[joshm]

Techinically, I’m a new rider. I rode dirtbikes as a kid and young teenager. But, I’m now 21 and really consider myself as a beginner. I went to a Honda dealership yesterday and sat on a Honda Shadow 600. I’m interested in this bike because it’s not too big, but also not too small. The 750 just felt huge, but the Rebel 250 just seemed like a toy. I’m not really into “crotch rockets”, I just don’t find them comfortable. I sat on a 2008 Ninja 250R, but it just didn’t fell right. I plan on taking riding classes and don’t plan on getting my bike until late summer, so I can get a used one for much less than a brand new bike. I’m 6’1, 220lbs…would a Honda Shadow 600 be good for me? Thanks for the advise!

[Matt]

In a word: yes.

The shadow 600 won’t over power you, nor is it going to be too heavy a bike for you. The power should be very manageable. A 600cc Cruiser is not like a 600cc sport bike. Since you’ll be going used, keep an eye out for similar sized bikes. The Vulcan 500 and Boulevard / Savage S40 (650cc) are similar sized bikes with similar power. Choosing between them is simply a matter of availability, price, and personal preference.

As for saving money, right now isn’t a bad time to start hunting for a used bike. A lot of people are upgrading for the new season, so old bikes are plentiful. I know a number of my local dealerships are overstocked with trade-ins. Once summer feels like it is here the deals will dry up until fall is in the air.

A note for haggling in the fall: Most people want to sell the bike before it needs to be stored for the winter. Around here winter storage costs $250-$400 for a bike. You can usually use that as leverage to knock a couple hundred dollars off the price of a bike.

Enjoy

[Author]

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