Posted: 6/23/2011 5:49:01 PM EDT
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I finally decided it is time to get my motorcycle license. I am planning on going to the basic riders class here in Mass where they give a 2 day 16 hour class and at the end you will have your license without going to the registry as they are authorized by the state.
Upon doing this I am looking at getting a used Honda Shadow around 600 cc's. Not really sure on a year but I am looking for something around the $3K mark. My questions are what can I expect to get for around $3K in terms of wear and tear and miles. Also what do I need to look for when purchasing a used bike. Thanks in advanced |
| You should be able to find a 600 shadow in good condition for around 3K. Look for wear on the tires look at the miles it should not have lots of miles on it. Look at what accessories are included a plexi shield is a huge benefit as is a sissy bar is you have a passenger and if not it gives you something to tie stuff to. Just be really careful as cars simply do not see motorcycles. Once you get larger than 600 some insurance companies really add a lot of $ for the bigger bikes insurance. The 600 I had was a bargain to ride very reliable but not quite enough power for a lot of highway driving great around town. You can often find older goldwings for a reasonable price and they last forever. |
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I just did something similar, but bought a 2001 Yamaha V-star 1100 classic with 9600 miles for 3500. It was a bit on the high side but has some nice accessories. I pay $13 a month for full coverage. 7 if I only wanted basic comp. My friend who is very experienced with bikes advised me to get at least an 1100 for a cruiser, as I was thinking like you; 650 or 750. He said i would regret it later. I'd say it was good advice at my limited experience. The bike is awesome to ride and I never feel like I've got too much bike under me, or too little.
Someone else just bought a nicer 06 1100 vstar for even less. ETA: I see lots of 650 to 750 on Craigs List for around the 2500-3000 range, pretty new too. |
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Thank you,
I have heard from another person I work with that ride like everyone is out for you, act like they dont see you at all and to look at the driver's face of oncoming vehicle because that can tell you alot about weather they see you or their intended actions. If I were to do alot of riding I think a goldwing would be very nice, but for the money ill stick with something cheap and easy to learn, that way i wont be upset when something happens to it, yes when, its just a matter of time before I fall, not if it's when, right :P |
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Im just worried about the power for an 1100 that it would be too much for starting with, ya its nice to be able to go fast but just being able to go fast once in a while, but im more looking right now to learn on and go to and from work, as gas is so expensive for my truck.
Im still looking online to see what is out there and will decide after I get my license and with more input from other's to consider. |
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Im just worried about the power for an 1100 that it would be too much for starting with, ya its nice to be able to go fast but just being able to go fast once in a while, but im more looking right now to learn on and go to and from work, as gas is so expensive for my truck.. I ride a sport bike. I don't have a lot of experience with motorcycles. I rode a cruiser once, it was a 500 shadow. I'd give serious consideration to buying a bike with a bigger motor if I was going to get into a cruiser. It struck me as being seriously underpowered for an adult male. Displacement isn't the whole story in any motor, you also need to take into account the amount of power and torque it makes. |
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Im just worried about the power for an 1100 that it would be too much for starting with, ya its nice to be able to go fast but just being able to go fast once in a while, but im more looking right now to learn on and go to and from work, as gas is so expensive for my truck. Im still looking online to see what is out there and will decide after I get my license and with more input from other's to consider. It's not a sport bike. Apparently there is a huge difference. I was skeptical like you. I have no experience with either. I listened to my friend and am very glad I did. I am a chicken  and the 1100 is not a bit scary for me to ride. Today I took it up to 70 mph for the first time. It rolled down the road with ease, and still had plenty to accelerate if I needed too. I don't plan on using it much on the highway,but it will be nice to be able to do it when I do. I'm riding a day trip on Tues to the mountain to Cookcity MT with friends. It should do great.
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Im just worried about the power for an 1100 that it would be too much for starting with, ya its nice to be able to go fast but just being able to go fast once in a while, but im more looking right now to learn on and go to and from work, as gas is so expensive for my truck.. I ride a sport bike. I don't have a lot of experience with motorcycles. I rode a cruiser once, it was a 500 shadow. I'd give serious consideration to buying a bike with a bigger motor if I was going to get into a cruiser. It struck me as being seriously underpowered for an adult male. Displacement isn't the whole story in any motor, you also need to take into account the amount of power and torque it makes. Another of my friends just bought a Yamaha Roadliner 1900.  . He's never ridden either. He loves it. It's huge. He goes to Stugis and put a ton of highway miles on it with his wife last season. It was a repo he picked up for 6500....06' with 4k on the clock. Nice bike.
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Another of my friends just bought a Yamaha Roadliner 1900. . He's never ridden either. He loves it. It's huge. He goes to Stugis and put a ton of highway miles on it with his wife last season. It was a repo he picked up for 6500....06' with 4k on the clock. Nice bike.I'd honestly be more concerned about the weight of a motorcycle than the size of the motor or the amount of power it makes. I don't think i'd be comfortable riding a bike I couldn't lift. (Not pick up, raise it back up on to it's wheels in the event it falls over.) |
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skydiver:
I teach (coach) New York's version of that course. One weekend, a quick written and skill evaluation, and you get your license without a road test. The Honda Shadow VLX 600 is a good starter bike. It has one short coming: Its a 4 speed bike. I have not driven one but I would supect you may be wising it had tat missing fifth gear. If you want a comparable bike I strongly suggest you look at the Suzuki S40. Its a single cylinder 650. Five speeds. I've ridden damned near every available starter bike made and I think the s40 is a great choice. It actually handles easier than most of the 250's you'll use in the MSF class. And its highway capable. I think well enough about these that I actually bought one for Mrs Fro for mothers day a few years back. I happended to ride it to the shop for a state inspection this morning. I'm 6 foot.230lbs and its hummin along t 70 mph without breaking a sweat. I paid $4400 + taxes new for her S40 in 2006. You can find one nearly new, one to two years old, 2000 miles or less for $3000 to $3200. Fro |
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I've been riding for 40+ years now, and have taught a fair number of folks to ride. I'm a believer in starting small and working your way up. A Honda VLX (Shadow 600) is an excellent starter bike, but it has a couple of drawbacks. It has a 4 speed transmission and chain drive.
My dad rode all his life too, and when he got older he sold his Goldwing as he wasn't confident with the big bike any more. But he really missed riding and I was able to pick up a used VLX in excellent condition for $1700 that I gave him. He absolutely loved it, but all he wanted to do was to cruise around the backroads near home, the VLX is perfect for that. After my dad passed away, I rode that VLX from Arkansas to Utah. It's definitely not the ideal highway bike, but it was still an enjoyable trip. I had to slow down a little, and rode about 65-70 mph. It will go a lot faster, but uses more gas and to get 100 miles out of tank I needed to keep it under 70mph. One two lane backroads in the mountains the VLX was a joy to ride. If you move up to the 750 Honda Shadow, you get a 5 speed transmission and the later models are shaft drive. The chain drive works fine, but requires some maintenance (lube and adjustments) and you'll have to replace the chain and sprockets periodically if you rack up a lot of miles. Whatever you get for a first bike, get a used bike in good mechanical condition. You WILL drop it a few times while learning to ride, and that first scratch or dent is already there on a used bike. Then once you have some experience you'll know what you want in your next bike. Another thing I always recommend is that you decide what you want, windshield, saddlebags, etc. Then find a used bike that is already set up the way you want it. The accessories are expensive, but add very little to the value of a used bike. I would also steer clear of a bike with a lot of engine modifications, at least on the first bike. And take a motorcycle safety course. You'll pick up some good tips, your will get a break on your insurance rates, and in most states the certificate from the safety course will mean you don't have to do the "driving test" when you get your license. Dad's '92 Honda VLX 
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I rode the hell out of a 600 VLX and I would recommend the 750 at a minimum and a 1100 or 1300 would be even better
A 600 class cruiser is nothing like a 600 class sport or standard. The power is pretty easy to manage and you will always want a little more gearing and power if you spend any time on the highway |
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I have owned the VLX 600 it has a 4 speed, and chain. Mine got 70 mpg and was as reliable as a rock (I believe it was an 07), they are very short on power, the engine is rather buzzy and put my hands to sleep at highway speeds, the seat is horrible and the steering is very slow and very heavy. I purchased this bike for my wife to learn on before she took the Riders Edge class upon completion I moved her to a much larger and heavier motorcycle which she got a long much better with in a matter of hours. I would pass on the 600 VLX you would tire of it quickly.
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You can find some very good deals on used entry level V twins. I would suggest getting a 750 or 800 bike even if you have to spend a little more. Don't limit yourself to one brand and one model. Pick the bike based on comfort, how it fits you, weight balance, etc. Don't just buy it because its a Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha/Suzuki/Etc. I'd suggest avoiding chain drive especially since cruisers don't have a center stand. Like already suggested, look for a bike that already has the accessories as it will save money. I'd suggest at least getting a bike with a windshield and bags. A windshield makes the ride much more enjoyable.
There are a million tips we could give you. The best one I can give you are ALWAYS wear safety gear starting from day 1 to get yourself in a good habit. The other biggies in my book are absolutely no drinking and riding, spend tons of time practicing in parking lots, no passengers for a long time, don't ride like an idiot, ride like you're invisible, and pay attention in the MSF class. The classroom portion will provide valuable safety info. Finally, I will leave this link for you. I found this guy's tips very useful even after 5 riding seasons under my belt. |
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I saw goldwings mentioned and must say I would not recommend them as your first bike. I am currently switching to a wing and it would have been to much for me at least when I first started. I started on a Yamaha Virago 1100 and it was a decent starter bike.
Good luck and good riding. |
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I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and it is overwhelmingly suggested that an 1100 is the way to go. I do want it to last and not get bored of it in the future.
If not a honda shadow, what other bike of a smiliar look would you reccommend. I really like the way the shadow looks and want something like that. so what I am hearing: an 1100, belt drive with accessories is a good starting spot |
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I just took a look at the S40, nice looking bike, im almost 6' and 195 so that sounds like a fun bike.
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skydiver: I teach (coach) New York's version of that course. One weekend, a quick written and skill evaluation, and you get your license without a road test. The Honda Shadow VLX 600 is a good starter bike. It has one short coming: Its a 4 speed bike. I have not driven one but I would supect you may be wising it had tat missing fifth gear. If you want a comparable bike I strongly suggest you look at the Suzuki S40. Its a single cylinder 650. Five speeds. I've ridden damned near every available starter bike made and I think the s40 is a great choice. It actually handles easier than most of the 250's you'll use in the MSF class. And its highway capable. I think well enough about these that I actually bought one for Mrs Fro for mothers day a few years back. I happended to ride it to the shop for a state inspection this morning. I'm 6 foot.230lbs and its hummin along t 70 mph without breaking a sweat. I paid $4400 + taxes new for her S40 in 2006. You can find one nearly new, one to two years old, 2000 miles or less for $3000 to $3200. Fro |
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I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and it is overwhelmingly suggested that an 1100 is the way to go. I do want it to last and not get bored of it in the future. If not a honda shadow, what other bike of a smiliar look would you reccommend. I really like the way the shadow looks and want something like that. so what I am hearing: an 1100, belt drive with accessories is a good starting spot Checkout the Yamaha V-star. I've yet to find anyone say anything bad about them. The Suzuki C50 also looks very similar(not sure on the engine size on those). They are all great looking cruisers. The VStar is shaft drive, not belt. I don't know enough to tell you if that is good or bad.
My 2001 V-Star 1100 classic. 
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Another of my friends just bought a Yamaha Roadliner 1900. . He's never ridden either. He loves it. It's huge. He goes to Stugis and put a ton of highway miles on it with his wife last season. It was a repo he picked up for 6500....06' with 4k on the clock. Nice bike.I'd honestly be more concerned about the weight of a motorcycle than the size of the motor or the amount of power it makes. I don't think i'd be comfortable riding a bike I couldn't lift. (Not pick up, raise it back up on to it's wheels in the event it falls over.) How much do you think a Goldwing 1800 weighs? I can pick it up by myself and weight 180. It's more about design and balance than weight. A smallish HD Sportster can be a bitch to pick up. But no, a 'wing is not a "starter bike". I "started" in cruisers with a Sportster, then an 1100 Shadow Sabre. Within 2 more years I was on a VTX 1800 and got a 'wing 2 years after that. If you ride them like you stole them you'll move up in ability and skill pretty fast. Or end up dead. |
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Another of my friends just bought a Yamaha Roadliner 1900. . He's never ridden either. He loves it. It's huge. He goes to Stugis and put a ton of highway miles on it with his wife last season. It was a repo he picked up for 6500....06' with 4k on the clock. Nice bike.I'd honestly be more concerned about the weight of a motorcycle than the size of the motor or the amount of power it makes. I don't think i'd be comfortable riding a bike I couldn't lift. (Not pick up, raise it back up on to it's wheels in the event it falls over.) How much do you think a Goldwing 1800 weighs? I can pick it up by myself and weight 180. It's more about design and balance than weight. A smallish HD Sportster can be a bitch to pick up. But no, a 'wing is not a "starter bike". I "started" in cruisers with a Sportster, then an 1100 Shadow Sabre. Within 2 more years I was on a VTX 1800 and got a 'wing 2 years after that. If you ride them like you stole them you'll move up in ability and skill pretty fast. Or end up dead. A "wing" weighs in somewhere between 900-1,000lbs. One guy can pick it up but you've got to get off. If you let them lean too far, it's gonna go down(PERIOD) The good thing is they'll just lay there on the crash bars and not wreck anything. Most wing owners have done it at least once. 
The guys recommending something around 1100cc are giving good advice. I like the V-Stars and Vulcans for the money. |
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I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and it is overwhelmingly suggested that an 1100 is the way to go. I do want it to last and not get bored of it in the future. If not a honda shadow, what other bike of a smiliar look would you reccommend. I really like the way the shadow looks and want something like that. so what I am hearing: an 1100, belt drive with accessories is a good starting spot Now you are getting somewhere, the larger bikes are physically larger which gives you much more room, to stretch out and move around and is a great advantage when riding 2 up, they are heavier which helps negate the wind and once again when riding 2 up it is much more pleasent on a heavier bike, the larger bikes usually have larger fuel tanks this is critical if you intend to cover a lot of ground quickly (a 200 mile range is good, more is better.  ). The V Twins intended for the road don't make big horsepower #s nor should they, they deliever their power right off the bottom in a very linear manner and your not constantly needing to shift gears. If you spend a lot of time on wet roads you will love the power delievery of the large V Twins.
ETA my 130 lb wife can pickup a 850 lb EG Ultra without any help. 
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Another of my friends just bought a Yamaha Roadliner 1900. . He's never ridden either. He loves it. It's huge. He goes to Stugis and put a ton of highway miles on it with his wife last season. It was a repo he picked up for 6500....06' with 4k on the clock. Nice bike.I'd honestly be more concerned about the weight of a motorcycle than the size of the motor or the amount of power it makes. I don't think i'd be comfortable riding a bike I couldn't lift. (Not pick up, raise it back up on to it's wheels in the event it falls over.) How much do you think a Goldwing 1800 weighs? I can pick it up by myself and weight 180. It's more about design and balance than weight. A smallish HD Sportster can be a bitch to pick up. But no, a 'wing is not a "starter bike". I "started" in cruisers with a Sportster, then an 1100 Shadow Sabre. Within 2 more years I was on a VTX 1800 and got a 'wing 2 years after that. If you ride them like you stole them you'll move up in ability and skill pretty fast. Or end up dead. A "wing" weighs in somewhere between 900-1,000lbs. One guy can pick it up but you've got to get off. If you let them lean too far, it's gonna go down(PERIOD) The good thing is they'll just lay there on the crash bars and not wreck anything. Most wing owners have done it at least once.
The guys recommending something around 1100cc are giving good advice. I like the V-Stars and Vulcans for the money. I just picked up a 1100 V star a few weeks ago, lots of bike for the money, very easy to ride. They seem to be plentiful and there is quite a large group of fans of the bike. Haven't ridden it all that much yet [work gets in the way] but it was well worth the money spent. |
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My first bike was a Suzuki savage 650 which is an s40. You will out grow it very fast. After three months I couldn't take it any more and bought a Vulcan 750 which was what I should have gotten in the first place. Actually, I didn't have that one long either. Traded it for a Vulcan 1500 classic. That was an awesome bike.
I Have a KLR 650 which doesnt have a lot of power but it takes me where I want to go in the mountains. Patrick |
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Im just worried about the power for an 1100 that it would be too much for starting with, . Throttle control my friend. A '86 Ford Taurus could out accelerate and out run a new ZX10 if the rider only uses 20% of the throttle. If you can handle the weight, I don't think a lazy 1100 V twin will be too much as long as you are responsible with it and take time to practice with it tons. If it was a 1100 inline four I'd say no way for a beginner but cruiser V twins are pretty mild. Even big 1800 V twins really don't have much when you compare it to inline 4's (and some V 4's). |
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I got a 93 sportster 883 deluxe. Love the bike to death but if you do a lot of long distance riding it'll take it out of you. It all depends on what you plan on doing with the bike and your riding style. If short trips/commutes is the main use then a bike like that'd be fine. Longer trips I'd look into a bigger bike. I'm also a pretty aggressive rider (I've got a tiny chicken strip) so I really dig the "sporty" feel and ride to the sportster. The other harleys are fun, but they're just not my cup of tea. Also if you're gonna rack up a lot of highway miles or high speed miles get yourself a windscreen, even a detachable one is better than nothing. I don't have one and I'm constantly getting hit with bugs, grit, water, dirt, birds (yes birds). If I don't wear my full face I'm picking all that shit out of my teeth and nose (not fun at all I might add) For storage I just wear a backpack, but some folks can't stand that feeling. I have a set of cheap solo throw over bags that I occasionally use, but will likely end up on craigslist or the EE because I'd just rather have a solo bag. All I carry are my papers, a state map, gloves, headgear, a small tool kit, and a flashlight. I'd still have plenty of room for all of that plus other stuff in there.
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Im just worried about the power for an 1100 that it would be too much for starting with, . Throttle control my friend. A '86 Ford Taurus could out accelerate and out run a new ZX10 if the rider only uses 20% of the throttle. If you can handle the weight, I don't think a lazy 1100 V twin will be too much as long as you are responsible with it and take time to practice with it tons. If it was a 1100 inline four I'd say no way for a beginner but cruiser V twins are pretty mild. Even big 1800 V twins really don't have much when you compare it to inline 4's (and some V 4's). Lots of torque on the low and mid range and middling HP ratings. Works great for cruising. Very easy to control. Easier to control then our old 2 stroke triple Kawasakis at any throttle position. |
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I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and it is overwhelmingly suggested that an 1100 is the way to go. I do want it to last and not get bored of it in the future. If not a honda shadow, what other bike of a smiliar look would you reccommend. I really like the way the shadow looks and want something like that. so what I am hearing: an 1100, belt drive with accessories is a good starting spot Checkout the Yamaha V-star. I've yet to find anyone say anything bad about them. The Suzuki C50 also looks very similar(not sure on the engine size on those). They are all great looking cruisers. The VStar is shaft drive, not belt. I don't know enough to tell you if that is good or bad.
My 2001 V-Star 1100 classic. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/guns762/16560341_photobucket_63733_.jpg The C50 is an 805cc and I love mine. It will haul my fat ass around at 100MPH all day, should I require it to, and I do not. It has more than enough power for the highway, but does sound like it's revving to get there. I'd LOVE to have a 6th gear, but it doesn't NEED it. |
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My first bike was a Suzuki savage 650 which is an s40. You will out grow it very fast. After three months I couldn't take it any more and bought a Vulcan 750 which was what I should have gotten in the first place. Actually, I didn't have that one long either. Traded it for a Vulcan 1500 classic. That was an awesome bike. I Have a KLR 650 which doesnt have a lot of power but it takes me where I want to go in the mountains. Patrick I began riding when I was 16. Got out of it for a while (23 years to be exact) then ended up with a 2006 KLR 650. As said, not a lot of power but holy God is that bike fun. I enjoy riding the back roads and going off the pavement with it a LOT. I just broke down and painted the bike (shut up turnskull) and am putting a different seat on it and a different tank. I'm not big into the cruisers much now but at some point, I do want to get a good street machine. I've always had a desire to get a nice soft tail or fat boy. 
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| You guys are a great help, the more I read from everyone the more I am leaning towards an 1100 size. I will keep you all posted when i do get a bike and post photos here on it. I will be going on monday, i think, to get my permit and then go for the license sometime thereafter. I cant wait to be getting on a bike and enjoy the freedom that comes along with it. |
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The best advise I ever got regarding my decision 10 years ago to get a street bike was from an old Harley guy.
He said, "Try to figure out how everyone you see is going to try to kill you and then check your rear view mirror for the one you don't see." It is exactly the right mindset when you have ANY traffic of ANY kind within your eye sight. Patrick |
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The best advise I ever got regarding my decision 10 years ago to get a street bike was from an old Harley guy. He said, "Try to figure out how everyone you see is going to try to kill you and then check your rear view mirror for the one you don't see." It is exactly the right mindset when you have ANY traffic of ANY kind within your eye sight. Patrick Very wise words. Cagers are in general tunnel visioning, apathetic, clueless, morons that shouldn't have a license to drive. If you remember that and assume that they all are that and prepare for them to act like that, you have a better chance of getting home in one piece. |
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650 in a cruiser is a decent engine. My first bike was a 400CC scooter. It was HUGE for a scooter, and topped at 100MPH-ish. Accelerated like an economy car, but it was still good enough for commuting.
Second bike was a VStar 650. Never found myself really wanting more engine. I'm not a fatass, so I didn't drag it down, and while it was no drag racer, it would get up to and do freeway speeds just fine. Would have been nice to have a 6th gear, tho. Now I have an ST1100... a huge beast of a bike. 720lb wet, 1100cc V4 hitting around 100hp. Naught to sixty in just over four. I'm glad I had the other two bikes first, however, I'm thinking if I should ever want to replace the ST1100 (or should HAVE to), I'm going to look for a DL-650. |
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I took my V-Star 1100 for my first serious ride yeasterday. 250 miles round trip; most of steep mountain roads. The bike was fantastic. More than enough power on the hills and passing slow traffic on steep uphill roads.
Most of the time we were cruising at about 50mph. On basin major roads, we were doing 65-70mph. At 70 the bike has quite a bit of engine vibration, but there is still plenty of throttle left. It would be better if it had one more gear. I got 44mpg going up the mountain, and 48 coming down. I really enjoyed riding the twisting mouton roads, although, the crack sealant on the roads became pretty slick on the way back in the afternoon heat. I was not hot at all until I hit the 95F in the basin on the way home. My jacket worked great and I never sweat on my chest or back, but could have done without the undershirt for my ccw. The helmet was warm if we weren't going 40 where the airflow helped. Once on the basin floor on the way home, it was hot and I started sweating when we had to stop in town at the end of the day. Anyway, the 1100 was great yesterday. If I would have had more money, a larger 1300 or even Yamahas 1700 would have been better for open highway runs at 70mph. |
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Congrats on the decision to ride.
Motorcycle fatalities have been dropping dramatically over the last few years. I believe the national average was 17 percent with some states dropping as much as 30 percent in a single year .
If I can, the first two pieces of wisdom that I was given before I started to ride are the two that I always try to pass on to new riders. First absolutely, without a doubt make sure you take the MSF course. There is are a great deal of 'basics' that go into being even a casual rider, let alone a serious and a safe one. There is no other way to really learn how to ride properly without MSF. It is also probably the most universally liked investment of any thing I've ever heard reviews on. Everyone walks away extremely happy. Second, Its not a matter of if you lay it down, its a matter of when. By far the most dangerous time in a new riders life isn't when they are first starting off at all. There will come a time at some point, usually 8-12 months down the road, where something clicks in you and you suddenly feel like you got this whole riding thing down. That is when you are going to get yourself into trouble and flip the sticky side face up, so be conscious of it when that time arrives. When I first got my license I had my class scheduled but there was like a 3 month wait for classes, I had been riding for about 2 years at that point on a Junior License almost daily. I was already an 'experienced' rider for the most part. Let me tell you, the Road test was a real bitch all things considered, especially on a big bike. And that made me happy to see, cause without learning how to ride, being able to ride is just gonna lead to disaster. Quoted:
Thank you, I have heard from another person I work with that ride like everyone is out for you, act like they dont see you at all and to look at the driver's face of oncoming vehicle because that can tell you alot about weather they see you or their intended actions. If I were to do alot of riding I think a goldwing would be very nice, but for the money ill stick with something cheap and easy to learn, that way i wont be upset when something happens to it, yes when, its just a matter of time before I fall, not if it's when, right :P Actually, I think most riders and myself would disagree completely with your friends advice. Many many times (I'm sure this has happened to a bunch of people here including myself) the dumbass in the car will be staring directly into your eyes as they casually proceed out to make there left turn right as you are entering the intersection. That is just one of those things that nobody will ever understand. DO NOT ASSUME BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING AT YOU THAT THEY SEE YOU. This has happened to me twice, once was as close as it can get. Both times from a red light if you could believe it. Both times the light turns green and I proceed forward into a second intersection 100 feet away. Even though I was staring at this dumb bitch in her beetle the entire time we were sitting at lights on a dead quiet road, As I approached her intersection at the top of second gear she starts making a left as if Im fucking invisible. I managed to get the bike stopped about 3/10 of an inch from her quarterpanel. I then took it upon myself to preform an artists interuptation of what I imagined my bloody broken body and wrecked bike would of done to the side of her car using the heel of my boot. then I left. Stupid yes. but I was young and thats what I did. Quoted:
Im just worried about the power for an 1100 that it would be too much for starting with, ya its nice to be able to go fast but just being able to go fast once in a while, but im more looking right now to learn on and go to and from work, as gas is so expensive for my truck. Im still looking online to see what is out there and will decide after I get my license and with more input from other's to consider. This is an Idea that I don't really agree with. I started out like I said on a liter bike that was big and powerful and heavy. Because I value my life I simply didnt twist my wrist as hard as I could of. Problem solved. I don't buy the whole buy a learner bike for a year or two and then move up, I think the dealers see dollar signs with that 'theory'. Just like anything else in life, don't be stupid and you wont win any stupid prizes. |
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The # of cylinders makes a difference. A 650cc thumper is not the same as a 650cc twin or a 650cc inline 4, so displacement alone doesn't tell you much. As a beginner, I found that a cable clutch was far more forgiving with a larger friction zone versus a hydraulic clutch. A lower horsepower engine makes it easier to control at lower speeds so it builds your confidence. If you accidentally grab too much throttle, it won't be too snatchy or cause you to initiate a survival reaction. I wouldn't recommend hopping onto the freeway as a beginner either, but people are different. I work with someone from Pennsylvania that finished the MSF BRC recently and he said he was fully confident to take a bike onto the road. I finished the MSF BRC almost 4 months ago and thought I wasn't nearly as ready to even leave the subdivision. I was watching some videos of Nicky Hayden taking delivery of his new Ducati 848 and he made a comment that he was afraid of riding on the street because there were so many people and he didn't know what they were going to do. Valentino Rossi even said in his autobiography that he didn't get a motorcycle license until he was 20 because there are too many "facking idiots" on the road - he might have said the facking idiots part in the 2003 Faster documentary, but he had the same sentiment in his book. These are guys that ride over 200 mph (on controlled courses). As for dropping the bike, I see lots of shiny and clean pristine Harley-Davidsons, and then I see Japanese sportbikes with frame sliders that are worn down and with race bodywork (what happened to their factory bodywork?) that shows some sliding action, so it does happen. All the gear all the time is what I follow and it has helped out. |
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Quoted:
I took my V-Star 1100 for my first serious ride yeasterday. 250 miles round trip; most of steep mountain roads. The bike was fantastic. More than enough power on the hills and passing slow traffic on steep uphill roads. Most of the time we were cruising at about 50mph. On basin major roads, we were doing 65-70mph. At 70 the bike has quite a bit of engine vibration, but there is still plenty of throttle left. It would be better if it had one more gear. I got 44mpg going up the mountain, and 48 coming down. I really enjoyed riding the twisting mouton roads, although, the crack sealant on the roads became pretty slick on the way back in the afternoon heat. I was not hot at all until I hit the 95F in the basin on the way home. My jacket worked great and I never sweat on my chest or back, but could have done without the undershirt for my ccw. The helmet was warm if we weren't going 40 where the airflow helped. Once on the basin floor on the way home, it was hot and I started sweating when we had to stop in town at the end of the day. Anyway, the 1100 was great yesterday. If I would have had more money, a larger 1300 or even Yamahas 1700 would have been better for open highway runs at 70mph. Balance the carbs. Check on some of the VStar forums, there's an easy way to set up a gauge using clear rubber tubing, ATF and a yard stick. My VStar 650 had some vibration, and I bought the above stuff to do the balance, but I never did. It was also funny to talk to my friend that has an HD about it... because HDs only have one carburetor. VStars have two. My current bike has four. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I took my V-Star 1100 for my first serious ride yeasterday. 250 miles round trip; most of steep mountain roads. The bike was fantastic. More than enough power on the hills and passing slow traffic on steep uphill roads. Most of the time we were cruising at about 50mph. On basin major roads, we were doing 65-70mph. At 70 the bike has quite a bit of engine vibration, but there is still plenty of throttle left. It would be better if it had one more gear. I got 44mpg going up the mountain, and 48 coming down. I really enjoyed riding the twisting mouton roads, although, the crack sealant on the roads became pretty slick on the way back in the afternoon heat. I was not hot at all until I hit the 95F in the basin on the way home. My jacket worked great and I never sweat on my chest or back, but could have done without the undershirt for my ccw. The helmet was warm if we weren't going 40 where the airflow helped. Once on the basin floor on the way home, it was hot and I started sweating when we had to stop in town at the end of the day. Anyway, the 1100 was great yesterday. If I would have had more money, a larger 1300 or even Yamahas 1700 would have been better for open highway runs at 70mph. Balance the carbs. Check on some of the VStar forums, there's an easy way to set up a gauge using clear rubber tubing, ATF and a yard stick. My VStar 650 had some vibration, and I bought the above stuff to do the balance, but I never did. It was also funny to talk to my friend that has an HD about it... because HDs only have one carburetor. VStars have two. My current bike has four. Could be, but I think it's just the higher rpms I'm feeling(and wind coming over the windshield), not really a problem with the carbs. I know the technique you described, I've got a 750 v twin 4 wheeler that I learned to do the same thing on. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I took my V-Star 1100 for my first serious ride yeasterday. 250 miles round trip; most of steep mountain roads. The bike was fantastic. More than enough power on the hills and passing slow traffic on steep uphill roads. Most of the time we were cruising at about 50mph. On basin major roads, we were doing 65-70mph. At 70 the bike has quite a bit of engine vibration, but there is still plenty of throttle left. It would be better if it had one more gear. I got 44mpg going up the mountain, and 48 coming down. I really enjoyed riding the twisting mouton roads, although, the crack sealant on the roads became pretty slick on the way back in the afternoon heat. I was not hot at all until I hit the 95F in the basin on the way home. My jacket worked great and I never sweat on my chest or back, but could have done without the undershirt for my ccw. The helmet was warm if we weren't going 40 where the airflow helped. Once on the basin floor on the way home, it was hot and I started sweating when we had to stop in town at the end of the day. Anyway, the 1100 was great yesterday. If I would have had more money, a larger 1300 or even Yamahas 1700 would have been better for open highway runs at 70mph. Balance the carbs. Check on some of the VStar forums, there's an easy way to set up a gauge using clear rubber tubing, ATF and a yard stick. My VStar 650 had some vibration, and I bought the above stuff to do the balance, but I never did. It was also funny to talk to my friend that has an HD about it... because HDs only have one carburetor. VStars have two. My current bike has four. Could be, but I think it's just the higher rpms I'm feeling(and wind coming over the windshield), not really a problem with the carbs. I know the technique you described, I've got a 750 v twin 4 wheeler that I learned to do the same thing on. Its a motorcycle, its sposed to be noisey and vibrate.
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