[csauce777]

I’m looking for a little advice from some of you experienced riders. I’m looking into my first bike and want to make sure I get something capable of carrying me adequately, and safely. I’m 6’2 and 300 lbs so I’m not sure what the minimum size bike is that I should be looking at. Any advice?

[Spool]

The KLR650 would probably be a good fit for you. Nice big bike with plenty of room. Plenty of power to get you around, but not enough to get you in trouble. Plus if you buy used they can be had dirt cheap, heck even brand new ones are pretty cheap. But the 2007 and older models would be a better machine to learn on simply because they have less plastics and would probably survive the inevitable drop with much less damage.

[CBBaron]

Just about any motorcycle is capable of carrying you adequately. Biggest issue will be your comfort on the motorcycle.
KLR is said to fit large guys better. Most dual sports in general fit better than other small bikes. The older ninja 250r fits me pretty well but your legs do fold up quite a bit. I think you will find the 250 class cruisers to feel very small.
I would suggest sitting on a number of smaller motorcycles to see which ones you feel comfortable on.

Craig

[AtlAggie]

The Vulcan 500 is a nice lightweight cruiser that makes a good first bike if you favor the cruiser style. Anything smaller would be cramped with your size. And with a parallel twin engine and 6 speed gear box, the Vulcan will have no trouble with your size. My wife and I ride 2-up quite a bit on my 500, and together we are close to 450 lbs. The bike has no trouble carrying us at highway speeds or in the north Georgia hills.

The only reason I plan to move up to a 900 this year is because no one makes a custom back seat for the 500, and my wife finds the stock seat a bit too narrow.

[csauce777]

What are your guys’ thoughts on a suzuki savage ls 650?

[Spool]

The Savage is a nice bike but they are rather small, not much bigger than a Rebel 250. It would have enough power I’m sure, but at your size I think you’d be rather cramped.

[AtlAggie]

Is a nice bike, as Spool mention above. But you have to understand what it is, and that is a single cylinder “thumper” that is rated at about 30 HP, with a 5-speed transmission.

The Vulcan 500 is about the same size and curb weight as the Savage, but it’s rated at 46 HP, about a 50% increase in HP, and the 6-speed helps you get the most out of that HP.

I started on a Rebel, and I had a test ride on a Savage before I bought my Vulcan. I have to say that the performance of the Savage is closer to the Rebel than it is to the Vulcan.

[owlie]

I have a Suzuki S40 (savage). It fits me right, but I am about a foot shorter than you. When I sat on the Vulcan, it really felt too big to me. Same with the V-Stars. Mostly, you should just find a dealer and butt-test a few to see what is comfortable.

Good luck!
Owlie

[AtlAggie]

Excellent advice from Owlie. There is no substitute for butt testing. But as a relative newbie myself, let me point out something that I was not really aware of when I began sitting on prospective bikes. Some of the ergonomics on many bikes are adjustable!

My first ride, a Rebel, felt very cramped when I first started riding, even though I’m only 5’8″. Then I realized the adjustable handlebars were set up for the 5’0″ original owner. DUH! Adjusting the bars upward 2-3″ improved the comfort tremendously, and even helped with the knee clearance with the bars at full lock. I was able to put a comfortable 2,000 training miles on the bike in the six months I owned it.

Other bikes like the Vulcan 500 are not nearly as flexible. I understand how a shorter person like Owlie would think it feels like a larger bike. Despite a low seat height, the foot position on the Vulcan is much further forward than the Rebel. Personally, I liked that, but if my legs were any shorter, I can see where it could be uncomfortable. And the bars on the Vulcan are NOT adjustable. If you find the reach to be a bit long, like I did, your only option is to add riser extensions.

So when you are sitting on that bike on the floor, and you decide something does not feel quite right, don’t automatically eliminate the bike. Look around, or ask the sales people if the bike can be adjusted to fit you better.

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