[Michael T]

well ive finally saved up a good amount of money,at least enough to buy a decent starter bike. as i was scanning craigs list (which has become a habit) i found a 2006 suzuki s40 for $2,600 it has less than 3000 miles on it bc the owner said he bought it thinking he would love to ride it but never rode probably more than 100 miles on it since he bought it. this will be my first bike and besides riding a 125 dirtbike i have no road experience. so i guess what im asking is 1.) will i grow out of it in 6 months. 2.) im about 6’1 150 lbs. (tall and mighty lanky) those of you who have owned one will it be cramped and is there a way to fix it (besides chopping my shins off). and 3.) is it a good price for the bike, does the bike have the power thats needed and just some personal opinions. ok thats it thank you in advance

[briderdt]

My ride is a 2005 Suzuki SV650s – Vtwin sport bike. But I rode a C50 a couple times this past month, which I know isn’t the same as the S40, but it’s similar in design (the S40 is a single, approx. 650cc, the C50 is a Vtwin, approx. 800cc, but the chassis is essentially the same).

At rest, the C50 feels very top heavy, something that won’t be as much of an issue with the S40. But once rolling, the bike handles very well. Well mannered, predictable, smooth (though if you’re used to lofting your body over bumps as on a sport bike, the feet-forward position will take some getting used to). I think I’d term the handling as pretty effortless. So in that regard, the bike is great for a beginning rider. With the 650 single, you might get a little more vibration, but it won’t overpower you. This would be a good bike for more well more than 6 months — you may well get years out of it. It’s far better to ride a smaller bike to ITS limits than to ride a larger bike beyond YOUR limits.

I’m 5’9″ and small change, so you’re a little taller, and a little lighter than me. I don’t think you’ll find the bike cramped, nor do I think it’ll be too big for you, but by all means, SIT ON THE BIKE and decide for yourself.

Kelley BLue Book on that bike is $2745 (http://www.kbb.com/motorcycle/retail/2006/suzuki/s40/79454), so I wouldn’t go any higher than that, no matter what aftermarket stuff may have been done. The asking price is fair as long as the maintenance has been done, and it starts and runs smoothly. But that’s just my opinion.

Hope that helps.

[bigguybbr]

Plunk your butt on it. My girlfriend has one. She’s 5’10” and it’s pretty small for her. If I sit on it at 6’6″ my knees are up over the gas tank. I have a feeling it’s probably going to be borderline ridiculous on you.

It made a great bike for her first season of riding. It’s light, it’s narrow through the middle, it’s very low powered (even though it’s a 652cc bike it only puts out something like 34hp and 30-something ft/lbs of torque). I even took it to work a few times as she isn’t a fan of going out in anything but 75 F weather. It didn’t seem to want to do anything above 73mph on the high way. Thats fine for getting around, but I’m not sure I would venture any sort of long trip with it, especially not on the highway as it is way too light for comfort.

All in all it’s a fun bike though, there is only one thing that I would say is truely bad about it… it sounds like an old toro lawn mower. The single cylinder “thumper” really doesn’t sound anything like what you would think a motorcycle would sound like.

[Michael T]

well i actually changed my mind i called the guy and he said there was no battery and wasnt going to put a battery in it. and i just got back from looking at a 02 vulcan 750 for $2800 so ill probably buy the vulcan. if youve got an opinion on that bike i would like to hear it as well
mike

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