OT-- Motorcycle advice, buying soon

w8tlifterty · Mar 19, 2010

I know there are many here who ride. I haven't been on a bike in several years however I am planning to purchase one as I told myself if I graduated w/ a 4.0 I'd get one and it's looking like thats only a month away... Only wanting to spend 2500 or so... It's just a toy, and I very rarely treat myself to 'wants'. However, I have always loved riding and really wanna get back into it. I have test ridden several bikes as of late, 93 nighthawk 750 (not bad, easy and pretty smooth) 2000 Suzuki 650 classic (very nice, but a little more bulky than I prefer) and a gsx600. I am looking more for a smaller cruiser I can take on weekend road trips. I like the shaft drive's due to relatively low maintenance. I am open to any and all suggestions. Also, I live in the midwest and options are relatively scarce. Anyone recommend a reputable dealer that ships at a low cost.

Here is what I'm looking for
-low cost
-easy, relatively low maint.
-prefer more of a cruiser rather than a crotch rocket
-Open to anything tho in that price range.

Thanks

Wingnut32 · Mar 19, 2010

If 2500 is what you are looking to spend I would look at private sellers. I can't imagine there would be very many bikes that dealers are selling for that amount. Craigslist is probably your best bet.

I don't know about you, but I find cruisers' riding position to be the most uncomfortable. I have a Speed Triple and love the riding position, very comfortable. Not to mention I just really dislike the 'performance' (if you can call it that) of any cruiser I have ridden. Yeah, the speed/acceleration is part of it but I am mostly referring to handling and definitely brakes. Can you tell I don't care much for cruisers?

I would suggest looking for a standard of some type. With your budget and availability your best bet is going to be a Japanese bike. Honda Nighthawks are good bikes, same with Hornets. SV650's are very nice bikes, as are Fazers. Ninja 500/600 if you want something with fairings. Their are lots of good bikes out there, just keep checking Craigslist. With this economy and especially in the spring everyone and their brother are trying to sell their bikes. I know you said you preferred shaft drive, but like I said, I don't like cruisers lol.

When you go to look at a bike the most important factor will be the condition it is in. Ideally you don't want a 10 year old bike with 5000 miles on it. Modern bikes should run for over 100k no problem. Your main concern should be checking for signs the bike has been laid down - you don't want to find out later on that your frame/forks are twisted/bent. If you can find someone who has kept maintenance records (oil changes, tires, brake pads, valve adjustments, etc.) the bike should be golden. Take a look around their house and garage. If they keep everything neat and tidy odds are that they took good care of the bike as well.

w8tlifterty · Mar 19, 2010

Great advice Wingnut, I am not stuck on cruisers. Will continue to keep my eye out. Have been on craigslist often, just not a whole lot out there at the moment. That speedtriple is a beautiful bike for sure.

tattoojr · Mar 20, 2010

Look for a 5 or 6 year old Honda 750, small enough for fun and big enough for cruising. evryone who owns a bike usually wants top dollar for their bike as they have spend money on upgrades. I know people that have purchased the 750 for what you want to spend . Right now is not the best time of year to be buying a bike as its the start of most peoples riding season and they know everyone is looking for one. J.R.

jalsmiley · Mar 20, 2010

you can find a decent sport bike for just s few bucks more..i sold my ninjazx9r for 3000 on ebay...bought it off craigslist...but my best advice about bikes>
save the money and dont buy one!!!ha...other drivers in cars suck and give no respect and its an accident waiting to happen..as soon as i had a kid i got rid of mine..had 3 sport bikes, only dumped one once and anytime dumped or almost dumped it because of cars that dont pay attention

igffag · Mar 20, 2010

if i was you, i wouldn't buy the first thing you see just because you have "$2500" i done that with a bike. make sure you buy what you want even if you have to wait alittle longer and spend some more money. IMO don't buy a bike with over 15k miles either that seems to be when the maintenence phase really kicks in

gonenatty · Mar 20, 2010

Like mentioned above, look on craigslist. I would stick to Honda Shadow's, Kawasaki Vulcans, Yamaha V-star series or Suzuki Boulevard's. I found a private seller out of Florida and bought a 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C50 for $3500 for a 2007 model. Keep looking and you'll find one that suits your taste and your wallet.

w8tlifterty · Mar 20, 2010

Thanks a lot so far for the advice. I would be willing to spend more for the right one, but as I said, just want some reliable fun transportation over the summer. I also really like the sv650 as far as sport/cruisers go, but they are 3000+ w good miles and a few years old.

turbobusa · Mar 20, 2010

I would look at bikes in the 3000-3800 range. People will drop more when looking at green cash. I picked up a nice low mile busa for my wife for 4200. maybe look at a gsxr750 pre 2000 with low miles or cbr900 . F4s are a good reliable 600 and can be had cheap if you look.
You should have no problem picking up a good bike for 2500. somebody mentioned sv650s. that is a really good bike if you can find the right deal.

King-kong · Mar 21, 2010

Not to sound like a jerk - you should price what a course at the MSF costs. Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Deduct this from what you are looking to spend. Trust me - even the most seasoned rider should take this course. There are too many cars on the road and to have that 4.0 GPA brain of yours smashed into a guardrail would be sad. Ive owned many bikes and get the itch every spring. With two little boys at home I cant ride freely. I worry too much. If it werent for the MSF course I took several years ago I have no doubts I would be dead.

MikeRoss · Mar 21, 2010

You might look into a honda shadow.. they're smaller cruisers that are relatively inexpensive. You can get a used one for 2500

maldorf · Mar 21, 2010

King-kong said:
Not to sound like a jerk - you should price what a course at the MSF costs. Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Deduct this from what you are looking to spend. Trust me - even the most seasoned rider should take this course. There are too many cars on the road and to have that 4.0 GPA brain of yours smashed into a guardrail would be sad. Ive owned many bikes and get the itch every spring. With two little boys at home I cant ride freely. I worry too much. If it werent for the MSF course I took several years ago I have no doubts I would be dead.

Yeah, a good friend of mine bought a bike and within 2 years he was hit by two different drivers. The last one was bad enough that he hurt his knee and ankle and they will never be the same. He sold the bike after that last wreck. The driver that hit him that time also had no insurance. My friend also always wore his helmet. I see a lot of foolish people out riding their bikes without wearing a helmet. My friend told me that his helmet saved his ass on that last accident. I saw his helmet and it was all torn up on the side.

Ashop · Mar 21, 2010

MikeRoss said:
You might look into a honda shadow.. they're smaller cruisers that are relatively inexpensive. You can get a used one for 2500

Very easy and comfortable bike to ride. Readily available and pretty cheap.

paddington · Mar 21, 2010

maldorf said:
Yeah, a good friend of mine bought a bike and within 2 years he was hit by two different drivers. The last one was bad enough that he hurt his knee and ankle and they will never be the same. He sold the bike after that last wreck. The driver that hit him that time also had no insurance. My friend also always wore his helmet. I see a lot of foolish people out riding their bikes without wearing a helmet. My friend told me that his helmet saved his ass on that last accident. I saw his helmet and it was all torn up on the side.

Just had a guy come into the ER today that dumped his bike and is probably going to lose his foot just above the ankle. Saw another guy whose lower leg (tib/fib) was literally hanging by skin only to his knee (he lost the lower leg) and I can't count how many guys have shmucked deer on their bikes. Not trying to discourage anyone, but please be careful.

paddington

w8tlifterty · Mar 21, 2010

King-kong said:
Not to sound like a jerk - you should price what a course at the MSF costs. Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Deduct this from what you are looking to spend. Trust me - even the most seasoned rider should take this course. There are too many cars on the road and to have that 4.0 GPA brain of yours smashed into a guardrail would be sad. Ive owned many bikes and get the itch every spring. With two little boys at home I cant ride freely. I worry too much. If it werent for the MSF course I took several years ago I have no doubts I would be dead.

Enrolled yesterday King...

jalsmiley · Mar 21, 2010

also, i dont know what state you are in but in the north east good bikes go cheap end of summer, get more expensive beginning of summer...areas where they ride more months of the year they go more expensive....do your diligence...my 2003 zx9r with 9k miles i got for just a few bucks more then you are talking about and was a nice riding bike, nice power and fun, also be aware of the bike trap: i call this when you buy a 600cc and within a month you are dying for more power and feel like you wasted your money on something under 750cc lol

IRON37 · Mar 21, 2010

my advice, always wear a helmet. Funerals are expensive.

turbobusa · Mar 21, 2010

jalsmiley said:
also, i dont know what state you are in but in the north east good bikes go cheap end of summer, get more expensive beginning of summer...areas where they ride more months of the year they go more expensive....do your diligence...my 2003 zx9r with 9k miles i got for just a few bucks more then you are talking about and was a nice riding bike, nice power and fun, also be aware of the bike trap: i call this when you buy a 600cc and within a month you are dying for more power and feel like you wasted your money on something under 750cc lol

Good advice. My wife bought a 750 shadow and that thing could barely
get out of its own way. She ended up with a busa and R1.
Bikes are plentiful and cheap in my area if you know how to shop.
As the last guy said-ALWAYS wear a helmut.