[Dagger]

I’m 6’1″ and I went with the Yamaha V-Star 650 for my first bike.. I’m loving it.. It fits my frame real well… But like Andrew said.. Get out and sit on as many bikes as you can since (especially with the cruisers) the seat heights of various models is different.. The Shadows are a bit lower and less comfortable for myself.. The V-Star feels like I’m riding more up on the bike rather than sitting back into it like other cruisers I tried..

Dagger

I just want to make it out of this life alive…

[Dagger]

As far as I know they are street legal here in Cali.. Just not highway legal.. I’ve seen the ads for them lately but haven’t seen on in person yet.. They look like a fun lil ride just to putt around on..

Dagger

I just want to make it out of this life alive…

[Dagger]

I had my first lesson on a street bike a few weeks back and it was on a Rebel 250.. Overall, I think as a beginner it’s a solid bike. My only problem with it was that at 6’1″ the bike was a little small for me.. By the end of the hour lesson my left hip was killing me..

So 3 days ago I bought a 2002 V-Star 650 Custom.. Personally for my body size I feel a lot more comfortable riding it.. My friend who rides Harleys, rode it home for me when I bought it.. He said he had it up to 90 on the freeway but felt like it was pretty much topping out.. Not that I’m planning on doing 90 any time soon on it but it’s good to know the power is there..

Yesterday I rode it for the first time and had a blast.. I did notice the wider turning radius as compared to the Rebel.. I have my MSF class at the end of this month and still trying to decide if I should use my own bike or just use their Rebels..

Other than the size issue.. I probably would have gone with the Rebel as my first bike.. I love the look of them and the prices can’t be beat.

Dagger

I just want to make it out of this life alive…

[Dagger]

I come from a dirt bike background myself.. Rode them for many years as a teenager then got out of riding all together.. I’ve recently decided to make the plunge into street bikes and started looking at the different styles and wondering what was right for me.. As far as what I was used to on the dirt bikes, Sport bikes are the most similar.. The same standing position with the high seats and legs more under my hips.. But being 39 now I’m not sure how my back would handle riding them on a regular basis (Back problems from a car crash years ago). Style wise, I much prefer the look of the cruisers so that has been what I was looking at mostly.. I did have concerns about the riding style of them and having my feet forward instead of under me so I found a local guy that gives private one hour lessons.. My lesson was on a Honda Rebel 250..

My first bit of insight was that at 6’1, 185lbs, that the 250 was WAY too short for me.. Not only did it make getting my balance hard but by the end of the hour lesson my hip was killing me..

My second bit of insight was that once I was moving.. The reclined position was a lot more comfortable and natural than I thought it would have been..

So today I’m hopefully purchasing a 2002 Yamaha 650P V-Star Custom I looked at this weekend.. The seat hight is about 2 1/2 inches higher than the Rebel I rode and overall, even with the pegs forward, didn’t feel like I was sitting back into the bike as much but more on top of it.. I know it’s going to take some time getting used to low speeds with the pegs forward but I figured that it’s the style I like and want to learn to ride.. Sure I could probably hop on a Sport bike and feel at home again but it’s not the ride I’m looking for..

I figure.. If you’re new at something and you have to learn anyways.. You might as well learn to do what you want.. I mean what’s the point of learning on a bike that’s not the style I want to eventually ride in the long run.. Anyways.. That’s my two cents.. Good luck to all the new riders and hope you all have safe travels..

Dagger

I just want to make it out of this life alive…

[Author]

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