Starter Bike
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,704
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From:
RE: Starter Bike
Super motos and super motards are a blast to ride for short hops and urban commutes. What to get him? As already stated, a bike that fits physically and a bike that fits his purpose. If you're out in the boonies, a supermoto will grow very old very fast. They're not meant for distance riding. if your in town, a heavy bike will become cumbersome soon enough and then you have an expensive garage ornament. A lot of us here, especially those who have been riding for well over a quarter century, started with inexpensive beater bikes. Once they served their purpose and gave a real seat-of-the-pants feel as to what style of riding we were after, getting the next bike was easier.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 716
Likes: 5
From: Harley Home
RE: Starter Bike
I appreciate everyone's input on this. Best bet I think is leave it up to my son and I think he may be leaning in this direction. DRZ Supermoto
[IMG]local://upfiles/6824/2F03DE6E8942418DBDCA09E5FB934722.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/6824/2F03DE6E8942418DBDCA09E5FB934722.jpg[/IMG]
RE: Starter Bike
I started with a Honda 50.But that was when I was 10 or so.The first street bike I had was a 1981 Suzuki 650.It was a screaming torch.It went about 130 mph.PLEASE DON'T GET YOUR SON THIS RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looking back on it now,I'm lucky to be alive.Get him something small and multi-purpose.Then you can take him to an off-road place and ride all day.Then he can go on-road and know what he's doing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 822
From: Nevada
RE: Starter Bike
daboys,newbies feel more secure when they can plant their feet on the ground at stops. Dual purpose bikes are tall. If your son is on the shorter side, I'd recommend one of the other bikes you're considering. An 883 Sporty would be nice. You can bump the displacement to 1200 when your sonis ready for more power.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 2
From: Appling GA
RE: Starter Bike
Hes talking about a 15 year old... A 750 is way to big for him to learn to ride well on. I learned on mini bikes when I was 10 and then 175sat age 13. You start on a smaller bike you learn to ride, you start on a heavy bike you are too busy trying to keep it up that you never learn to really ride.
Opinion formed by seeing and doing.
Opinion formed by seeing and doing.
ORIGINAL: DamifIknow
Honda 750 ACE is a good starter bike for anybody. Its low, not too heavy, and not too fast and looks good. guess it depends on what he likes. You can get a good ACE on ebay with low miles for about 3 grand.
Honda 750 ACE is a good starter bike for anybody. Its low, not too heavy, and not too fast and looks good. guess it depends on what he likes. You can get a good ACE on ebay with low miles for about 3 grand.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Starter Bike
Not to Hijack this thread but I just had a thought. Why do most of the board members and Harley riders in General INSIST that if you have a Sportster(pity on u especially if u have an 883), that you will HAVE to want to move to a bigger bike in a matter of months? I seem to find a lot of people that enjoy the sportster for what it is. Why is it that Harley riders have to have 1500cc's in their engine? Are most of us trying to compensate for something else by having a huge engine? An 883 is plenty for any distance and 2 up riding. But you won't be able to go 0-60 in 5 seconds with 2 up on an 883Sportster [
].You can also equip a sportser to go as far as you want(since most of you also insist a Sportster can't be of any use for touring). I just don't get it! Some people just enjoy the Sportster, never out grow it,and would rather drive it than a Fat Boy with a huge engine or a Glide that is basically a cage convertible missing 2 wheels. [:@]Ok i'm done now, just had to get that out there lol.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 15
From: Senoia, Ga., by way of Miami, Fl..
RE: Starter Bike
ORIGINAL: joel85
Not to Hijack this thread but I just had a thought. Why do most of the board members and Harley riders in General INSIST that if you have a Sportster(pity on u especially if u have an 883), that you will HAVE to want to move to a bigger bike in a matter of months? I seem to find a lot of people that enjoy the sportster for what it is. Why is it that Harley riders have to have 1500cc's in their engine? Are most of us trying to compensate for something else by having a huge engine? An 883 is plenty for any distance and 2 up riding. But you won't be able to go 0-60 in 5 seconds with 2 up on an 883Sportster [].You can also equip a sportser to go as far as you want(since most of you also insist a Sportster can't be of any use for touring). I just don't get it! Some people just enjoy the Sportster, never out grow it,and would rather drive it than a Fat Boy with a huge engine or a Glide that is basically a cage convertible missing 2 wheels. [:@]
Ok i'm done now, just had to get that out there lol.
Not to Hijack this thread but I just had a thought. Why do most of the board members and Harley riders in General INSIST that if you have a Sportster(pity on u especially if u have an 883), that you will HAVE to want to move to a bigger bike in a matter of months? I seem to find a lot of people that enjoy the sportster for what it is. Why is it that Harley riders have to have 1500cc's in their engine? Are most of us trying to compensate for something else by having a huge engine? An 883 is plenty for any distance and 2 up riding. But you won't be able to go 0-60 in 5 seconds with 2 up on an 883Sportster [].You can also equip a sportser to go as far as you want(since most of you also insist a Sportster can't be of any use for touring). I just don't get it! Some people just enjoy the Sportster, never out grow it,and would rather drive it than a Fat Boy with a huge engine or a Glide that is basically a cage convertible missing 2 wheels. [:@]Ok i'm done now, just had to get that out there lol.
I also see you have an '07... Not everyone has or has had a rubber mounted sportie. Mine was'93 and ran GREAT!! But, it was a rolling vibrator that would whip you after 100mi. Sure, you could ride it longer, but it was wearing. I sold it for a '96 Dyna convertable. WOW!!!! What a difference. Not as much power, yea I went down in power from a Sportie. I could ride where I wanted as long as I wanted whenever I wanted and not feel beat when I got off the bike. The big twin is a much more substantial bike and feels more solid than the Sportie, thats why you hear the comments you hear from folks that have experience with both. Nothing wrong with a Sportster, but the 883 is a beginer leverl bike. If its comfortable for you , great theres nothing wrong with it, you are just the exception to the rule..Iwould like to have another Sportster foran arround town bobber at some point..BTW, my current bike is still 1340, so I dont need the 1500 either
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Starter Bike
dont know how he's built but i do know the suzuki 650 savage or now i think they're called an s40 (40 cubes) is an excellent starter bike. my wife still rides one (she's 4'10" ). they got the cruiser look, they're light as hell, plenty of power. however if he's a big boy he'll be cramped. The wife started on a 250 rebrel and was ready to move up in about 2 months. this doesnt say much about my maintenance program, but i've never laid a wrench to it other than to change the tires. it's an 01 with right at 20,000 miles on it. very economical. come to think of it , as many times as i've said this suzuki should be payin me for advertising........but it really is a great bike
650 suzuki
95sporty
and my baby 07 e glide
650 suzuki
95sporty
and my baby 07 e glide
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 3
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RE: Starter Bike
Even after your post about the decision to go with the DRZ, you're still getting recommendations for mini-cruisers. After running multi-brand and scooter stores, I'm very well aware that today's youth for the most part, like a different style of bike than us older folks. Especially the youth that don't want to be associated with the style of bikes their dad and his geezer friends bought to go see the Elton John concert a few years ago!
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 716
Likes: 5
From: Harley Home
RE: Starter Bike
I wanted to update on my decision with my son about a starter bike. We found the DRZ supermoto and he really liked it but I told him to think about it for a couple of weeks, good thing we did that. I called my HD dealer and let them know what I was looking for on the off chance something may get traded in. Low and behold JACKPOT! A woman traded in her 2007 Kawi Ninja 250 with 1000 miles for a Buell and I am buying that. It's an outstanding deal so we are going to pick it up tis weekend.