to pursue them
Kari
All of your dreams can come true - if you have the courage to pursue them
I ride a 2007 ex500R (ninja
I ride a 2007 ex500R (ninja 500) and love it. It's fun and easy to ride and even more it's easy to work on. I'm getting ready to do my valve adjustment as I have had it a month and a half already and I am 50 miles over 1000 and I refuse to pay the 200 bucks it would cost me. Plus I get to make sure its done right!
~Not your average hairless monkey
Kick
yamaha belt drive v-star 1300
Thanks for making your ideas part of my decision-making! I looked at the two cylinder Suzuki GS500F (review here at BBM) online and my first impression is there is a lot of plastic faring which looks expensive and breakable. Four cylinders seem desireable rather than two cylinders each having 1/2 the total displacement of the engine although I have read that fewer cylinders produce a more thrilling acceleration from a stop. Four cylinders are said to be more forgiving to the throttle mistakes of an new rider because a four cylinder bike exudes its power when the engine is revving high. The two cylinder GS500F has handlebars rather than racing style clip-ons so I like the standard riding position of the GS500F. the GS500F is air cooled-- there is no radiator and it uses carburetors--it does not have fuel injection. I notice the chain drive and I am thinking how messy oiling a chain could be! Contrast to the Suzuki GS500F would be the Yamaha FZ6 which has four cylinders and chain drive. One aspect of the farings which seems weird (yet is common on bikes) is as the handlebars are turned, the faring stays straight with the chasis of the bike. I assume this would not be a problem to anyone who rides but for my visual sense such seems awkward. The Suzuki sv650 (review here at BBM) is available with or wirthout an upper faring. Does anyone have any thoughts on a 650cc single cylinder machine? The dual purpose bikes seem to be one cylinder. Suzuki makes a DR 400SM (review here at BBM) which feels comfortable with a low seat height. I am most excited by the cruiser bikes I see around town but I realize that stop and go traffic between LaCienega and downtown Los Angeles might be an environment better suited to a lighter weight, narrower, urban street concept! The Yamaha V-star 1300 has my attention now, but I am not engaged to it! I have a hunch that riders soon get bored with the power of an 800cc cruiser and want to ride a cruiser with a bigger engine.
Don't make my mistake
I started on a huge cruiser, a Vulcan 900. I hated it. I never felt confident riding that thing. To be honest, it's performance wasnt that great either. I got a ninja 250, took the fairings off so it didn't look so ugly, and I'm so much happier now. The ninja is muuuuch cheaper, muuuuch funner, and honestly, is probibly about equal for acceleration, and top speed isn't really an issue unless you feel like doing 90mph isn't enough.
My words of advice. Getting a big cruiser is a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad idea.
Just go out and buy it, hate
Just go out and buy it, hate it, then sell it...
You'll learn a good lesson.
I think its more of an ego thing with people starting out on big bikes. I just hope your ego doesn't hurt you or worst... We can only pray...
Suzuki S-40/LS 650 small cruiser
I recently purchased a Suzuki s40 and love it. It is geared perfectly for city commuting and does fine on shorter highway rides.
I have put 1500 miles on it so far and it has been trouble free. Also, I love the simplicity of the bike. At first I wanted a Yamaha V Star 1100, but was told that I had to remove part of the exhaust pipes to change the oil filter. Then I learned that fuel mileage varies from the hi 30's to the 40's per miles to a gallon. With gas going to 4 bucks I want something that is very stingy on gas.
Heck, I could buy one of those little Toyota cars and nearly get that kind of mileage with it. I do recommend to s40 for manageability, fuel economy, ease of maintenance, reliability, very reasonably priced, and pure fun. ek
Number of cylinders
It is interesting that you think more cylinders is better. While this is as generic as saying more CC's is better, I've always been of the other opinion.
Yes, a single or twin has a lot more low end torque, so if you twist the throttle hard, you'll jump more than you would on a four cylinder. But the power is also much more linear. It is much easier to gague what increase in power a turn of the wrist will give you, because no matter where you are in the power band you'll get a similar result. With an engine tuned for peak horsepower, you get drastically different results based on what rpm the engine is turning.
Twins are almost always described as forgiving engines. Whether it is V, L or parrallel, they are consistently called "friendly".
As for singles, these are an even safer bet. Yes they have the most torque per cc, but they also have the lowest revs, and frankly, the lowest power. A 40hp single is not going to be throwing the front end of a cruiser in the air. On a dual sport that is pretty easy to do because the bike is so light and designed to do that.
So this shows what I see as a hole in your logic. You say the idea of a single doesn't sit well because it'll have more torque per cc, and thus be more jerky on the throttle. But, while the inlines and V-twins have less torque per cc, they also have more CCs (unless you are talking about another 500-650). So the net power is in fact greater - often even at the same rpm.
If you want to learn more about the various engine layouts, and what characteristics they have, these links here are pretty good (the entire beginner section at total motorcycle is pretty good imo):
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionSix.htm
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionSixB.htm
And lastly, Kari has some REALLY good points about weight. I'm 6 foot, 180 pounds, and I am fairly fit. I find handling even a 450 pound bike to be real intimidating. I don't think I'd be comfortable moving a 600 pound cruiser around on uneven or sloped surfaces. And not all parking spots are flat!
One last tip - always back into parking spots... no reverse gear = hell to push a bike up out of an inclined parking spot :(
---
"The two seconds between 'Oh S**!' and the crash isn't a lot of practice time."
650cc Singles
In regard to your question about 650cc single-cylinders, I bought a Suzuki DR650SE dual sport as my 1st bike. It's a 650cc single with the bike weighing 324 lbs dry. I had it lowered at the dealership 1.5 inches so I could flat-foot it (I'm 5'9").
It's been a great bike to learn on and the power's very manageable. A lot of fun to fling around. Depending on your comfort with the height of the bike, any of the Suzuki DR series bikes would make good 1st bikes. (DR-Z400S, DR-Z400SM, DR200SE, DR650SE) They all handle great and have manageable power. Plus if you drop them at low speeds there's typically not much visible damage if any.
Alternatively, The S40 (Formerly Savage) is a good starter bike. Especially for those just starting off who like cruisers and plan to spend a lot of time on the highway. The displacement of the S40 is more suited to maintain highway speeds for long durations than a 250cc cruiser. For you I'd also recommend maybe looking into the Buell Blast. They're great little urban bikes and have all the cool Buell features like the underslung exhause and belt-driven.
Ultimately, you need to visit lots of dealerships and sit on a lot of bikes. Find something with beginner-manageable power that fits like a glove. A bike won't do you any good if you get scared when thinking about getting on it for a ride.
Beginning bike
I must say I agree with the start small and work your way up. I love big cruisers. Recently sold a honda vtx 1300... Looking at getting the vstar 1300 tourer. But for a beginner, start small. Start used. Smaller bikes are easier to learn on and you dont feel as bad if you go down on a cheap used bike. For your second bike go mid sized. A 750 cruiser is a good sized second bike. Then when that feels too small, get the big cruiser of your dreams. It is also a very good idea, as a beginner, to take a motorcycle training course.
weight is not a factor...
if weight is a factor for u when riding then you are not riding the bike right go take a class.
interesting thought
I read on another forum something that seems to be prevelant in most cases like this one:
the person said "you already know what you are going to do, you are looking for validation, someone to say do it- so just do it"
and I hate to say it but when you havent ridden- which was me just 3 months ago- you are dangerous, because you think you know alot, or at least you reason alot- and then you want it to be- its not- 1300 is just going to end up as fun as driving bigfoot when you should b enjoying a tacoma truck-
maybe we will ALL be wrong and youll somehow make it to the point where you are comfortable, but youd be there soo sooo much faster on a smaller bike and then build the needed foundation- I knew a guy who was the same, took the safety course and now is afraid to even ride, he is taking it to parking lots slowly trying to get used to it- oh and the it is a 1200 :) haaa
Suzuki GSX650F VS SV650
I am getting ready to buy my first motorcycle and have now decided on a sport bike. Now, the only decision I am having trouble with is if I should buy a Suzuki GSX650F or SV650. I want the feeling and look of a sport bike but want to be able to commute to work and go on joy rides without having my wrists hurt after an hour from leaning foward so much. These two bike seem to be the most comfortable out of sitting on 10 different bikes. I am a 23 yrs old woman (5'7" and 130lbs) looking for comfort but an adrenaline rush for a beginner. What is your opinion?
Amber
Virginia
There is also the Ninja
There is also the Ninja 650r. It runs a parallel twin. I've sat on them before and there is zero leaning forward on them. Infact, I lean forward less on the 650 than I do on my bycicle. It has a real upright feel that should inspire confidence in most riders. I've sat on the GSX650F and a sv650s (the sport version with fairings). The GSX is about the same riding position as the sv650 standard and it feels pretty comfortable. It does feel like it has a noticable difference in feeling more top heavy than the Ninja though. Atleast to me (6'0" 180). The sv650s (sport, w/fairing) you lean forward alot. At stops with your feet down you'll more than likely be stretching yourself out if you are holding onto the grips, but it gets a little better when your feet are up on the pegs. The Ninja seat basically cradles you. I'd highly suggest sitting on the Ninja650r. The Suzuki's you mentioned will feel like tanks compared to it. It also looks great and will give you the feeling you want. Drive safe. Adrenaline rushes are nice, but living and not eating apple sauce for the rest of your life is nicer.
Amber
Each has a trade off, the GSX650 is a MUCH heavier bike than the SV650. Just from that I'd go with the SV650.
Also, if you are talking about the SV650S or 650N (faired sportbike look, or naked bike). The S has lower handlebars and might not be as easy on your arms as the N or the GSX650.
Have you considered the Gs500 or Ninja 500? Both are smaller and lighter than the SV ang GSX while still being plenty of quick. Depending on where you live, those 150cc can make a very large difference in your insurance. But in other places, they'll make none-at-all (wish I lived in one of those places).
---
"The two seconds between 'Oh S**!' and the crash isn't a lot of practice time."
start small go bigger
i started myself off smaller for weight wise plus being comfortable learning and experience and when i feel comfortable completely then i am going larger. better safe then sorry and end up crash burning and a damaged cycle and injuries on top of that. plenty of time to go larger. buy a used smaller one so your not out of alot of money then buy a nicer one when your experienced. i have a 1990 virago route 66 250. i did some customizing on it and when i am comfortable with it then i plan on going bigger . good luck
You have to be careful of
You have to be careful of imaginary advancement. I've spent months looking at getting my first bike, and I've gone through the mental advancement stage and have thankfully come back to reality. But during that stage I had myself starting on a 250, then a 500, then a 650 and finally a 600 all with my imagination before coming back down to reality. Had I bought one during those stages though I could have ended up with a bike that might have turned me off of the activity or gotten me hurt. No, I think I'll stick to the 500 range with safer power. Also keep in mind the weight. The 500's range around 400lbs. You were talking about 600+. Try lifting that, It's ALOT! Even if it's just leveraging something that weight into an upright position.
Suzuki GSX650F VS SV650
Thanks for the opinions...I'll definately take them into consideration. I can say I am not one to take risks, atleast dumb ones when I am inexperienced. I've been looking at bikes since April and am still undecided so I will look into everything...
Have you ever ridden at all?
If not, take the class first. When you see how much skill is required to handle a 250 slow, and that is traffic in a big town, then you understand that learning in city traffic on a 1300 is begging to get yourself hurt. The guy who said weight does not matter, he is wrong, and right. Two years from now it might not. But that weight requires skill, not strength. It matters a great deal as you attempt to learn and not get yourself hurt as you do it. And you are in a city full of traffic. That makes all this slow handling a huge safety issue as it will be demanded of you every time you ride.
That power curve mentioned above also matters. That lag, lag, zoom thing can be dangerous to. You want something predictable and tame on the throttle for sure. I went a little to big, but in the real world my bike is still not a performance machine in any circle. It is only 45 horses stock on a 560 plus pound frame. It is predictable and steady, and "heavy" . . that has and continues to keep me off the road a lot. I am still learning to handle the bikes weight, and restrict the time and places I ride a great deal as a result. If I was on a 250 I would be tackling a lot more traffic by now and gaining experience on the street in normal daily traffic situations. As it is, I am only riding evenings, weekends and parking lots. I have a saddle bag full of cones and practice basic skills from MSF as often as possible. I am only just beginning to consider trying the 3 miles to work on a regular work day in real traffic. And that is ONLY because I can do every skill they asked us to do in class on this bike now. Even that dreaded figure 8. (-: I have done hundreds of practice quick stops in a safe environment and still hope I will be ready when it is real. Do not underestimate the impact weight will have on your learning curve. It is just simple physics, weight requires skills and confidence. Having neither makes weight a huge deal.
Just food for thought. I am a big guy, 6'3" and a little over 220. It didn't make my bike one pound lighter. (-:
""""Democracy is Two Wolves and a Lamb Voting on What to have for Lunch. Liberty is a Well-Armed Lamb Contesting the Vote--Benjamin Franklin"""""
2006 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
Sales, Peterson's North Miami Store
v-star
I was in your shoes a few months back. After months of looking I bought my first bike , a v-star 650, in June. I felt it was under powered on the highway but was fine for commuting short distances. After someone hit it a month later, I traded it in and bought an 1100 v-star. I am much happier with the new bike. At 5'8" 160lbs. I can reach the ground flat footed with room to spare. The bike is well balanced and very simple to ride. I taught myself on the 650 and rode the 1100 before I was ever able to get into my class. I would recommend taking the class first if you can. I wanted to, but there was more than a 3 month wait to get in. If you are going to trade up keep in mind what bikes hold their value the best so you don't loose too much on the upgrade. Good lock with your decision.
theres also the V-Star
theres also the V-Star classic thats 650cc and a damn nice looking bike. personally I'm looking at the V-Star 250 for my first bike, and after I ride the heck out of it, get the feel of only having 2 wheels beneath me, and so on and so forth, then I'll move up to the next bike, having recouped almost all the money spent on the 250 due to 250's having amazing resale value. yeah I won't be able to take it for cross country road trips comfortably (though if you're determained people can and HAVE crossed the country on all manner of bikes, even some lady I heard about on another motorcycle forum doing cross country trips on a 7- or 90cc scooter from the 60's)
every time I look at a thread talking about getting a 1000+ cc bike as their first bike, I'm reminded of when I picked up a Schwinn mountain bike. I had to sign a waiver stating that I understood that just because my BIKE was capable of taking the rough and ready mountain trails, that didn't mean that I was able to, and should ride to my level of experience. the difference being that on a mountain bike (or high end street bike) it's largely only speed and location where you'll run into trouble, not the bike itself. however the bigger bike you get, the more out of your depth you'll be, and most people have the tendency, if even just a little, to try to push the limits of what they're on. with a 250, there's not nearly as much limit to push as the 1000+ and thats another reason to start smaller.
I started driving on an old 83 escort, I know I'm a safer driver than I would have been if I'd started in a new ford mustang. and I've never met anyone who won't speed at least a bit if you put them in a fast car, unless they're already terrified of driving to begin with.
VSTAR 650 great started bike
I had never ridden a motorcycle in my life 2 years ago when I purchased my v star. After I got used to it I thught it lacked power so I threw on a set of pipes and a hypercharger and WOW its now a beast. Basically what I am saying is look at the stars and you may be safe starting on a 650. And after you'r comfortable dont buy a new bike squeeze 15 more horses outa that one with a few mods and it will keep up with 1000+cc bikes .
People are constantly telling me how gorgeous my bike is.
You won't be happy with the
You won't be happy with the 1300. You will get bored with it and outgrow it in a few months. You should just go ahead and get the VMAX. Does that sound stupid? I am not sure what you after here. Engine power? Do you want a big rumble under your seat? Do you just want a pretty bike. If it is power you want, then maybe cruisers are not what you are looking for and maybe you should just get a track bike. You like the rumble, get a sportster. You want a pretty bike, sorry but mine is not for sale.
Basically, with a motorcycle, you are straddling a combustion engine kinda like Wiley Coyote stratling an Acme rocket. When you first start out you don't want the moon or bust rocket, you want something more managable. We all know Wiley Coyote went with the bigger is better theory and he crashed every time. Honestly on a cruiser, you aren't out to set any land speed records or to go out carving up twisties. A cruiser is going out for a nice comfortable, relaxing ride.
"I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain't nice."-Wolverine
"I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain't nice."-Wolverine
If you really want a starter
If you really want a starter cruiser and don't want to go with a 250 (I sure wouldn't knowing how underpowered cruiser engines are compared to standard/sportbike engines), the Yamaha V-Star 650 should be the absolute biggest bike you consider. The Kawasaki Vulcan 500, however, despite being smaller, is actually quicker and faster due its sportbike-derived engine.
If you won't go that small, then you really don't belong anywhere near a bike. I'm sorry but after spending days talking to my friend Lauren and trying to talk her out of buying a GSXR for her first bike, I'm through sugar coating things and I'm not holding back anymore.
You, sir, are the kind of guy who gives the rest of us a bad name. Assuming you aren't scared sh*tless the first time you crack the throttle open and garage it or sell it after releasing your bowels, you're going to wreck your bike within a few months after buying it and possibly die from the accident. You will then become a statistic. The kind that insurance companies look to when they decide MY premiums.
Start out on a V-star 650 or smaller, or start putting money toward paying the monthly insurance payments of everyone who uses this forum. You and everyone else who buys a bike that no beginner belongs on for their first bike owe it to the rest of us.
V-Star 1300
I have owned my V-Star 1300 since April of 2007,And it has been a great bike it has the weight distributed so well,has good power,i have no real complaints. I dont know how it would be for a beginners bike, i would say you need something smaller so you can ride without any worries,learn the basics.
My next bike
will be a V Star 650 Custom. It could of been my first bike, but I couldn't find it to save my life. And, I thought it may have been too powerful for me as a newb. So, I bought a Hyosung GV250 Aquilla. i'm not hungry for a lot of power since I want to concentrate on handling. The Hyosung is very handsome too, and I'm suprised too much hasn't been said about it on this web site. but if you don't want to go 250, the Kawasaki 500 ltd gets great reviews for a 1st time cruiser.
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
make sure you keep us up to
make sure you keep us up to date on your hyosung, the only complaints I've ever heard about them is "questionable reliability" but nearly everyone who repeats that (like I am now) got it second or third hand. I think not much has been said because its not one of the well known brands with a long honorable history like the japanese bikes. there's still that mentality out there that chinese, korean, or taiwanese bikes are cheap piles of garbage made by 6yr old sweatshop children banging on rocks. same as the issues back in the 70's with everything from japan being cheap knockoffs of better american products. now japanese is synonymous with quality, reliability, and affordability. hopefully the hyosungs will be one of the flagships that'll bring people around to korean built bikes as well.
I know Daewoo is korean and was really popular for a bit, then dissapeared, then came back...some places...is Scion korean?
good stuff's finally coming out of places other than Japan, but it'll take a while for word to come around is all
Scion is Toyota (it is their
Scion is Toyota (it is their youth brand, just as Lexus is their luxury brand).
Daewoo is Korean, went bust, and was bought by GM. Many GM cars are Daewoos (notibly, the least reliable GM cars).
The Aveo/Swift+ is Daewoo, the Epica and Optima as well.
There is a Hyosung dealer around here, I keep meaning to ask their service guys what they Hyosungs are like compared to the other makes they sell (Aprila, Guzzi, and Victory).
---
"The two seconds between 'Oh S**!' and the crash isn't a lot of practice time."
---
"The two seconds between 'Oh S**!' and the crash isn't a lot of practice time."
ahhh, ok. had no idea why i
ahhh, ok. had no idea why i thought maybe Scion was Korean...it wasn't based on anything even remotely like evidence ;)
I too am interested in knowing how hyosung's hold up, they're a nice looking bike
RE:make sure you keep us up to
Will do. I bought the bike because it looked good, light weight, the price, and the 2 year warranty(since the Manufacturer is virtually unknown in the states). I wanted a Vulcan 900 Custom 1st, but my research took me to the Hyosung. This article, from '05, in particular
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/250cc_cruiser_comparison/inde...
I think Hyundai is Korean, too. I wouldn't have bought it if the warranty wasn't for 2 years, and they give you $300 rebate on the bike with an MSF Certification. The dealers were friendlier and less shark-ish than the ones at Kawasaki or Yamaha, telling me 900 and 1100s were good for beginners. Actually the dealer at Hyosung told me that for my size, any of the other bikes I wanted may have been too heavy, and or powerful. Even his GV650 or Yamaha's(next bike) V-Star 650 cruiser. After sitting on the GV650, compared to the 250 weight wise, I had to agree with him.
Another note, in my research I always looked on YouTube to see them live before I bought one. Internationally, there were a lot of post. All of the owners seem very proud of their 250s.
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
gas milage?
How's the gas milage? I've read that cruiser comparison before, honestly had overlooked the hyosung, but I'd noticed that what they claimed the "average range" when divided by the tank capacity puts mileage on all of them really low. based on the tank size and it's claimed range they're saying the GV250 gets about the same MPG as a V-Star 650, about 48mpg. I've heard lots of people, even on here, put the V-star 250 at 70+ which I guess isn't far off from the 75-80 that people are claiming as average....
the MPG could be a deal breaker for me...thats a huge hit in average MPG vs other 250's if it's true.
Honda Shadow Aero 750
I've been commuting and tooling around town on my Honda Shadow Aero 750. It's a mid-size V-Twin, very comfortable, not too heavy, shaft drive, liquid cooled. I was hesitant at first to start out on something like it, but to be honest with you, after taking it slow and getting used to it, it's been great!! I'd highly recommend you take a look at this model in addition to the others you mentioned. :)
--"You don't get to be old bein' no foo, see? Lotta young wise men that's deaaad as a motha!#@% ain't they?-- Richard Pryor as "Mudbone"
--"You don't get to be old bein' no foo, see? Lotta young wise men that's deaaad as a motha!#@% ain't they?-- Richard Pryor as "Mudbone"
Aero
Glad you posted this. I have a new Rebel that I love, but am looking at my next bike with a bit more power, and started to consider the Aero earlier this week. Now I will look at it in depth. Thanks for the info.
V-Star 1300 / First Bike
I came across this forum, and thought I'd add my 2 cents worth. I bought a Yamaha V-star 1300 a bit ago, and am delighted with it. I hadn't ridden in almost 20 years, so I guess that I fall into the 'beginner' category (did some dirtbike riding when younger, and rode a Maxim 750 for a bit .. long ago tho). Lest, I digress... while shopping for a bike, I checked out many different models and sizes, and at 6'2", 215 lbs, the majority of the bikes in the 750-900 cc range had me looking like a gorilla on a tricycle. The 1100 Silverado was really nice, and I was strongly leaning toward that, however, several coworkers convinced me that, due to the mountainous terrain here, the 1100 would be a bit underpowered getting over the mountain passes with me and a passenger. So, after weighing all options, and, finding a great deal on a 1300, I made the purchase. The 1300 is a bit heavy, I suppose, however, like was said in an earlier post, the bike is very well balanced, and is very comfortable to ride. I haven't had any problems with city driving, nor has handling been a problem. I'm really enjoying the bike. It has power on demand and is more than capable of traversing twisting roads and narrow mountain passes with finesse. As for the post that referred to 'trading up' after a few months or so, I have to disagree. This is just enough bike for my needs.
One thing that I WILL second is the recommendation to take an MSF course BEFORE making any purchase. Not only do some dealers offer rebates if you have the MSF card, it also will lower most insurance premiums. Not to mention the fact that the course makes one aware of all of the challenges that come with operating a bike.
Also, like many folks have alluded to, don't buy a bike that intimidates you in any way.
Safe Riding.
Yeah, those 1100s are
Yeah, those 1100s are severely underpowered.
"I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain't nice."-Wolverine
"I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain't nice."-Wolverine
Yeah, I avoid hills because
Yeah, I avoid hills because there's no way my 250 would be able to take them.
Andrew
weight?
1) Go to a gym (they usually let you try one day for free anyway)
2) ask for the squat/leg press machines
3) slap on 600 lbs*
4) assuming you haven't worn yourself out putting the plates on, try to lift.
5) apply experience to decision to buy 600 lb* (dry weight) bike
* or weight applicable to bike you're considering. Test may also be applicable in choosing a pet, shrub, or significant other.
As much fun as teasing good old Anon is...
Some 600 pound bikes are actually remarkably easy to move about. The trick is the very low centre of gravity.
Of course, they are only easy until that crucial moment when they pass their magic angle, and suddenly all 600 pounds would rather rest on the engine case than the wheels... once that happens, as my friend says "Ain't nuthin doin'."
So far the only cruiser I've had to pick up off its side was my Mom's VLX. Which I *think* is just over 500lbs wet. It was actually surprisingly easy to get back upright - that isn't to say it wasn't a pain in the legs, but I was expecting harder. I'm guessing, based on that one incident alone, that at 6 foot and 185 pounds I'm strong enough to right a bike just shy of 600 pounds wet.
Man, if an electra-glide owner ever drops his bike, I feel for him. His chiropractor is gonna make a mint!
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"The two seconds between 'Oh S**!' and the crash isn't a lot of practice time."
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"The two seconds between 'Oh S**!' and the crash isn't a lot of practice time."
It also helps to know how to
It also helps to know how to pick up a bike. Some guys will get away with not doing it right on smaller bikes but on the heavy ones few people are arm lifting a 600 lb bike.
Andrew
Yamaha Vstar 1300
I started out on a 1998 1100 Honda Aero. I loved the big bike feel and the powerful engine. It was my first bike and it was the right price for a beginner so I took it. It then begin to fall apart because the dude I bought it from rigged it to sell and failed to mention everything that was wrong with it. I sold it and bought a Suzuki Volusia 800 (now the Boulevard C50), and it was a great bike. Lightweight and handled well, and had the big look. I am currently trying to sell it because I upgraded to a Vstar 1300. It handles even better than my 800 did, even going slow. Has all the power I need. The only complaint is that the handlebars have you leaning a bit too far forward to the point that sometimes I feel like I'm riding a sport bike, but other than that it is an awesome bike. I'm not going to give this one up any time soon!
Started on a bigger bike
I started on Honda's VF750C, the Magna. Don't believe anything you hear about off the line acceleration being lacking in a four cylinder. The throttle is very gentle on this bike, but if you decided you really needed to move fast off the line, the power is there. That's also true of a 250 though. Even little motorcycles are fast.
I nearly fell into the trap of buying a bigger bike for my first ride too, mostly because a) naked Goldwings are beautiful and b) there were two available in my area for cheap. Fortunately a friend pointed me to Craigslist, where I found a smaller bike in the same price range. Even this bike is bigger than recommended for starting, but at least wasn't the behemoth of a 1200cc tourer.
Man this is an old thread..
Man this is an old thread.. But I'll put my 2 cents in anyways.. I started on my V-Star 650 that I still have.. Been riding it since last Sept. and I love it.. I wouldn't want to start off on a bigger bike.. (Well.. Maybe now that they have the 950's I might have gone with that) The 650 has everything look wise that the bigger cc V-Stars do.. Only complaint is it's a bit smaller so tall riders might want to look into getting the forward control extensions put on.. That's what I did and I'm so much more comfortable on it now.. My plan right now is to keep riding the 650 until probably this summer, then moving up to an 1100 or 1300.. I love the V-Star line of bikes and I'm very happy with all the additional hardware there is out there to customize it..
Dagger
I just want to make it out of this life alive...
Suzuki m50
I almost bought a Honda VTX1300 as my first bike. Even put money down on it. At the time I had never even sat on a bike that was running. I knew the mechanics of shifting, what controlled what and so forth, but never rode. After weeks with my head in the clouds, and hearing a bunch of horror stories, I decided to do the right thing. I bought a fairly cheap, brand new, off-brand dual sport bike, and tore up my back yard before hitting the trails. Only after that did I tag it, insure it and venture out on the neighborhood streets. Got a learners permit and had my brother-in-law take me out several times to empty parking lots to practice slow manuevers, and then the highways. Did the MSF course and got my license. Now I have an 08 Suzuki M50 (805cc) and I'm having a blast. When starting in the dirt, you learn how to control a bike in all kinds of dangerous situations, without being dangerous i.e. tire slides, locking brakes, running over obstacles etc. You can't practice that on the pavement. Case in point, I believe in starting small and trading up. For those who say they can't afford to trade up and want a bigger bike to start, I say you can't afford to miss out on what you can learn from a smaller bike. Am I the "perfect rider"? Heck no. I still have a lot of learning miles ahead. But I now know what my limitations are and I don't exceed them. That something that would have been absent had I bought that 1300.
i doubt the original poster is still reading this but...
i'm a new rider. took the MSF course on a 250cc suzuki. i had started looking for a v-star 650 custom to be my first bike, but failed to find a used one in my area. instead i happened upon a v-star 1100 custom in great condition for a great price. at first, i rejected the idea, but ended up changing my mind and getting it. i've been riding it for a week. so far it hasn't killed me or scared me, or made me believe that i went too big for my first bike. when it's in motion, it feels very much like the 650 but with more power. i doubt i would be more comfortable on a smaller/lighter bike. i can handle this bike at parking lot speeds and parking lots are where heavier bikes really show their weight (by the way, i'm only 5' 5", 150lb, i have no prior riding experience and i was not any better or worse than my classmates at MSF). i feel that perhaps it may take me longer to get up the courage to get on the highway or into heavy traffic on this bike, but the real question is - is it really a good idea to get on a highway or into heavy traffic sooner rather than later, no matter what kind of bike one rides? i find that i have a lot of respect for this bike and it's this respect that keeps me riding within my abilities. at this point, i know that my abilities are lacking. they would still be lacking if my bike was lighter. rushing into more dangerous riding would be no less foolish on a 650 or even a 250.
i feel i should also add that my first car was not what anyone would call a beginner's car. it was an 89 buick regal - 3.1 liter v6 rear wheel drive. definitely not a very forgiving car to drive even in perfect weather, let alone the frequent rain and snow of north jersey. all i can say is, i could not wish for a better first car. it taught me everything i needed to know.
of course, this is all just a matter of opinion. if i end up hurting myself and learning a lesson, i'll make sure to come back here and post my epiphany.