[Slice947]

Howdy ya’ll, for the last year or so I’ve been planning to save up and buy a bike, just as soon as i take the M.S.F. course of course. well now that I’ve taken the course, I’m torn between the Ninja 500, Vulcan 500, or the DR-Z400SM. The Ninja and the Vulcan seem more practical, but the DR-Z400SM seems just more like me. I’m off to college in a few months, and would like to come home to mom’s cooking, so does anyone know about the DR-Z on the highway?Does anyone have any input on one’s you’ve owned, all PoV’s will be considered when i finally come to a decision on which one is for me. Thanks ya’ll.

[A]

Among your choices of three bikes, DRZ is probably the worst for highway jaunts.

Single cylinder engine will likely have more vibration than the other two.. and wear out quicker with sustained high rpm operation. Even though DRZ engine is one of the smoothest among thumpers.

But DRZ will be the most fun out of the three, lighter weight, supermotard maneuverbility.. Go fot it, just ride the backroads and avoid the highways… more fun anyway.

[SantaCruzRider]

These are 3 totally different bikes with different ergos and somewhat different purposes. I’d advise seriously thinking about how you will actually ride (not just the fantasy ride, but where you’ll actually spend time).
If it doesn’t involve dirt, the DRZ starts fading. If you like the ergo of standard, the Vulcan fades. If you think you’ll spend time ripping fire roads, the DRZ is the only choice of the 3.

Have fun.

[Slice947]

I’ll be putting around campus/town 80% of the time which all of them can do, riding home 10% which I want all of them to do, and being a hooligan, 10% of the time(I hope) on the weekends.

[A]

Bike purchase could be similar to education purchase.. Do you spend 80% of time study, 10% party and 10% chasing girls?.. or more like 20% study, 40% party, 40% chasing girls..
Make sure you get an extra helmet for passenger.. which ever bike you decide.

[brickerenator]

^personally I think he should avoid getting a second helmet for a passenger.

he shouldn’t be giving rides until he has actual riding experience.

[SantaCruzRider]

It’s good advice to avoid taking passengers until you have many months and several thousands miles under your belt.
Adding weight to the rear tire completely changes the riding dynamic, and if she’s cute, it can serious fog your judgement.
It’s sounding more like Ninja 500 to me.

[A]

I didn’t say riding with a passenger is a good idea for him, I said make sure he has a extra helmet for his passenger. You know his going to carry a passenger when he’s on campus, regardless of what we tell him..

[Slice947]

I don’t think I’ll be hauling a passenger around with me for quite some time, even if she is hot, road rash doesn’t look good on anybody not even me. Plus I’m majoring in Biology with an emphasis on Pre-Med, meaning I can’t get below a 3.5 gpa, so no parties for me for a while.

[Elias]

I told my girl that she can’t ride with me until she got her own helmet, jacket and gloves. For some reason, I thought this would stall her enough to allow me to get a couple thousand miles of riding experience…boy was I wrong. I haven’t even purchased a bike yet and she already has all her gear! I’m going to have to re-evaluate…

[Elias]

Vulcan 5-hundo, it’ll grow on you.

[Author]

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