[Maverick9110E]

Hey everyone, Rather then jacking a current post i figured i’d make a new one. So here’s the skinny.

I plan on getting my lisecnce in the spring (read first week in april or so) and i’ve scoured the net, scoured the forums here and all over. I’m big into researching something before i buy. However, i keep coming up with so, so ideas. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before, however i am confident in my abilites to pick it up without to much difficulty. i know its going to take A LOT of practice belive you me. But i don’t think its impossible in the least. I’ve driven stick shift cars for years so i have the basic concepts of manual transmissions down, it’s just going to be a matter of transisitoning that into my hand and feet in the opposite way, ie. muscle memory and so on. One of my issues i come across is that i’m a bigger guy. I’m 6’2″ with a 32-33″ inseam. and i weigh about 250lbs. So finding a bike that fits is the first challenge. Next, is what i’m going to be using the bike for. Primary idea is commuting, however i forsee myself getting bit by the bug (kinda already am) and going on weekend rides and such. Now it looks like i’ll be commuting about 150 miles one way out to PA about twice a week so it needs to be comfortable. However, i’m used to driving a little spirited and sporty ( i mean i drive a Mustang GT for fun and a DD) lol. So i’m having a little difficulty finding this whole package in a bike. Now i know i’m going to be hard pressed to do so, but i know i’m going to have to give up one thing to gain another here. One thing i’m not to hot on is the full out sport bike setup. Humping a tank and hanging my feet up behind me for those commutes, just doesn’t seem comfortable at all. However, having my arms stretched all the way out on a straight handle bar setup cruiser doesn’t seem comfortable at all. And since i’ll be driving on the highway a decent amount, a 250 is a little out of the question, especially given my size. And i don’t want to look like a gorilla riding a tricycle either. lol.

Soooo… my dilema. I want a sporty looking, comfortable ride that has the power to drag my but around and fun to ride. However still beginner friendly. I’d love to get like a ducati monster or a hyosung GV650 styling with a 400cc motor, lol. But obviously none exists ( why the heck not i keep asking though) lol. Right now i’m leaning towards a Vstar 650 (custom or classic) a ninja 500, honda shadow (in the 500-650 range). I also love the Buell blast, but i seems that reliability, vibration, and highways might be a killer on the bike. I love the VROD muscle cruiser styling, but obviously nowhere near a good bike for me. Also price is a big factor, i’d like to either pick up something used around 3500 or less, or new around 5k.

I know it’s a tall order, and a lot to ask. But i thought this would be the best group to ask. Thanks for everyone’s help in advance!!

[jmango95]

sounds pretty similar to my situation granted though that ive had some time in dirt riding. even so dirt is way different than street. went to my local dealer and sat on an 09 ninja 250 and its a nice sporty bike and actually seemed like a bigger displacement bike. im 5’6″ and about 140lbs but i research and research and research before i buy anything (my girlfriend hates it cause i do the same thing before we get her anything lol) also sat on a ninja 500 and loved it. not quite as sporty but the seat was great (though i was only on it for about a minute) but the bike for me just felt right. if i could have i would have taken that bike right then and there, sadly im just a poor college student lol. i know the ninja 500 is said to be a good commuter and i would agree you sit more upright so your back wont be as stiff when you get off. my girlfriend wants a shadow and i admit its a nice bike, sat on that one too cruisers just arent for me though.wouldnt go with a hyosung, i havent heard anything good about the company and talked to a guy who owns one and says he cant wait to get rid of it. he said they arent really well made and he is afraid it will just fall apart on him. personally the ninja 500 i feel is just an awesome ride, its got power, not necessarilly the coolest styling but itll do and good gas mileage about 49-51 mpg. this is all just my personal opinion but like i said before i sat on that 500 and it just felt right.

[DeD Fred]

I drive one 100 miles a day, 5 days a week. Its light and nimble, but still holds the road.

I ride a Hyosung GY650S cruiser. The carbed ones are not nasty fast.

Ive got nothing bad to say about them. Id not ride the sporkbike version, and the kids that do beat them like a redheaded stepchild. So they may not last as long as the heavier Jap bikes do.

I get 55 MPG at 75 mgh, and 58 MPG at 60-62 mph.

Find a Jap bike that can match that in the 650 class.

[megaspaz]

Suzuki sv650s. That’s exactly the gas mileage i get and I have a commute mileage similar to yours. slightly above 100 miles per day.

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[Maverick9110E]

i freaking looove the styling of the GV650. but isn’t it a little to powerful for a beginner bike at 650 and the weight being low? also, hows the reliablity on it?

[megaspaz]

nah. it’s a v-twin bike. on the tame end of a 600+cc bike. linear power delivery, and a wide useable power band. I can’t tell you anything about reliability of the gv650 though since it’s a completely new redesign of the sv650. there probably won’t be any aftermarket parts for it due to the changes. In general though, the sv650’s are known to be reliable.

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[Clay Dowling]

You might try looking at a standard setup. My bike is classified as a cruiser, but it sits like a standard. I find it quite comfortable. With the long commute you’re talking about though, I think you need to be very serious about the smoothness of the ride and mechanical reliability. The shadow probably wouldn’t be a bad choice. For comfort and reliability a used Goldwing would be ideal, but they’re a little on the overkill size for a beginner. Even the GL1000 is way too big, although there will be quite a few of them on the market in the spring.

[Wanderer]

generally cruisers aren’t too overpowering untill the 800+, what makes the larger cruisers trouble for new riders is the weight, the 250’s are light and nimble, the 800+ sportsbikes are monsters on the throttle, and the cruisers are hulking brutes that you have to fight around corners and low speed turns, while praying that if you drop it, a team of football players happen to be driving past to help you lift it back up. I don’t know what the hyosung 650 weighs, but It shouldn’t be that bad. I still plan on doing the 250 route because I’m a weakling. but Dagger got an amazing deal on a V-Star 650 cheaper than he’d be able to find a V-Star 250, and it only has about 10more hp and less than 100lbs more than the 250’s on average. heck if i got that deal that he got I’d have had to seriously reconsider my determaination to start on a 250.

the GV250’s also a sweet looking machine.

[Maverick9110E]

i like the versys and the gladius to, but a little pricey. I’d imagine anything with a Vtwin will get tiring after long rides just from the vibrations though. The GV250 is definitley a nicely styled bike, but i think it would put out on the highway, espescially with me on it. lol. Also the closest hyosung dealer is about 2 hours away from here, so parts and maint. would be a bear at best i think. Unfortunatley there really arent any used versys around.

[Clay Dowling]

Okay, I’m starting to sound like a broken record to myself. But four cylinder engines tend to be pretty smooth. You might see what you can find by way of used four cylinder bikes. The only one I know of is the magna, but you’re going to hate the 110 mile range on the fuel tank with your commute. There must be some others out there though that aren’t sport bikes.

[Dagger]

Vtwin tiring from vibrations? Hmm.. Only if it says Harley Davidson on the tank… I love the way my V-Star rides.. Very smooth.. Haven’t taken it more than 80 miles in one day.. But other than my butt a lil sore from the stock seat, not too bad..

Dagger

I just want to make it out of this life alive…

[dcJohn]

Owning one, I’m a bit partial to the Versys. I wasn’t sure if you meant “pricey” in terms of your budget or pricey in terms of what you get for the money. Can’t speak to the former, but as for the latter, I think the Versys is a good value.

It’s hard to find an ’08 Versys at dealers–it was a slow seller at first, but picked up heavily after Motorcyclist named it motorcycle of the year–but the ’09 models should start trickling in soon. There aren’t substantive differences–just a new colors and now CA emissions compliant–so I expect they’ll be at the front of ’09 Kawasakis that hit dealers.

Since the Versys has been out for a while and very popular in Europe, there are already some great add-ons for it. For example, lots of windscreen add-ons to help with highway comfort (I went with the Givi) (http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles/kawasaki-versys/windscreen/). There also are lots of bag options, which can help with commuting.

I learned–1,500 miles on it–on a Ninja 250, and despite quickly turning around to sell the bike, I don’t regret starting smaller first. I think I could have learned safely on the Versys, just not as quickly, because I would have been distracted by “being careful of the power” and wouldn’t have developed confidence or pushed my skills as much as I comfortable could on the Ninja. I also don’t happen to be very tall (5’8″, 30″ inseam), and the Versys’ seat height would have been a big source of stress for me when first starting out.

As other folks have pointed out, you can do highway riding on the Ninja 250. Personally, I found highway riding on the Ninja do-able, but stressful. It’s light weight makes crosswind and trailer drafts a real pain, and while it goes along at the speed, there’s not much left to rapidly accelerate out of trouble, which takes away a big chunk of escape path for some situations. My long-ish highway commute went from just do-able to fun when I switched up to a Versys.

Finally, I wouldn’t get two caught up on the V-Twin when it comes to comfort. The Versys was built with an eye toward touring. Between its balance tube for smoother power and improved suspension (versus the 650 Ninja), the Versys makes for a very comfortable ride. If nothing else, I’d try to track one down to sit on and see if the ergonomics match what you’re looking for.

[Maverick9110E]

Well some good news. i found out that i wont have to make the two hour commute one way to work. I’ll be getting a company vehicle. So the most i’d have to commute to work is 27 miles one way (which is nothing) and only about 6 miles is highway and its all traffic i have to deal with, the rest are country back roads. so something a little sporty isnt as much out of the question as i orgininally thought. I’m starting to like the ninja 500 more and more. As far as the versys being pricey, i meant more of a cost thing not value. As it seems like a great little bike. I just didnt want to go crazy on the price of my first bike.

[briderdt]

Not a bad choice. But I just don’t care for the styling — needs to be updated.

[Maverick9110E]

the styling isn’t bad i just like that its a more upright sporty little thing, it still has a little to much lean, but again, all this could go out the window when i go to sit on them and see what i like. im going to try and stop by a yamaha dealer and sit on the vstar this weekend so i might just go cruise around and check out some other machines.

[Author]

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