Starter street bike

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Aug 12, 2007 | 10:28 PM

#11

JohnScrip

Road Warrior

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,599

Likes: 7

From: Hoffman Estates, IL

RE: Starter street bike

A 2000+ Honda Sabre... "Bigger" than a Road King, styled like a Fat Boy, over 100 pounds lighter than either, Honda's famous 1100 cc plant. Gas, an occasional oil change.

It's a "big" bike - But it handles very well at just around 600# wet.

It'll almost certainly run you a few more bucks, but you'll wind up with a bike that's more along the lines of what you're looking for right off the bat. Take the course - Get a decent bike. I made the mistake of getting a "beater" (actually, it was a very nice 1984 Yamaha Virago 1100) that wound up being just way too small and uncomfortable on longer rides. You don't want that to happen. I ditched that bike after less than 1,000 miles after dumping a small fortune into it.

Aug 12, 2007 | 10:50 PM

#12

deermasher

Cruiser

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 137

Likes: 0

From: Iowa

RE: Starter street bike

when i 1st started riding 27 years ago it was on a 125 enduro then i moved up to a 400 then a 550 then a 1,000 finally a 1200. then in my late 20's i was bikeless for about 15 years ( raising my sons) now a couple months back i got me a 883 for my self and ran into a great deal on a 250 for my sons and wife to learn on. i'm hoping to move myself up to a 88" in a year and my wife up to the 883. if you're new to riding i beleive in starting with something you're comfortable on and then move up as your skill level improves.

Aug 13, 2007 | 12:02 AM

#13

tda69

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 3,272

Likes: 83

From: Southern California

RE: Starter street bike

Honda Rebel 250. I'm a firm believer that beginners need beginner bikes. The Rebel will allow you to learn the basics without becoming intimidated. The idea is to build confidence and good defensive ridign skills. There's plenty of time for Harley's later. First things first. Take an MSF course, they provide you a bie to learn on. After you graduate, look for a used Rebel in the classifieds. Odds are you will find a good clean little bike that somebody else used to learn on and is ready to sell now in order to move up.

Aug 13, 2007 | 12:28 AM

#14

JohnScrip

Road Warrior

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,599

Likes: 7

From: Hoffman Estates, IL

RE: Starter street bike

Quote:

ORIGINAL: tda69

I'm a firm believer that beginners need beginner bikes.

I might even have to partially retract my former statement... It really does relate to whatever previous experience you have.

I rode some MX when I was a "kid" and a lot of OPB's under very limited circumstances -- But with a very wide variety of bikes. A mile here, a few blocks there, a "closed private road" here and there. But no doubt, "straight and fast" is very easy on almost any bike -- Everything else is a different story.

In any case, the (500cc) Buell's at the MSF felt like tiny little mini-bikes. So I knew that although I had limited "street" experience, I was going to need a fairly large bike. Others may be in a completely different situation -- If you really have little or no riding experience, smaller is probably much better. Gotta be a lightweight if you're going to get a Rebel to move though... [sm=laughingsmilie.gif] So whatever you get, make sure it "feels right" and is light enough for you to "tilt" pretty well before you hand over the cash.

Aug 13, 2007 | 12:40 AM

#15

Kolni

Banned

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 7,292

Likes: 13

From: Sacramento California!!!

RE: Starter street bike

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Urban Coyote

I'm not the best one to give advice on motorcycles as I am a new to owning and riding motorcyclesmyself.

I also considered, at first, to get a cheaper beginner bike to learn on such as a Yamaha, Kawasaki or Honda, but I figured I would eventually want a Harley, so I just went with a HD Sportster as my first bike to learn on and I will be satisfied with a Harley rather than buying a Japanese bike that I would have to sell and lose money on.

Yup

Aug 13, 2007 | 05:19 AM

#16

PapaTravis

Elite HDF Member

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 4,391

Likes: 10

From:

RE: Starter street bike

Quote:

ORIGINAL: tda69

Honda Rebel 250. I'm a firm believer that beginners need beginner bikes. The Rebel will allow you to learn the basics without becoming intimidated. The idea is to build confidence and good defensive ridign skills. There's plenty of time for Harley's later. First things first. Take an MSF course, they provide you a bie to learn on. After you graduate, look for a used Rebel in the classifieds. Odds are you will find a good clean little bike that somebody else used to learn on and is ready to sell now in order to move up.

First, let me say, I am a big guy (350lbs and 6'1"). I started riding street bikes at 13 years old. I went through a bunch of bikes. Wrecking some, and what not. I bought a '86 Honda Rebel. And, as far as I knew at the time, it looked like a Harley. LOL. That was a great little bike. I mostly rode on the passenger pillon, but I loved that little bike. I think they are great for begginers, and really cheap, to boot. Riding a street (crotch rocket style) bike does not feel the same. Your body is in a complete different riding position. If you goal is to own a Harley, I think you need to learn on a bike that has the same riding posture as a harley. Any of the metric cruisers will do, but, if I was starting all over again, I would still do it on a Rebel. Then sell it off for a grand for some extra Harley money. JMHO

Aug 13, 2007 | 09:16 AM

#17

Finn111

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 1,645

Likes: 2

From: South County, CA.

RE: Starter street bike

I agree with that. It would be best to learn on something small and easy to handle (depending on your size) The 250 Rebel and the 250 Virago are both great starter bikes. They are both around three hundred pounds with low seat heights (26"+/-) and they are a blast to ride. (I have a Virago 250 that I started my GF riding with) But I would stay away from any bike that's 20+ yrs old unless you know how to wrench!

Aug 14, 2007 | 12:18 AM

#18

MOSTWANTED

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 574

Likes: 0

From: Kansas City

RE: Starter street bike

Thanks for all of the input. I worked on the blazer today untill I got it running. Should make it worth a few more dollars. Anyhow, I am going to look at the Honda in the next few days. I did have a fella say he'd give me $1200 cash for it but I don't know if that is gonna pan out. Origionally, I thought I'd use the cash for a down on a Sportster, but I don't know if I will be financeable.