First bike? What do you recommend?

Bethelism wrote:I happen to know of a Honda Shadow VLX for sale....

I heard it doesn't run though. Too bad, someone, could have enjoyed riding that bike all summer w/ a couple of others.


A smaller cruiser type bike is a great bike to start on. Lower center of gravity and easy to manuever. Def make sure you take the RSC.

I say sign up and take the Rider Safety Course first! They supply the bike (usually 250cc cruisers). They are very small and easy to handle bikes! A few months after passing my RSC, I bought a '00 Suzuki Bandit 1200S. It got great reviews for a first time used bike. It's a sport touring, so you get a lot of both worlds of the crotch rockets and cruisers. It was also a good price at $4000 only 4 years old with just over 10K miles. Don't let the engine size scare you! It may be better off getting a slightly larger bike at first rather than get some small 250, not liking it and having you not really appreciate the fun they can be being small and underpowered. Not to mention the hassle of selling the small bike and buying a bigger one. You control all the go power with your right wrist! If you don't want to go fast, all you have to do is grab the throttle with your wrist rotated back a bit. That will physically limit the motion your wrist can twist the throttle back. Years later, the Bandit still provides plenty of fun power to have good, safe fun! It is currently in the shop getting back in running condition as I let it sit unstarted the past 2 1/2 years. I WANT TO RIDE AGAIN!!!!!

I had my Z1000 on craigslist for a while but no bites. So I ride it every once in a while. My boss has a Ninja 650R that is way to small but has plenty of power

I think the RSC is a good idea. I will probably do that first and then see where I go from there.

my 1st and only bike was a 1973 Kawasaki f7 175 enduro..after some serious thought ..and a couple close calls...and my mom telling me not too , i never made it to the road bike part..good luck in your search

I too have had my bike sitting fo almost the last 3 years now... I got hurt at work Nov '08, I have been tinkering on it the last month while school has been out. I had to get a battery, then had a bad, new oil filter. Then discovered the voltage regulator was bad. Got that last week. Started school today... So time is going to be limited here real soon as studyiing kicks in. I need to get my SVO up and running again too. Have the new rad, cap, and stat, flush and coolant. Just need to do it....

Why you all have bikes let them sit around collecting dust!! Ride 'em!!

Big-B wrote:Why you all have bikes let them sit around collecting dust!! Ride 'em!!

Wasn't my choice.... Back injury, 1 neck surgery, 2 back surgeries, lost job, and wife left.... I know sounds like a bad country song... Hoping I can still ride the softail and be comfortable... May have to step up to a touring chassis like a street glide if not.

I finally got my bike back on the road Tuesday just to have the throttle cable snap 48 miles into the awesome ride... Once I get it back, I will be a riding fool again! I plan on actually hooking up with you and Suze to do some riding...after how many years of saying it???