- This topic has 20 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 2 months ago by Sangria7.
Found a bike, your thoughts??
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February 15, 2009 at 7:33 pm #2542MedicParticipant
Hey guys and gals, I’ve been looking around for my first bike and I think I found a pretty good one. I haven’t gone to look at it yet or anyhing, I was hoping I could get some opinions here first.
I’ll be taking the basic rider’s course in March and I want a bike bad. I think this may be better than a new Rebel since I won’t outgrow it as fast. Your thoughts?February 15, 2009 at 7:58 pm #16508MattParticipantI’ve ridden a later model Honda Shadow 600, and it is a good bike.
Power is fine, not going to be any issue for a new rider.
It is a 500 pound bike with a tank of gas in it. Low centre of gravity means balancing the bike at a stand still is easy. But, and the but is fairly large. If you have to push the bike around (up a ramp onto a truck or trailer, on a sloped parking lot etc) it is very heavy.
Most importantly though, is how that mass affects it in low speed maneuvers. Parking lots, confined areas, narrow residential streets (when making a turn on to one mostly), in these situations it is noticeably harder to ride than the smaller 250s.
I’m believe that if you are comfortable on a Rebel and can do a u-turn in two parking spaces without issue, the Shadow is a fine first bike. If that level of control on the rebel is hard (and for most first time riders it is) I’d go with a Rebel or other 250 for the first few thousand miles.Lastly, the Shadow 600 is not a fast bike, but it is faster and smoother than the 250s. Going 50mhp on a 250 feels fast, the bike is working and you know it. On the 600, it doesn’t feel nearly as fast – which means you ride faster than you would otherwise.
Things happen faster on the 600, it gives you less time to react, and because of its mass, your corrections have to be better.I’m not saying don’t get one, I’m saying take the course first, and be honest with yourself.
Remember: there will always be another one for sale.
February 15, 2009 at 8:20 pm #16509MedicParticipantOK, good points. Thank you for taking the time to explain all that.
I was actually just thinking how if I have to move, I could just toss the Rebel in a truck or something. Can’t really do that with a bigger bike. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, thinking all my moped time is going to give me some kind of advantage. No sense in getting a “better” bike if I just hurt myself on it. And if I feel the need for speed, I always have the Mustang haha.Maybe I shoud stop screwing around and just get the dang Rebel. I just wish I could fine a good used one here. I see them all over ebay and found several back home, but none where I’m at. Oh well. I’ll just keep looking.
February 15, 2009 at 9:02 pm #16511MattParticipantStolen from a coffee mug:
Lord Grant Me Patience, but I want it right nowTry to hold off until the course. It’s only a month away. It’ll give you a good idea whether or not the rebel is the right bike for you, or if a bigger bike is fine for you.
Take your mind off of it with a few good drives in the ‘stang now – she’s gonna feel neglected once you get a bike
February 15, 2009 at 9:39 pm #16512Sangria7ParticipantI think that Honda Shadow is nice for the price. And it shouldn’t be that much more than the 250 control wise. Yes the weight “may” be an issue but I think you can handle it. Of course I say that with a grain of salt. Take the MSF and figure out what you can handle in the beginning.
Then again $2500 is a great price and more so its a used bike so dropping it will not be as bad if you dropped a brand new bike. Personally, I would snatch that Honda up for that price. They are indeed great starter bikes.
February 15, 2009 at 10:49 pm #16513MedicParticipantHaha I’ve never been good at taking my time with things. I generally get an idea and just go for it. Which explains the Mustang too (I need a black 5 speed GT, and I need it NOW!) haha.
But maybe I should hold off this time. I’ve come to realize how little I know about motorcycles and like everyone has said, I haven’t even taken the safety course yet. I keep changing my mind between the Rebel and something else, so I guess I should be more ‘solid’ before I buy.
I think I can take the written test to get my learner’s permit, so I’m going to do that this week or next and then once I go through the BRC and get my license, I should have something figured out. And then I’ll be legal to ride my new bike home instead of getting a friend to bring it home for me.
Thanks for the help everyone
February 16, 2009 at 8:49 pm #16541Clay DowlingParticipantThere’s a really good chance that you’ll be on a Rebel in the BRC. With that kind of opportunity to try before you buy, I think buying the Shadow would be a bad bet. Not that it isn’t a good price, especially with an aftermarket seat (that’s a Corbin gunfighter, and it’s worth a couple hundred used). It’s just that if you find yourself really liking the Rebel during class, it would be a shame to already have money down on another bike.
The market is also flooded with Shadows. They’re really popular, and there will be another for sale in March. Possibly this same one. The blacked-out pipes aren’t helping his resale case, unless he happens to have the stocks around still.
Size wise, it isn’t that bad. I’m riding a VF750, which is just slightly bigger. Because the engine is smoother than the single-cylinder Kawasaki Eliminators from BRC, I actually find my bike easier for slow speed maneuvers.
February 17, 2009 at 4:21 am #16552SantaCruzRiderParticipantGet the number so you can call him if after the BRC, you still think the 600 might be a good bike.
But don’t get sucked into the belief that this is THE DEAL and you’ll never see anything like. You’ll see more bike for sale in the coming weeks/months. This is good time to be figuring out what you want and watching the boards.
February 17, 2009 at 4:42 am #16551MedicParticipantI’m all over the place looking for bikes right now. Craigslist, ebay, cycle trader, dealerships, everything I can think of.
It’s good I’m not ready to buy right now, gives me time to really see what’s out there. I found a used Rebel for $1800 too, and a couple others. We’ll see what happens.I’m just glad there’s forums like this to help me keep my head on straight haha. I tend to get excited sometimes. I thought I was gonna grow out of that, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Hey but that’s a good thing right?
February 17, 2009 at 3:52 pm #16568Clay DowlingParticipantUnless it’s got mechanical problems, that one will disappear quickly. That’s really low, and as we’ve discussed here and elsewhere, the Rebel is a pretty good bike.
February 17, 2009 at 5:24 pm #16569MedicParticipantIt looks like a decent bike, it’s got a dent in the gas tank where he says it was laid down in a garage and no add-ons, 4.4k miles.
I don’t know.February 17, 2009 at 5:49 pm #16570chaiyaParticipantIf it helps… I bought my 2006 Rebel (used, ~5000 mi) for 2K. So depending on year, 1800 is probably a good price. If you get the rebel, I highly recommend installing an inline fuel filter. It can save you a lot of carb cleaning grief later. All and all I really like my bike.
February 18, 2009 at 1:15 am #16573MedicParticipantIt was a 2001.
Doesn’t matter anymore though, I have officially become a Rebel owner.
I thought alot about what I wanted from a bike and what would be good for me, sat on the one at the dealer quite a bit more, and decided to see what they would do for a new one.I came out with a new ’09 with saddle bags installed and delivered to me (since I don’t have a license yet) for a few hundred under what they first quoted as the “out the door” price.
Maybe not the most amazing deal of the year, but it works for me. And since I’ve been meaning to quit dipping anyway, I figured the payments to be less than what I pay a month for Copenhagen. So as long as I quit (and I am quitting now), I’m saving money.
I’ll spend the time on the Rebel and see if I feel the need to move up from there. But speed isn’t a big deal for me, I just want to get out and ride. And soon I will.
I would like to thank everyone for their input and advice though, I really appreciate the time y’all put forward to help new riders. It really did help alot.
February 18, 2009 at 1:22 am #16574Sangria7ParticipantGreat. I had a Rebel to start off with and it taught me a lot at a very fast pace. She will do 80+MPH fine and she handles easily.
February 18, 2009 at 1:49 am #16576MedicParticipantI’m really looking forward to getting in the saddle and enjoying a nice relaxing ride in the Texas countryside.
I know a bike is alot different than a moped, but I used to take my moped on long trips for no reason and just enjoyed the peace when I could get in the country and just enjoy the ride. I think the Rebel will be just a “little” better. It’s all about getting out and unwinding for me.BTW, Cav Scouts are kick ass.
-Medic, 1CD
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