- This topic has 22 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by ranette.
Yep, this is where I belong
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April 6, 2010 at 4:05 am #3843Quarryman32Participant
So, here I am, 53 years old, retired attorney, can count on one hand the numbers of times I’ve even sat on a motorcycle. A good friend of my wife and me just got back from Cleveland with a mojo-cycle he found on Craig’s List — monster Yamaha with 1.6 gazillion cc’s, customized beyond any sensibility. Got me thinking about open-air cruising without pedals (and hills!). I confessed to my wife that my Y-chromosome is just like any other, and I’ve always kinda wanted, well, you know . . .. She said she always wondered how long it would take! Yes, my wife is encouraging me to pursue motorcycling!
I’m comforted to find this Web site and forum. It’s just what I need to ease into this.
Keep an eye out for me in the hills of northern Westchester County, NY. If you see a Kawasaki Vulcan 500 ridden by an old fart, please be gentle; it’s my first time.
April 6, 2010 at 5:02 am #25440MunchParticipantWelcome…you couldn’t have picked a better bike to start with!
April 6, 2010 at 1:03 pm #25456Quarryman32ParticipantI haven’t actually got the bike yet, but I’ve seen numerous mentions of it as a good beginner’s bike — good, classic looks with enough oomph that it’s not a toy, but not TOO much for a newbie to handle. Do you have any particular insights?
April 6, 2010 at 2:40 pm #25467ShamRock229ParticipantGetting the wife to support you is half the battle haha
As far as the Vulcan goes, it is a great bike. Just know that like all cruisers, it will be on the heavy side and slow manuevers will be tough at first, but once you get comfortable and learn the limits of you and your bike, you will be fine. Just take it to a parking lot or something first and get a feel for it before you commit it to the open road.
And have fun of course!
April 6, 2010 at 3:19 pm #25472IBA270ParticipantGet to a class if you haven’t already! Spend a good amount of time practicing in a safe environment were you can travel slowly without a lot of traffic. This is important stuff…you’ll be pressured, if you haven’t been already, to let your friends teach you how to ride. Don’t be tempted…once you see the statistics on that, you won’t want any part of it!
Beyond the preparation part….have fun!!! It’s a blast and I hope you enjoy it!
April 6, 2010 at 10:24 pm #25485MunchParticipantIt was my first bike. Awesome beginners…. a tad heavier then a sport bike but not by much and the shorter length overall lets you turn her in slow speed maneuvers like a dream. Take your time doing parking lot practices like the ones you learn in MSF (you are taking it right?) and you can get the hang of her in no time. A very predictable bike with a smooth throttle and very mild mannered……..until you lay into her… then she will show you she has more then enough to keep you smiling.
April 7, 2010 at 12:24 am #25489Quarryman32ParticipantBetter believe I’m doing the course! Only issue with it is that the next one that’s reasonably convenient isn’t for 20 days, which seems like an eternity right now.
I got lucky with the boss. Her brother has been riding for over forty years and recently sold his Harley shop in Florida. Her uncle rides, and on and on. I guess she just figures it’s another one of those situations where “a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”
Every source tells me to go with the Vulcan 500. I just happened to drive by a Kawasaki dealership this evening (really! totally by chance!) and they’re offering me a new 2009 for $4,000. I know I can get cheaper slightly used, but hey …. Comments?
April 7, 2010 at 2:30 am #25495EddiepowerfmParticipantis that the out the door price? that seem pretty good but what charges will be added. the sensus on this sight seems to be buy used for your first bike. well, I did not find this site in time.
so my fist ever bike was purchased on July 2008. it was a brand new 2007 Vulcan 500. the sticker was $5,000 and it was atotal of $6,000 out the door. i now see Vulcan 500’s for much cheaper on craigslist. o well, live and learn and I love my bike(Tuvoc)
April 7, 2010 at 4:21 am #25496Quarryman32ParticipantIt’s $4k plus taxes and fees, which will total another $700 or so, but the dealer’s part of the check I’d cut would be $4k. I’ve seen some Craigslist entries that look reasonable, and I’m torn. I know part of my dilemma is my impatience! Then again, new is, well, not used, and there’s gotta be somebody that starts the chain of ownership, so why not me?
Munch, if you’re still listening, the time that we exist is every time that we influence anything, an occurance that can happen even after death. I think.
April 7, 2010 at 5:51 pm #25506EddiepowerfmParticipant$4,700 out the door is very nice. One positive is that you will know it wasn’t broke in unproperly. But on the other hand you might be able to find a gently used one for around 3k. New or used, you’re going to love this bike.
April 7, 2010 at 11:21 pm #25510MunchParticipant….always watching….
and a man of thoughtful perspective you seem to be! My daughter (14 yrs old) is struggling to answer it, and she gets a kick out of my answer….. “The instance before memory is when we exist”April 8, 2010 at 2:31 am #25515owlieParticipantEveryone has their own opinion on New vs. Used.
For myself, I bought new. I don’t know enough about mechanics and/or bikes to have felt comfortable buying used- even with someone knowledgeable to check it out.
Just don’t do like I did and put your first ding on it on your first ride. Try to wait a ride or two…. Unless you are of the “hit the mailbox on the way home from the dealership to get over it” mentality…. But even then, I still don’t suggest laying it down on the way home.
Best of luck!
April 8, 2010 at 4:05 am #25517ShamRock229ParticipantI dont think that’s what they meant by break in period…
April 8, 2010 at 4:08 am #25519IBA270ParticipantDepends on the deal…The difference between new and used, for some, is negligible…for others, and certainly for some bikes, it’s a big difference.
A good friend of mine just bought a Ducati Desmosidici…an $80K bike when outfitted new. He bought it used…for $40K. With 1,000 miles on it. Clearly, that’s a deal.
April 8, 2010 at 3:10 pm #25546Sean_DParticipant… There are some dealers who still have stock of ’09’s they are just dying to get rid of. Sometimes the price difference between a new and used bike can be minimal. That said there are some mint condition, low mileage used bikes out there that you wouldn’t know from new without checking the odometer. Sometimes these can be picked up for a fraction of the new cost as your example clearly shows. Sometimes they will even include some expensive upgrades and mods for the lower price.
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