Looking to get a bike

[capt. apathy]

wait until a little farther into the summer for the good deals.  a lot of guys decde to get a bike, and the first couple weeks of good weather seem to trigger the urge.   but a couple months into their first riding season, after they've laid it down or had their first close call, many of them lose the desire to ride.

you can save a lot of cash in the fall also.   the weather starts to turn too nasty to ride, and when low on cash a bike that you can't ride seems expendable.

don't get so nice of a first bike that you'll be upset when you tear it up.

there's only 2 types of riders, those who've crashed and those who are going to.

[TBolt A-10]

Nice RC51!

I miss my HONDA.  Sold her last year:

[XtrmeJ]

Here Ya Go:eek:  Purty...

[TBolt A-10]

I'm glad you fixed your tag, XJ.  

I was gonna say..."you need to use the Picture Hangar, man!!!"

U traitor.  

[Mark Luper]

Moose,

I met you at one of the cons and liked you. I really do not want to see you kill yourself. Motorcycles are great fun and can provide hours of enjoyment but one thing to remember is that regardless of how skillful you are riding one it's the people driving the cages that can really ruin your day.

If I remember you correctly you are relativly thin and light weight and something along the lines of a Honda Shadow 600 or 650 would be a great start. I agree with bullet308, the cruisers are the most enjoyable and relaxing to ride.

I started out riding dirt bikes and what they taught me has been invaluable on how to get out of tight situations and how to recover control of a bike. You might consider riding one of those for a while before purchasing a street bike.

I have yet to take the Motorcycle Saftey Foundation course and plan to but if you are just starting out I see it as a must do.

I'll echo what others here have said: There are those that have droped a bike and there are those that are going to. If you ride one it's going to happen so be sure you are dressed for the event. Someone said road rash sucks. I can attest to that. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

[storch]

Nice fence job bullet308,  it looks to be cypress.  how were the stringers mechanically fastened to the steel 2-1/2" posts?  It looks fairly new are you having a gate manufactured or is the metal/wood combo the gate?

[Heater]

First off...Learn to ride... i.e. take the course and stay away from the sport bikes until you have a few years experience under your belt, Depending on your physical size, start with a smaller bike...think in the line of 450 - 650 cc to learn on. (you will live longer)

[Swoop]

What Heater said.


For the first year of two ride something old, cheap and crappy.  That way when you drop it (and you will drop it) the repair bill wont be high.


Most riders have silly little accidents in their first few years, small time stuff.  Knew a guy who just forgot to put his feet down after stopping at a traffic signal.  Another who was approaching a circle, was watching for traffic carefully and not watching the road......hit the kerb and fell off at 5 mph.  It's the simple stuff that you're not used to that get ya.

[storch]

or getting an insect in the mouth,  running over a turtle in the dark, or hearing a funny sound with the chain and looking down and backwards while driving forward.  or my all time favorite warm sunny june saturday in jacksonville fl. one lane curvy dirt road, broken down pickup truck as i come fairly fast (for the conditions) around the corner.  wearing shorts and flipflops.  wish i had put on my boots and levi's that day.  had to go all the way back to the mayport naval base infirmary to get betadined and scraped by a 3rd class donutchecker that didn't want to be there. nothing much happened to the bike though, new mirror some scuffs and scratches. my worst spills have been at low speed without much going on around me,  just when you feel complacent watch out. lol

[Sixpence]

Harley has a new sportster on the cheap

[Cougar68]

I've got a Honda Shadow ACE 750 Deluxe that I'm wanting to sell.  Email me at outtatheblues@yahoo.com if you're interested.  

It was my first street bike and was great to learn on.  It has just enough power to be fun, but not enough to get you into too much trouble.    It's also worked great for 2-up crusing on the interstates.

Cougar

[Roscoroo]

I'll echo the above suggestions.

If you dont have much experiance stay with a smaller street bike  or 4 stroke enduro.
(350- 650cc range ) are the best learners and the more upright you sit the more comfortable it is along with being SEEN better.

As a long time rider on everything fron rz 250's rd 350's < Racing 2 strokes) all the way up to big Harleys one of the most important rules I use when riding is..

All Bikes have a built in cloaking device and are invisable to cars
(Always presume that they havent seen you )

Always keep a escape route (clear exit from the cars around you) planned out.

Dress to ride .

Take the riders course and if you are inclined towards the race type bikes check at your local race track they ussually have real good riders clinics .

[Hooligan]

Well...

As others have said, I highly recommend the Motorcycle safety course.  

$2000 is a bit low but you might be able to buy a decent used 600cc bike if you are patient.  The beginning of summer is an expensive time to buy though.  If you shop at the end of summer when a lot of people are going back to school then you will find more bargains.  As far as where to look... you can probably find a motorcycle trader magazine at a local convience store, and of course the web would be a good place.

Hooligan

[capt. apathy]

Originally posted by Roscoroo
I'll echo the above suggestions.

If you dont have much experiance stay with a smaller street bike  or 4 stroke enduro.
(350- 650cc range ) are the best learners and the more upright you sit the more comfortable it is along with being SEEN better.

As a long time rider on everything fron rz 250's rd 350's < Racing 2 strokes) all the way up to big Harleys one of the most important rules I use when riding is..

All Bikes have a built in cloaking device and are invisable to cars
(Always presume that they havent seen you )

Always keep a escape route (clear exit from the cars around you) planned out.

Dress to ride .

Take the riders course and if you are inclined towards the race type bikes check at your local race track they ussually have real good riders clinics .

good advice.  let me add one more.

the cars are intentionally trying to run you over.  ride accordingly

[APDrone]

Moose,  

A lot of good advice in here. I, too, have just started out on motorcycles ( I'm registered for the rider safety course in September ) and am on my learner's permit right now.

My wife gave me a maximum of $1000 to spend on a first bike. I was fortunate enough to stumble over this one at a local Honda dealer while I was drooling over some Shadows.


 


It's nothing like the righteous rods you see on American Chopper or Monster Garage, but it's purpose is to get me acquainted with the world of motorcycles and do so in a manner that I don't lose my lunch money if I lay it over in the driveway and break off something important.

It's a 1981 Honda CX500 Deluxe.  35K miles.  500cc V-twin shaft drive. It's light enough ( 400 lbs or so ) that I can lift it back up if I need to. ( I know this.. was practicing sudden stops and locked rear tire..and..  ) And, being a Honda, they're pretty reliable.

I kept the fairing primarily for the visibility factor ( Something that big and glaring should increase the liklihood that I'll be seen.)

If there's any drawback that I've found with the older bike ( ya, all of a month's experience!! ) is that you can expect things like gaskets and plastic parts to start wearing out.

Here, again, it's something to learn to ride and get through the first 6 months ( highest rate of crashes are those in first 6 months of riding )

Do some shopping and some soul searching and ask questions. You'll find something that will work.

Good luck, Moose!