GolfHos

Thinking about getting a motorcycle.  We are getting rid of the Mini Cooper sadly, while the misses stays home with the kiddos.  We'll keep her car which is paid for, so saving a lot in car payments, insurance and such.  Figure we'll get another car only if we have to, like when she starts work once the kids get into school.  Two kids in daycare at this time is not an option.  The Mrs would be working just for the car and daycare bill which makes no sense. 

I can bike (bicycle) to work as it is 2.5 miles or so.  I've done it a few times now.  But I'm thinking about a motorcycle of times when the bicycle isn't enough vehicle.  Now I have absolutely zero experience on a motorcycle.  I will for sure take the safety course.  I will probably cruise around on it, maybe take the wife to dinner on it, but no long distance touring for sure. 

I want a cruiser style bike.  No crotch rockets (sorry stroh).  My dream bike would be this.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/2010_Motorcycles/2010_motorcycles.html?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US#/home/NB  The all matte black Iron 883 Harley.  But I don't have to have a harley.  Other cruiser style bikes would be fine of the yamaha, etc. variety.

So what type of bikes fit my criteria.  I'm looking at something used for the first time around.  And what size cc wise is necessary.  As a newbie I'd prefer smaller.  But I'm 6'3" and 220 lbs. so I don't want to look like a clown on a small bike.  Street cred is not that big a deal to me either.

What say you ho's?

My input would only be that this is where people always make a mistake.  There is nothing worse than an underpowered bike.  You are a big guy.  You should be on nothing less than 750cc.  Esp. if you are going to occasionally have a passenger.

People, esp. when they are new to getting into a bike, think about staying away from the "power" and starting with something "lighter" to get a feel.  Wrong Idea.

The thing with "power"  cc/displacement, is it lends itself to the overall ride, comfort, etc.  Kind of hard to explain, until you've ridden both.

I had a 250 in high school.  Way underpowered.  Was basically worthless on the highway, just rattled your teeth out, because you were redlined to keep up with traffic.  And I was a buck 0 45 soaking wet.

Power/cc/displacement isn't all about burnouts, wheelies, noise, and getting people killed.  It's important in the overall experience.



That and chicks dig guys in yellow and black leather suits.

Oh, and congrat.s!  Enjoy, and be safe.
 [sm_beertoast]

Thanks.  What you said makes sense.  I've seen similar responses on bikeforums.  I plan on taking the course in whatever bike they loan out.  I definately want 750 at least.  And I know I'll be more comfortable on something larger.  Hopefully clive will chime in with advice on chaps.

LOL

Yeah, you'll get a decent feel with the course.  99 percent of the people that want to get a bike and get into riding don't say "Well, I may as well just start with one, and I'll learn into it.  So I'm not wasting my time with a '78 Yamaha 400 special, I'm just going with the 1000cc factory race bike."   And as well, 98 percent should not.

But I think a lot of people are lost on the middle ground, or more importantly what is a good fit for body size(spacey), riding comfort regardless of the posture (Clive) and performance* (stroh)  oh, and looks(stroh) ;D

*Performance again being, seriously a smaller displacement even with guys our size at only highway speeds just doesn't cut it.

It's kinda like walking into the amusement park, thinking, well, I'll start on some of the smaller ones, and then I'll be ready for teh Wild Thing.  Just doesn't work.  The flip side is 18 year old kids who do get a 600 or 750 cc bike for the power because it will do 90 in second gear, and then kill them selves right after making it on YouTube.

Way more bike for the money buying a jap bike. Way more. but there's nothing like a Harley.
I bought a Harley 883 sporty. They are gutless. Riding double on one would be pointless other than around the block. After a month or so i ripped it apart and made it a 1250cc. If you're gonna buy a sporty buy a 1200, trust me. And buy used or last years model.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcy/1327414687.html
02 Yamaha V Star Classic 1100 for $2,900 seems like an ok deal.  I like it's style.

Zactly! given your objective is to save money spending 10g's on a bike makes no sense. ;)

For sure.  I have no intention of spending anywhere near 10k.  I love harley's.  I want one someday.  I won't buy one before I know how to ride.  And they are hard to find cheap ones with the options I need.  The above link is what exactly what I'm looking for.  You guys really helped on the cc issue.  Now I need to take the course and learn first.

Now That 'fredo is exactly what you should be gunnin' for.  That's a very nice bike, and a steal at that.



Even if you only did go 2 miles to work and back, that bike is gonna be there for you whenever do you want to go for a ride, esp. if want Mrs. 'fredo on the back.
 [sm_thumbsup2]


Just for reference, I gave my bike away for $3800.00 with 21,900 miles on it.

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/golfstroh/DSC00330.jpg?t=1250529482)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/golfstroh/DSC00332.jpg?t=1250529532)

LMAO  I just realized I'm wearing the exact same outfit today. (1 month later)
 [sm_rolling]  Oh, I need to find a job.

Sadly, Clive's not likely to reply here.  He hung up his GolfHo hat a few days ago. :lighter:
http://www.golfhos.com/forum/index.php?action=mlist;sa=all;start=d#letterd

Sukkage. 

Hope it was something I said.

WTF he was my fav lawyerin type guy

Wonder if it was a perceived conflict of interest what with his moderator status and all at the other place.  Either way that's total sukkage.  Dude hooked me up on some components more than once.  He'll be missed. 

My $.02:

Buy what you envision yourself riding for a long time. I don't endorse the buy small, upgrade later philosophy. Riding a larger bike isn't that much different than riding a smaller bike, with the exception of weight, particularly at slow speeds and dead stops. Once the bike is moving, the principles of riding don't change. Everything you learn in the MSF course will apply equally to a 250 or a 1600. (You will, by the way, take the course on a 250, I can almost guarantee it. Unless you take the Harley Rider's Edge Course, in which case you'll take it on a Buell Blast, which is a 450.)

Don't underestimate the value of power, particularly when you need it to get yourself out of trouble. Laura's Honda Shadow 500 very quickly became too little bike for her and we upgraded her to a Kawasaki Vulcan 750. She's already talking about the possibility of me buying something newer and her taking over my Electra Glide. A big bike is intimidating, for sure, but if you take the course, learn and practice proper fundamentals, and never, ever ride over your abilities (you will know pretty quickly what they are), you should be fine on a bigger bike. This is just my opinion. At least 50% of the motorcycling world will disagree with me. In the end, do what you're comfortable with.

Vis a vis the Harley or not discussion: birdymaker is absolutely right on both points. You can get a lot more bike for a lot less money if you go with a Japanese bike. There is also nothing quite like a Harley. My advice on this topic is the same as I give everyone: if you don't care about brand/mystique/street cred/availability of t-shirts/whatever, buy Japanese. If you want a Harley, and know that if you buy something else and will be constantly making up excuses to yourself and others as to why it's not a Harley, buy a Harley. One thing to also consider is that Harleys retain their value better than pretty much anything on the market. If you're buying used, it's less of a concern as someone else has already eaten the depreciation for you.

If you're considering riding 2-up, even if only occasionally, I wouldn't consider anything smaller than 1100. You can't go wrong with a V-Star or a Honda Shadow 1100. I'd also consider the Honda VTX 1300.

If you go the Harley option, I wouldn't necessarily recommend a Sporty. Nothing wrong with them, but there are easier bikes to ride in the Harley lineup, despite them having more displacement. For a beginner, I'd Recommend looking into a Superglide.

Oh, one other bit of advice: whatever you buy, if it doesn't have an engine guard (aka crash bar) on it, get one. I can almost guarantee if you've never handled a motorcycle before you're going to drop it at least once while you get used to backing it up, parking, turning around in the driveway, etc. A couple hundred dollars worth of engine guard is worth the ding/dent you will save yourself on the engine or gas tank.

As usual great advice guys thanks.  It's still a pipe dream for now.  But I'll soon be car-less and motivated to take the course. 

here is a sweet VTX 1300http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcy/1331042966.html

some shadows I like too

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcy/1329191909.html

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcy/1314786835.html

I'm going to be so badass.

Indeed you shall be. Don't let anyone convince you that wearing the proper safety gear makes you less so.  ;)

Motorcycle training wheels engine guards surrender

If I end up buying a cruiser, I will cut the ass out or my Power Ranger leather pants in an instant.

LOL

I'll be in full armour for sure. 

+1 I might have been busted up but i was road rash free.  ;)