Motorcycles

[mfelske]

I mostly use my bike for commuting in the summer. Saves gas and is fun.

My first bike was a 1978 Suzuki GS 550. Excellent starter bike. Not too big and it showed what gear you were in.

Next, I moved up to a 1998 Suzuki Intruder 800

I now have a 2002 Honda Sabre 1100. Awesome bike. Looks and sounds great.

 

[tman24]

My first bike was a 76 Kawasaki KZ400. It was a blast but I really outgrew it pretty quickly. That 750 should keep you satisfied for a while. Plus you probably were able to get it pretty cheap so if you drop it you won't get too upset.

I currently have a 98 Softail and a 04 Electra Glide Classic.
This is an older photo of the Softail. It has since been repainted.

I really love softails. They are just a little to big.

 

[1100011CS]

crotch rockets are pretty lame, unless you're 16. Get a man bike, harley or equivalent.

This is coming from a guy who doesn't own a bike, btw. I'm talking image, here.

I was 17 or 18 (20+ years ago). I wouldn't drive a motorcycle on the streets now. Too many idiots out there.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I really love softails. They are just a little to big.

Right now Harley is running a promotion on Sportsters (1200 & 883) If you buy on now they will give you the same price as trade in if you decide to get a bigger Harley later on down the road.
I have never ridden a 1200 Sportster but I one time tried a friends 84 1000 ironhead Roadster and it was a real easy ride.

If you have a decent sense of coordination, I don't think starting on a 1200 would be too difficult.

 

[cyjlt]

The discussion on big bikes is interesting. I have found both through my own riding and teach the wife that it is not how heavy the bike is so much as a function of center of gravity. Best to look at low seat height and how if feels. That said I think my road king has a lower center of gravity and handle better than a sportster.

 

[SeattleClone]

This is mine, an '06 Honda 599. Basically a CBR600 without all the plastic body work and FI. Still has most of the performance of a CBR if I want, but is also easier to ride a little more "moderately". A little more upright seating position too, which makes it 10x more comfortable.

 

[tman24]

Right now Harley is running a promotion on Sportsters (1200 & 883) If you buy on now they will give you the same price as trade in if you decide to get a bigger Harley later on down the road.
I have never ridden a 1200 Sportster but I one time tried a friends 84 1000 ironhead Roadster and it was a real easy ride.

If you have a decent sense of coordination, I don't think starting on a 1200 would be too difficult.

Why did you have to tell me that deal was going on. Now I have to buy bike.

 

[SeattleClone]

Oh, and my first one was a '95 Suzuki RF600R. The 599 probably would've been a better beginner bike but the 2004 model wasn't available in 2001 when I bought it. :wink: It met an early demise at the front bumper of a Mexican with no driver's license and no insurance... and apparently no concept of which lane to drive in.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

The discussion on big bikes is interesting. I have found both through my own riding and teach the wife that it is not how heavy the bike is so much as a function of center of gravity. Best to look at low seat height and how if feels. That said I think my road king has a lower center of gravity and handle better than a sportster.

Yes, In my opinion, the bigger Harleys have a lower center of gravity than the Sportsters. I tried out a Road King once but didn't really like it. It might have more to do with how that particular bike was set up. I felt the handlebars made it difficult to manuever. Of course some would say the same about my drag bars but I am used to them.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Why did you have to tell me that deal was going on. Now I have to buy bike.

I just checked their website it it isn't exactly as I thought. This promotion goes until Mar 31. but the trade in would have to be within 1 year to get the full price back.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

You ever ride a V65 magna? My buddy had one. That thing was fast!

I have rode a V65 and yes them things are insanely fast. No beginner bike that is certain.

Another bike that is stupid fast is the Yamaha V-Max. That bike has a supercharger that doesn't even kick in when your in top gear till your well over 80 mph. That is crazy.

 

[moo-u]

We got back into motorcycles after our first 3 got out of high school, and after Mama Moo tried out the Vo-tech's training course she no
longer wanted to ride, but instead wanted her own scooter. Her first bike was an 1100 Yamaha V-star. She took right to it, and although
it handled nicely around town was too small for interstate riding so we bought her a wrecked 2006 Roadglide that I rebuilt......

2006 Roadglide Mama Moo's Ride picture by edjvw - Photobucket

Thing is we sold both her 07 V-star and my 1700 Roadstar to get her the Harley and now that I don't have a bike to ride I find out she
won't share. LOFL.....Now that my honey is so into it I've started restoring a 78 shovelhead.

the ugly duckling picture by edjvw - Photobucket

Lesson: whether with bikes, trucks, or fishing boats, don't teach your sweety to like something too much or they'll end up using it all the
time and you STILL have to pay for it. HAHA

 

[herbicide]

1982 or 1983 Kawasaki 305. Can't remember the actual year or model name. Edit KZ 305 CSR

Huge pooch. That reminds me, make sure you (or preferably someone you know that has older motorcycle experience) check the rubber boots between the carburetors and motor. On older bikes these tend to dry-rot, and are not cheap (prepare to spend over $100 each, and there is 4 of them) or easy to replace. (read: more than what the bike is worth to replace!)

2nd bike was a brand new 1999 Honda Magna,

3rd bike a 1975 Harley FXE (looks like a mix between a low-rider and a wide-glide). Had this bike since 2001 and don't ever plan on getting rid of it. I can't find any pictures of it right now, but this one is close (Different fork, front wheel, bars, seat):

 

[ICCYFAN]

I had a Yamaha 650 for puttering around, which my wife sold out from under me when she was expecting our first child! Fourteen years and three kids later, she's told me I can get another bike. I guess I've outlived my usefullness...

 

[dmclone]

crotch rockets are pretty lame, unless you're 16. Get a man bike, harley or equivalent.

This is coming from a guy who doesn't own a bike, btw. I'm talking image, here.

I hope you're kidding. I own a Honda 919 and I'm nearly 38 years old.

My first bike was a Honda Shadow 700 when I was 17. I crashed while doing 50 with shorts and a muscle shirt(dumb but I learned) and slid 100 yards on the pavement. It took me about 5 years to get back on another bike and still have flashbacks once in a while. BTW-I hit a corncob and the handlebar just jumped right out of my hand.

Here was my 2nd bike

Here was a quad I had

Here is a cruiser I had for 6 months. It was boring and I hated riding a cruiser.

Here is my current ride. A 2004 Honda 919 with about 3,000 miles that I bought last summer.

I love the bike but my next one is going to be something crazy like a Ducati 1198, CBR1000RR, or GXSR.

 

[Bubbahotep]

This was my first bike. Didn't have to worry too much about other drivers except scraping them off my tires

 

[Bubbahotep]

This was my second bike, needed something a little more family friendly

 

[cycopath25]

I had a Yamaha 650 for puttering around, which my wife sold out from under me when she was expecting our first child! Fourteen years and three kids later, she's told me I can get another bike. I guess I've outlived my usefullness...

Maybe she wants to collect life insurance . . .

 

[Bubbahotep]

Due to the hard economic times, I've had to cut back, so this is my current ride

 

[TxCycloneFan]

I had a Yamaha 650 for puttering around, which my wife sold out from under me when she was expecting our first child! Fourteen years and three kids later, she's told me I can get another bike. I guess I've outlived my usefullness...

Hurry up and buy it before she changes her mind. Nice of the wives to tell us what we can and can't do.