[Andrew]

I’m starting to look at bikes that I may want to buy and while I will need a bike that I can ride and thats ‘functional’ I’m starting to also think about how bug a factor ‘form’ should be in a first bike. I have a 5 mile commute to work that gets broken up with an extra 20 mile round trip on days I go to the gym.

I’ve ridden the Rebel and the Nighthawk at my MSF class and the Nighthawk is easier to ride IMO. The Nighthawk is hard to find used and to be honest it’s not very exciting visually. I prefer the look of cruisers but if the Rebel is like other cruisers then I’m not I like how they ride. At least right now as a noob. I haven’t been on a sportbike but I’m willing to try a Ninja 250 or a Buell Blast to see how they feel. Might have trouble selling the idea of a “crotch rocket” to the wife though.

I seem to prefer the setup of a standard but there aren’t many options for small standards. I guess I’m wondering if getting a bike that isn’t exciting will affect how often I will ride it?

[Matt]

It is very important to get a bike you like. Even with gas prices what they are, bikes are not practical decisions. You have to take practical matters into account, but buying a bike is fundamentally about emotion. So make sure the bike evokes a positive emotion in you.

All that said, remember a few things: there is a huge after market out there, you can personalize any bike you buy to be “yours”. Just make sure you start off with something that you at least enjoy.

And lastly, the enjoyment of riding it is what will make you love a bike. Few bikes are ugly from the riding view. Go with what you’ll have the most fun riding. That is what will build the most positive emotion. Unless you are one fo those guys that just likes washing his bike and showing it off, in which case, just buy your harley now

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The problem with the internet: Everyone gets the same font size.

[Budd]

The ninja is more of a crotch bottle rocket. It sits more standard, almost like the night hawk. They are very different bikes though. You have to get something that you feel comfortable on. go to a dealership and sit on a few.

“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine

[Andrew]

If I had the money to buy a Harley I’d be happy but spend it on something else anyway. I had no idea how expensive they were till I walked into the local dealership which had 12 bikes on the floor with not one under 14K. Ouch.

Andrew

[Andrew]

The Ninja intrigue’s me to be honest. I’ve heard the older models are closer to a standard setup apart from the pegs. I live in a college town so around here a “crotch rocket” normally means squid. The local cops are apparently tougher on sports bike riders due to that.

Andrew

[six-shooter]

Function was my main reason for choosing a cruiser. By the time I mounted saddlebags and a sissy bar bag, I can carry a ton of stuff which I carry back and forth to work. That combined with the fact that I knew I’d be riding 2-up some made the cruiser the practical choice, even though I love the look of the streetbikes..
Try to find a Vulcan 500 and sit on it to see what you think. Like you, I didn’t like the feel of the Rebel (and the Nighthawk felt a little cramped for me too), but the 500 was by far the most comfortable of the entry level crusiers that I tried, and has plenty of power as well.

[ShannonG]

You always have to factor in Garage Door Reaction. When the garage door goes up, your heart should race a little when you see your bike. That’s when you know you’ve got the right one. If you’re just :meh: about it, don’t buy it.

[Author]

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