Chosing a bike

[smokeyandthebandit05]

Oh my god that GSXR is gorgeous !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im torn between 2 but if someone said u have get a harley or GSXR I would take the GSXR. The harley seems like its for later in life.

[Ski1215]

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

There are more than just two kinds of bikes. First of all, there are the metric cruisers to consider which have much different characteristics than a Harley. Secondly, there are the hypermotards, sport-touring bikes, touring bikes, standards, adventure tourers, standards and about a dozen permutations of each.

Personally, I own a Honda Magna - sometimes called a "muscle cruiser" or a "power cruiser." It has a sport-bike type 750cc V-4 motor with a chain drive. It's very comfortable and very capable. I've done about 95 in 4th gear and it pulled all the way to the rev-limiter. In the corners it won't lean over as far as a sport bike because you start to scrape parts, but I frequently take it right to the edge of it's geometry and it does wonderfully. In the corners I have kept up with more sporty bikes but on long trips my touring Mustang seat is a real advantage for comfort.

I do a similar profile of riding to you, by the sound of it. My Magna is perfect for that type of riding - it's smaller than a touring bike for the twists and sweepers and for around town but more comfortable than a sport bike for long trips. I would also take a look at some Sport Touring bikes, I have my eye on the Honda Interceptor VFR for my next bike. It's more to the sporty end of the spectrum than many sport-touring bikes but without sacrificing comfort.

Something like a Magna is not out of my option. I figured I would just narrow things down to make the poll more simplistic. The only problem with the sport touring style of bikes is that there is not many of them used in my area. I think realistically I will probably end up with something in the Shadow series from Honda or a Suzuki street bike. My back is telling my an SV650 is more suitable than the Gixxer.

[Mark-60]

BMW for the win!


-Mark.

[vstrommark]

WTF?

I've been a motorcycle safety instructor for 11 years and motorcyclist for way more than that.

You picked to rather bizarre extremes. Sounds like you haven't ridden much or have much experience.

Based on the rather strange poll, I say buy a Honda Accord and call it good.

If you really want in to two wheels, I'd be happy to exchange PMs, but you seem way more than confused.

If it seems that I am not impressed, well, yes, I am not.

but then, I've been drinking, so tomorrow I will cut you some slack.

punk ass cheapy cruiser vs. pseudo sport bike. Give me a break.

[vstrommark]

Originally Posted by Mark-60

BMW for the win!

yeah right. Let me tell you about the vaunted BMW warranty as it applies to the R1100RT. Been there, done that, bought a new engine.

I'm a Suzuki DL650 Vstrom fan now for many, many reasons.

[leasingthisspace]

You asked so I voted for a cruizer. I am thinking about getting one myself and I don't really think that I want to be laying on top of it for 300-400 miles at a time. I am not sure I am going to step into a Harley for my first bike but to each his own, not that I won't love one I just can't see spending for the Harley for the first bike I get. I just think there is something to be said about the guys that ride cruizers.
I don't want this to come off as though I am putting down those that ride the rockets, I just don't see myself on one. Ride what you like, like what you ride.

[Opusfxd]

Personally, having done distances on both a CBR 600 and my FXD I'd go with the Harley. I was thinking of a sportster when I bought mine but the salesguy upsold me into the FXD and I've not regretted it since. It's the least expensive of the big twins and the motor is mounted much better so you're not shaking your fillings out.

Oh, saddlebags are a lot easier to mount on a Harley than a sportbike. Something to consider when you're tooling around town and needing that milk, bread and rainsuit (heaven forbid).

[seegarfan]

Originally Posted by pcozad1

I knew we stuff in common . I to grew up racing dirt bikes. After four back surgeries I sold my big Dog last year. I do miss it. Pat

WOW......talk about similar experiences. And yes, you would know how much I miss it.

[Ski1215]

Originally Posted by vstrommark

WTF?

I've been a motorcycle safety instructor for 11 years and motorcyclist for way more than that.

You picked to rather bizarre extremes. Sounds like you haven't ridden much or have much experience.

Based on the rather strange poll, I say buy a Honda Accord and call it good.

If you really want in to two wheels, I'd be happy to exchange PMs, but you seem way more than confused.

If it seems that I am not impressed, well, yes, I am not.

but then, I've been drinking, so tomorrow I will cut you some slack.

punk ass cheapy cruiser vs. pseudo sport bike. Give me a break.

The point of my thread was basically cruiser versus a streetbike, and forgive me, but impressing you did not cross my mind. I chose those two because I like the styling of each and in the two categories. They are also plentiful on CL, as well as dealer pre-owned in my area. I can't afford a BMW, or a Fat Boy with a radio and airbags or whatever Harley offers. If by your instructor definition a GSX is a psuedo sport bike, sue me. I am not taking my bike to the track and carving corners. I don't care if a Harley is a cheap cruiser. I like the style.

[mnelson]

get a buell lightning

Its a little bit of both mixed into one

[Ratters]

Originally Posted by vstrommark

WTF?

punk ass cheapy cruiser vs. pseudo sport bike. Give me a break.

The Gixxer isn't a pseudo sport bike, it's pretty much a full on race bike. My ex-wife decided she wanted to get back into riding after about an 18 lay off. I suggest the ninja 250 or SV650 if she's gonna be doing freeway. She says she takes my opinion seriously then ends up getting a gixxer 600. I try to explain to her what happens once that bike hits about 11k rpm. She said she liked the way it looked. Oh well.

BTW, I'm a huge SV fan. I have an Aprilia Mille for the street, but the SV is my track bike and I love it.

Ski- get whatever bike makes you happy. They all have their limitations. Sport bikes have gobs of power that can get you in trouble in a hurry, Harleys have a hard time going around corners. Ducatis, we'll, they're Italian. You just have to find the bike that has the limitations you can best live with. For the riding it sounds like your're planning on, a full on sportbike wouldn't be my first choice, maybe an SV or FZ6. A Harley or metric cruiser should serve you well too.

[vstrommark]

Originally Posted by Ski1215

The point of my thread was basically cruiser versus a streetbike, and forgive me, but impressing you did not cross my mind. I chose those two because I like the styling of each and in the two categories. They are also plentiful on CL, as well as dealer pre-owned in my area. I can't afford a BMW, or a Fat Boy with a radio and airbags or whatever Harley offers. If by your instructor definition a GSX is a psuedo sport bike, sue me. I am not taking my bike to the track and carving corners. I don't care if a Harley is a cheap cruiser. I like the style.

Now that I've slept, I see that what I wrote was pretty nasty. I apologize. Also, I didn't mean to be condescending and apologize for that as well.

If you plan to mostly do shorter rides (less that 50 miles) as in commuting and such, then a 600 sport bike is a fine machine. If you plan to longer trips, ala weekend tour rider, then it may or may not be a good fit (literally). If at all possible, test ride each bike type to see which one suits you best. The handling characteristics of a cruiser is substantially different from a sport bike, but you may already have experience with that.

The 883 sportster has a very small tank and different handling characteristics from the other bikes in the HD line.

The Gixxers are great bikes (didn't mean to imply that they aren't sport bikes - they most definitely are), but they are also a handful. With the new Honda VFRs coming (drooling over the 5-cylinder design myself), that may be a good way to go, but I only mention that as I have experience putting Helibars and other comfort items on that bike, both the 750 and the 800.

As you know, in the end it is a personal choice. If you have experience riding both types and understand the plusses and minuses of both, then I'd say ride what makes you smile. When I win the lottery, I plan to have a VFR, a Vstrom for dual sport, and an HD bagger for cruising. Until then, well, I only get one and like dual sport the best.

Again, I wish I had written a better first email and most sincerely apologize for not doing so. I wish you the best and don't forget: ATGATT

[Ski1215]

Originally Posted by vstrommark

Now that I've slept, I see that what I wrote was pretty nasty. I apologize. Also, I didn't mean to be condescending and apologize for that as well.

If you plan to mostly do shorter rides (less that 50 miles) as in commuting and such, then a 600 sport bike is a fine machine. If you plan to longer trips, ala weekend tour rider, then it may or may not be a good fit (literally). If at all possible, test ride each bike type to see which one suits you best. The handling characteristics of a cruiser is substantially different from a sport bike, but you may already have experience with that.

The 883 sportster has a very small tank and different handling characteristics from the other bikes in the HD line.

The Gixxers are great bikes (didn't mean to imply that they aren't sport bikes - they most definitely are), but they are also a handful. With the new Honda VFRs coming (drooling over the 5-cylinder design myself), that may be a good way to go, but I only mention that as I have experience putting Helibars and other comfort items on that bike, both the 750 and the 800.

As you know, in the end it is a personal choice. If you have experience riding both types and understand the plusses and minuses of both, then I'd say ride what makes you smile. When I win the lottery, I plan to have a VFR, a Vstrom for dual sport, and an HD bagger for cruising. Until then, well, I only get one and like dual sport the best.

Again, I wish I had written a better first email and most sincerely apologize for not doing so. I wish you the best and don't forget: ATGATT

I have all of the big name dealers around here so at the very least I will sit on all of them before I make a decision.

[Shark*Daytona]

I say the 600. My brother has a Sporty and though he loves it, he is often commenting on wanting more. Me? I've owned the same liter bike for 6 years and I'm still smiling. (600 is a good starting point)

[hoax]

Get a street bike.

There will be plenty of time to ride a Harley when you're old, bald, and impotent.




(although I have to admit that the new Nightster is pretty cool.)