At 73 y/o. I started on a Vulcan 500. Originally had a Bonniville 54 years ago! Have had the 500 for 3.5 mo now and am ready to move to a 900. I have a friend my age size and strength that rides a heritage. He has ridden his whole life. SKILL COUNTS. At my age and 5’10, I have no desire for a bike that big. Maybe when I’m real comfortable on the 900 I would go to 11 to 12 thousand Cc max. I laid my 500 down while nearly stopped and wow. You learn how much age effects strength. It was all I could do to get it back up. Engine bars would have helped. Any future bike will have them. Sure would like abs too. Any one know any used model bikes that has abs in or around the 900cc range. Thanks for the info. I’m really enjoying riding.
I'm 5'6. After the MSF class, I went ahead and bought a rebel 250, used that for a year. Then upgraded to vlx600 which was awesome at the time, really nimble and fun bike to ride around the city. Then I got myself a shadow vt1100c, seat is a bit high for me even after lowering the shocks. It's an awesome bike to ride in various conditions, plenty of power even at highway speeds. I don't think I'm gonna upgrade for a while. Great vid and topic. Ride safe.
Hi. I am 57 years old / young Swedish. When I took my driving license for heavy motorcycle 2012, the traffic school offered an Bandit 650 exercise motorbike. had no license before on motorcycle. When the card was taken, it was time to buy a motorcycle, went to a motorcycle store and watched my dream bike, a Viktory. I sat on it and would raise it from the side support. Hell, what top heavy it was. and I thought hmmm a bit too heavy for me as a beginner. After that, it became a trip to the annual motorcycle fair and watch bikes. There I stuck to Kawasaki vn 900 custom and bought it on site and have not regretted me since then, a very good beginner motorcycle. The only thing missing is a 6 gear. ;)
Greetings from Down Under.When I started two wheel riding back in the '60's my first bike was a Honda 175 trail bike. It was a great little bike to learn on and I had a blast. As I progressed in skill I upgraded until finally was riding a Honda CB750 4 cylinder. This was when 4 cylinder bikes were just starting to be the "Thing". I ran the gamut from country bashing to high performance and back again until I stopped riding in the late 80's. Now I am in my late 60's and am thinking seriously of riding again before I'm too old to enjoy it and am looking at a Honda Shadow 750C because all I want to do is enjoy 2 wheel freedom again.What I am trying to say is everybody has a different desire of the same thing. Whether it's adrenaline pumping speed or laid back cruising it is still the same thing - two wheeling. Live the life and enjoy however you do it.Ride on. Be safe.
Sept 2017 i became a new rider. I took the class and i started out on an M109R 1800cc for my first bike and i love it. Now there is no rush to sell a small bike because I got a big enough bike to enjoy for awhile. In the end you just gotta respect the bike.
I got my start on sub 250cc bikes in the late 60's. Now I'm 6'3" 300+ pounds and not very limber. I just purchased a Suzuki Bergman 400 scooter this spring. It's very comfortable, easy to get on and capable of highway speeds. It took me a while to get used to the added weight and smaller diameter tires but now it's like a part of me. For comuting and short trips it's perfect.
Had not ridden in many years, at 57 I purchase new Vulcan 900 last year. after watching your videos I was hooked. My wife and I ride all over WV, have had a great time. Summer and especially fall riding is amazing in our state. So many winding roads it's never ending fun. Thanks for your video
For longer rides, yes. It's not that the 900 can't do them; but the 1700 will be smoother on the interstate, has better brakes, better suspension (dual shock instead of a monoshock), ABS, more wind protection, etc. Lots of things that make it better for long days in the saddle. I own a 1700 Vaquero currently and love it.
I bought a used, low-mileage 2009 Kawasaki 900 Classic LT because I have short legs, but I wanted to cruise local highways at the speed limit, too. I love the bike and have put 29,000 miles on it in the three years I’ve owned it. 45 mpg with regular gasoline & a great reputation with zero mechanical problems, so far. I'm 72 years old and can’t wait for warm weather, but, in Nebraska, March is typically when we get the most snow!
I have watched several of your videos and I must say that I do enjoy them keep up the good work, but most of all I love your type of language I have never heard you use the [F] word as so many of the bloggers do. They could from you. Thanks Bruce
My first bike is a Suzuki boulevard m109R 1800cc. Never rode before,got the bike and the second day i was riding it. The following weekend i passed the motorcycle class with a perfect score. And i been rollin ever since! The class is worth every penny! Safety first.
I'm 6'1 and been riding a 125cc for almost 2 years, the bike was small but comfortable and I wasn't feeling ridiclous on it (in my opinion and said by others), maybe because I put a semi-apehanger on it. Did 300+ KM trips on it and had really good times riding it, and was the bike that made me love motorcycles. I just got my A2 license and a Vulcan 900 Classic and couldn't be happier and it has a world big difference from my 125cc but even that small bike can make a big guy happy and get him into the motorcycles world.
I agree with you. Find a bike that fits first. I'm about 6'2" as well & started on an '08 V-strom 650 because all my buddies had V-strom 1000's. I'm not a little guy & it had plenty of power for me. However, I have a bum knee that didn't like to be bent on long trips so the next year I got an '06 Vulcan 900 Classic LT & love it. Again, plenty of power & I even started towing a trailer with it. I know these videos are older, but I've been enjoying them as I'm looking to upgrade my comfort & power to a Vaquero. Thanks for your thoughts!
Thanks for raising that question. I'm in the process of saving for my first bike now. I'm seriously gravitating toward purchasing an adventure motorcycle . I just love the idea of being able to ride wherever you want to, and not allowing terrain to limit you. Thankx again for the video.
+Caluquette Fields Awesome! I think starting somewhat easy is good because I think we find more about what we want in a motorcycle once we've got one. Some of what I thought I wanted when I started riding I found out I didn't want, and vice versa. But Adventure riding does seem cool! As for me, I want total comfort on the road for long long stretches. But if it's not a paved road or a good quality gravel road; I'm out of luck!
I help a lot of people with there first purchase. Usually cruisers. With the exception of one 650 sport bike everyone has gotten a 1300. My first question to them are, what kind of riding will you do? 2 up or solo? I look at their height and weight and I make suggestions. After that what ever they feel comfortable on. Haven't had anyone regret the bike I helped them pick yet. Me personally I never rode a motorcycle until I took the MSF course. So, my THIRD time on a bike was rolling off the lot on my then 06 Honda VTX 1800. I got a lot of comments on how that bike was too big to start on. For me though it was perfect. I practiced low speed maneuvering and quick stopping on a daily basis until it became natural. Now I'm on a Yamaha Stratoliner (1854cc). Love big bikes. IMO if you can physically fit the bike everything else is technique and confidence.
PJ I took the MSF BRC last month and was a first time rider. I just bought a Kawasaki Nomad 1600 yesterday. I am physically strong enough that it doesn't seem too heavy to me in the garage, but half my friends are telling me I'm crazy because 1600cc is way too much for a rider as inexperienced as me, and the other half are constantly reassuring me that as long as I remember what I learned, and ride confidently, I'll be fine.
I agree on starting out on a midsize bike. I had not rode a bike in about 20 years and decided to get back in it so I purchased a Suzuki c50t an 800cc bike. I'm 6' 260lb and the 800 is a great fit for around town as well as mountain riding however if I do decide to start long distance riding I'm definitely taking your advise on bigger bike with lower rpm on highway. Thanks for post.
I had the Victory Cross Roads. It was a big bike but was exhausting to ride on the highway because of the helmet wind buffeting. I changed to a much smaller bike in the Indian Scout which is smaller cc but power to weight ratio easily outperformed the Victory Cross Roads. It is much easier to handle in the garage or at low speeds. Put a wind shield and panniers on and it's almost a good tourer but is let down by it's small fuel tank.
Nice video and channel,i'm 58 years old,i chose my current bike a honda shadow 750 as my starter bike after 20 year hiatus from riding,rode bikes since i was real young but my wife and marriage did not ride anymore.Its kinda of a heavy bike but since i'm fairly experienced that's not a problem,thinking of moving up to a touring bike myself the reason i watching this video,we are not that far apart,i'm in northwest miss.Born and raised in Calif.Thanks for all the tips and keep up the great work.
I'm 58 years old, 5'8" 165 lbs. My first bike, purchased one year ago, is a Honda Shadow Aero. It is a perfect fit for me, not only the size/weight of the bike but also for the type of riding I enjoy. Country backroads and 2 lanes are my habitat. My point is this - your first bike should not only fit you but also fit the type of riding you enjoy. My little 750 cruiser is perfect for me. Thanks and keep the videos coming. I live in IL 50 miles from St. Louis so maybe we'll do a little cruising together someday.
+michael lake Absolutely! Even though I have a big interstate cruising bike now, my preference is still those two lane quiet roads. I very rarely use 6th gear and I spend most of my time ON those roads. Admittedly, when I'm 500 miles from home and want to make good time it's nice to be able to be smooth and stable at 70mph on the interstate; but the two lane roads is where it's at!
Hi Romans. Thanks for answering my questions about the Vaquero. Well, I bought one. I got the 15 Metallic Carbon Gray. My first bagger. I love this thing! I just added the adjustable Baggershield windshield. I am ready to ride! Thanks again for the videos.
I'm 5'6" 150lbs, started riding at 45 with a 2005 Suzuki Intruder 800cc. I'm 56 now and just bought 2003 Suzuki Intruder 1400cc. Both bikes were easy to flat foot and the center of gravity is pretty low. 800cc was a good starter for me.
I got a dyna fat bob harley davidson I stand 5'10 280 lbs and can flat foot it no problem, the engine size is 103 ci and a first time rider I want to be able to go the distance in comfort, I am 45yrs old n just want to cruise and enjoy myself. but in the meantime I'm taking a 3 days bike course to get a better persective of safe riding and I feel as truck driver there's a common sense practice as well. so abit of an upper hand in theory for when it comes to driving a truck n bike. thanks for your video. feel free to comment on what size of a bike a person should have. paul.
+Paul Martin I've been Riding for 20 years and took 5 years off due to some medical issues.. I started riding again last year and took a refresher course and it was great.. I'm glad I did.. Ride safe brother
Great video i started on a 175 enduro 35 years ago and gradually progressed through the years to 550 to 1200 and now my current bike is an 1800 goldwing. Cheers
I'm 6'2" 250# and immediately intended to learn to ride two up, we bought a softail. I feel with my size it is a great beginner ride that we may eventually grow out of, but always find a reason to enjoy.
I took the CHSP course, passed and got my license. A month later, I bought an Indian Scout, which is a lot bigger than the SSRs we were using. I was just starting to connect with the Scout--slow turns, u-turns without putting my foot down--when I had to get rid of it for financial reasons. Joe Palladino with his course Ride Like a Pro makes a great case that the weight debate is a moot point: a 15 year old young lady at 4' 11" is riding a 850 lb. bike! I would encourage people to take a safety course, get that bike you always wanted (remember the adage, "A poor man pays twice!") take it to a parking lot, and practice, practice, practice the slow speed exercise while working the clutch, throttle, and back brake. No matter the weight, get to really know your bike. Some gems I learned from the safety course are: Know your bike's friction zone, know your bike's stopping power, keep your eyes and head turned in the direction you want to go ("look down and that is we're you will go!") don't over exert yourself, and "never ride 100%" (leave room for margins of safety). I also learned that 52% of motorcycle fatalities have to do with the rider riding intoxicated. Ride sober, Godspeed.
+Kirk S. (Illumine Eight) Yes, absolutely. And alcohol is an issue. There's simply no excuse for operating any motor vehicle while intoxicated. Part of the problem is many people underestimate just how impaired they are. Alcohol doesn't make everyone 'feel' impaired, even if they actually are impaired. While I think everyone should be honest about themselves and a brand new rider might not be best suited on a very big bike (and experienced rider of any size certainly could), I don't think the wisdom that these little 250cc bikes are for everyone is very valid.
I started on a ninja 250 but like you it was way to small for me at 6`1 and now riding a Yamaha 650 custom which i enjoy. I would like to move up to a 1100 when I can afford to do so. Another great blog...always enjoy them...keep em coming bro! :)
Thanks for this video, I've been riding for just 1 year. I took a motorcycle course where I rode a Honda 250 Rebel; however, while it was rideable, it was comically small for me. (I'm 6"2', 270). I eventually bought a Honda CTX 700. It fit me really well, and I like the very low centre of gravity offered by its low parallel twin and frame. Insurance in my region is done strictly by cc's, so staying under 750 cc's was a factor for me also. I found your channel when I was considering a Vulcan 900 as my first bike, I very nearly went in that direction but liked the compromise offered by the Honda. I enjoy your videos and commentary very much, as well as the landscape you get to ride in. Take care...
I'm on my first bike & the decision was more of availability. I got a great deal from a family member on a 2005 Suzuki Boulevard s83. Even though it's 1400cc, the frame fits my body well. I will admit that it's a lot of power for a beginner, but when the weather permits, it is a ton of fun to ride.
When I took my MSF class, the largest frame bike they had was a 200 cc Suzuki dual sport. I'm 6'4". I sat in the rear seat just so I could reach the foot controls. My instructor said "buy a bike that fits you". To me, that was a 1500 cc touring cruiser. Been riding it ever since.
I would repeat your last statement, better to "have a bike that fits you, that you are comfortable and confident with". I haven't ridden for some years now but in the past I had bikes that I felt a lot more confident on than others, one bike was only a 250cc but it was too tall and heavy for me at the time, I never had accidents on it but I never really felt confident on it either.
I'm currently riding my dad's bike, an '81 Honda cm200t, I've ridden his vt1100c3 a few times and loved it! which is why I'm going to pick up my own this week! Really, graduating to a bigger bike is just keeping in mind that each bike is different and has its own "personality" so to speak. I know the wife and I are very excited and already planning long trips for after I get used to the bike. From kck here so maybe I'll catch ya on the road one day!
I am only 5’6” and I have now learned that looks mean a lot less to me. More important are things like engine size, seat height and weight. I do mostly short commuting as I don’t have time to take long rides. Taking a two year break and going to pay down debt. But I will be back! Just on something that fits me a whole lot better.
I took the MSF course, a month later I bought and passed my test on a '06 Vulcan Classic 900 LT - with the bags, 2-up seat and windshield all on. Have been riding ever since on that, and love the combination of easy learning, reasonable weight management, and of course highway passing power. As my first bike, I thought it might be too much, but as my lead instructor pointed out, if I'm riding like an old-guy cruiser, I'm probably not going to be overpowered. Great VLOGS, by the way. Next year, I'm thinking I'll make this my spare/guest bike, and get myself a Vaquero. Rode my friend's Vulcan 1600 this summer and found it reasonably easy to stay with.
I am 43 and started riding a year ago on a Honda shadow 600 and then recently bought a Honda vtx 1800 and I love it, like going from a single barrel carbureted 4 cyl to a fuel injected v8, its awesome!!!!!!!!
i started out on a honda shadow 600 im 5'8 150 pounds that bike was so big to me at first ive been riding for a year now and i wish i had more passing power on the highway it isnt that comfortable riding long distances the vibration from the handlebars adds to the fatigue over periods of time but i am glad i started on that size so i will appreciate a larger sized bike ive dropped it numerous of times and im still getting used to slow speed maneuvers everything im learning now will contribute to my skill and required confidence with larger bikes in the future i love my honda and thank you for talking about this
This is my first full year riding as I got my license last year Oct. I took professional rider training and was trained on a yamaha 250. I am 58yr and 6' 230.bs. The bike was too small for me and I struggled with it right thru licensing. Over the winter I purchased my yamaha 950t and was a little intimidated by the thought of riding it home from the dealership as I thought…this is a big bike! Upon my riding away from the dealership I realized immediately ..this bike fits me and has the torque I needed to ride safely and easily. Long story short….put 3000 miles on the 950 from March this year til last week. Loved the bike …but have just traded up to a star 1300t and really love the increased power and cruising comfort…as well it is just that little bit more stable for freeway riding and I feel this bike will suit me for a few years now. My advice …take training…get the bike that fits you not what others say fits all. Don't start small just out of intimidation…you will advance quickly and a larger cc bike will not overwhelm ….you will ride it according to your ability and grow with it. just my two bits. :)
willyb933 Awesome! And fit is what it's all about. For a bike to be safe and capable, it must fit well! I've heard a number of new riders tell me they felt less in control of their 250cc "starter bike" than they did of their next bike. That isn't to say, though, that some riders wouldn't fit a 250 well. My wife would, though she started on a Honda Shadow 750.
Only criteria for first bike: 1. Bike must be mechanically safe. 2. Rider should be able to get their feet down. 3. Rider should be able to pick the bike up off the ground 4. Rider must be able to afford gear, bike, insurance, etc. My kids started out on my 850lbs 1500 Drifter, because it was the least maneuverable bike I own. If you can run the course with a bike that is stock 1" lower than a Harley soft-tail, grinding the floorboard bolt covers. Yeah. They are both excellent riders now.
Here in the UK in the 80's when I learned to ride a bike you could have a 250cc bike at the age of 17 and ride it on learner plates with no tuition at all. At that time some pretty quick bikes were available - Suzuki X7, Yamaha RD250 and the Kawasaki KH250 for example. These two stroke twins (triple in the case of the Kawasaki) were capable of speeds in excess of 100mph and consequently many young riders got themselves into a lot of trouble very quickly. Thankfully things changed and now you have a multi-stage system of instruction and tests which though overcomplicated at least means that new riders are gathering the experience necessary to safely ride on the road. When I passed my test in 1981 I was basically just observed riding around a fixed course by a man with a clipboard and that was it! Consequently I knew nothing - but somehow survived thank God. Later after I humbled a little I realised that some proper training would be a good idea and took further instruction. As you rightly said in your preamble, in those days 250cc was seen as a mid-sized bike and anything over 750cc was a "superbike". They didn't handle either. Spindly forks with poor geometry and brakes meant these things were essentially death traps. Modern riders are if anything rather spoiled by the shear choice of bikes most of which handle extremely well too.
Here in the U.S., it's perhaps a little too lax. It's indeed someone with a clipboard in a parking lot. And once you have a motorcycle endorsement, you can ride anything. I even know of guys who rented or borrowed a small motorcycle to take the test on, because they knew they couldn't pass it on their own bike. They blamed the bike, saying it was 'too big' to pass the test. That's just not at all true. It's their lack of skill. We do have classes available, but they are optional in most states.
I learned on a 650 Burgman scooter. Great first two wheeler. No shifting low center of gravity. I put 31 K on it, still have it. Then came a 1500 Kawasaki Vulcan classic. Great bike lots of power, great seat position, higher center of gravity. I also got my dream the Goldwing. The only downside to this bike is the weight at low speeds. I will ride them all in a single day. But I am glad for the scooter, it was forgiving and a great starter.
+Kevin Hannon For sure! Once you become proficient at low speed manuevers, weight doesn't matter. Low speed manuevering should be done with the engine, clutch, brakes and steering; not with your feet or legs. When you're proficient at it, the side of the bike doesn't matter.
Great topic! I rode 20 years ago and just started riding again. I bought a 1200 Sportster and after 4 months found it to be to small. So I traded it for my Electra Glide. And I agree it is much better on the highways and not bad on the back roads. So I would suggest start with a bike that you feel comfortable on but be careful not to buy something to small or you will loose your pants when you trade her in. Thanks for the video and ride safe!
I agree completely. I bought a 2015 Indian Scout after not riding for 25 years plus. I thought it was a good starter bike. Less than 500 lbs but pretty powerful. Now, 4 months later, I've been looking at the Indian Chieftain and Harley Street Glide. I'm not saying start on bikes that big. But don't make a huge investment in your first bike. You'll want something bigger and/or faster sooner than you think.
HarleyDayRider Absolutely. And considering trade in or resale value on a first bike is important as well. Or picking a first bike that you can both be comfortable on, AND will get years of use out of.
Reginald Watkins Absolutely. Perhaps the only thing worse than losing your shirt trading in your first bike would be dropping your $30,000 chieftain in a parking lot making a rookie mistake; BUT, there's something to be said for finding yourself a good, sturdy, used metric and getting your "sea legs" before getting onto a full sized bike. Vulcan 900's, Yamaha Star 950's, et al can be had cheap, they are stupidly reliable, and can usually be sold for a decent clip. I bought my 900 used for $5,000 and after putting 40,000 additional miles on it and 3 years; I got $3,000 in trade-in value. Not a bad deal at all. I almost certainly could've gotten more in private sale, but, the idea of being over and done with in one day was appealing and worth the cost difference.
Started on a Honda VTX1300 and at the time I thought I made a mistake. I'm not a small guy (6' 225lb) so I felt comfortable with the weight but I was a little uncomfortable with the power at first. I took it easy for the first year but I got comfortable with it pretty quick.
I rode dirt bikes for many years. Took 25 years off, just had my 2015 Vaquero 1700 ABS SE delivered two weeks ago. Handles like a dream. The size of the bike in my opinion has to do more with the individual's maturity/capability and size level, rather than the bike. All bikes regardless of size must be respected to the fullest! And one must always know their comfort limits. Falling off a 250CC or a 1700C at any speed feels the same. Respect, respect, respect.
Well laid out. Another thing to consider is not to start out on a bike with a lot of expensive body work or chrome that will get buggered up when you drop it or crash into something.
I have a Shadow vt1100, and I have to say that weight was my biggest issue. Weight at slow speeds definitely needs to be considered by new riders. You can get into trouble fast with a bike that's too heavy for you. Great vid.
lmdetect Absolutely. The advice I traditionally give is to sit on the bike and make sure you can flat foot it, and lean it from side to side. The weight should be manageable. If it's not, then it's not the bike for you. New riders should also avoid bikes with lots of low end torque or that rev quickly, especially V-Twins over 1300cc's or so, and any inline-4 powered motorcycles.
I just got my license and the msf course was the first time I ever rode a bike. But the bike I’m getting is a 1133cc cruiser. It’s not very heavy it felt fine for me. And it’s the bike I want. So I agree with you.
This year, Kawasaki actually came out with the Vulcan S. It's a 650, the same engine as the Ninja 650, so it has very good power but not too much and it has an ABS option for that added safety.
i have been riding about two years started on a gz 250 suzuki sold that and went to a suzuki savage 650 sold that a few weeks ago and am getting a honda shadow 750 in a few days needs tlc but hey thats the fun of riding right giving her a good bath and a cute name my buddy paid for me to take the bike safty class passed and have been enjoying riding around town on the bike i have had can not wait to see how the shadow feels
I kinda am going backwards on everyones thoughts on size of bikes. My first bike is a victory which has 1731 cc or a 106 ci. But i think my mindset was alot different than most riders. I don't want to play with the power as much as just get out and see the world from an open point of view. I enjoy just finding a back road i never been on and exploring. I think as long as you have a level head and some common sense and the ability to hold the bike (like you said), it don't matter the size of the bike. Thanks roman. I enjoy watching the videos and i have found quite a bit of them to be helpful on riding tips and point of views.
travis allmon Yep, maturity is important. Though it's not just about maturity and not 'going fast'. Much of the issue with bigger bikes concerns weight and confidence at low speeds, and tame clutch control. Sounds like you did fine!
Great starter bike for many is the Suzuki Savage or s40 as they are called now. Weighs only 380 lbs. and is a single cylinder 650. A used one won't cost much and they get great mpg.
I rode a Honda Shadow ACE 750VT for about 15 years. It was my first bike and I learned on it real slowly. It was a heavy bike with 5 gears and had high RPM at higher speeds. I felt very safe on it because I knew it well. But I was in the process of upgrading and I thought I'd get a H-D Heritage. But I sat on a Road King and it felt real good so I went with it. So far, so good. I did a 1,000 mile trip on it recently from mid-state NC to Smokey Mnts and then to the beach. Rides like a dream. But once when stopped on a hill, I turned to my left to look to see where the guy I was riding with was. I must have turned the front wheel and shifted my weight to the right and the bike wanted to go down fast. So I'm practicing slower stops and keeping my weight centered when stopped on the Road King. The Honda was no problems.
I drove a 350cc for over 100,000 miles. I always kept in mind not to drive faster than my angels could fly! I now drive a 750 and it can tour as slow/fast as you want all day long.
I just got my first bike this summer, after spending all winter learning and deliberating on bikes. I got a vstar 650 because they are cheap and not too powerful. I needed a bike bigger than a 250 because I live on a highway, and I think most anyone would be able to handle this size of bike. I did lay it down once on the first day (in grass luckily), but that's why you practice where there's no traffic. I feel like if I had started on a bike a couple hundred pounds heavier, I can think of a few situations where I would have got in some pretty bad wrecks in town.
I'm a big guy, and I'm afraid of starting on something too small. I don't want something like a full bagger either. I want something comfortable to cruise on, easy on my back and enough power to get around slow cars and merge with traffic on the highway. I like the idea of a slow revving motor with plenty of torque. Would something around 1200 cc's be too big? Should I start with something around 1000?
When I returned to riding in my mid 50's I actually started with a 500cc scooter. It was light enough to handle and had plenty of power for my short commute to work. Being 5'9" and no spring chicken, I decided that a Honda Shadow was about the right size for my daily rides. I purchased as new model in 2012 and currently have about 13,000 on it. I have no problem on the freeways maintaining speed (and believe me in Phoenix you better maintain speed) . But that being said I would like to move up in size for a cross country cruise but I can't imagine going anywhere above 1300cc's. After this point the cc war got stupid.
+Doug Wicks You'd be surprised just how smooth these very big bikes are though. Mine is 1700cc's and it's able to lumber along at 2,000 RPM's on the interstate. I don't like arbitrary rules and limits because every engine design is so different.
My first bike in the mid 70s was a Honda 450 twin cylinder. It was a great first bike. My second and current bike was a Honda GL 1800 and I bought that in 2010. Quite a big difference but when I bought my 450 the largest bike Honda had was the 750 4 cylinder and by today’s standards that is a pretty small bike.
Inspired by your Countersteering video I started with 650 Dragstar (V-star). I previously owned a Honda cbr 125R seven years ago so I felt like a newbie at the start and had some concerns.. However they've vanished after I bought my bike and I'm very happy with it! I first considered a 250 but never even test rode one. I testrode only my 650 Dragstar and bought it. :D I never before even considered buying a cruiser but that Countersteering video just hit me. It just looked fun! and nice and relaxed cruising!
+KK89 Glad I could be of service! That's the kind of riding I really love to do. Just leaning back, relaxing, cruising. I do a lot of long distance riding, just riding all day long, spending the entire day on the bike (500-600 miles); now THAT is pretty great!
when i was young and very poor i had a 49 cc. NSU quickly , i rode it everywhere and was happy as can be . now i'm well off and i have several bikes bmw. , stratoliner among others , ..point is , as long as you can ride , you can have fun ! my 2c.
Some excellent points made. There is no replacement for displacement on those long rides, especially with our better half's on the back! The passenger also appreciates the bigger bikes. My wife is 5'11" and needs some leg space.
saskcop Leg space is nice, and so is the torque to enable low RPM's. Turning 2400rpm's on the interstate is much more comfortable than 4k+. Some 250cc sport bikes, though capable of doing those speeds, buzz along at nearly 10k RPM's on the interstate, yikes! I also pull a trailer on long trips (currently uploading a video as we speak with some details!), and the bigger power is nice for that. Though smaller bikes ARE capable. I did plenty of long distance two-up touring with a 900cc bike. And my wife rides a 750cc Shadow and it works just fine for her small size.
Romans Five|Eight My last bike was a Buell XB12xt. Absolutely loved it (minus the obnoxious engine heat). The few short jaunts on it with my wife proved that we could never have enough leg room. We ended up selling it and are looking at viable two up touring for the near future. A trailer must really kill your fuel mileage?
saskcop If you like a sport bike, you might consider the Kawasaki Concours. More leg room, and it's based on the ZX-14 platform, but is a more upright, stretched out, and more comfortable ride. Few bikes, other than perhaps a Goldwing, are smoother. Lots of great two-up options out there though. Yes, the trailer cuts down on the fuel mileage. Not as much as one would expect though. My trailer weighs in at around 400lbs or so. I normally average 42mpg (according to the trip screen), and with the trailer, I'm at about 34-36mpg; only a 15~20% drop in fuel economy. If I upgrade my trailer to 12" wheels, I can probably improve fuel mileage by reducing rolling resistance (by reducing wheel RPM).
Romans Five|Eight The larger trailer wheels are a great idea. I think I will go with an adventure touring bike if my wife agrees to go on an Alaska trip. Even then, we would do fine on a big cruiser too. She may appreciate it as well. It has been a few years since my last cruiser ...
My stepdad rides an Adventure Touring bike. They sure are nice! It isn't a good riding position for me personally; but the inverse is also true. He isn't comfortable on my bike.
I've ridden for 30+ years. Whenever I get the 1st bike question, I tell people to pick up a mid '80s Kawasaki 440 LTD. Light, easy to handle, miserable clutch (which actually forces you to learn how use a clutch v cruisers with so much torque you don't need a clutch at all) and when you drop it, who cares? A month after zipping around town on it, you'll want something bigger. You haven't spent a fortune on it, so you can afford to get something else you are now better prepared for. These days, though, I don't think you can find too many '80s LTDs around.
New riders I think can enjoy 750cc-1000cc cruisers (40-60hp) or the 300-500cc range in the in the sport bike area (includes nakeds). Experienced riders I find will sometimes have multiple bikes that cover the range: light nimble bikes for running around town and then your larger bike for road tripping and weekend rides. I myself have been riding for 15 years and enjoy the larger cc cruisers and sport tourers. I like comfort with enough power to easily accelerate out of any situation if I so choose to do so. That being said, it really comes down to preference and what feels good to each rider.
A great first bike should be used. When you drop it, scratch it, dent it or whatever it you won't cry. Sport bike: I'd recommend the Suzuki SV650 or Kawasaki Ninja 650. Cruiser: Honda Shadow 750 or if you have to have the label Harley Davidson Sportster 883. All the above can be had for $3k or less.
I have a Yamaha FJ-09 Sport touring Bike. It's an 847cc Tripple. Fantastik bike, but not the greatest for touring on Interstate Hwy's because It's a light bike and feels a bit unstable in strong gusty winds or when hitting turbulence behind large trucks. Quick fix for that is I do all my touring on secondary hwy's as much as possible. That's where all the scenery and twisty roads are anyway. I really like the handling and power of the bike. It's the perfect (non-Interstate) touring bike.
Im driving an old BMW R800RT. 1987 vintage . Its very heavy for its engine size and cumbersome at low speeds. Sure it would be great to have more power out on the open road but I'm getting to the stage in life where I dont want to have to shift all that weight around. I dont want to do the nimble sports bike thing either. Im past that. Until I can find a better replacement for the BM, I'll continue chugging along looking out for that ideal bike.
+django r Believe it or not, some of the newer bikes are pretty good at low speeds, better balancing and a lower center of gravity. My Vaquero is fairly cumbersome but less so than some older, smaller bikes I've ridden. BMW's in general, though great bikes, have a high center of gravity which makes it tough.
My first bike what is a honda shadow 600. I am proud that I started at a 600 because I'll be able to appreciate a bigger more powerful bike when I get there.
my first long distance ride was on my honda v65 other than being sore from the 500 miles i was fatigued from the wind baffling. this past october i made that ride again on my ultra and i felt great at the end of the ride. I also started out on a 1100cc engine when i went through our MC class they had 250s and i felt like a bear on a little bike in a circus.
I think the LAMS system is probably the best idea - AUS and NZ use it. It heads off the “I need a big bike argument” because you can select a retuned bike or a 650cc or less bike with moderate power. It does however make LAMS bikes both south after and not sought after equally given on the rider. 250s are great rides, but far too small for many.
The problem with any displacement based regulation is that displacement isn’t really an accurate guide to power any longer. There are very powerful small engines, and large engines that don’t make very much power at all. And here in the U.S., where V-Twin cruisers are commonplace; it is especially problematic. V-Twin cruisers (like my bike) have relatively large displacement but don’t make a lot of horsepower. What they do is make a lot of torque, and make their power at a low RPM. My bike is 1700cc, which would be enormous for a sportbike. But it makes less horsepower than a 600cc sportbike. It makes more TORQUE than anything but the most monstrous of sportbikes though and the key feature: It can lumber along at 1,500 RPM comfortably at highway speeds. I’ve ridden a big variety of bikes and owned a few. A 600cc inline-4 sportbike is a lot more bike to handle than my big 1700cc cruiser. My bike is basically a two wheeled pickup truck. Not especially nimble but relatively easy to handle. I don’t think it would be appropriate for a brand new rider, but I don’t think it would take a lot of experience to handle either. And ultimately that’s where the issues come in. There’s too much variation with modern engines for displacement alone to effectively determine whether a bike is ‘too powerful’ or not for a given experience level.
I took the MSF class totally for passing the skills test partly because taking the skills test at DMV requires to bring your own bike, that I did not have. Like I mentioned before on a comment I'd left on one of your videos. One guy I met told me that it's not how big the bike is it's all about how you use the throttle. Originally I wanted to start on a Honda but my cousin said that I should buy a Ducati instead. I didn't realize later that he totally sold me on a brand. I did some research on all the types they had. I decided on a 2011 monster 796 for my first bike. It took me almost 2 years to save up. I almost bought a 696 but I read somewhere that they built that model women riders. I know that doesn't matter here in the U.S. but still. The biggest thing I had to decide on was, what type of rider do I want to start as? I do recommend the MSF class for basic skills and knowledge.
I think it's good to start out smaller .. For me it worked out awesome, I practiced my slow speed a lot on my buell ... U turns , circles , dodging, panic stops ... Half turn stops... Then when I got the Vstar 1300 I had to adjust for the weight . Slow speed was a new ball game, I should have filmed that . I realized with these bigger cruisers your slow speed technique needs to be very good, you need to stay in the friction zone, and know it , know where you want to go, and know what you need to do to get the bike there.. I almost dropped it to , did 1 hell of a leg press trying to not let that rear bag touch the ground. Lol . Anyhow my point is I agree with start off small ... Learn the basics, then upgrade ... Relearn the basics , then upgrade again till you get to where you want to be . It worked for me, and I still have my small Buell..
dbest1a Like any other bike; just heavier. It works the same way. Clutch and throttle. The luxury of being able to put a foot down is not as well as it is on a smaller bike; which is why low speed confidence is essential on a bike like this.
Romans Five|Eight I noticed the same .. but once you have mastered slow control of a big bike like these ... it is truly an impressive thing to me .. Although when in doubt ... just put the foot down .. is a rule I live by .. good topic and video.
dbest1a With motorcycles like mine approaching half a ton in weight; putting a foot down isn't always an option. Often the best way to get out of a jam, as counter-intuitive as it might sound, is a little extra throttle to straighten the bike up. A common cause of low speed crashes is panic braking. It's what we do in our cars, so it often translates to the bike. We panic and grab a brake, and the bike goes down. A little extra throttle and the bike will straight up.
Again, I agree with your comments. I would add is the age of the person. I know you touched on it, for insurance purposes, but I'm is talking maturity. When I was in my teens, a pocket rocket, regardless of the size was my thing. Now, in my fifties, a nice cruiser 1000cc and higher is my comfort zone. Experience does matter for what you may want to start with. Remember, needs & wants are two different worlds, sometimes. Take Care & ride safe
Just bought a 1978 BMW r100/7 as my first bike. 492 lbs. 980cc. I'm a big guy, 6'3 225 and was told repeatedly by riders to get a bigger bike as its often lack of power that causes you not to be able to avoid certain situations. I won't lie, I like the old-school style too. That said, I get my bike in two weeks and am nervous about jumping right out on the city roads. I have taken my basic rider course and ridden dirt bikes a time or two but nothing on this level. Suggestions moving forward. Slow cornering techniques, practice, etc.?
+Ry Sterling Yennie Practice, practice, practice. And pick up (and read) a copy of "Proficient Motorcycling" by Hough. It's an excellent read. For new riders starting out, one of the biggest pieces of advice I'd give is look where you want to go. In low speeds, don't look at the ground, or that's where you'll end up. Look through the corner, not at the other lane or the cars in the opposite direction, etc. It really does matter. The thing about displacement is, most people are full of it. There is no fundamental rule that decides displacement needs to be a certain amount. Lots of engine designs make more power than others. Your 1000cc BMW is quite a powerful machine. You'll be able to avoid situations and be find. Oh, and the VAST majority of the time, it's your brakes and control of the machine that will avoid a bad situation. Situations where you need to 'power away' from something are basically unheard of, and just a hypothetical argument for a bigger bike. The advantage of a bigger bike is lower, smoother RPM's at speed; power is fun too. However, it's absolute B.S. to say that a bike without enough power is "unsafe". It's just an excuse.
My first bike was a Yamaha Roadstar 1700 that I still have. I chose that one cause of looks, sound, and accessories that are available for that model. I'm 6'2 and 275 so getting a small bike was out of the question for me...lol As far as experience goes, I have 20+ years riding dirt bikes. Just riding on the street with traffic is new to me. I take it easy and just cruise. God Bless and ride on!
Romans Five|Eight Im in the process right now adding a Street Glide Fairing and HD Hard saddle bags. I also have a Goldwing rear shock setup on it. I named her "Heinz 57" being it has parts from most manufactures..lol
Romans Five|Eight The only thing im not comfortable with on my Roadstar is lane splitting. Here in sunny Southern California is common practice. Im actually from Ohio and moved out here 3 years ago. It freaked me out the first time I seen people doing it. I dont do it often and it makes me VERY nervy.
I started out with a goldwing about 20 yrs ago, so i wanted to ride again so I took msf course and after graduation I was going to start out with another goldwing but I found it was too much bike for me I couldnt back it up, and it was to tall. So I sat on v star 1100 found it felt nice not to heavy and low seat i could touch both feet. I figure if your a new rider go with what feels good , ride it safe and enjoy
i started on a 150cc, it feels comfortable it is easy to ride and the fuel consumption is very low, about 400 km with 12 litres, good in places with very few gas stations
I feel there are bikes better suited for new riders and some that are not. I tell people when they ask me the mid sized bikes are good place to start. Bikes that are a little lighter, handle better, and have good low speed manors. ABS is also a good thing to consider having on first bike if you can afford it. I say ride a mid sized bike for a year and see how you feel after that. Bikes like the Vulcan 950, Suzuki C-50 or M-50, Vstar 950, Honda Shadow 750. This will help you learn and have plenty of power as you grow. I personally don't think a new rider should be getting anything over 1000cc no matter what. Larger bikes require more everything.
NewZona Rides I think you're thinking of the Vulcan 900. There is no Vulcan 950. The problem with hard and fast rules is that bikes can be very different. The Vulcan 900 is actually a pretty big and heavy bike; and it's actually heavier and physically bigger than the Honda Shadow 1100 (which is a now discontinued model). And of course, a 600cc inline-4 sport bike is not something a new rider should start on. Fit, weight, and performance are all considerations. That said, younger riders especially are going to find that 1,000cc's is a bit of a "ceiling" with insurance companies, and chances are, they'll save a bunch of money staying below a liter until they have enough experience for their insurance company to consider them an "experienced rider". Though some companies, including mine, will consider an MSF class worth 3 years experience!
I think the person should start out on a bike that fits them. I am tall, so like you a 250 wasn't in my cards. I started on a r6 but because of the sitting position I always felt cramped. When I got back into riding, I knew I wanted comfort more than speed which lead me to bigger bikes. After riding a few bikes I knew the cruiser was more my style. Now I can ride my victory for hrs. and feel refresh and ready for more. Thanks for sharing Ride safe
I started out on a 750 and worked my way up! I'm happy with a ultra classic because I ride 13000 to 18000 miles a year! And on long road trips I don't get run down (tired) ad I did on smaller bikes!
Years ago, BSA and Triumph were pretty big bikes and seemed to have plenty of power. Now I have been riding the softails HD and of course braking and power is getting stronger. I am going to spend some time this summer in New England and was considering buying a 2005 Yamaha VStar 650. Any thoughts? I sure like the looks but how much power does it have. I am 69 years old, 175 lbs and in pretty good health. Looking for good advice. Adam
I'm a new viewer and a new rider (took MSC a month ago bought my bike 2 weeks ago) and my first bike is a 14' Victory Vegas 8 ball, 1731 cc (106 co), 24 years old so my insurance is a little high BUT it's the bike that made me want to start riding and 2017 is the last year for Victory so that definitely played a part, I think size of starter bike depends on a few things, body type/weight, maturity level, riding style, and something you actually like/want.
Kevin Bowers i hear u bro. If your gonna pay for a bike you might as well get something youll want. That small bike will get old fast as u learn and u will be dissapointed. Just take it slow while your new.
SGTJDerek They really are great! Light and manageable enough as a first bike for most riders but capable enough for an experienced rider and for long-distance touring.
Hadn't ridden in 30 years till buying a 2002 Goldwing last September. When I took delivery rode around the parking lot an hour or so to get the feel, but because of the size and weight compared to bikes I'd owned back in the day, I started out pretty intimidated. Dropped it an hour later just entering my drive way, cause of concern I'd enter to fast for the gravel surface. After that didn't want to get on the thing, but getting over the embarrassment I tried again. Soon realized I'd played a brain game on myself. The bike is dream to ride, and with the slow speed practice probably required to safely ride any size of bike, I'm doing u-turns and other maneuvers as well as ever. I use the Wing for my commute to work (80 mile round trip) and any little trip I find an excuse to leave the wife at home, as she won't ride anymore.
Lou Donnelly Also want to mention that I found back in my CB350 Honda days, that there is no substitute for power in certain situations. At the time moved up to a Honda Sabre which was 700cc and found it much better in those situations. Didn't know I was mortal back then, but now that I figured it out, the Wing is great for about any purpose, bar lane splitting.
Lou Donnelly Wow! A goldwing as a first bike in 30 years is a bold move! But glad it worked out for you. I think one of the toughest things to learn, because it's often the opposite of what we think we need to do, is that most of the time more throttle will get you out of a bad situation, not less.
Lou Donnelly Always wanted one, when I had the opportunity and the cash at the same time, just couldn't pass it up. As mentioned, for the first few miles thought I may have done a pretty stupid thing, but after 3000 miles feel very at home again.
I do recommend to start with above 1100cc cruisers if they can handle the size and weight. Why? Well in my experience, most of the riders start on 600-900cc cruiser mostly out of the respect to displacement. After two years riding most of them are looking to trade up, finding out there is nothing special to handling a bigger cruiser. The usual need for trade is not always the size since mid size cruisers like Suzi C50 or Kawi VN900 are about same big as big inch bikes. The problem is the power that is usually good enough for one up riding, but starts to be very unsafe when two up, or packed up with luggage. One may argue that he/she has no problem, but passing that 18 wheeler in safe time two up on VN900 might be a difficult task. The VN1700 has zero problems due to much better torque to weight ratio. So I always tell the new riders to check the bigger bike, have a seat, try to put it up from kickstand, dry shift it standing just on one leg... Most of the times they are too scary and say no no, I better try that 900. Then I say, dont be scared I go with you and if its going south I catch you up so you dont lay the bike down. In 90% of cases they find out that the 1700 is subjectively just slightly heavier then 900, and I always add, that when you move the weight goes away. There is also no huge torque that can surprise you or make you go down like on sport bikes, we are talking cruisers. It works, and most of my friends and customers started on cruisers over 1200cc, they always come back thanking me for the money I saved them (in trade up you always loose money). In reality they always admit that they eyed the big fat cruiser anyway, just were scared. The only mid size cruiser I recommend to start is Sportster 883. Its the cheapest Harley if someone is into Harley thing, and its the only mid size cruiser that can grow to any form and size (1200-88cui) for fair price, so its not a trade up, but a keeper. Thats my opinion to this topic, and its not far off from yours Roman.
+MadIgor FKGoogle I owned a 900, and believe it or not, passing the Semi 2-up was no problem. It was a surprisingly capable bike. Just like my 3.7L V6 Mustang is more powerful than the previous generations 4.6L V8 (and is faster), these modern mid-sized cruisers are much more capable than their ancestors (and the bigger bikes are also better, just like the new 5.0L GT Mustang is way, way faster than anything in the past). I don't think everyone should start out on a bike this big, having owned both, the 1700 Vaquero needs a level of proficiency to handle low speeds. But one that fits well, even a big one? Sure!
+Romans Five|Eight maybe we have different views on what is fast passing. I have ridden VN900 and its not really safe to pass semi two up packed up with luggage. Its way too long, no matter how you squeeze the throttle. The VN1700 is only little heavier subjectively, and believe me or not, non of two starters I recommended to get it, had a single problem. They both considered the VN900 but now they are glad they dont have to trade up. One have tryed VN900 on Kawaski dealer day after one year on Nomand saddle, and he said that the VN900 is like bicycle to him, and has no power. As a starter, you have to go things slow anyway, and it doesnt matter if you practice with VN900 or VN1700 in a parking lot and less frequented road after. There is really no reason to be scared and start on mid size cruiser. The feeling that the bike is "way big" for you, will be there until you get proficient with it. No matter if its 900cc or 1700cc, its the same.
+MadIgor FKGoogle Next time you ride a 900, downshift! Two up with luggage, I could whip around pretty quick, and mine is stock. I put 40,000 miles on my 900. If I was doing 55 behind a semi on a two lane road (if I was doing 70 on a four-lane road then I'd have all the time in the world to get around it), I could be up over 90 by the time I was past the truck. Your friend got the right bike; that's for sure. The Nomad can be a great option for a rider who can handle it! Like I said in the video, chances are, breaking that "1,000cc barrier" isn't as hard as you think, and I think internet wisdom has guys starting out on a small bike that isn't quite what they need. Your friends made a good choice! Adding things like a fairing, tour pak, etc., do add a lot of weight; so those sort of things should be considered. My 1700 is quite a bit heavier than my 900, having owned both. Though, weight shouldn't matter if a rider knows what they are doing. Clutch and throttle move the bike, not legs. Where there's a difference is some places I used to be able to park, I can no longer park; because I can't, for example, back up an incline like I used to be able to. I ride frequently with a group of guys on Harley-Davidson Ultra-Limiteds, and I used to be able to take the less-accessible parking spots when we'd go somewhere because I had a light bike that could easily get in and out of them. Not any longer! But that just takes a little fore-thought and backing INTO those spots, or just parking in some other fashion where I can easily pull out.
Romans Five|Eight I did over 65k on my Suzuki Vl800 back then. And thats about same strong bike as VN900 so I do know how the bike handles and is able to pass or not. Yes you can always downshift, but then again you may run out of RPMs during the passing, upshifting costs you some valuable time. I already realized that we have much different riding styles, you are much closer what I will call a commuter, nothing bad, but different. The backing of bigger bike is not always harder due to added weight. Usually bigger bikes have slightly higher seat and almost always the seat is wider. So you have much more "operation" space for your legs on smaller bike. Sometimes the change to narrower seat works wonder. The Ultra Limited is good example, you need longer legs to back it off then on Vaquero, not really stronger legs. Harley riders on the other hand have the option of aftermarket rear gear kit, if they want to.
Here i Australia the biggest you can go as a learner/provisional rider is 650cc depending on power to weight. I got a Yamaha vstar 650 im 5' 11 and find it fits me fine its about the same size as the HD Iron and 48 but i just find it revs out really quickly but yeah its a good starter bike. Im torn between getting a 48, Victory octane(when it finally gets released here) or go up to a bigger bike and get a Street bob?? the Octane is supposed to handle really good though and its got the up and go you want! but the bob would be better on a trip. First world problems...
Yes, laws in different areas make the decision for some folks. I'm not a fan of CC based restrictions though; because there's so much more to a bike than displacement. A 250cc sportbike is not the same as a 250cc cruiser.
I flat refuse to watch many of the motorvlogs due to the foul language. Thank you for your self control. I started riding at 8yrs old sitting in front of my Dad on a Yamaha 80 street bike. Dad handles the brakes and shifting for me and I handled the clutch, front brake and throttle. When I got big enough that became mint, then a Yamaha 90 DT1 Enduro. Next was a KZ 440 LTD then a 3 cylinder 2 stroke KZ 750. I stopped riding but now plan next year to get a Bagger.
Unless you are a very strong person and 5'10" +, over 200 lbs I would not suggest a Vulcan 900 as a starter bike. Maybe more like a Honda Shadow 750 or the Vulcan 650 in line twin. Vulcan 900 Classic LT weighs 654lbs. After graduating from the Shadow 750 or Vulcan 650 in line you can skip the 900 and go with something bigger.
In the UK, the licensing rules mean that a lot of people don't take their test until their mid 20's (much later for me). The test involved is on a 600cc, so 600cc seems to be the smallest anyone then buys, except for learners who can only have 125cc machines. You don't see very many bikes between those sizes.
CalmBiker Different countries are definitely a little different, especially with licensing schemas. Here in the U.S., the states issue a Motorcycle learners permit which has different restrictions depending on the state; but never a restriction on engine displacement. Usually, learners permits restrict things like night driving or riding with a passenger. Though in my state (Missouri); there actually are no restrictions; but it has to be renewed every 6 months and most insurance companies charge a lot more. Then you have a motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license, which is a full license. It's renewed along with your driving license.
Romans Five|Eight Seems sensible. Here the CBT, which learners take, lasts two years. The license lasts for ever with no further testing. I think an hour with an instructor every few years might improve the quality of riding and driving but it's not been thought about for some time.
CalmBiker I believe lifetime licensing is a problem worldwide. Here in the United States, as long as you renew it on time (once every 6 years in my state; and all 'renewal' is, is paying a fee), you never have to do ANYTHING to keep your license. The only exception is if a doctor or court takes away your license (for violating the law in the latter case, or having a diagnosis, like a seizure disorder, that could cause you to be unsafe in the former). Elderly folks have to take a basic vision test and have to renew every year. I would love to see, everything from Motorcycles to Cars, periodic re-testing of skills and proficiency included periodic re-taking of written tests to demonstrate a proficiency of road laws, road signs, etc. Pilots, commercial drivers, riverboat captains; you name it, all have to renew their licenses regularly by demonstrating their abilities to an instructor. Even a commercial pilot with thousands of hours and years of experience has to climb aboard a 4-seat airplane and show an instructor they still know what they are doing once in a while. Complacency is dangerous and the view of driving as an inalienable right puts us all at risk. Driving is only a right for those who can demonstrate a proficiency in safely operating the machine and a willingness and ability to follow applicable laws and operate their vehicle in a safe manner. Auto accidents remain the leading cause of death in the United States. If curing cancer required a test once every few years, or if taking a written exam once in a while would prevent a heart attack; wouldn't we do it? So we don't we demand the same for driving which kills more people than both of those things? Well, that's my $0.02 anyway!
Realistically, no regular person needs more power than 600cc for a SuperSport, 400-450 for dual sports, 1000-1200 for tourers, and about 1200cc for cruisers. All of these classes have distinct power levels, and you really don't need anymore than the middle power range. The only reason to buy these behemoth motorcycles like the Triumph Rocket III, Husky 701, ZX14R, Hayabusa, etc. is because they look pretty and have big numbers on paper. Too small for me would be bikes that can't handle highway speeds well, have poor passing power, and lacks heavily in comparison to other options in the same category, like a 125cc sport bike, a cruiser like the 250 Rebel, or a 125cc 4 stroke dirt bike. I started on a Yamaha MT 07, and I think that for my riding and what I use it for, it is plenty of bike. I also recently bought a DRZ 400E, and for the trails I don't need anymore power than that... it might even be a bit much for me to start dirt on. Honestly, anyone who rides these 500 and 600 dirt bikes in the trails are insane.
It's Pickle RIIIIICK!!! There's actually an advantage to large V-Twins beyond just 'power'. In fact, large V-Twins don't actually have much more horsepower than smaller engines. The primary advantage of a large V-Twin is low RPM's. That improves reliability and engine life, AND makes the bike a lot more comfortable by cutting down on vibration. The low end torque these big twins make allows them to run at a low RPM while making enough power to maintain speed up a hill. Often I'm cruising around at 2,000 RPM's, less than half of the RPM's of my previous bike at the same cruising speed. Setting the cruise control in overdrive (6th gear), lumbering along at 2500 RPM's on the interstate at 70mph, going up and down hills without any lugging or vibration makes long, multi-day trips a LOT more comfortable.
Lab Insight It's much more comfortable. And there are still bugs; now they are on the windscreen instead of my helmet. Less wind blast, I don't need to wear earplugs, I can hear the stereo, and it's just far more comfortable.
My wife just surprised me with a Gold Wing SL1500 for Christmas. I've always talked about wanting this bike. I haven't ridden in almost 30 years and the Gold Wing is bigger than the bikes i rode when I was in my 20's. I have recently taken a motorcycle class to get my endorsement. My plan now is to the next few months or more at a school parking primarily working on slow speed maneuvering. The bike handles beautiful on the road but I know that handling this bike at slow speeds is going to be a key element I need to master. I'm just going to take my time developing my skills once again. I know it's a big bike but does this seem like a good approach?God Bless
Hi there! Low speed skills translate into safety on the road. I'd highly recommend taking the motorcycle safety foundation course in your area. The skills you'll learn are extraordinary and it's an absolute must. Do that and you'll be surprised how well you handle your wing. Enjoy it!
Thanks for the response. I did take the motorcycle safety course to get my endorsement which I've not had in years. Not to mention my beautiful wife insisted. Lol. I do plan on working on slow speed maneuvers for as long as it takes to bring my skill level back up. Truthfully I was totally freaked out that she bought it for me. It was cool when my son came driving up on it on Christmas morning.!
I rode a 250 for my rider course and I hated it. They might be ok to start on for women and smaller guys but I am a big guy and looked rediculous on it. My first bike was an 800 cc suzuki c50s and it was absolutely perfect for me to start on. The frame was large enough for my large frame and it had plenty of power but not too much to get me in trouble. However, being a beginner I did have several occasions at slow speeds and poor stops etc... where I had to put my foot down and just power through it to keep it up and with my frame I was more than capable so that is a case where a smaller person would struggle and maybe should start on a smaller bike. And the one time i did lay it down i picked it right up and rode off, i was embarrassed but not as much as I would have been if I had to go get help to pick it up. So I'd say the bike you start on is directly related to your size and or strength capabilities where if you cant use brute strength to hold it up or pick it up then with this being the time when you are most likely to drop it you should have something you can pick up until you get better and are less likely to drop it.
Steven Burdick The truth is, with the right technique, any bike can be picked up. My Vaquero is 900lbs and I've picked it up. I stopped at a parking lot and didn't have my sidestand down all the way (whoops). it rested on it's crash bars. The trick is to back up into the bike, and place your hips/tailbone on the seat behind you. Grab the bars with the right hand and 'something else' if you can with your left (sissy bar, crash guard, or even just the saddle). Put it in gear so it doesn't roll, and just walk backwards. Using that technique, there isn't a bike too heavy to be picked up off of it's side!
Romans Five|Eight I've watched some of those motorcycle cop competitions and I've seen them do it and you're right that technique is huge; man I wish I could ride like them. But I've kept my bike up several times with pure brute strength and just willing it not to hit the ground. I almost dropped my Vaquero this weekend by getting stuck on a steep drive way curb where I lost momentum backing out and it was going down but I put my foot down and just Hemanned it back up, I bent my mirror but the bike stayed up. So that's why I think size and strength give you a little bit more margin for error at slow speeds. I'm going to be paranoid about the kick stand now cuz my uncle just got a bike and did the same thing in his garage. He laid it down at an intersection too and I think part of the problem is that he got a big bike to start, a Honda VTX 1800, instead of the Vulcan 900 he was going to get.
At 73 y/o. I started on a Vulcan 500. Originally had a Bonniville 54 years ago! Have had the 500 for 3.5 mo now and am ready to move to a 900. I have a friend my age size and strength that rides a heritage. He has ridden his whole life. SKILL COUNTS. At my age and 5’10, I have no desire for a bike that big. Maybe when I’m real comfortable on the 900 I would go to 11 to 12 thousand Cc max. I laid my 500 down while nearly stopped and wow. You learn how much age effects strength. It was all I could do to get it back up. Engine bars would have helped. Any future bike will have them. Sure would like abs too. Any one know any used model bikes that has abs in or around the 900cc range. Thanks for the info. I’m really enjoying riding.
Fred Read dude 12000 cc woulld be huge lol
I'm 5'6. After the MSF class, I went ahead and bought a rebel 250, used that for a year. Then upgraded to vlx600 which was awesome at the time, really nimble and fun bike to ride around the city. Then I got myself a shadow vt1100c, seat is a bit high for me even after lowering the shocks. It's an awesome bike to ride in various conditions, plenty of power even at highway speeds. I don't think I'm gonna upgrade for a while. Great vid and topic. Ride safe.
Hi. I am 57 years old / young Swedish. When I took my driving license for heavy motorcycle 2012, the traffic school offered an Bandit 650 exercise motorbike. had no license before on motorcycle. When the card was taken, it was time to buy a motorcycle, went to a motorcycle store and watched my dream bike, a Viktory. I sat on it and would raise it from the side support. Hell, what top heavy it was. and I thought hmmm a bit too heavy for me as a beginner. After that, it became a trip to the annual motorcycle fair and watch bikes. There I stuck to Kawasaki vn 900 custom and bought it on site and have not regretted me since then, a very good beginner motorcycle. The only thing missing is a 6 gear. ;)
Greetings from Down Under.When I started two wheel riding back in the '60's my first bike was a Honda 175 trail bike. It was a great little bike to learn on and I had a blast. As I progressed in skill I upgraded until finally was riding a Honda CB750 4 cylinder. This was when 4 cylinder bikes were just starting to be the "Thing". I ran the gamut from country bashing to high performance and back again until I stopped riding in the late 80's. Now I am in my late 60's and am thinking seriously of riding again before I'm too old to enjoy it and am looking at a Honda Shadow 750C because all I want to do is enjoy 2 wheel freedom again.What I am trying to say is everybody has a different desire of the same thing. Whether it's adrenaline pumping speed or laid back cruising it is still the same thing - two wheeling. Live the life and enjoy however you do it.Ride on. Be safe.
Absolutely!
Sept 2017 i became a new rider. I took the class and i started out on an M109R 1800cc for my first bike and i love it. Now there is no rush to sell a small bike because I got a big enough bike to enjoy for awhile. In the end you just gotta respect the bike.
I got my start on sub 250cc bikes in the late 60's. Now I'm 6'3" 300+ pounds and not very limber. I just purchased a Suzuki Bergman 400 scooter this spring. It's very comfortable, easy to get on and capable of highway speeds. It took me a while to get used to the added weight and smaller diameter tires but now it's like a part of me. For comuting and short trips it's perfect.
Had not ridden in many years, at 57 I purchase new Vulcan 900 last year.
after watching your videos I was hooked.
My wife and I ride all over WV, have had a great time.
Summer and especially fall riding is amazing in our state. So many winding roads it's never ending fun.
Thanks for your video
Awesome!
I am now thinking of buying a 2017 Vulcan 1700 voyager, are they better for longer rides?
For longer rides, yes. It's not that the 900 can't do them; but the 1700 will be smoother on the interstate, has better brakes, better suspension (dual shock instead of a monoshock), ABS, more wind protection, etc. Lots of things that make it better for long days in the saddle.
I own a 1700 Vaquero currently and love it.
I bought a used, low-mileage 2009 Kawasaki 900 Classic LT because I have short legs, but I wanted to cruise local highways at the speed limit, too. I love the bike and have put 29,000 miles on it in the three years I’ve owned it. 45 mpg with regular gasoline & a great reputation with zero mechanical problems, so far. I'm 72 years old and can’t wait for warm weather, but, in Nebraska, March is typically when we get the most snow!
I have watched several of your videos and I must say that I do enjoy them keep up the good work, but most of all I love your type of language I have never heard you use the [F] word as so many of the bloggers do. They could from you. Thanks Bruce
Bruce Parnell Thanks Bruce! The comments are appreciated!
My first bike is a Suzuki boulevard m109R 1800cc. Never rode before,got the bike and the second day i was riding it. The following weekend i passed the motorcycle class with a perfect score. And i been rollin ever since! The class is worth every penny! Safety first.
I'm 6'1 and been riding a 125cc for almost 2 years, the bike was small but comfortable and I wasn't feeling ridiclous on it (in my opinion and said by others), maybe because I put a semi-apehanger on it. Did 300+ KM trips on it and had really good times riding it, and was the bike that made me love motorcycles. I just got my A2 license and a Vulcan 900 Classic and couldn't be happier and it has a world big difference from my 125cc but even that small bike can make a big guy happy and get him into the motorcycles world.
I agree with you. Find a bike that fits first. I'm about 6'2" as well & started on an '08 V-strom 650 because all my buddies had V-strom 1000's. I'm not a little guy & it had plenty of power for me. However, I have a bum knee that didn't like to be bent on long trips so the next year I got an '06 Vulcan 900 Classic LT & love it. Again, plenty of power & I even started towing a trailer with it. I know these videos are older, but I've been enjoying them as I'm looking to upgrade my comfort & power to a Vaquero. Thanks for your thoughts!
Thanks for raising that question. I'm in the process of saving for my first bike now. I'm seriously gravitating toward purchasing an adventure motorcycle . I just love the idea of being able to ride wherever you want to, and not allowing terrain to limit you. Thankx again for the video.
+Caluquette Fields Awesome! I think starting somewhat easy is good because I think we find more about what we want in a motorcycle once we've got one. Some of what I thought I wanted when I started riding I found out I didn't want, and vice versa. But Adventure riding does seem cool! As for me, I want total comfort on the road for long long stretches. But if it's not a paved road or a good quality gravel road; I'm out of luck!
If you have a short inseam, an ADV might not be your best choice for a first bike.
I help a lot of people with there first purchase. Usually cruisers. With the exception of one 650 sport bike everyone has gotten a 1300. My first question to them are, what kind of riding will you do? 2 up or solo? I look at their height and weight and I make suggestions. After that what ever they feel comfortable on. Haven't had anyone regret the bike I helped them pick yet. Me personally I never rode a motorcycle until I took the MSF course. So, my THIRD time on a bike was rolling off the lot on my then 06 Honda VTX 1800. I got a lot of comments on how that bike was too big to start on. For me though it was perfect. I practiced low speed maneuvering and quick stopping on a daily basis until it became natural. Now I'm on a Yamaha Stratoliner (1854cc). Love big bikes. IMO if you can physically fit the bike everything else is technique and confidence.
PJ I took the MSF BRC last month and was a first time rider. I just bought a Kawasaki Nomad 1600 yesterday. I am physically strong enough that it doesn't seem too heavy to me in the garage, but half my friends are telling me I'm crazy because 1600cc is way too much for a rider as inexperienced as me, and the other half are constantly reassuring me that as long as I remember what I learned, and ride confidently, I'll be fine.
I agree on starting out on a midsize bike. I had not rode a bike in about 20 years and decided to get back in it so I purchased a Suzuki c50t an 800cc bike. I'm 6' 260lb and the 800 is a great fit for around town as well as mountain riding however if I do decide to start long distance riding I'm definitely taking your advise on bigger bike with lower rpm on highway. Thanks for post.
+Golden Corral Thanks!
I had the Victory Cross Roads. It was a big bike but was exhausting to ride on the highway because of the helmet wind buffeting. I changed to a much smaller bike in the Indian Scout which is smaller cc but power to weight ratio easily outperformed the Victory Cross Roads. It is much easier to handle in the garage or at low speeds. Put a wind shield and panniers on and it's almost a good tourer but is let down by it's small fuel tank.
Nice video and channel,i'm 58 years old,i chose my current bike a honda shadow 750 as my starter bike after 20 year hiatus from riding,rode bikes since i was real young but my wife and marriage did not ride anymore.Its kinda of a heavy bike but since i'm fairly experienced that's not a problem,thinking of moving up to a touring bike myself the reason i watching this video,we are not that far apart,i'm in northwest miss.Born and raised in Calif.Thanks for all the tips and keep up the great work.
I'm 58 years old, 5'8" 165 lbs. My first bike, purchased one year ago, is a Honda Shadow Aero. It is a perfect fit for me, not only the size/weight of the bike but also for the type of riding I enjoy. Country backroads and 2 lanes are my habitat. My point is this - your first bike should not only fit you but also fit the type of riding you enjoy. My little 750 cruiser is perfect for me. Thanks and keep the videos coming. I live in IL 50 miles from St. Louis so maybe we'll do a little cruising together someday.
+michael lake Absolutely! Even though I have a big interstate cruising bike now, my preference is still those two lane quiet roads. I very rarely use 6th gear and I spend most of my time ON those roads. Admittedly, when I'm 500 miles from home and want to make good time it's nice to be able to be smooth and stable at 70mph on the interstate; but the two lane roads is where it's at!
Hi Romans. Thanks for answering my questions about the Vaquero. Well, I bought one. I got the 15 Metallic Carbon Gray. My first bagger. I love this thing! I just added the adjustable Baggershield windshield. I am ready to ride! Thanks again for the videos.
Michael Vandergriff Awesome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine!
I'm 5'6" 150lbs, started riding at 45 with a 2005 Suzuki Intruder 800cc. I'm 56 now and just bought 2003 Suzuki Intruder 1400cc. Both bikes were easy to flat foot and the center of gravity is pretty low. 800cc was a good starter for me.
I got a dyna fat bob harley davidson I stand 5'10 280 lbs and can flat foot it no problem, the engine size is 103 ci and a first time rider I want to be able to go the distance in comfort, I am 45yrs old n just want to cruise and enjoy myself. but in the meantime I'm taking a 3 days bike course to get a better persective of safe riding and I feel as truck driver there's a common sense practice as well. so abit of an upper hand in theory for when it comes to driving a truck n bike. thanks for your video. feel free to comment on what size of a bike a person should have. paul.
+Paul Martin Thanks Paul! Good on you for taking the course.
+Paul Martin I've been Riding for 20 years and took 5 years off due to some medical issues.. I started riding again last year and took a refresher course and it was great.. I'm glad I did.. Ride safe brother
Great video i started on a 175 enduro 35 years ago and gradually progressed through the years to 550 to 1200 and now my current bike is an 1800 goldwing. Cheers
I'm 6'2" 250# and immediately intended to learn to ride two up, we bought a softail. I feel with my size it is a great beginner ride that we may eventually grow out of, but always find a reason to enjoy.
+Brendan Bowe A Softail is a pretty capable machine. Enjoy!
I took the CHSP course, passed and got my license. A month later, I bought an Indian Scout, which is a lot bigger than the SSRs we were using. I was just starting to connect with the Scout--slow turns, u-turns without putting my foot down--when I had to get rid of it for financial reasons. Joe Palladino with his course Ride Like a Pro makes a great case that the weight debate is a moot point: a 15 year old young lady at 4' 11" is riding a 850 lb. bike! I would encourage people to take a safety course, get that bike you always wanted (remember the adage, "A poor man pays twice!") take it to a parking lot, and practice, practice, practice the slow speed exercise while working the clutch, throttle, and back brake. No matter the weight, get to really know your bike. Some gems I learned from the safety course are: Know your bike's friction zone, know your bike's stopping power, keep your eyes and head turned in the direction you want to go ("look down and that is we're you will go!") don't over exert yourself, and "never ride 100%" (leave room for margins of safety). I also learned that 52% of motorcycle fatalities have to do with the rider riding intoxicated. Ride sober, Godspeed.
+Kirk S. (Illumine Eight) Yes, absolutely. And alcohol is an issue. There's simply no excuse for operating any motor vehicle while intoxicated. Part of the problem is many people underestimate just how impaired they are. Alcohol doesn't make everyone 'feel' impaired, even if they actually are impaired.
While I think everyone should be honest about themselves and a brand new rider might not be best suited on a very big bike (and experienced rider of any size certainly could), I don't think the wisdom that these little 250cc bikes are for everyone is very valid.
I started on a ninja 250 but like you it was way to small for me at 6`1 and now riding a Yamaha 650 custom which i enjoy. I would like to move up to a 1100 when I can afford to do so. Another great blog...always enjoy them...keep em coming bro! :)
Thanks for this video, I've been riding for just 1 year. I took a motorcycle course where I rode a Honda 250 Rebel; however, while it was rideable, it was comically small for me. (I'm 6"2', 270). I eventually bought a Honda CTX 700. It fit me really well, and I like the very low centre of gravity offered by its low parallel twin and frame. Insurance in my region is done strictly by cc's, so staying under 750 cc's was a factor for me also.
I found your channel when I was considering a Vulcan 900 as my first bike, I very nearly went in that direction but liked the compromise offered by the Honda. I enjoy your videos and commentary very much, as well as the landscape you get to ride in. Take care...
djamesthree Thanks so much!
I'm on my first bike & the decision was more of availability. I got a great deal from a family member on a 2005 Suzuki Boulevard s83. Even though it's 1400cc, the frame fits my body well. I will admit that it's a lot of power for a beginner, but when the weather permits, it is a ton of fun to ride.
When I took my MSF class, the largest frame bike they had was a 200 cc Suzuki dual sport. I'm 6'4". I sat in the rear seat just so I could reach the foot controls. My instructor said "buy a bike that fits you". To me, that was a 1500 cc touring cruiser. Been riding it ever since.
Ross Miller Awesome!
I would repeat your last statement, better to "have a bike that fits you, that you are comfortable and confident with".
I haven't ridden for some years now but in the past I had bikes that I felt a lot more confident on than others, one bike was only a 250cc but it was too tall and heavy for me at the time, I never had accidents on it but I never really felt confident on it either.
Mark Paterson You're right Mark, and I can't believe I didn't include that point. Fit is essential. A bike that fits well is very important!
I'm currently riding my dad's bike, an '81 Honda cm200t, I've ridden his vt1100c3 a few times and loved it! which is why I'm going to pick up my own this week!
Really, graduating to a bigger bike is just keeping in mind that each bike is different and has its own "personality" so to speak.
I know the wife and I are very excited and already planning long trips for after I get used to the bike.
From kck here so maybe I'll catch ya on the road one day!
btw...it is pretty hilarious to see my 5'11, 325 lb butt on a little 200 cc cruiser, but it is enjoyable, so who cares! ;-)
+johnb4108 For sure!
I am only 5’6” and I have now learned that looks mean a lot less to me. More important are things like engine size, seat height and weight. I do mostly short commuting as I don’t have time to take long rides. Taking a two year break and going to pay down debt. But I will be back! Just on something that fits me a whole lot better.
I took the MSF course, a month later I bought and passed my test on a '06 Vulcan Classic 900 LT - with the bags, 2-up seat and windshield all on. Have been riding ever since on that, and love the combination of easy learning, reasonable weight management, and of course highway passing power. As my first bike, I thought it might be too much, but as my lead instructor pointed out, if I'm riding like an old-guy cruiser, I'm probably not going to be overpowered.
Great VLOGS, by the way. Next year, I'm thinking I'll make this my spare/guest bike, and get myself a Vaquero. Rode my friend's Vulcan 1600 this summer and found it reasonably easy to stay with.
I am 43 and started riding a year ago on a Honda shadow 600 and then recently bought a Honda vtx 1800 and I love it, like going from a single barrel carbureted 4 cyl to a fuel injected v8, its awesome!!!!!!!!
Ben Rich Awesome!
i started out on a honda shadow 600
im 5'8 150 pounds
that bike was so big to me at first
ive been riding for a year now and i wish i had more passing power on the highway
it isnt that comfortable riding long distances
the vibration from the handlebars adds to the fatigue over periods of time
but i am glad i started on that size so i will appreciate a larger sized bike
ive dropped it numerous of times and im still getting used to slow speed maneuvers
everything im learning now will contribute to my skill and required confidence with larger bikes in the future
i love my honda
and thank you for talking about this
jedimastersmj Yep! A bigger bike will alleviate those things.
This is my first full year riding as I got my license last year Oct. I took professional rider training and was trained on a yamaha 250. I am 58yr and 6' 230.bs. The bike was too small for me and I struggled with it right thru licensing. Over the winter I purchased my yamaha 950t and was a little intimidated by the thought of riding it home from the dealership as I thought…this is a big bike! Upon my riding away from the dealership I realized immediately ..this bike fits me and has the torque I needed to ride safely and easily. Long story short….put 3000 miles on the 950 from March this year til last week. Loved the bike …but have just traded up to a star 1300t and really love the increased power and cruising comfort…as well it is just that little bit more stable for freeway riding and I feel this bike will suit me for a few years now. My advice …take training…get the bike that fits you not what others say fits all. Don't start small just out of intimidation…you will advance quickly and a larger cc bike will not overwhelm ….you will ride it according to your ability and grow with it. just my two bits. :)
willyb933 Awesome! And fit is what it's all about. For a bike to be safe and capable, it must fit well! I've heard a number of new riders tell me they felt less in control of their 250cc "starter bike" than they did of their next bike. That isn't to say, though, that some riders wouldn't fit a 250 well. My wife would, though she started on a Honda Shadow 750.
Only criteria for first bike:
1. Bike must be mechanically safe.
2. Rider should be able to get their feet down.
3. Rider should be able to pick the bike up off the ground
4. Rider must be able to afford gear, bike, insurance, etc.
My kids started out on my 850lbs 1500 Drifter, because it was the least maneuverable bike I own. If you can run the course with a bike that is stock 1" lower than a Harley soft-tail, grinding the floorboard bolt covers. Yeah. They are both excellent riders now.
I started with a Suzuki Boulevard 650. For me that was the perfect starting bike for beginners.
Here in the UK in the 80's when I learned to ride a bike you could have a 250cc bike at the age of 17 and ride it on learner plates with no tuition at all. At that time some pretty quick bikes were available - Suzuki X7, Yamaha RD250 and the Kawasaki KH250 for example. These two stroke twins (triple in the case of the Kawasaki) were capable of speeds in excess of 100mph and consequently many young riders got themselves into a lot of trouble very quickly.
Thankfully things changed and now you have a multi-stage system of instruction and tests which though overcomplicated at least means that new riders are gathering the experience necessary to safely ride on the road. When I passed my test in 1981 I was basically just observed riding around a fixed course by a man with a clipboard and that was it! Consequently I knew nothing - but somehow survived thank God. Later after I humbled a little I realised that some proper training would be a good idea and took further instruction.
As you rightly said in your preamble, in those days 250cc was seen as a mid-sized bike and anything over 750cc was a "superbike". They didn't handle either. Spindly forks with poor geometry and brakes meant these things were essentially death traps. Modern riders are if anything rather spoiled by the shear choice of bikes most of which handle extremely well too.
Here in the U.S., it's perhaps a little too lax. It's indeed someone with a clipboard in a parking lot. And once you have a motorcycle endorsement, you can ride anything. I even know of guys who rented or borrowed a small motorcycle to take the test on, because they knew they couldn't pass it on their own bike. They blamed the bike, saying it was 'too big' to pass the test. That's just not at all true. It's their lack of skill.
We do have classes available, but they are optional in most states.
I learned on a 650 Burgman scooter. Great first two wheeler. No shifting low center of gravity. I put 31 K on it, still have it. Then came a 1500 Kawasaki Vulcan classic. Great bike lots of power, great seat position, higher center of gravity. I also got my dream the Goldwing. The only downside to this bike is the weight at low speeds. I will ride them all in a single day. But I am glad for the scooter, it was forgiving and a great starter.
+Kevin Hannon For sure! Once you become proficient at low speed manuevers, weight doesn't matter. Low speed manuevering should be done with the engine, clutch, brakes and steering; not with your feet or legs. When you're proficient at it, the side of the bike doesn't matter.
Great topic! I rode 20 years ago and just started riding again. I bought a 1200 Sportster and after 4 months found it to be to small. So I traded it for my Electra Glide. And I agree it is much better on the highways and not bad on the back roads. So I would suggest start with a bike that you feel comfortable on but be careful not to buy something to small or you will loose your pants when you trade her in. Thanks for the video and ride safe!
I agree completely. I bought a 2015 Indian Scout after not riding for 25 years plus. I thought it was a good starter bike. Less than 500 lbs but pretty powerful. Now, 4 months later, I've been looking at the Indian Chieftain and Harley Street Glide. I'm not saying start on bikes that big. But don't make a huge investment in your first bike. You'll want something bigger and/or faster sooner than you think.
HarleyDayRider Absolutely. And considering trade in or resale value on a first bike is important as well. Or picking a first bike that you can both be comfortable on, AND will get years of use out of.
Reginald Watkins Absolutely. Perhaps the only thing worse than losing your shirt trading in your first bike would be dropping your $30,000 chieftain in a parking lot making a rookie mistake; BUT, there's something to be said for finding yourself a good, sturdy, used metric and getting your "sea legs" before getting onto a full sized bike. Vulcan 900's, Yamaha Star 950's, et al can be had cheap, they are stupidly reliable, and can usually be sold for a decent clip. I bought my 900 used for $5,000 and after putting 40,000 additional miles on it and 3 years; I got $3,000 in trade-in value. Not a bad deal at all. I almost certainly could've gotten more in private sale, but, the idea of being over and done with in one day was appealing and worth the cost difference.
Started on a Honda VTX1300 and at the time I thought I made a mistake. I'm not a small guy (6' 225lb) so I felt comfortable with the weight but I was a little uncomfortable with the power at first. I took it easy for the first year but I got comfortable with it pretty quick.
I rode dirt bikes for many years. Took 25 years off, just had my 2015 Vaquero 1700 ABS SE delivered two weeks ago. Handles like a dream. The size of the bike in my opinion has to do more with the individual's maturity/capability and size level, rather than the bike. All bikes regardless of size must be respected to the fullest! And one must always know their comfort limits. Falling off a 250CC or a 1700C at any speed feels the same. Respect, respect, respect.
Lab Insight Thanks for the comment!
Well laid out. Another thing to consider is not to start out on a bike with a lot of expensive body work or chrome that will get buggered up when you drop it or crash into something.
+Weaselbeak75 For sure! Crash bars are a great thing to have as well!
I have a Shadow vt1100, and I have to say that weight was my biggest issue. Weight at slow speeds definitely needs to be considered by new riders. You can get into trouble fast with a bike that's too heavy for you. Great vid.
lmdetect Absolutely. The advice I traditionally give is to sit on the bike and make sure you can flat foot it, and lean it from side to side. The weight should be manageable. If it's not, then it's not the bike for you. New riders should also avoid bikes with lots of low end torque or that rev quickly, especially V-Twins over 1300cc's or so, and any inline-4 powered motorcycles.
I just got my license and the msf course was the first time I ever rode a bike. But the bike I’m getting is a 1133cc cruiser. It’s not very heavy it felt fine for me. And it’s the bike I want. So I agree with you.
This year, Kawasaki actually came out with the Vulcan S. It's a 650, the same engine as the Ninja 650, so it has very good power but not too much and it has an ABS option for that added safety.
Brad C Yeah it's a great starter bike.
i have been riding about two years started on a gz 250 suzuki sold that and went to a suzuki savage 650 sold that a few weeks ago and am getting a honda shadow 750 in a few days needs tlc but hey thats the fun of riding right giving her a good bath and a cute name my buddy paid for me to take the bike safty class passed and have been enjoying riding around town on the bike i have had can not wait to see how the shadow feels
I think I need a Triumph Rocket III hahaha! Nice looking bike you are riding there. :-D
enjoy your videos. getting my first bike this spring. excited to get out there.
I kinda am going backwards on everyones thoughts on size of bikes. My first bike is a victory which has 1731 cc or a 106 ci. But i think my mindset was alot different than most riders. I don't want to play with the power as much as just get out and see the world from an open point of view. I enjoy just finding a back road i never been on and exploring. I think as long as you have a level head and some common sense and the ability to hold the bike (like you said), it don't matter the size of the bike. Thanks roman. I enjoy watching the videos and i have found quite a bit of them to be helpful on riding tips and point of views.
travis allmon Yep, maturity is important. Though it's not just about maturity and not 'going fast'. Much of the issue with bigger bikes concerns weight and confidence at low speeds, and tame clutch control. Sounds like you did fine!
Great starter bike for many is the Suzuki Savage or s40 as they are called now. Weighs only 380 lbs. and is a single cylinder 650. A used one won't cost much and they get great mpg.
And great for shaking yourself to death on a highway!
An S40 was my wife's 1st bike. Perfect for her.
I rode a Honda Shadow ACE 750VT for about 15 years. It was my first bike and I learned on it real slowly. It was a heavy bike with 5 gears and had high RPM at higher speeds. I felt very safe on it because I knew it well. But I was in the process of upgrading and I thought I'd get a H-D Heritage. But I sat on a Road King and it felt real good so I went with it. So far, so good. I did a 1,000 mile trip on it recently from mid-state NC to Smokey Mnts and then to the beach. Rides like a dream. But once when stopped on a hill, I turned to my left to look to see where the guy I was riding with was. I must have turned the front wheel and shifted my weight to the right and the bike wanted to go down fast. So I'm practicing slower stops and keeping my weight centered when stopped on the Road King. The Honda was no problems.
Good luck! Heavier bikes do take some getting used to.
I drove a 350cc for over 100,000 miles. I always kept in mind not to drive faster than my angels could fly! I now drive a 750 and it can tour as slow/fast as you want all day long.
I just got my first bike this summer, after spending all winter learning and deliberating on bikes. I got a vstar 650 because they are cheap and not too powerful. I needed a bike bigger than a 250 because I live on a highway, and I think most anyone would be able to handle this size of bike. I did lay it down once on the first day (in grass luckily), but that's why you practice where there's no traffic.
I feel like if I had started on a bike a couple hundred pounds heavier, I can think of a few situations where I would have got in some pretty bad wrecks in town.
Alex Dalziel That's the right bike then! One that you fit well on and can handle the weight.
I'm a big guy, and I'm afraid of starting on something too small. I don't want something like a full bagger either. I want something comfortable to cruise on, easy on my back and enough power to get around slow cars and merge with traffic on the highway. I like the idea of a slow revving motor with plenty of torque. Would something around 1200 cc's be too big? Should I start with something around 1000?
When I returned to riding in my mid 50's I actually started with a 500cc scooter. It was light enough to handle and had plenty of power for my short commute to work. Being 5'9" and no spring chicken, I decided that a Honda Shadow was about the right size for my daily rides. I purchased as new model in 2012 and currently have about 13,000 on it. I have no problem on the freeways maintaining speed (and believe me in Phoenix you better maintain speed) . But that being said I would like to move up in size for a cross country cruise but I can't imagine going anywhere above 1300cc's. After this point the cc war got stupid.
+Doug Wicks You'd be surprised just how smooth these very big bikes are though. Mine is 1700cc's and it's able to lumber along at 2,000 RPM's on the interstate. I don't like arbitrary rules and limits because every engine design is so different.
I'm little over 6'5 225 punds i don't have much choice to pick from the F6b&Rocket 3 roadsters fits me.
My first bike in the mid 70s was a Honda 450 twin cylinder. It was a great first bike. My second and current bike was a Honda GL 1800 and I bought that in 2010. Quite a big difference but when I bought my 450 the largest bike Honda had was the 750 4 cylinder and by today’s standards that is a pretty small bike.
Inspired by your Countersteering video I started with 650 Dragstar (V-star). I previously owned a Honda cbr 125R seven years ago so I felt like a newbie at the start and had some concerns.. However they've vanished after I bought my bike and I'm very happy with it! I first considered a 250 but never even test rode one. I testrode only my 650 Dragstar and bought it. :D
I never before even considered buying a cruiser but that Countersteering video just hit me. It just looked fun! and nice and relaxed cruising!
+KK89 Glad I could be of service! That's the kind of riding I really love to do. Just leaning back, relaxing, cruising. I do a lot of long distance riding, just riding all day long, spending the entire day on the bike (500-600 miles); now THAT is pretty great!
Good points in this video.
I can never think practical when it comes to bikes.
If I like the look and sound, then my mind will justify it....haha.
Chilli Hooligan Just be careful! Keep the shiny side up!
when i was young and very poor i had a 49 cc. NSU quickly , i rode it everywhere and was happy as can be . now i'm well off and i have several bikes bmw. , stratoliner among others , ..point is , as long as you can ride , you can have fun ! my 2c.
Some excellent points made. There is no replacement for displacement on those long rides, especially with our better half's on the back! The passenger also appreciates the bigger bikes. My wife is 5'11" and needs some leg space.
saskcop Leg space is nice, and so is the torque to enable low RPM's. Turning 2400rpm's on the interstate is much more comfortable than 4k+. Some 250cc sport bikes, though capable of doing those speeds, buzz along at nearly 10k RPM's on the interstate, yikes!
I also pull a trailer on long trips (currently uploading a video as we speak with some details!), and the bigger power is nice for that.
Though smaller bikes ARE capable. I did plenty of long distance two-up touring with a 900cc bike. And my wife rides a 750cc Shadow and it works just fine for her small size.
Romans Five|Eight
My last bike was a Buell XB12xt. Absolutely loved it (minus the obnoxious engine heat). The few short jaunts on it with my wife proved that we could never have enough leg room. We ended up selling it and are looking at viable two up touring for the near future. A trailer must really kill your fuel mileage?
saskcop If you like a sport bike, you might consider the Kawasaki Concours. More leg room, and it's based on the ZX-14 platform, but is a more upright, stretched out, and more comfortable ride. Few bikes, other than perhaps a Goldwing, are smoother.
Lots of great two-up options out there though.
Yes, the trailer cuts down on the fuel mileage. Not as much as one would expect though. My trailer weighs in at around 400lbs or so. I normally average 42mpg (according to the trip screen), and with the trailer, I'm at about 34-36mpg; only a 15~20% drop in fuel economy. If I upgrade my trailer to 12" wheels, I can probably improve fuel mileage by reducing rolling resistance (by reducing wheel RPM).
Romans Five|Eight The larger trailer wheels are a great idea. I think I will go with an adventure touring bike if my wife agrees to go on an Alaska trip. Even then, we would do fine on a big cruiser too. She may appreciate it as well. It has been a few years since my last cruiser ...
My stepdad rides an Adventure Touring bike. They sure are nice! It isn't a good riding position for me personally; but the inverse is also true. He isn't comfortable on my bike.
I've ridden for 30+ years. Whenever I get the 1st bike question, I tell people to pick up a mid '80s Kawasaki 440 LTD. Light, easy to handle, miserable clutch (which actually forces you to learn how use a clutch v cruisers with so much torque you don't need a clutch at all) and when you drop it, who cares? A month after zipping around town on it, you'll want something bigger. You haven't spent a fortune on it, so you can afford to get something else you are now better prepared for.
These days, though, I don't think you can find too many '80s LTDs around.
New riders I think can enjoy 750cc-1000cc cruisers (40-60hp) or the 300-500cc range in the in the sport bike area (includes nakeds). Experienced riders I find will sometimes have multiple bikes that cover the range: light nimble bikes for running around town and then your larger bike for road tripping and weekend rides. I myself have been riding for 15 years and enjoy the larger cc cruisers and sport tourers. I like comfort with enough power to easily accelerate out of any situation if I so choose to do so. That being said, it really comes down to preference and what feels good to each rider.
+Anthony Walden For sure! Though I think knowing how to ride the machine correctly, even a big bike can be quite nimble.
A great first bike should be used. When you drop it, scratch it, dent it or whatever it you won't cry. Sport bike: I'd recommend the Suzuki SV650 or Kawasaki Ninja 650. Cruiser: Honda Shadow 750 or if you have to have the label Harley Davidson Sportster 883. All the above can be had for $3k or less.
I have a Yamaha FJ-09 Sport touring Bike. It's an 847cc Tripple. Fantastik bike, but not the greatest for touring on Interstate Hwy's because It's a light bike and feels a bit unstable in strong gusty winds or when hitting turbulence behind large trucks. Quick fix for that is I do all my touring on secondary hwy's as much as possible. That's where all the scenery and twisty roads are anyway. I really like the handling and power of the bike. It's the perfect (non-Interstate) touring bike.
Im driving an old BMW R800RT. 1987 vintage . Its very heavy for its engine size and cumbersome at low speeds. Sure it would be great to have more power out on the open road but I'm getting to the stage in life where I dont want to have to shift all that weight around. I dont want to do the nimble sports bike thing either. Im past that. Until I can find a better replacement for the BM, I'll continue chugging along looking out for that ideal bike.
+django r Believe it or not, some of the newer bikes are pretty good at low speeds, better balancing and a lower center of gravity. My Vaquero is fairly cumbersome but less so than some older, smaller bikes I've ridden.
BMW's in general, though great bikes, have a high center of gravity which makes it tough.
My first bike what is a honda shadow 600. I am proud that I started at a 600 because I'll be able to appreciate a bigger more powerful bike when I get there.
+jedimastersmj Fair enough!
my first long distance ride was on my honda v65 other than being sore from the 500 miles i was fatigued from the wind baffling. this past october i made that ride again on my ultra and i felt great at the end of the ride. I also started out on a 1100cc engine when i went through our MC class they had 250s and i felt like a bear on a little bike in a circus.
I think the LAMS system is probably the best idea - AUS and NZ use it. It heads off the “I need a big bike argument” because you can select a retuned bike or a 650cc or less bike with moderate power.
It does however make LAMS bikes both south after and not sought after equally given on the rider.
250s are great rides, but far too small for many.
The problem with any displacement based regulation is that displacement isn’t really an accurate guide to power any longer. There are very powerful small engines, and large engines that don’t make very much power at all. And here in the U.S., where V-Twin cruisers are commonplace; it is especially problematic. V-Twin cruisers (like my bike) have relatively large displacement but don’t make a lot of horsepower. What they do is make a lot of torque, and make their power at a low RPM. My bike is 1700cc, which would be enormous for a sportbike. But it makes less horsepower than a 600cc sportbike. It makes more TORQUE than anything but the most monstrous of sportbikes though and the key feature: It can lumber along at 1,500 RPM comfortably at highway speeds.
I’ve ridden a big variety of bikes and owned a few. A 600cc inline-4 sportbike is a lot more bike to handle than my big 1700cc cruiser. My bike is basically a two wheeled pickup truck. Not especially nimble but relatively easy to handle. I don’t think it would be appropriate for a brand new rider, but I don’t think it would take a lot of experience to handle either. And ultimately that’s where the issues come in. There’s too much variation with modern engines for displacement alone to effectively determine whether a bike is ‘too powerful’ or not for a given experience level.
i started out on a honda shadow 600
im glad i started that small
i will appreciate more when i move on to a larger bike
jedimastersmj Yep, it's great to have something you can handle!
I took the MSF class totally for passing the skills test partly because taking the skills test at DMV requires to bring your own bike, that I did not have.
Like I mentioned before on a comment I'd left on one of your videos. One guy I met told me that it's not how big the bike is it's all about how you use the throttle.
Originally I wanted to start on a Honda but my cousin said that I should buy a Ducati instead. I didn't realize later that he totally sold me on a brand. I did some research on all the types they had. I decided on a 2011 monster 796 for my first bike. It took me almost 2 years to save up. I almost bought a 696 but I read somewhere that they built that model women riders. I know that doesn't matter here in the U.S. but still.
The biggest thing I had to decide on was, what type of rider do I want to start as?
I do recommend the MSF class for basic skills and knowledge.
The MSF course is definitely an excellent asset!
I think it's good to start out smaller .. For me it worked out awesome, I practiced my slow speed a lot on my buell ... U turns , circles , dodging, panic stops ... Half turn stops... Then when I got the Vstar 1300 I had to adjust for the weight . Slow speed was a new ball game, I should have filmed that . I realized with these bigger cruisers your slow speed technique needs to be very good, you need to stay in the friction zone, and know it , know where you want to go, and know what you need to do to get the bike there.. I almost dropped it to , did 1 hell of a leg press trying to not let that rear bag touch the ground. Lol . Anyhow my point is I agree with start off small ... Learn the basics, then upgrade ... Relearn the basics , then upgrade again till you get to where you want to be . It worked for me, and I still have my small Buell..
dbest1a Yep! The difference is how small is small. Taller riders and riders with a long inseam might actually struggle to handle a 250cc motorcycle.
Romans Five|Eight how do you like the slow speed clutch control on the vaquero. U turn control, u turn into a brake... how does it behave ?
dbest1a Like any other bike; just heavier. It works the same way. Clutch and throttle. The luxury of being able to put a foot down is not as well as it is on a smaller bike; which is why low speed confidence is essential on a bike like this.
Romans Five|Eight I noticed the same .. but once you have mastered slow control of a big bike like these ... it is truly an impressive thing to me .. Although when in doubt ... just put the foot down .. is a rule I live by .. good topic and video.
dbest1a With motorcycles like mine approaching half a ton in weight; putting a foot down isn't always an option. Often the best way to get out of a jam, as counter-intuitive as it might sound, is a little extra throttle to straighten the bike up. A common cause of low speed crashes is panic braking. It's what we do in our cars, so it often translates to the bike. We panic and grab a brake, and the bike goes down. A little extra throttle and the bike will straight up.
My first bike ever outside of dirtbikes is a 2003 Suzuki valusia with an 805cc. I love this bike and I've never had any issues so far (knock on wood)
Again, I agree with your comments. I would add is the age of the person. I know you touched on it, for insurance purposes, but I'm is talking maturity. When I was in my teens, a pocket rocket, regardless of the size was my thing. Now, in my fifties, a nice cruiser 1000cc and higher is my comfort zone. Experience does matter for what you may want to start with. Remember, needs & wants are two different worlds, sometimes.
Take Care & ride safe
Paul Michaels Maturity does play a role. But a mark of maturity is recognizing ones own immaturity. Kind of a never ending cycle.
Just bought a 1978 BMW r100/7 as my first bike. 492 lbs. 980cc.
I'm a big guy, 6'3 225 and was told repeatedly by riders to get a bigger bike as its often lack of power that causes you not to be able to avoid certain situations. I won't lie, I like the old-school style too.
That said, I get my bike in two weeks and am nervous about jumping right out on the city roads. I have taken my basic rider course and ridden dirt bikes a time or two but nothing on this level. Suggestions moving forward. Slow cornering techniques, practice, etc.?
+Ry Sterling Yennie Practice, practice, practice. And pick up (and read) a copy of "Proficient Motorcycling" by Hough. It's an excellent read.
For new riders starting out, one of the biggest pieces of advice I'd give is look where you want to go. In low speeds, don't look at the ground, or that's where you'll end up. Look through the corner, not at the other lane or the cars in the opposite direction, etc. It really does matter.
The thing about displacement is, most people are full of it. There is no fundamental rule that decides displacement needs to be a certain amount. Lots of engine designs make more power than others. Your 1000cc BMW is quite a powerful machine. You'll be able to avoid situations and be find. Oh, and the VAST majority of the time, it's your brakes and control of the machine that will avoid a bad situation. Situations where you need to 'power away' from something are basically unheard of, and just a hypothetical argument for a bigger bike. The advantage of a bigger bike is lower, smoother RPM's at speed; power is fun too. However, it's absolute B.S. to say that a bike without enough power is "unsafe". It's just an excuse.
My first bike was a Yamaha Roadstar 1700 that I still have. I chose that one cause of looks, sound, and accessories that are available for that model. I'm 6'2 and 275 so getting a small bike was out of the question for me...lol As far as experience goes, I have 20+ years riding dirt bikes. Just riding on the street with traffic is new to me. I take it easy and just cruise. God Bless and ride on!
Robert Earles Dirt bike riding does help. I still wouldn't suggest a 1700 as a first road bike; but I'm glad it worked for you!
Romans Five|Eight Im in the process right now adding a Street Glide Fairing and HD Hard saddle bags. I also have a Goldwing rear shock setup on it. I named her "Heinz 57" being it has parts from most manufactures..lol
Romans Five|Eight The only thing im not comfortable with on my Roadstar is lane splitting. Here in sunny Southern California is common practice. Im actually from Ohio and moved out here 3 years ago. It freaked me out the first time I seen people doing it. I dont do it often and it makes me VERY nervy.
Robert Earles Yeah your bike is probably too wide for that. I know mine is.
Great video I think the size/type of bike someone should buy for the first time is totally a person to person type thing.
boarder989 Sure, but within reasonable limits!
I started out with a goldwing about 20 yrs ago, so i wanted to ride again so I took msf course and after graduation I was going to start out with another goldwing but I found it was too much bike for me I couldnt back it up, and it was to tall. So I sat on v star 1100 found it felt nice not to heavy and low seat i could touch both feet. I figure if your a new rider go with what feels good , ride it safe and enjoy
Andree Marshall Bingo! Thanks for the comment.
i started on a 150cc, it feels comfortable
it is easy to ride and the fuel consumption is very low, about 400 km with 12 litres, good in places with very few gas stations
mdvwagner Yep, in different parts of the world the situations can be different.
I feel there are bikes better suited for new riders and some that are not. I tell people when they ask me the mid sized bikes are good place to start. Bikes that are a little lighter, handle better, and have good low speed manors. ABS is also a good thing to consider having on first bike if you can afford it. I say ride a mid sized bike for a year and see how you feel after that. Bikes like the Vulcan 950, Suzuki C-50 or M-50, Vstar 950, Honda Shadow 750. This will help you learn and have plenty of power as you grow. I personally don't think a new rider should be getting anything over 1000cc no matter what. Larger bikes require more everything.
NewZona Rides I think you're thinking of the Vulcan 900. There is no Vulcan 950.
The problem with hard and fast rules is that bikes can be very different. The Vulcan 900 is actually a pretty big and heavy bike; and it's actually heavier and physically bigger than the Honda Shadow 1100 (which is a now discontinued model). And of course, a 600cc inline-4 sport bike is not something a new rider should start on. Fit, weight, and performance are all considerations.
That said, younger riders especially are going to find that 1,000cc's is a bit of a "ceiling" with insurance companies, and chances are, they'll save a bunch of money staying below a liter until they have enough experience for their insurance company to consider them an "experienced rider". Though some companies, including mine, will consider an MSF class worth 3 years experience!
I think the person should start out on a bike that fits them. I am tall, so like you a 250 wasn't in my cards. I started on a r6 but because of the sitting position I always felt cramped. When I got back into riding, I knew I wanted comfort more than speed which lead me to bigger bikes. After riding a few bikes I knew the cruiser was more my style. Now I can ride my victory for hrs. and feel refresh and ready for more.
Thanks for sharing
Ride safe
Krazy Kool NYer Absolutely!
Great video mate , I wish we had roads like that in the uk with no bastard car's on it !
I started out on a 750 and worked my way up! I'm happy with a ultra classic because I ride 13000 to 18000 miles a year! And on long road trips I don't get run down (tired) ad I did on smaller bikes!
Gary Anderson Awesome!
I started out on a Honda 550 nighthawk, great little starter bike. Now I ride the Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1600, its a hoss to handle, but I like it.
Years ago, BSA and Triumph were pretty big bikes and seemed to have plenty of power. Now I have been riding the softails HD and of course braking and power is getting stronger. I am going to spend some time this summer in New England and was considering buying a 2005 Yamaha VStar 650. Any thoughts? I sure like the looks but how much power does it have. I am 69 years old, 175 lbs and in pretty good health. Looking for good advice. Adam
I'm a new viewer and a new rider (took MSC a month ago bought my bike 2 weeks ago) and my first bike is a 14' Victory Vegas 8 ball, 1731 cc (106 co), 24 years old so my insurance is a little high BUT it's the bike that made me want to start riding and 2017 is the last year for Victory so that definitely played a part, I think size of starter bike depends on a few things, body type/weight, maturity level, riding style, and something you actually like/want.
Kevin Bowers i hear u bro. If your gonna pay for a bike you might as well get something youll want. That small bike will get old fast as u learn and u will be dissapointed. Just take it slow while your new.
The 900 is set up as a perfect first Bike with 3 options of Dress. All the weight is down low so they are perfectly balanced.
SGTJDerek They really are great! Light and manageable enough as a first bike for most riders but capable enough for an experienced rider and for long-distance touring.
love my beast....2015 Indian Roadmaster 1811 cc with stage 1 and vance and hines turndowns.....love it....
MySpankster I test rode a Chieftan; those are sweet machines!
Hadn't ridden in 30 years till buying a 2002 Goldwing last September. When I took delivery rode around the parking lot an hour or so to get the feel, but because of the size and weight compared to bikes I'd owned back in the day, I started out pretty intimidated. Dropped it an hour later just entering my drive way, cause of concern I'd enter to fast for the gravel surface. After that didn't want to get on the thing, but getting over the embarrassment I tried again. Soon realized I'd played a brain game on myself. The bike is dream to ride, and with the slow speed practice probably required to safely ride any size of bike, I'm doing u-turns and other maneuvers as well as ever. I use the Wing for my commute to work (80 mile round trip) and any little trip I find an excuse to leave the wife at home, as she won't ride anymore.
Lou Donnelly Also want to mention that I found back in my CB350 Honda days, that there is no substitute for power in certain situations. At the time moved up to a Honda Sabre which was 700cc and found it much better in those situations. Didn't know I was mortal back then, but now that I figured it out, the Wing is great for about any purpose, bar lane splitting.
Lou Donnelly Wow! A goldwing as a first bike in 30 years is a bold move! But glad it worked out for you. I think one of the toughest things to learn, because it's often the opposite of what we think we need to do, is that most of the time more throttle will get you out of a bad situation, not less.
Lou Donnelly Haha yeah, mine is much too large for lane splitting as well!
Lou Donnelly Always wanted one, when I had the opportunity and the cash at the same time, just couldn't pass it up. As mentioned, for the first few miles thought I may have done a pretty stupid thing, but after 3000 miles feel very at home again.
I do recommend to start with above 1100cc cruisers if they can handle the size and weight. Why? Well in my experience, most of the riders start on 600-900cc cruiser mostly out of the respect to displacement. After two years riding most of them are looking to trade up, finding out there is nothing special to handling a bigger cruiser. The usual need for trade is not always the size since mid size cruisers like Suzi C50 or Kawi VN900 are about same big as big inch bikes. The problem is the power that is usually good enough for one up riding, but starts to be very unsafe when two up, or packed up with luggage. One may argue that he/she has no problem, but passing that 18 wheeler in safe time two up on VN900 might be a difficult task. The VN1700 has zero problems due to much better torque to weight ratio.
So I always tell the new riders to check the bigger bike, have a seat, try to put it up from kickstand, dry shift it standing just on one leg... Most of the times they are too scary and say no no, I better try that 900. Then I say, dont be scared I go with you and if its going south I catch you up so you dont lay the bike down. In 90% of cases they find out that the 1700 is subjectively just slightly heavier then 900, and I always add, that when you move the weight goes away. There is also no huge torque that can surprise you or make you go down like on sport bikes, we are talking cruisers.
It works, and most of my friends and customers started on cruisers over 1200cc, they always come back thanking me for the money I saved them (in trade up you always loose money).
In reality they always admit that they eyed the big fat cruiser anyway, just were scared.
The only mid size cruiser I recommend to start is Sportster 883. Its the cheapest Harley if someone is into Harley thing, and its the only mid size cruiser that can grow to any form and size (1200-88cui) for fair price, so its not a trade up, but a keeper.
Thats my opinion to this topic, and its not far off from yours Roman.
+MadIgor FKGoogle I owned a 900, and believe it or not, passing the Semi 2-up was no problem. It was a surprisingly capable bike. Just like my 3.7L V6 Mustang is more powerful than the previous generations 4.6L V8 (and is faster), these modern mid-sized cruisers are much more capable than their ancestors (and the bigger bikes are also better, just like the new 5.0L GT Mustang is way, way faster than anything in the past).
I don't think everyone should start out on a bike this big, having owned both, the 1700 Vaquero needs a level of proficiency to handle low speeds. But one that fits well, even a big one? Sure!
+Romans Five|Eight maybe we have different views on what is fast passing. I have ridden VN900 and its not really safe to pass semi two up packed up with luggage. Its way too long, no matter how you squeeze the throttle.
The VN1700 is only little heavier subjectively, and believe me or not, non of two starters I recommended to get it, had a single problem. They both considered the VN900 but now they are glad they dont have to trade up.
One have tryed VN900 on Kawaski dealer day after one year on Nomand saddle, and he said that the VN900 is like bicycle to him, and has no power.
As a starter, you have to go things slow anyway, and it doesnt matter if you practice with VN900 or VN1700 in a parking lot and less frequented road after.
There is really no reason to be scared and start on mid size cruiser. The feeling that the bike is "way big" for you, will be there until you get proficient with it. No matter if its 900cc or 1700cc, its the same.
+MadIgor FKGoogle Next time you ride a 900, downshift! Two up with luggage, I could whip around pretty quick, and mine is stock. I put 40,000 miles on my 900. If I was doing 55 behind a semi on a two lane road (if I was doing 70 on a four-lane road then I'd have all the time in the world to get around it), I could be up over 90 by the time I was past the truck.
Your friend got the right bike; that's for sure. The Nomad can be a great option for a rider who can handle it! Like I said in the video, chances are, breaking that "1,000cc barrier" isn't as hard as you think, and I think internet wisdom has guys starting out on a small bike that isn't quite what they need. Your friends made a good choice! Adding things like a fairing, tour pak, etc., do add a lot of weight; so those sort of things should be considered. My 1700 is quite a bit heavier than my 900, having owned both. Though, weight shouldn't matter if a rider knows what they are doing. Clutch and throttle move the bike, not legs. Where there's a difference is some places I used to be able to park, I can no longer park; because I can't, for example, back up an incline like I used to be able to. I ride frequently with a group of guys on Harley-Davidson Ultra-Limiteds, and I used to be able to take the less-accessible parking spots when we'd go somewhere because I had a light bike that could easily get in and out of them. Not any longer! But that just takes a little fore-thought and backing INTO those spots, or just parking in some other fashion where I can easily pull out.
Romans Five|Eight
I did over 65k on my Suzuki Vl800 back then. And thats about same strong bike as VN900 so I do know how the bike handles and is able to pass or not. Yes you can always downshift, but then again you may run out of RPMs during the passing, upshifting costs you some valuable time. I already realized that we have much different riding styles, you are much closer what I will call a commuter, nothing bad, but different.
The backing of bigger bike is not always harder due to added weight. Usually bigger bikes have slightly higher seat and almost always the seat is wider. So you have much more "operation" space for your legs on smaller bike. Sometimes the change to narrower seat works wonder. The Ultra Limited is good example, you need longer legs to back it off then on Vaquero, not really stronger legs.
Harley riders on the other hand have the option of aftermarket rear gear kit, if they want to.
Here i Australia the biggest you can go as a learner/provisional rider is 650cc depending on power to weight. I got a Yamaha vstar 650 im 5' 11 and find it fits me fine its about the same size as the HD Iron and 48 but i just find it revs out really quickly but yeah its a good starter bike. Im torn between getting a 48, Victory octane(when it finally gets released here) or go up to a bigger bike and get a Street bob?? the Octane is supposed to handle really good though and its got the up and go you want! but the bob would be better on a trip. First world problems...
Yes, laws in different areas make the decision for some folks. I'm not a fan of CC based restrictions though; because there's so much more to a bike than displacement. A 250cc sportbike is not the same as a 250cc cruiser.
I flat refuse to watch many of the motorvlogs due to the foul language. Thank you for your self control. I started riding at 8yrs old sitting in front of my Dad on a Yamaha 80 street bike. Dad handles the brakes and shifting for me and I handled the clutch, front brake and throttle. When I got big enough that became mint, then a Yamaha 90 DT1 Enduro. Next was a KZ 440 LTD then a 3 cylinder 2 stroke KZ 750. I stopped riding but now plan next year to get a Bagger.
Unless you are a very strong person and 5'10" +, over 200 lbs I would not suggest a Vulcan 900 as a starter bike. Maybe more like a Honda Shadow 750 or the Vulcan 650 in line twin. Vulcan 900 Classic LT weighs 654lbs. After graduating from the Shadow 750 or Vulcan 650 in line you can skip the 900 and go with something bigger.
In the UK, the licensing rules mean that a lot of people don't take their test until their mid 20's (much later for me). The test involved is on a 600cc, so 600cc seems to be the smallest anyone then buys, except for learners who can only have 125cc machines. You don't see very many bikes between those sizes.
CalmBiker Different countries are definitely a little different, especially with licensing schemas. Here in the U.S., the states issue a Motorcycle learners permit which has different restrictions depending on the state; but never a restriction on engine displacement. Usually, learners permits restrict things like night driving or riding with a passenger. Though in my state (Missouri); there actually are no restrictions; but it has to be renewed every 6 months and most insurance companies charge a lot more.
Then you have a motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license, which is a full license. It's renewed along with your driving license.
Romans Five|Eight Seems sensible. Here the CBT, which learners take, lasts two years. The license lasts for ever with no further testing. I think an hour with an instructor every few years might improve the quality of riding and driving but it's not been thought about for some time.
CalmBiker I believe lifetime licensing is a problem worldwide. Here in the United States, as long as you renew it on time (once every 6 years in my state; and all 'renewal' is, is paying a fee), you never have to do ANYTHING to keep your license. The only exception is if a doctor or court takes away your license (for violating the law in the latter case, or having a diagnosis, like a seizure disorder, that could cause you to be unsafe in the former). Elderly folks have to take a basic vision test and have to renew every year.
I would love to see, everything from Motorcycles to Cars, periodic re-testing of skills and proficiency included periodic re-taking of written tests to demonstrate a proficiency of road laws, road signs, etc. Pilots, commercial drivers, riverboat captains; you name it, all have to renew their licenses regularly by demonstrating their abilities to an instructor. Even a commercial pilot with thousands of hours and years of experience has to climb aboard a 4-seat airplane and show an instructor they still know what they are doing once in a while.
Complacency is dangerous and the view of driving as an inalienable right puts us all at risk. Driving is only a right for those who can demonstrate a proficiency in safely operating the machine and a willingness and ability to follow applicable laws and operate their vehicle in a safe manner. Auto accidents remain the leading cause of death in the United States. If curing cancer required a test once every few years, or if taking a written exam once in a while would prevent a heart attack; wouldn't we do it? So we don't we demand the same for driving which kills more people than both of those things?
Well, that's my $0.02 anyway!
Realistically, no regular person needs more power than 600cc for a SuperSport, 400-450 for dual sports, 1000-1200 for tourers, and about 1200cc for cruisers. All of these classes have distinct power levels, and you really don't need anymore than the middle power range. The only reason to buy these behemoth motorcycles like the Triumph Rocket III, Husky 701, ZX14R, Hayabusa, etc. is because they look pretty and have big numbers on paper.
Too small for me would be bikes that can't handle highway speeds well, have poor passing power, and lacks heavily in comparison to other options in the same category, like a 125cc sport bike, a cruiser like the 250 Rebel, or a 125cc 4 stroke dirt bike.
I started on a Yamaha MT 07, and I think that for my riding and what I use it for, it is plenty of bike. I also recently bought a DRZ 400E, and for the trails I don't need anymore power than that... it might even be a bit much for me to start dirt on. Honestly, anyone who rides these 500 and 600 dirt bikes in the trails are insane.
It's Pickle RIIIIICK!!!
There's actually an advantage to large V-Twins beyond just 'power'. In fact, large V-Twins don't actually have much more horsepower than smaller engines. The primary advantage of a large V-Twin is low RPM's. That improves reliability and engine life, AND makes the bike a lot more comfortable by cutting down on vibration. The low end torque these big twins make allows them to run at a low RPM while making enough power to maintain speed up a hill. Often I'm cruising around at 2,000 RPM's, less than half of the RPM's of my previous bike at the same cruising speed.
Setting the cruise control in overdrive (6th gear), lumbering along at 2500 RPM's on the interstate at 70mph, going up and down hills without any lugging or vibration makes long, multi-day trips a LOT more comfortable.
Question: Why did you change your wind screen for the summer months? More bugs to clean and doesn't have it's mean look now without the short smoky.
Lab Insight It's much more comfortable. And there are still bugs; now they are on the windscreen instead of my helmet. Less wind blast, I don't need to wear earplugs, I can hear the stereo, and it's just far more comfortable.
My wife just surprised me with a Gold Wing SL1500 for Christmas. I've always talked about wanting this bike. I haven't ridden in almost 30 years and the Gold Wing is bigger than the bikes i rode when I was in my 20's. I have recently taken a motorcycle class to get my endorsement. My plan now is to the next few months or more at a school parking primarily working on slow speed maneuvering. The bike handles beautiful on the road but I know that handling this bike at slow speeds is going to be a key element I need to master. I'm just going to take my time developing my skills once again. I know it's a big bike but does this seem like a good approach?God Bless
Hi there!
Low speed skills translate into safety on the road. I'd highly recommend taking the motorcycle safety foundation course in your area. The skills you'll learn are extraordinary and it's an absolute must. Do that and you'll be surprised how well you handle your wing. Enjoy it!
Thanks for the response. I did take the motorcycle safety course to get my endorsement which I've not had in years. Not to mention my beautiful wife insisted. Lol. I do plan on working on slow speed maneuvers for as long as it takes to bring my skill level back up. Truthfully I was totally freaked out that she bought it for me. It was cool when my son came driving up on it on Christmas morning.!
I stand 5ft 9 in and my Gl1500 is just fine.i can flat foot it. I use it for cross country rides.
I rode a 250 for my rider course and I hated it. They might be ok to start on for women and smaller guys but I am a big guy and looked rediculous on it. My first bike was an 800 cc suzuki c50s and it was absolutely perfect for me to start on. The frame was large enough for my large frame and it had plenty of power but not too much to get me in trouble. However, being a beginner I did have several occasions at slow speeds and poor stops etc... where I had to put my foot down and just power through it to keep it up and with my frame I was more than capable so that is a case where a smaller person would struggle and maybe should start on a smaller bike. And the one time i did lay it down i picked it right up and rode off, i was embarrassed but not as much as I would have been if I had to go get help to pick it up. So I'd say the bike you start on is directly related to your size and or strength capabilities where if you cant use brute strength to hold it up or pick it up then with this being the time when you are most likely to drop it you should have something you can pick up until you get better and are less likely to drop it.
Steven Burdick The truth is, with the right technique, any bike can be picked up. My Vaquero is 900lbs and I've picked it up. I stopped at a parking lot and didn't have my sidestand down all the way (whoops). it rested on it's crash bars. The trick is to back up into the bike, and place your hips/tailbone on the seat behind you. Grab the bars with the right hand and 'something else' if you can with your left (sissy bar, crash guard, or even just the saddle). Put it in gear so it doesn't roll, and just walk backwards. Using that technique, there isn't a bike too heavy to be picked up off of it's side!
Romans Five|Eight I've watched some of those motorcycle cop competitions and I've seen them do it and you're right that technique is huge; man I wish I could ride like them. But I've kept my bike up several times with pure brute strength and just willing it not to hit the ground. I almost dropped my Vaquero this weekend by getting stuck on a steep drive way curb where I lost momentum backing out and it was going down but I put my foot down and just Hemanned it back up, I bent my mirror but the bike stayed up. So that's why I think size and strength give you a little bit more margin for error at slow speeds.
I'm going to be paranoid about the kick stand now cuz my uncle just got a bike and did the same thing in his garage. He laid it down at an intersection too and I think part of the problem is that he got a big bike to start, a Honda VTX 1800, instead of the Vulcan 900 he was going to get.