OT: Motorcycles
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Home, ID
I'm on my 4th bike and it's a 650. A couple things I keep on my list to look for in the next one are these: belt drive, less body panels than my current bike and fit. I mention fit because I'm not really that tall but my legs are long. I love my Transalp, but most of my friends can't ride it cause it's too tall. The bike I miss is the Vulcan 500 I had. I would have had no issues taking it across country if I wanted to.
As mentioned, the Honda CB750 can be found pretty easily and is a great first bike. Great ergonomics, easy handling, good mpg, good power, big enough to grow with, cheap and parts are everywhere.
I like the big bikes but I've never felt the need for one. I don't do any two-up riding though.
Mike
As mentioned, the Honda CB750 can be found pretty easily and is a great first bike. Great ergonomics, easy handling, good mpg, good power, big enough to grow with, cheap and parts are everywhere.
I like the big bikes but I've never felt the need for one. I don't do any two-up riding though.
Mike
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
Back in the late '60's and thru the '70's almost all manufacturers made what were called "UJM's", universal Japanese motorcycles. (Some on this thread have called them "standards") Since then the market has evolved into cruisers and sport bikes. A shame since UJM's were great for learning. It was common to work your way up from a 150-200cc to a 450, then a 650 or 750. My understanding is that most European countries require a progression like this for new riders.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,963
Likes: 261
From: East KY
Back in the late '60's and thru the '70's almost all manufacturers made what were called "UJM's", universal Japanese motorcycles. (Some on this thread have called them "standards") Since then the market has evolved into cruisers and sport bikes. A shame since UJM's were great for learning. It was common to work your way up from a 150-200cc to a 450, then a 650 or 750. My understanding is that most European countries require a progression like this for new riders.
I totally agree that people should work their way up on those old "standards". But they want to be "cool". Another thing that really irritates me are these new Can Am commercials that openly advertise that you can take your motorcycle riding test on one of those 3-wheeled things. That's just not the same as riding a two-wheeled motorcycle.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 564
Likes: 2
From: Buffalo
When I bought Lucille I decided to sell my harley heritage softail and make the improvements she needed to make her a reliable daily driver. I didn't want to go without a motorcycle (since I've had one every summer since the 1980's) so in the Fall (the best time to find a motorcycle deal), I located and bought a 2000 honda vt1100 honda sabre shadow. The bike was lightly laid down so it needed some work but with only 13k miles, I scouped it up for $2400. I had to drive a couple hours to buy it but $300. worth of used parts she looks and runs great now (see pic below). Something like this would be great for dependability since honda's are pretty darn reliable and built well. To go a little lower in price, you may be able to find a similar 750cc shadow (that needs a little work) too. The 1980's nighthawks are pretty cool bikes as well but more of a sportbike than a cruiser.
Good luck,
Wally
1951 F1 - "Lucille"
Good luck,
Wally
1951 F1 - "Lucille"
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
From: NE Washington
I lliterally stood in a Harley Shop once and watched a guy take his first ever ride on a 1200cc monster. I worked with a doctor once who had absolutely NO business whatsoever buying a moped, let alone the Road King that he did buy. He let it fall over in an intersection once. A young girl had to get out of her car and pick the bike up for him.
I totally agree that people should work their way up on those old "standards". But they want to be "cool". Another thing that really irritates me are these new Can Am commercials that openly advertise that you can take your motorcycle riding test on one of those 3-wheeled things. That's just not the same as riding a two-wheeled motorcycle.
I totally agree that people should work their way up on those old "standards". But they want to be "cool". Another thing that really irritates me are these new Can Am commercials that openly advertise that you can take your motorcycle riding test on one of those 3-wheeled things. That's just not the same as riding a two-wheeled motorcycle.
My first and only bike was an '89 Heritage Softail. I spent hours sitting on it in the showroom getting comfortable with it before I bought it. When I took it home I traveled surface streets and was as cautious as a hen in a fox den. I spent a few weeks just getting the feel of it before taking it on any serious rides. It was a great bike, and treated me well. I paid $11,000 for it and sold it six years later with 97,000 miles on it for $11,000.
BTW, a three wheeler is the only vehicle I am not licensed to operate in the state of Washington, they have a separate endorsement for them.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,344
Likes: 11
From: I live in Leitchfield, KY
I have been talking to Stephen 67 back and forth through P.M. and told him my opinions and I second very highly the motorcycle safety course. I told him as far as a cheaper old looking bike the Kawasaki Drifters are very cool looking bikes. You can still pick up a good deal on an older 1500 cc LC Suzuki Intruder like mine if you look hard enough. They dont have a real high re sale value. The only real issue is the voltage regulater plugs are bad about getting toasted and need to be fixed after several thousand miles. Here's my '03 1500 LC
Painted to match my truck.
Painted to match my truck.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 859
Likes: 3
From: Newberg, OR
I don't know much about cruisers so not much help except to say that if you ride much it won't hurt to pack tools and know how to use them - no matter what you ride. I have a '97 Honda ST1100 and it's been pretty reliable but when my 3 brothers and I take a trip we usually have some adventure involving tools. And it often happens in a inconvenient location at a inconvenient time. Below is a photo of my brother on the phone looking for parts to fix his GS final drive. Sunday afternoon near Kaibito, AZ. He actually got parts, fixed it and caught up to the rest of us 2 days later.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Stephen, you might also look at BMW K bikes. They are liquid cooled inline 3 or 4 cylinder drive shaft bikes that are smooth running and have little mechanical problems. 750 is the 3 cylinder version which I had at one time. I rode it 20K miles and never had a problem. You can cruise on these all day long on the highway and it doesn't shake or vibrate you. Plenty of power to cruise at high speeds. Tires and oil changes was the only maintenance I had to do on it. No chain to worry about either. The K bikes are not very popular with the BMW enthusiasts because they don't like change. The R bikes are air or oil cooled horizontally opposed twin cylinder bikes that are great to ride, but the K's are nice too. And you can get a K really cheap. Check out this one on ebay: item number 330754902236.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
Harley-Davidson: Fat Guy's First Ride Goes Wrong (HD) - YouTube
first ride on a Harley goes wrong - YouTube
Motorcycle Accident (Funny I guess) - YouTube
Note that none of them was wearing a helmet, gloves, or boots... Safety course for the win!
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Ouch! Hard to believe that these guys in the videos would even try to ride, especially what those things cost! I think they should have taken some courses first and they may have found out what we all know - that they should stick to other forms of transportation. 
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 29
From: Pekin, IL
Ok I will play...Here's my 1984 Honda V65 Sabre VF1100S she ain't winning no design awards, but the V4 1100 is a sleeper! 
I want to have something nicer and newer, but for now she gets the job done.
Very few bikers wave at me though!
And guess what? I don't care!
I am not looking for admiration by how much the payment is. I ride because I like to ride.
I want to have something nicer and newer, but for now she gets the job done.
Very few bikers wave at me though!
And guess what? I don't care!I am not looking for admiration by how much the payment is. I ride because I like to ride.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Ok I will play...Here's my 1984 Honda V65 Sabre VF1100S she ain't winning no design awards, but the V4 1100 is a sleeper!
I want to have something nicer and newer, but for now she gets the job done.
Very few bikers wave at me though! And guess what? I don't care!
I am not looking for admiration by how much the payment is. I ride because I like to ride.
I want to have something nicer and newer, but for now she gets the job done.
Very few bikers wave at me though!
And guess what? I don't care!I am not looking for admiration by how much the payment is. I ride because I like to ride.
Junior User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
ALBUQ-F1 gave you some good advise. Try to come up with another thousand and get something dependable. It's not a thousand dollar bike if it takes two thousand to get it rideable and SAFE. My suggestion would be a Shadow , they're in the 2 thousand dollar range. I own and operate a bike shop and I see it every day. Be sure that somebody experienced rides whatever you buy. Our shop labor is $60 an hour plus parts, get the pic? By the way , welcome to two wheels.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 29
From: Pekin, IL
ALBUQ-F1 gave you some good advise. Try to come up with another thousand and get something dependable. It's not a thousand dollar bike if it takes two thousand to get it rideable and SAFE. My suggestion would be a Shadow , they're in the 2 thousand dollar range. I own and operate a bike shop and I see it every day. Be sure that somebody experienced rides whatever you buy. Our shop labor is $60 an hour plus parts, get the pic? By the way , welcome to two wheels.
V2 vs the V4.
Can you throw out your opinion? I like the looks of the Shadow's but What about the Magna? Just looking for sound advice from you due to owning a shop.
Thanks!
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
I've been riding dirtbikes since I was 6 years old (27 years) and street bikes since I was 14 (19 years). I currently ride an 06 Harley Davidson Sportster and also have a 1966 Honda Dream 305 Touring and a 74 Honda CB360 w/ 6 spd transmission. I started out on an 82 Kawasaki LTD 750 4 cylinder. Those inline 4's aren't the best of starter bikes because the weight distribution kind of sucks, but I liked learning on it because it made the other bikes real easy to ride in comparison. If you're near Minnesota, I have a buddy selling a 1993 Honda Nighthawk 750 that has 1 dent in the tank and a crack in the side cover on the left side (I think). He wants $1,100 OBO. We just put new sprockets and chain on it, but the bike is in really good condition otherwise. I'll try to get some pics of it sometime and get them on here. He got into an accident with it last year that was very mild, but was enough to scare him away from riding it anymore. I guess staring at the side of a Fed-ex truck as your sliding to avoid it will do that to you