Buying first motorcycle. I need help.?

Hi and thanks. I%26#039;m 6%26#039; 3%26quot; 280 shoe size 10-11.5 depending on the maker. I%26#039;ve looked around at dealerships and online. I%26#039;m taking the Safety Course this summer. I would like to get a cruiser of some kind. I%26#039;m thinking about a used 05 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 or maybe a 06/07 Vulcan 900. Is there anything wrong with these choices? Is there something better out there?





I don%26#039;t really care for Hondas, but I%26#039;m fairly open to everything else. I really don%26#039;t want to spend more than $8000 on the bike. And since it is my first bike I would like something mid sized on power, hence the 800 and 900 choices.





I live in sunny So. Cal. (covina) and would mostly be using this bike to go back and forth to work (about 10 miles ea. way) and to family and friends houses from 5 miles to 100 miles and maybe a Vegas trip (250+ mi.) so it should be comfortable and good for the cruising town and the long haul on the highway.





thanks for the advice


~Cerberus

Buying first motorcycle. I need help.?
The 800 series Vulcan%26#039;s are a real good cruiser and a good starter bike for a first time person. If you look at the prices for the used marked you shouldn%26#039;t be anywhere near your $8000 price.


I%26#039;ve been riding an %26#039;03 Mean Streak 1500 and it rides just as well as an 800.


For the guy who wrote about not buying a bike because they are dangerous.


Well facts are facts. Bikes are not dangerous, idiots in 4 wheel vehicles are.


When was the last time you read about a biker who just happened to be driving a 4 wheel vehicle running into a biker? Yeah me neither.


I think it%26#039;s great you are taking an approved (MSF) beginners riding course. You will learn a lot from it, but I hope you will not have to use it. When you build up more riding time on the bike you may want to look into taking the Experienced Riders Course (ERC) also from MSF.


I%26#039;ve ridden over 20,000 miles in the US and the biggest problem to me is you have to be very aggressive in watching out for the unexpected. I now live in England and with smaller roads over here it%26#039;s the same. Be watchful of others.


If theirs anything else I could help you with, you can email me directly. I have several sites for motorcycle safety equipment I can send. I lived in Oklahoma and with 100+ degrees in the summer it%26#039;s not fun wearing leather all the time.


Hope this helps some.


Fellow biker,





RaileR





railer_5_2001@yahoo.com
Reply:i would go for the vulcan 900. u will definately need the windsheild and saddlebags if u do a vegas trip, and the slightly heavier weight of the 900 will prove to give a smoother ride.





u%26#039;d be hard pressed to find a different bike like the 900 for 8k or under with what the 900 has stock. saddle bags should be included on any bike not just the touring scoots.


if i were u, i%26#039;d go for a 1 tank trip the first weekend u get to see how the seat is on a long haul. 250 miles isnt all that far. if the saddle makes ya numb only 1/4 of the way, u should get a different seat. makes a huge difference.
Reply:Buy a but ugly 750 up a900 honda,yamaha,suzuki or kawasuc see if you like ride see if buy but ugly street bike your less actp to worry about the paint if go down with you will and remember your just learning how to i see a few beginners go out and a great looking bike there so afraide of scrathing it they leave it parked or go out and rather than go down softly there to worred about the paint job hurting there self worse and totel it buy a cheep ugly to start out and save your money and buy a nice later in 1986 i a 750 shadow tu stugus had lot of fun when got home i ought a sporster in 1987 went and back ing my scoot up on damp grass and i slipped and went the bike and me in the mud so there i was my bike in the mud sitting my fat *** infront of 20.000 bikers filling dummer than f**k and if don,t pick it by my self they would probabley make me get training wheel but instead a few came over and said do that now lets ride in town and i%26#039;ll buy you beer ok bro
Reply:DONT BUY SOMETHING TOO SMALL. You will be looking for something bigger within a year. I bought a 2002 harley lowrider in 02. I hadnt been on a bike in 11 years. I am 5%26#039;10%26quot; 160 pounds and I had no problem handling this bike. I, like you, was worried it might be to much bike for me. It wasn%26#039;t and I would have been sick had I gotten something smaller. By the way, the 02 harley has a 1450 engine on it and weighs about 650 pounds. Someone else gave me this same advice and I was glad they did.
Reply:One thing I will comment on regarding the Kawasaki Vulcans. I have an 85 Vulcan and the earlier bikes are notorious for burning out stators. Given the bikes don%26#039;t have a breakaway frame on the left hand side, the motor has to be almost completely removed to change it out. Check with some current owners as to the reliability of the newer models.





I%26#039;m 6%26#039; 230 with the same shoe size and I cruise no problem with the 700/750. Very good gas mileage as well.
Reply:You have the right idea, however, you should go sit on one for fit as well. If almost good then perhaps all you need is a handlebar or seat swap to make it perfect,


Do not bother with more power at this point - work on skills - a skilled rider will always beat a guy with just a fast bike and no skills - I know - I live for those moments!


EZ
Reply:How about a Triumph Bonneville America, or a Triumph Speedmaster? They are cool, they are accepted by both metric cruiser riders and (most) Harley riders, they meet your performance criteria, are extremely well built (made in England), and are in your price range. Here is a link to check them out:





http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/4626.aspx


http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/4615.aspx





James Dean rode a Triumph, also Marlon Brando, and Steve McQueen - it is an original. Plus, they are priced like the Japanese models, so you could get two for the price of a Harley. Oh, and never buy a bike thinking of it as an %26quot;investment%26quot;....
Reply:I%26#039;m likely to get flamed for this... but a %26quot;standard%26quot; or %26quot;sportbike%26quot; is safer because they are generally lighter, handle better, more ground clearance, have better brakes and acceleration. You can more likely get yourself out of a bad situation. How about an FZ1 or something of that sort.
Reply:I read your question to my husband, who has been riding cycles since he was 15.





There is a great article in %26quot;Motorcycle Cruising%26quot; this month on Cruisers.





My husband says the Vulcan 800 would be too small for you. He would like to steer you toward the Vulcan 1400 Classic. Take a look at it!





Hope this helps. Kudos to you for taking the MSF course!
Reply:Go and check the shops for the BIKES YOU LIKE. There is nothing wrong with a 750 to 1600 (just make sure u can lift the bike by yourself). Sit on them and check handle bars, seat height and controls. If u do not feel comfortable from the get go, disregard that bike. If you need to change anything on the bike to fit u, don%26#039;t even think about getting it. It will never feel right (been there, got t-shirt). Windshield and saddle bags u can always add after choosing your bike (if the bike does not come with it). When u start riding your bike and get butt numbness/hot spots, get an airhawk. My .02 worth. I am 6%26#039;2%26quot; 230.
Reply:Check the size of that gas tank, and the mileage. I don%26#039;t know about a 250 mile range - that%26#039;d be pretty high, even on a motorcycle with an outsized gas tank.
Reply:hi. i%26#039;m 58 been riden for 45yr. as the others have said go to type brand dealer of the MC u think u like and set on it test ride the one that feels the best under your butt. check; kind of seat and hight, handlebar placement (arms should not be stratched out, no ape hangers,look good, but put your hands asleep) on the size of MC u thinking of, u will need forward foot controls, windscreen(eye leavel),saddle bages, tail bag rack,windshield bag,tool bag, bungges. get big fuel tank, if u or thinking of traveling. I drive a 2004 FLHTCUI(HD) and pull a pop up camper, have had 6 FLHT(HD) and pulled 3 diff type trailers. Will see u down the road good luck! o-yes ask ????????? talk to us old timers, as they say, been there done that!! a KW 900 Valcan is nice. have owned a KW 1300 back in 1987 6 cylinder with all the bells(even a light when the kickstand was down). also go to the dealers and set on the deff bikes, flash a little $$$ they may have a demo or rent bike u can test ride. alot of bike runs have folkes there given demo rides. check ur local bike clubs/deaders, easysrider mag and others go to a bike run. o-yes don%26#039;t forget the leather, good boots, head gear. well i can go on and on but as i said ask??? read. ALL bikes are good ones the HD holds it%26#039;s value$$$$$. u may even think good used one first and then trade up. just remember there are only about 15% or less of us that started on HD%26#039;s see down the road %26quot;TINY%26quot; I%26#039;m 6%26#039;6%26#039;%26#039; 280lbs



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