[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.

[Munch]

….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”

[Munch]

(or emergency brake as it’s called here, though quite what emergency you would use it in has never been explained to me). ……

To put your mind at ease on a possibility. If your car is equipped with rear drum brakes and the wheel cylinder goes out you will lose hydraulic pressure in your system. The emergency (parking) brake is mechanical entirely so this will allow you to stop (over a very long distance) in case of that hydraulic failure. Or if no drum brakes any of your hydraulics bleed down from from either a brake line or one of the caliper piston seals leak out it gives you a mechanical means to assist the ones that may still have the pressure to slow/stop you.

[Munch]

On the leather side. If you are going to be spending a good amount on them . I would hope you are taking steps to keep the leather in good condition. Weather sealers/polishes…. cleaning etc. I ride with my leather jacket more then anything and in many a down pour ….. some times for giggles…and not even the slightest hint of aging on it. Just make sure you wipe it down from time to time and throw some mink oil or whatever your preferrence is to keep the water to a minimum on soaking in.

[Munch]

It 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.

[Munch]

Welcome…you couldn’t have picked a better bike to start with!

[Munch]

It’s not a mistake…. first lets clear that up. It’s a personal preference most base on the idea that the the odds are very high that you may drop the bike within you first 2 years of riding and taking a hit on the resale value when/if you do sell it. As with anything concerning riding it’s all about risk and what your willing to accept.
Personally both of my bikes I bought new and don’t regret it once.
As far as the no start. If your lights and everything is working it could be as simple as operator error. Make sure the Kickstand is up and in neutral. Turn on the engine switch then hit the starter button. If it fires right up …… staying in neutral drop the kickstand back down. If the engine cuts off you may have a bad safety switch ( assuming the bike has one). Some come with a safety switch that will not allow you to start it in gear without the clutch in . So make sure you pull the clutch lever also.
If it does not start…. being that it is an ’09. Then the next step you should take is to call the dealership and have them come and either pick up the bike to check it out for you… or to trade for a non problematic one. You just could have gotten a bad luck draw of a 5 o’clock Friday bike.

[Munch]

……””With production starting today, the movie is expected to be in theatres exactly one year from today on April 1st, 2011.

Editor’s Note:

Now that Aprils Fool’s Day is officially behind us, we can confirm the above was written to celebrate the day of trickery. The story only exists in our minds with the inspiration coming from some wishful thinking, mixed in with humor and a dash of sarcasm thrown in. None of the names (real or not) have any such project in place (that we know of) and we thank them for letting us use their likenesses in our celebration of a unique day.

Because our readers are having so much fun with the story, we’re keeping it up, but understand it is entirely a work of fiction written to entertain!””

Taken from clutchandchrome.com

[Munch]

Last words…. nah you said enough. I’ll agree to disagree on your assessment and interpretations of what I said and reflections on how you feel about cruisers. No worries man. I take nothing personal and if I ruffled any feathers…. well glad to see your still alive enough to get ticked.

Granted that we both disagree on most any point between bikes and varying things debated. I will still tip my hat to ya with respect partly for standing your ground… and mostly for the type of motorcycling that is your hobby. I enjoyed rock crawling and such in my Jeep and could not imagine it on a bike.

[Munch]

The fiberglass aesthetics was not a dig at sport bikes, rather an example between the two differing bike styles. Anyone who has read anything I have had to say on this forum knows I am not biased one way or another towards cruisers or sport bikes. So as far as that goes we’ll leave that be. There was no struggle at all in what I was saying only the way in which you decide to try and bend it. Why on earth would I refer to the 1200 cc version on a beginner bike forum?
Your initial post of excess was originally about ..Style, personality or whatever we agreed to disagree on. Now your trying to revert it to price tag. In which case. We could both carry this debate on for years on end. Name one bike on the road that wasn’t designed for said profit.

My point originally being is that “excess” is just as bad as one side of the coin as it is the other.Sport bikes -you have the ‘Busa crowd with the stretched out high volume chrome custom painted fairing or even the non ‘Busa peeps with the repli racer kits. On the cruiser side yes with the “butt jewelry” you will also find the said custom paint jobs and raked out front ends. As with pipes for both styles. So as to which bike is in excess….. depends on the ones you are comparing. And no you will not find it in the article you linked as I stand on my thoughts and knowledge on the learning of my experience, not the ideas thrusted by others with the need to feel like I have to have them back me up.

[Munch]

Comparing bobbers to choppers…. no he is not wrong.

[Munch]

read it and stick with my original point. As the author himself says the trade off between “butt jewelry” of the customizers and the performance constant upgrades of sport bikes riders for more power and speed are at best even.
I largely disagree with his cataloging of the names. An intruder as a chopper…. you kidding me. Maybe its a location thing .

Also his comments read to me as being a victim of the same stereotyping that I mentioned in my first response. Ape hangers…. yea not everyone has them or want them. Those that do ( at least folks I know) go to swap meets to do a trade out. Or….they know many other folks that can and do do fab work and get them extremely low in price but largely better in quality. I will give you the custom paint jobs… but there again… it washes with those of the sport bike world that do the same if not stopping there but going and buying a whole new fairing set. Pipes…both are guilty. Otherwise Yoshimura (sp?) and the likes would not have a business.

oh and some of his “stats ” are out dated. The Kawasaki Vulcan 500 breaks two of his listings. It IS a cruiser and not only does it have a chain drive but it also breaks his theory of being standard 1,000 cc’s. And why no mention of Bobbers? Maybe because it may make his point a tad off base to being as they are core minimalists when it comes to their bikes. Cruiser based with everything non essential taken off for a cleaner, rougher, basic look.

The word excess would imply “big pimpin” types or those from the Hummer world that have the stereotype of go big or go home. Style….. closer….

I would prefer personalization. Though …. .What rider doesn’t do that?

[Munch]

“because Cruisers really are all about excess.”……”cruisers have little to do with performance, features or R&D, and everything to do with ‘the Look’.”

Uh…. what?

Cruisers just shy of choppers and bobbers have little to do with excess. Matter of fact comparatively sport bikes represent most of that “excess”. Between the high volume of fiberglass aesthetics to overpowered engines for the weight ratio. The only style bike that goes beyond that is the tourer types such as Goldwings and HD’s Electra’s. How can one represent “excess” and yet lack “performance, features or R&D, and everything to do with ‘the Look’.”??
I think you may be referencing the stereo typing that was given to the Lawyer/Doctor/week end warrior types that look for the butt jewelry and minimally represent the lifestyle that of “cruiser type enthusiasts”. The same could be said by comparing or grouping rather an owner of a naked GS whatever to a blinged and stretched ‘Busa.

Beginner cruisers are easy to judge… mostly by a limit of less then 750 cc’s. Also take in the weight of the bike. A Sporty would not be a good ( all though not inconceivable) good beginner bike due to how heavy it is (amazing for how tiny it seems) and the nature for which it was designed. Heck the name gives you a clue. However take a V-star 650 or Kawi Vulcan 500…lower CC’s Lower over all weight…. the only test it would need to pass is the butt test and what if anything can be or would be willing to adjust to fit you.

[Munch]

Bare in mind also that adjustments can be made. Assuming any bike stock will fit every one will be foolish, thats why they make things such as handle bar risers, peg/floorboard relocation’s and even some bikes like my 9 you can rotate the handle bars up for an even more custom fit.

[Munch]

get the battery tested. Chances are the dealer may have neglected to do it before selling it to you. Or it just could have been a 5 o’clock friday battery and went caput. Also … make sure to post a separate thread in the general section to get a quicker response and to respect the original posters thoughts.

[Author]

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