Any Riders/Bikers?

[Vladimir]

I am taking a class to get my motorcycle endorsement this weekend. I am really excited, I have wanted to do it for years but could not because of my parents . They made the mistake of always telling me if I got a motorcycle they would stop paying my insurance, they should have said I had to move out first . To be fair I paid my insurance after university, but lacked time and knew I was heading to Russia.

I kind of want to start with a street bike because I know a cruiser would be great, so for my first cheap crap bike I would rather get the one I am not positive I will like, since selling it and changing won't be a big deal.

Unfortunately here highway is crucial so think I need 500cc+ which limits my options. That being said the main freeways here are flat and 60MPH so a 250cc might do it, particularly on a lighter street bike.

[mncarpenter]

Get the biggest bike you can afford and handle. More power is a good thing, and more weight is actually easier to handle on the highway. Bigger bikes tend to sell better,( in case you ever decide to leave and come back to the States)ride better and will haul passengers better-girls.750-1000cc, minimum, IMO.Bigger is better. I have ridden off and on all my life, and find small bikes to extremely frustrating. Don't buy into the notion that a smaller bike is a better first bike.

[JUNKKING]

Originally Posted by mncarpenter

Get the biggest bike you can afford and handle. More power is a good thing, and more weight is actually easier to handle on the highway. Bigger bikes tend to sell better,( in case you ever decide to leave and come back to the States)ride better and will haul passengers better-girls.750-1000cc, minimum, IMO.Bigger is better. I have ridden off and on all my life, and find small bikes to extremely frustrating. Don't buy into the notion that a smaller bike is a better first bike.

Agreed!! From the pics you have posted you seem to be a fair sized boy. A small bike just wouldn't be comfortable for you or serve the purpose. A smaller lighter bike on the highway will actually be harder for a new rider when a truck passes you and you feel the wind from them. Like mncarpenter said a smaller bike isn't always good for a new rider.

Also please be careful and practice before going on the highway. Those classes for riding are a great thing and will teach you the basics to get a license ans head on down the road. The bad thing about them is they have really small bikes that are very manuverable not like a bigger bike. If the classes you are refering to are like the ones they give here at the community college they also offer an advanced class once you get your license. The advanced class is a very good class to take. Even some people that have been riding for years can learn in the advanced class. Good luck with your trek into biker world and remember it isn't always you that makes it unsafe it is the carelessness of people driving 4 wheelers that have no clue what being on 2 wheels is like. Bottom line is, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!!

[carver]

As soon as you get that MC indorsement, take a Motorcycle Safety Class, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, is the one I recomend. They provide the bike, you provide the personal gear, you don't need to own a bike to take this course. Like the others have said, buy at least an 800cc to start with. Remember one thing though, you, and your bike, are invisible! No one out there wants to kill you, but they will, because they can't see you! I've been riding for over 42 years, and have covered most of the U.S. on a bike.

[al45lc]

Been a rider for 35+ years. 44% of crashes are single vehicle, meaning the bike by itself. Of that, in 70%+ the rider failed to negotiate a curve or turn, or struck a roadside object, and of that, 60% were determined to have been traveling too fast.
Of these stats, large cruisers make up the majority of the incidents.
And finally, 70% were new or inexperienced riders with less than 6 months riding. Big bikes are great, but NOT necessarily better, and DO require more skill, especially at speed.
Just a word of caution.

[jjmitchell60]

Been riding "legelly" since 1976 (actually been riding on and off road since 1969 at age 9 but that would be a long story of police chases and such) and today ride the HD that is my avatar. IMHO buy a bike that its you. IF a bigger person, buy a bigger bike since you do not want to be riding something that is straining under your size to keep up with traffic. A bike of at least 500cc or bigger would be the best to start with IMHO for reasons stated above. Take that motorcycle course stated above if for no other reason it will lower your insurance rates and you will learn what to expect out there on the roads. Another maain thing I will say is if you buy one ride as though every vehicle on the roads with you is out to run you over, in short ride defensively! From personal experience, I know that many people in autos are driving as though motorcycles are not even on the roads. They classify them with bicycles and do not give bikes the respect they deserve as to right of way.

[Vladimir]

Thanks guys! I am starting real cheap, I will not buy a bike until I find a job, but it doesn't have to be a good job. I am so far just searching craigslist in the 1000-3000 range, as such I don't think I will get much more than 500cc, and I may have to even drop to 250. I think it would be okay as really all my driving will be around here in about 40MPH zones, and if I get on the freeway it is very flat to Seattle. I will definitely want to upgrade someday when I have the money, but my first goal is to make sure I enjoy it enough to make it worth it, and probably more importantly spend some time on a sport bike and cruiser to see what is more applicable for me in the area.

My understanding is even 250cc will get you to freeway speeds, just not up a steep hill. I am a big guy, but not huge (anymore ), about 250-260 range.

Originally Posted by mncarpenter

Get the biggest bike you can afford and handle. More power is a good thing, and more weight is actually easier to handle on the highway. Bigger bikes tend to sell better,( in case you ever decide to leave and come back to the States)ride better and will haul passengers better-girls.750-1000cc, minimum, IMO.Bigger is better. I have ridden off and on all my life, and find small bikes to extremely frustrating. Don't buy into the notion that a smaller bike is a better first bike.

I am actually back in the states now (need to update my location!). I think my initial goal is to see what I like, that and I will not buy a bike until I am employed, but I am not going to get a good job quickly- so I am buying used and cheap. I figured 500cc would be suitable to start, at least I can climb a hill on the freeway that way! Assuming I like it, which I am sure I will, I will definitely upgrade once I get a little more settled into a good job, and then I will pick something out that is a little nicer .

Originally Posted by JUNKKING

Agreed!! From the pics you have posted you seem to be a fair sized boy. A small bike just wouldn't be comfortable for you or serve the purpose. A smaller lighter bike on the highway will actually be harder for a new rider when a truck passes you and you feel the wind from them. Like mncarpenter said a smaller bike isn't always good for a new rider.

Also please be careful and practice before going on the highway. Those classes for riding are a great thing and will teach you the basics to get a license ans head on down the road. The bad thing about them is they have really small bikes that are very manuverable not like a bigger bike. If the classes you are refering to are like the ones they give here at the community college they also offer an advanced class once you get your license. The advanced class is a very good class to take. Even some people that have been riding for years can learn in the advanced class. Good luck with your trek into biker world and remember it isn't always you that makes it unsafe it is the carelessness of people driving 4 wheelers that have no clue what being on 2 wheels is like. Bottom line is, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!!

I will have to look into the advanced classes. I know they offer them. I can learn a lot from my dad too, who has been riding bikes in law enforcement for about a million years!

Originally Posted by carver

As soon as you get that MC indorsement, take a Motorcycle Safety Class, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, is the one I recomend. They provide the bike, you provide the personal gear, you don't need to own a bike to take this course. Like the others have said, buy at least an 800cc to start with. Remember one thing though, you, and your bike, are invisible! No one out there wants to kill you, but they will, because they can't see you! I've been riding for over 42 years, and have covered most of the U.S. on a bike.

The class I am taking is much more than the state-required for a license. They will give me a certificate that will get me my license, but there is much more work involved. It is three days, two of which I think are just about all day. I think at least 8 hours of classroom time and 8 hours of riding time. Might be more though. Of course that's not all I need, but I feel like its a good place to start. Much better than just showing up at the DOL, taking the quick test and heading out . My initial requirement, since as I said I am shooting cheap, is 500cc, but frankly I'd go down to 250cc if I had to.

Originally Posted by al45lc

Been a rider for 35+ years. 44% of crashes are single vehicle, meaning the bike by itself. Of that, in 70%+ the rider failed to negotiate a curve or turn, or struck a roadside object, and of that, 60% were determined to have been traveling too fast.
Of these stats, large cruisers make up the majority of the incidents.
And finally, 70% were new or inexperienced riders with less than 6 months riding. Big bikes are great, but NOT necessarily better, and DO require more skill, especially at speed.
Just a word of caution.

These are interesting statistics. I may have to throw these at my dad (where did you get them?) I know riding is dangerous, I think my dad is the only guy in his unit who has not been in a serious crash yet. Of course they ride a lot more in almost entirely city-traffic and in a way different style, so they have a higher chance of crashing .

Originally Posted by jjmitchell60

Been riding "legelly" since 1976 (actually been riding on and off road since 1969 at age 9 but that would be a long story of police chases and such) and today ride the HD that is my avatar. IMHO buy a bike that its you. IF a bigger person, buy a bigger bike since you do not want to be riding something that is straining under your size to keep up with traffic. A bike of at least 500cc or bigger would be the best to start with IMHO for reasons stated above. Take that motorcycle course stated above if for no other reason it will lower your insurance rates and you will learn what to expect out there on the roads. Another maain thing I will say is if you buy one ride as though every vehicle on the roads with you is out to run you over, in short ride defensively! From personal experience, I know that many people in autos are driving as though motorcycles are not even on the roads. They classify them with bicycles and do not give bikes the respect they deserve as to right of way.

Definitely, I know that issue with other cars being stupid! In Washington you actually do not have to insure a bike, so I probably will not. I may get the minimum coverage for damage I could cause, but I will have to look into it. That is one reason for getting a bike, mostly for fun, but I can save on gas, time (carpool lanes here are open to bikes, not sure if that is true everywhere), and I am hoping I can drop down the insurance on my car to one of those "I almost never drive it levels" .

[carver]

Originally Posted by al45lc

Been a rider for 35+ years. 44% of crashes are single vehicle, meaning the bike by itself. Of that, in 70%+ the rider failed to negotiate a curve or turn, or struck a roadside object, and of that, 60% were determined to have been traveling too fast.
Of these stats, large cruisers make up the majority of the incidents.
And finally, 70% were new or inexperienced riders with less than 6 months riding. Big bikes are great, but NOT necessarily better, and DO require more skill, especially at speed.
Just a word of caution.

I agree with everthing you've said. I like to use the term, road conditions, rather than the word speed. Yes, speed can get you into all kinds of trouble. And speed kills. But most accidents occure when a rider is not paying attention to road conditions. Pot holes, loose gravel, sand, rocks, critters, wet pavement, and deminishing radius curves all spell troube for the rider who is not paying attention. They may be well within the posted speed limit, but under a lot of situations speed is not the problem, so much as it's the lack of SA that gets you in trouble. You might say that the rider was going too fast for the curve. But the speed limit was posted, and the rider wasn't paying attention, so the rider was not looking at road conditions. The road condition in this case is the curve that has a lower speed limit.

[Big ugly]

My first bike was an old Kawasaki 550 LTD. 550 4 cylinder that was more than enough bike for me to get started. If I was you I would lean more to the mid rage cruiser as your first bike. Something like a Honda Shadow or one around that area. I have a friend with a 750 Shadow that is a really nice comfortable bike to ride. He is a bigger feller too so dont worry about the size. Oh yeah one more thing, if you decide to go with a bigger bike or even with a Crotch Rocket remember this, just cuz the damn thing is fast dont mean you have to go fast. That is one of the biggest problems today with new riders. They go out and get themselves a 600 cc crotch rocket and think that cuz its 600cc its not a barn burner.

[al45lc]

The MAIDS(Motorcycle Accident In Depth Study) reports 37%, but that's Europe. The HURT report, and several others, particuarly in CA., show down to 25% and as high as 50%+ overall.
Web bike world has a good one(webbikeworld.com) showing that 80% of single fataities left the road on a curve. No stats on the riders experience though.

[grcsat]

Heres a pic of my bike.

I was doing a tunup and changing out the chains. The gas tank is also off along with the ignition.

It is real. And works pretty good. But crap on a rainy day.

I've been riding it since 1968. Shes on her 4th motor now. And believe or not , that's a 80cc motor.
It's legal to drive in the city, but because it's classified as motor asist (has petals ,ha ,ha) I can't legaly drive it on the highway. Go figure.

[CampingJosh]

Originally Posted by Vladimir

Definitely, I know that issue with other cars being stupid! In Washington you actually do not have to insure a bike, so I probably will not. I may get the minimum coverage for damage I could cause, but I will have to look into it. That is one reason for getting a bike, mostly for fun, but I can save on gas, time (carpool lanes here are open to bikes, not sure if that is true everywhere), and I am hoping I can drop down the insurance on my car to one of those "I almost never drive it levels" .

You want to get at least some liability coverage. You don't want to file bankruptcy because you bump some guy's BMW. Not worth risking it.

That said, your home owner's/renter's insurance may cover you on vehicles that don't require insurance. But check before you assume.

[Rastminikov]

Originally Posted by mncarpenter

Get the biggest bike you can afford and handle. More power is a good thing, and more weight is actually easier to handle on the highway. Bigger bikes tend to sell better,( in case you ever decide to leave and come back to the States)ride better and will haul passengers better-girls.750-1000cc, minimum, IMO.Bigger is better. I have ridden off and on all my life, and find small bikes to extremely frustrating. Don't buy into the notion that a smaller bike is a better first bike.

LMAO! As a biker myself, that advice isn't that great (IMNSHO). Most people vastly over-estimate their abilities (even riders) and a new rider would not be best served by jumping on a 750-1000cc bike. Perhaps cruisers are a different animal, but anything like a Kawa ZX10R or Yamaha R1 - heck, 600s are still too fast for newbies - would be pure suicide. First over-enthusiastic twist of the wrist and the rider is out of control...

I ride a 955cc Speed Triple, which is more than fast enough. Guess what I started on? An 80cc dirt bike. Rode it for years (on road too, hehehehehehe) and could still wheelie it uphill even when I was 20. Thing was fun, but didn't have the power to get away from me as much as a 600 or 1000 would. My 955i would be a nightmare if I'd never ridden before...

First Bike:



Current Bike:

[al45lc]

One other word of caution, and frankly it disturbs me. A greater percentage of riders than cagers(car drivers for the uninitiated) that crashed were found to have a fairly high percentage of alcohol in their system.
Does anyone in this day and age really need to be told about drinking and operating a vehicle?!?!?!?
ESPECIALLY riding?
Bad enough the cagers don't see you, but to add alcohol to the mix is just plain stupid, if you like living.
And yes, I do drink. Typically in the evening on a weekend, when I'm not driving and the gun safes are locked.
Sorry, not really preaching, just venting. Most on here would understand, not much different than with guns.
Nice Triumph!

[mncarpenter]

Originally Posted by Rastminikov

LMAO! As a biker myself, that advice isn't that great (IMNSHO). Most people vastly over-estimate their abilities (even riders) and a new rider would not be best served by jumping on a 750-1000cc bike. Perhaps cruisers are a different animal, but anything like a Kawa ZX10R or Yamaha R1 - heck, 600s are still too fast for newbies - would be pure suicide.

I think Vladimir said he was looking for a cruiser..highway bike.

Originally Posted by Rastminikov

First over-enthusiastic twist of the wrist and the rider is out of control...

That can happen on any motorcycle, I know , I watched my Mom wheelie across the farmyard and subsequently dump my Suzuki 125 when I was a kid. Like others have said, learn to ride, take some classes, I took some riders classes to make it easier to get my motorcycle license 8 years ago and was pretty surprised how much I learned. And like I said I've ridden most my life. I hit a car head on with with that Suzuki and broke my leg in 3 places when I was 14. I rode my 1959 Harley Panhead chopper into a ditch at 80 when I was forced off the road and was able to ride it back onto the shoulder, mostly because the bike was heavy and stable enough to stay upright. I hit a deer at 4 am with a Kawasaki 900 when the rascal appeared out of nowhere and slid down the road a good ways on my right side, spent 2 weeks going to visit the burn unit on a daily basis for a pick and scrub. My wife rode her Sportster off a curve at 50 and stayed upright through a beanfield and fell over at about 15 mph when she panicked and let go the handlebars. I got to watch that one from behind her on my bike-not fun. She was unhurt,she was also wearing leathers , a good helmet and shield.. A smaller bike might have gone down earlier and results not so good. She bought a Lowrider after that, bike weighed about 725 lbs and my wife is 5-1 and is just a little bitty thing. Rode that bike great once I put short rear shocks on it and lowered the front end.The size of your bike has little to do with the space between your ears or your skill in handling a motorcycle.
I've ridden many many miles without incident, and appreciated the 750 lb bike I ride when riding across South Dakota with a 30 mph crosswind,or through Minnesota in a thunderstorm or 2, and the power it has to get around trucks on a 2 lane highway, avoid idiots turning into me and run smoothly running down the road. I've ridden a Kawasaki 500 triple for hundreds of miles at a stretch and was so beat up when I got off the bike I vowed to never ride the thing again. Fighting wind , the bow wave from trucks, and the vibration made what should have been a lot of fun, pure misery.

Originally Posted by Rastminikov

I ride a 955cc Speed Triple, which is more than fast enough. Guess what I started on? An 80cc dirt bike. Rode it for years (on road too, hehehehehehe) and could still wheelie it uphill even when I was 20. Thing was fun, but didn't have the power to get away from me as much as a 600 or 1000 would. My 955i would be a nightmare if I'd never ridden before...

Funny how folks generally buy bigger bikes eventually...

[carver]

mncarpenter I did the same thing with a 500cc Shadow. I rode the thing to MO, and on the way back I parked it, and hitched a ride home. After I got over the ride, I had the wife take my back up to AR, where I left the bike, so I could ride it home. I kept the Shadow because of the fact that it had a sixth gear, but I bought a 1500cc Kaw with in a few weeks. Wore out two motors on it, and traded it in on a Gold Wing. I want to add that you are so right about power. Brakes are not the only way to avoid an accident! Sometimes you have to RIDE your way out of trouble.

[bayhawk2]

It all depends on what you are going to be doing (most of the time).
In city driving sucks on a big bike,but they're great on the highway.
Small bikes such as the 250 cc. are great in the city,but suck on the
highway.Highway=minimum small V-Twin.You want enough power
on the highway to get around traffic and have a comfortable ride..My opinion.

[Big ugly]

Originally Posted by Rastminikov

LMAO! As a biker myself, that advice isn't that great (IMNSHO). Most people vastly over-estimate their abilities (even riders) and a new rider would not be best served by jumping on a 750-1000cc bike. Perhaps cruisers are a different animal, but anything like a Kawa ZX10R or Yamaha R1 - heck, 600s are still too fast for newbies - would be pure suicide. First over-enthusiastic twist of the wrist and the rider is out of control...

I ride a 955cc Speed Triple, which is more than fast enough. Guess what I started on? An 80cc dirt bike. Rode it for years (on road too, hehehehehehe) and could still wheelie it uphill even when I was 20. Thing was fun, but didn't have the power to get away from me as much as a 600 or 1000 would. My 955i would be a nightmare if I'd never ridden before...

First Bike:



Current Bike:

I had a chance to ride a Daytona a few years back and I will tell you I love the way a Triumph Rides. Nice bike by the way.

[Vladimir]

Originally Posted by CampingJosh

You want to get at least some liability coverage. You don't want to file bankruptcy because you bump some guy's BMW. Not worth risking it.

That said, your home owner's/renter's insurance may cover you on vehicles that don't require insurance. But check before you assume.

I will look into that, I intend on doing the basic liability but have not worried much about it yet.

Originally Posted by mncarpenter

I think Vladimir said he was looking for a cruiser..highway bike

....

Funny how folks generally buy bigger bikes eventually...

I think I would actually prefer to start on a sport bike. I think I will prefer a cruiser, but I feel like as long as you like riding, there is nothing to dislike about a cruiser. But I would not be surprised if I dislike a sport bike.

So, if this makes sense, for my first cheap "garbage" bike I would rather start with a sport bike. 1) If I hate it, it is easy to get rid of and switch over to a cruiser for a small loss. 2) Assuming I really enjoy it, I suspect once I get settled with a better job I will buy something nicer/new (I doubt I will hop used bike-to-used bike), and so want to know what my preference is before then. I would hate to be riding cruisers, decide I want to try a sport bike, and shell out $8k on one, to decide I am not a fan of sport bikes .

[ysacres]

I owned a Honda CX500 custom, water cooled, shaft drive. They dont make em anymore, but you could find a good used one cycletrader.com

[Rastminikov]

Originally Posted by mncarpenter

That can happen on any motorcycle

Can, but is far less likely considering it wouldn't be as quick or large of a reaction from the throttle. There will always be ham-fistedness, but 175hp on a 350 lb bike is beyond what a newbie can handle. There's no reason for it, either, as you'd have to ride a good long while in order to properly ride the bike. Many "riders" don't bother actually learning how to ride and just hop on a 600/1000cc machine and ride, but never progress. Eternally in their "first year of riding." They're the guys accelerating like mad in the straights, slowing to 15mph in the corners and then accelerating again. (or binning it into the weeds).

Just for purposes of illustration, my bike will get me from a stop to 100mph in less than 8 seconds, to 60 in less than 3.5. And a litre bike will leave me in the dust (R1, et al).

Just don't be this guy: http://www.youtube.com/embed/FxbHyEIkgdU

Or this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HbFEChsrsQ

Oh, I got more. Videos of newbies on 600s/1000s crashing abound on youtube. (some worse...)

Cruisers matter far less, considering the scale with those is different. They're all heavy, slow and can't handle for crap anyway. Divide cc's in 1/2 and you get the equivalent in sportbike terms... (or worse)

For a sportbike, I'd recommend a Kawa 250R for starters if under 190 lbs, Suzuki GS500F or Kawa 650R if over 200 lbs. (ya, bigger than 600, but tuned conservatively and not nearly as aggressive as the ZX6R). Cheaper to insure, at the very least.

There's also the Street Triple baby version of my bike, but perhaps aggressive still. Dunno, it's just a 675, but it can still go like hell.

I don't know a ton about cruisers, as they never interested me... I'd recommend a cheap one, light on the chrome and lightweight as a first bike though, as you're likely to wind up dropping it on its side at least once... Heavier bikes are harder to handle at low speeds

[BETH]

I started with a 180cc then went to a 450 then sold it for a down payment on a place to live which had no garage

[Rastminikov]

moar!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UWAHaywwo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF-1qzoXYU4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxMa5OG8Xvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TXFiRmZuO8&NR=1

All freakin' day. Internet heroes think they're Valentino Rossi and buy one of the race replicas and wind up doin' that with 'em. 0.o

[Vladimir]

Finished the course today! Passed . Got a little worried, my riding went to **** towards the end (as did many of the students'). For example the test with two u-turns in the little box, in practice I couldn't even get the path right (did two in the same direction), and for the test I finally got the path right, but had to put my foot down both times . Naturally, when we drilled it, I had it literally perfect every time!

I did wear some smaller boots that helped me get shifting better, though my clutch work definitely is still my biggest issue. It was a huge improvement, and even from this morning to this afternoon I improved a ton, this morning I only stalled out like two or three times, compared to constantly yesterday, and not once in practice or the test .

I got the "not forbidding it" a-okay from my parents tonight. I would wait but they will never support it, maybe when I have a career and my own place, but that could be forever. I would wait until I have at least some sort of job, but I can go back to at least part-time as soon as I want at Papa John's, and I have those savings I can use and slowly replace (they were for a down payment on a house when I came back to the states in two or three years, plans changed obviously heh).

The two I think I am most specifically considering are: 1992 Kawasaki EX500 at $1300. The price is awesome, the bike looks like the standard style I am looking for as well.


At a little higher I am looking (and prefer) a 2002 Suzuki GS500 for $2150. I think it will be a little more reliable, both mechanically and in resale value than the EX. One justification for dipping into my savings is, particularly with summer coming up, if I got into a situation where I had to, I could recoup at least 50%, if not 100% of my expense.



EDIT:

The other four that are probably in the running...

1982 Honda Nighthawk 750 at $500 (is that bike going to be more power than the 500's I have listed? I know year can make a big difference sometimes).

1997 Suzuki Savage LS650 at $2200 (closer to a cruiser than anything else I am looking at, but I love it. However, the mention of rust and corrosion worries me, less for now and more for resale value)

2002 Kawasaki Ninja 500 at $2350 (like it, but I think I would rather snatch up the GS500, let alone the GS is cheaper)

1990 Kawasaki Ninja 500 at $1500 (worried about the "rebuilt" part, there are a lot of people out there that should not be working on engines or mechanical things in general!)

[Vladimir]

Well the 2002 GS500 was in what sounds like a minor crash, and rebuilt by what sounds like a well qualified mechanic. But its priced over KBB value, and I cannot justify spending over value when perhaps it was in a serious crash and the "mechanic" is some weekend warrior who doesn't actually know what he is doing...

I am really pretty upset, there was an awesome 2005 GS500F on Cycletrader, I had not pursued it yet because of the $2550 price tag, but this morning I was leaning pretty heavily towards it (being from a dealer made me much more confident)... but its no longer online. They are closed today so could not call, but I am sure it sold.

A 2004 Buell Blast caught my eye at just over $2,000... lacks a tachometer which I really want, but could probably get over. It also has a lot of complaints about over-vibration, but there is not going to be a bike in my price range that is perfect.

Also this little 1981 Yamaha XV920 @ $1050 caught my eye. The price is right, and its one of those rare old bikes that does not look too old. Not sure about the power though, might be too much for a first bike?

EDIT: I am loving this 2001 Honda Shadow Spirit VT750DC @ $2250... I am pretty sold on a Standard/Sport, but this is a tempting deal. Might have to look into the bike a little more. It certainly looks like one BA ride .