[japac1]

Hello. I’ve been riding for a little over a year on a virago 250. I love the bike, but I feel I am ready for something a bit larger. I sat on some used Star 650 silverados today. Man, they look huge compared to my little Virago. I didn’t ride any, however. Is this a normal feeling when you guys decided to go larger? Any comments on the Star 650’s? thanks

[Munch]

The Vstar 650 would be a very sensible step up. Just make sure you start your learning processes back at the beginning. PLP’s for slow speed maneuvers especially since you are jumping to a heavier bike, different ergonomics and a little more top heavy. Not to mention it will be slightly more tourquey in feel to you. Pay close attention to your gear ranges and your braking power. They will greatly differ. Each time you go to a new bike you should do these things as each has a different “personality” in handling and power.

Being ready to go up a size is a personal choice. Some will try to tell you your nuts to do so unless you have the 250 mastered and get your chicken strips down to less the 1/4 inch from the side walls of your tires. Others will ask why just a 650. The decision is yours and yours alone. If you feel and assess your skills honest enough to step up then by all means go for it.

[Commonbear]

I am also a V-Star 250 rider, and twenty months and 6100 miles later am starting to look around at possible upgrades this summer. Over the last week I’ve hit most of my local dealerships asking about cruisers in the 500 to 700 cc range… most of them laughed at me.

The V-Star 650 Classic has the look that I really like, but after finally being able to sit on one I am now hesitant, as the thing was BLOODY heavy in comparison. I had asked about that and was only told “they use more steel instead of aluminum to keep costs down, and the extra weight gives it a more ‘Harley’ feel that customers expect.”

Um… if I want a Harley, I’ll buy a Harley.

Might anyone have suggestions on new cruisers in the 500 to 700 range that weighs less than the 550 pounds of the classic? Going from 330 pounds of what I ride now up to that just rubs me wrong in so many ways, what with power-to-weight ratio loss, poorer fuel economy, additional breaking power needed, and heaven forbid I should ever need to pick the thing up if it fell over….

[Jeff in Kentucky]

The Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan cruiser with a parallel twin engine is a lot lighter than the newer 650cc Yamaha, or if you want an antique look at the 1970s XS-650 Yamaha that I used to ride with a parallel twin engine and chain drive (a Triumph Bonneville copy).

The 600cc Honda Shadow VLX I have rode since 2002 weighs 450 pounds, and was made from 1988 to 2007. Another possibility is the single cylinder 650cc Suzuki Savage or S40. Also look at the newest more reliable 500cc Royal Enfield, or the more expensive Triumph cruisers.

[TrialsRider]

Expand your horizons. Maybe a ‘performance’ motorcycle is that somthin, somthin, that you are looking for in comparison to your current rides and a bigger one of what you have is just that, a bigger one of what you have. I’d say more but Munch would rip me a new one 😮

[Gary856]

Great advice from Munch – treat your second bike like it is your first bike, like you’re learning to ride for the first time again.

It’s natural to want to expand your horizons. Only you can tell if you’re ready. My first bike was an easy to ride GS500. Six months later, I bought my second bike – YZF600R, a sportbike, which turned out to be more difficult to ride than I expected. Building on top of what I learned on the GS500, I had to learn many new techniques to ride the YZF600R well. But that was exactly what I wanted – a new challenge, and new things to learn.

[CBBaron]

Well a Sportster 883 is right about 550lb.
The Vulcan 500 is quite a bit lighter at about 475.
The Triumph Bonneville has the classic look but is a standard at around 500.

Not cruisers but naked standards like the SV650 and EN6r are between 400 and 450.

Cruisers in general are large and heavy with few models under 1000cc and 600lb.
Light weight mid-sized bikes are much easier to find in standards (faired and naked) and dual-sport/adventure bikes. There are several twins and detuned fours near 650cc that would make a nice upgrade with being expensive.

Craig

[Munch]

you went there didn’t you

#25628

[japac1]

Well, I bought the 650 silverado! I had to ride my 250 50 miles on highway! Difficult ride. Got blown around but did get her up to around 65 mph. Got to the dealer, sat on the 650 and took her for a spin. Yes, it’s heavier, but you really don’t notice. It’s actually easier to ride than the 250. It has a low seat height which makes me comfortable. And even though when compared next to the 250, when you’re in the saddle you can’t really tell. So far I’m happy. Will hit the parking lots tomorrow, but the 50 mile ride back home was incredible! Bottom line: it’s not unmanageably heavy, way to fun to ride, seems to be easier to handle than the 250, and looks great!!

[Sean_D]

.. another Cruiser set under 1000cc and 600lbs would be the Triumph America and Speedmaster. These have an 865cc engine and a wet weight of 550lbs. Right about that of the 883.

Suzuki Boulevard S50 (805cc), I believe runs around 540lbs

The SV 650 seems like a nice bike, but didn’t they cease production of those in 2008? I may be wrong about that.

What about the Suzuki Gladius? Thats a 650cc weighing in at around 500lbs. I really know nothing about these.

I would agree with TrialsRider about expanding horizons. My wife has a V-Star 650, and she likes it just fine. But she doesn’t find it a particularly fun bike to ride. She did test drive an America today and enjoyed that a lot, but she really likes my Bonneville, and takes it out every chance she gets. She has been looking at some other options as well, keeping an open mind to styles and brands. She would really like a Tiger or Suzuki Bandit … but thats down the road

[TrialsRider]

Congrats on the new bike purchase
Did you get the 2010 with windshield, saddlebags and passenger backrest ? You’re going to love that shaft drive! Just go easy in the corners until you explore the grind point on the foot boards.

[Munch]

He aint kiddin about that!

The one thing most new cruiser owners with floorboards deal with is that sudden scratch sound when you least expect it. If you hear it don’t panic, brake or suddenly pull up from the turn. Stay committed to your turn and ride it out. Just make a note of how hot you went in and slow down for the next time.

[japac1]

I hear you both. Today I purposely leaned farther than I think I do, but no scraping floorboards. I think I’ll handle it ok when it does happen. Still loving it. I bought a 2007 with the silverado package: windshield, saddle bags and sissy bar. I sat in the garage and stared at it for a while! I don’t miss my Virago; although she was very good to me!

[CBBaron]

Yea the SV650 ended in 2008 but there are quite a few available used. The Gladius is basically the same bike with a new look and name.
The SV650S is not the same bike. It has clip-on handle bars and more rearset pegs causing a more aggressive riding position.

You wife may like one of the naked or faired standards mentioned above. Very different look but a similar riding position to the Bonnie but somewhat lighter.

I know what you mean by keeping you options open. I can see why some people get a new bike every year, or have a half dozen bikes in the garage.
I really like my Ninja 250 but I could use a little more leg room. Dual-sports are also intriguing, especially given the condition of the city streets I commute on and my parents dirt road. And bikes like the Bonnie just look great.

Too many toys, too little time or money!!!

Craig

[Gary856]

2009 was the last year of production for the naked SV650. The Gladius is the replacement for the naked SV, but SV owners generally don’t consider it to be the “same” – looks are very different, and parts aren’t interchangeable. They’re around 430 lbs wet – significantly lower than 500 lbs.

The faired version of SV650 (“S” model”) is still being made, I think.

[Author]

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