Re: Newbie looking to buy first bike...


kingfish@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Gotta agree with GSM. The scooters you mentioned (Shadow VLX/Spirit)
> would make good beginner bikes, and have enough power to keep your
> interest past the first season. The bike needs to be a comfortable fit

And because Japanese middleweight cruisers don't have
strong resale values, the OP can pick up a couple of clean,
low mile examples cheap.

I'd also like to point out that Japanese middleweight 'standard-style'
motorcycles can also be purchased at very reasonable prices,
and have pretty much all the power one really needs for the road.

Kawasaki's EX500/Ninja 500 is a great choice for a beginner bike
and it's hard to go wrong with a clean, used example.

And bikes like the Honda Nighthawk, Kawasaki EX250 & ZR7,
Suzuki Bandit 600 and SV650 are a far better choice than a
VTX1800 for new riders.

> to your frame - you want to be able to reach the ground with both feet
> while sitting (flat-footed, ideally). Not doing so makes you unstable.
>
> As new riders, or even just getting back into riding after a long
> break, you'd definitely want to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's
> new rider course. Their instructors will be helpful in what to look for
> when buying a new scooter. An 1800cc bike is not beginner material.
> There might be an insurance break for taking the course too.

Yup. Taking a bit of motorcycle safety training before buying a bike
is a smart thing to do.

-- Michael

.

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