[haakon59]

Munch–sounds like we have slightly different learning styles: you like to get experience quickly whereas I like to talk about things and learn what to expect first, then get on a bike. This is what works for me and I usually wind up the better for it. While I am not anxious per se, I merely want to find out what I will encounter ahead of time. It’s just my style. But I thank you for pointing out that you were trying to tell me what you had experienced and what you learned from it. My first impression is that you were trying to analyze me psychologically based on a few short posts, instead of talking about motorcycles and riding. I shouldn’t have been so quick to judge. But I understand your intentions now and want to thank you for them.

I was also thinking of buying a bike first and then practicing ahead of the test to make sure I would pass the first time, but it looks like this is unnecessary. On the other hand, I have been to some dealers and tried out both scooters and motorcycles. What surprised me was how quickly the salespeople jumped to the 750cc size bikes and tried to sell me on them. I began to get the impression that perhaps this would be a decent way to start. But after reading some additional material both here and at some other sites, I see that I was actually correct to begin with. Now I am thinking I will buy a 250cc bike, maybe 500cc’s at the most–we’ll see how I feel after the course. Part of the reason I want to discuss things a bit ahead of time is because I want to run into contrary opinions so I can listen and judge them, eventually sorting it all out so that I can do what is right for me. In my case, since I have absolutely no experience and am over 40 years old, I am guessing I will be much better off learning to ride on a less powerful bike. I plan to take the safety course and buy the “safety” clothing, even though I am not sure how much the clothing helps you–maybe you can avoid road rash, which is good actually. But of course, I would like to avoid an accident to begin with. I have already settled on several of the decisions I needed to make just based (in part) on the above discussion, so I greatly appreciate everyone’s input.

[briderdt]

…weren’t the I-4 supersports like a GSX-R. I did my homework, and was actually quite glad I got what I did. The V-twin engine has a very good power band, and is very forgiving to short or long shifting. But what it does have is good low-end torque, and it’s known for having a rather “on/off” throttle. I’ve gotten used to it, and have made some adjustments as well that have tamed it down some.

But I’m not saying this as a recommendation that you should do the same.

[boulevardboy]

Dude, there is a 50cc Vespa in my garage for sale – which just means that it may be a good idea to cut a few corners and go straight to a motorcycle rather than have a scooter first. I live in Kirkland WA and bought a scooter from the Vespa dealership almost 3 years ago thinking that I would never want anything bigger, faster etc. They tried to talk me out of the 50cc and onto a 150cc as they said that most people get bored of the 50cc pretty fast but I stuck to my guns. I lied to myself for the longest time, but it was really only a matter of a few months before I wanted a bigger scooter and then just a few short months before I wanted a bike. It did take me about 2.5 years to make the leap though as I couldn’t bring myself to spend the extra cash to trade up. I loved riding the Vespa so much, but I like my Boulevard even better.

Still not made the sale yet, but I don’t think I could get myself onto the scooter again – maybe I will put it up for sale in the Spring.

[haakon59]

I sat on the Boulevard M50 (and the S40, S50) and it’s a very nice bike. I love the styling of that one. I have also been to the Vespa dealership in Seattle and they are nice people. I was talking to them about a 150 but after looking around and doing some research I decided to go for 250cc or larger, so I could get the bigger wheels (better for potholes). Gas mileage is still reasonable at that level. But I have been increasingly thinking of just getting a motorcycle. If I start with the 250cc size, I should be OK and I can ride it for a couple of years. I am not a speed demon anyway. I just want a bike for basic transporation. Congratulations on your Boulevard by the way–that’s a nice bike. Thanks for the advice.

[boulevardboy]

Hey, you are so welcome to any advise I can offer, even though I am still new to this game myself! I really like my bike a lot, and I hate it when I have to go to work in the car for any reason now. I think that you will probably be just fine with a 250cc for a long while – if you are anything like me and by saying you are not a speed freak we have something in common. My bet is that if I had started with a 250cc bike that I would have been fine with that for a good few years. The reason that I went for the 650cc eventually is because I had had my fill at 50cc and I didn’t want to have to tarde up after a few months – way too much trouble and expense.

Other than that I think that the advise on here that says 600cc is too much for a newbie runs true, but I figured I could be let off with that as I had over 8000 miles at 50cc was not a real newbie!!!

[haakon59]

You know, the Suzuki salesperson pitched me that bike, the M50, and I loved the styling. The weight was fine too, but I didn’t have a sense of how much 800 cc’s really was, especially for a beginner, so there is no way I will do that–for now anyway, until I had some experience. I think 250cc’s is going to be fine for me. Although I have been reading that many have outgrown their bike after 6 months, which I might too, but I am guessing I won’t. The only way I care about speed is to have enough on the freeway for tight situations. In general, I don’t think I will rider my 250 on the freeway anyway but mostly for around town. I have been floating the idea of whether it would be wise to look into the Kawasaki 500 (also a cruiser style) as a way to buy a bike I can keep a little longer before I outgrow it. 500cc will even be enough for me when I am experienced, is my feeling. Partly, I want good gas mileage as well. So should I consider this? I will have to consider it, but I personally think a 250 might be fine for me for a long time–more than 6 months anyway. I was just trying to avoid buying another bike so soon. So I am going to consider the 500, which is the biggest I will consider, but I will probably get the 250–I would rather work on my skills on a forgiving bike, I think. Thank you. This forum has quite a few people with good advice, so I appreciate your input.

[Anonymous]

1. Don’t worry about shifting since they take you through that in the MSF course. During the MSF course, make a point of shifting more than necessary and you’ll get the hang of it quickly. Every time you are riding during the class, whether or not the coach is watching you, take the opportunity to practice something.

2. Motorcycles are much better than scooters on the highway. The big wheels and added weight help tremendously with high speed stability. If you will be spending any time on the freeway, get a bike.

3. Scooters are less expensive than bikes, and are great fun. If you aren’t going on the freeway, why not start on a scooter?

4. If you go with a scooter, the 125-150 engine sizes are ideal. You’ll have all the power you need on surface streets with a 60 MPH top speed, yet you can enjoy the manouverability that goes with a light weight ride. The 250cc size will help on the freeway, but if you’re spending time on the freeway you should probably be on a motorcycle.

Ultimately, just get what you want. Riding a motorcycle isn’t all that difficult, although riding well is, so don’t be intimidated about starting on one. Conversely, if you have your heart set on a scooter, you’ll be happiest with a scooter.

[Sangria7]

1. Shifting is not difficult but it can be painstaking in a high density traffic area where stop and go traffic is constant (there is a post somewhere I did that list top 10 worst traffic in USA). Many cyclists opt for the larger CC scooters here due to that fact. Then again there are tons of people also on motorcycles that just “shift” their way through traffic like me.

2 – 4. There are larger scooters, primarily 500cc’s, that will do great on the freeway. I have seen several in Houston, but of course they have to be larger than the 150cc engines. Typically there are 300-500cc scooters around.

[Sangria7]

And one more thing, as Anonymous poster mentioned. Riding is not difficult but riding well is especially when you start to push the limits on the leans, faster turning, and tight manuevering. I can finally do a U-turn from a stop position without using my feet

[boulevardboy]

OK, so I do not have that much experience at all, but in my opinion I would totaly go for a cruiser type bike if you want to get a few more cc’s than 250. That way you will end up with a bike that will last you longer before you will potentially get bored of it. The thing that I have heard a lot of people say about sports bikes here for beginners is that they can totally get away from you and you can end up in all sorts of trouble especially the bigger they get. Correct me if I am wrong, but a cruiser style bike is much more forgiving.

[boulevardboy]

The thing with the MSF course is that you can try a bike there for the weekend and that will really give you the idea of what you want to ride as well. I had a 250cc Reble and it was great – I knew from that point that I would eventually end up with a cruiser. They like you to keep the same bike for both days, at least they did when I took it, but there were some people that tried both a sports and a cruiser style bike to see how they felt. After I took the course it was well over a year and a half before I went to get a bike and I had not driven anything with a clutch since that time apart from the 2 days at the course but when I took my Boulevard for a test drive (yes, they just let me go out on the streets on my own!) I was totally fine and it came straight back to me.

The other thing before you test drive a bike you are going to buy is you could get a bike riding friend to let you have a trial run around a parking lot to get your confidence up.

Good luck

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