I am a fairly new motorcycle rider and I would like to buy my first bike. What make/models should i consider?

Question

I'm looking for a cruiser, not a racing bike or crotch rocket. I've heard that the Honda Shadow is good to start on. Is that right?

Is a Harley-Davidson better? I've heard you're just buying the name and that they require more maintenance than other bikes.

What makes a Harley better, then? Is the resale value better because of the name alone?

Answer 1

Try to buy brand new - that way you can avoid problems if the bike has been dropped or been in an accident. (I had this problem with my second bike and it cost me a small fortune to fix the rear axel). And they come with a warranty.

The most important aspect is how you FEEL on the bike. Get the dealer to let you take a road test, some dealers have demo days, take advantage of these and test drive everything you are considering.

Anything after that depends on your budget and your preferred style.

I would recommend a Honda any day... I've owned four.

A 1976 Honda CB500 Supersport, a 1979 Honda CX550 a 1990 Honda Pacific Coast 800 and now a 2003 Honda Shadow ACE 750.

Some people might tell you to buy a smaller bike since you are a beginner.

That is pure baloney, if you FEEL COMFORTABLE on a 1300cc and you want the 1300cc than buy the 1300cc. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't handle it and that you have to buy the 600cc. You will only regret that decision later. However, if you feel comfortable on the 600cc and you like the 600cc styling than by all means buy the 600cc. There is a big difference in size and styling between the Honda Shadow VT600 and the Honda Shadow VTX1300.

However, in the case of the Yamaha V-Star, there is little difference between the 650cc and the 1100cc. So it will depend on your budget which one you buy. As I see it the 650cc is just as good as the 1100cc so why pay more?

I highly recommend the 2006 Honda Shadow VT750. It looks and feels like a bigger bike, there are lots of accessories for you to personalize it, it is reasonably priced and insurance is cheaper than a Harley. And it comes in two styles the AERO or the SPIRIT.

Good luck have fun and be safe.

Answer 2

Start with your budget, and take it from there. The metric bikes make nice cruisers, but keep in mind that your depreciation is going to be more rapid than with a Harley, even though a Harley will cost more. If you're looking at the Honda Shadow, you'll pay about $7k out the door, and outgrow it in 3 months. It's a great bike if you're a short girl. The larger cruisers such as Victory and Yamaha are mid range in price, and will give yo good service "IF" you maintain them regularly. Do not discount the European bikes such as BMW, Moto-Guzzi and Triumph. The bottom line is that you'll get what you pay for. Harley's have not more or less problems than any other machine, that's properly maintained, and will hold their value much longer. A good way to determine value is to compare 3-4 brands of bikes that are similar in type, that are a few years old, and then see what the difference is between they're current value and original selling price. That will give you the depreciation %age. My personal opinion is that a good used Harley is always better than any used import.

Answer 3

I'd recommend buying a "beater" which is an inexpensive used bike that you can improve your skills on. You should look for something between 400-600cc and light enough that you can pick it back up by yourself, should it ever end up on its side (there's tricks to doing it right, though). Beginners are hard on clutches and starters, and when you're still learning, there's a higer chance that the bike will be on its side, either from an accident or by not knowing all the "right" ways to park it. You want to get all this "out of your system" on a less shiny, less expensive bike, then move up to something bigger and prettier.

After that... all in all, there's no real difference in owning any of the late model cruisers. Anything built in the last 7 years or so is going to require the same basic maintenance, attention, etc. So you should start evaluating bikes based on what kind of riding you want to do and how comfortable you feel on each of the bikes out there. Personally I hate riding a Honda Shadow-- it's a belt drive and its suspension feels different to me than a shaftie does. That does not make it a bad bike, just not to my liking. I personally don't like Harleys either (I really do not care for the seat position and find them to be an uncomfortable ride, and I've tried several models) and if I had to pick a new cruiser, I'd go with a Yamaha V-Star or Road Star... again, just my preferences (I'm nuts, I ride Moto Guzzis and Triumphs).

But that's what's extra nice about starting off with a beater--- you can get to know what your style is, look at what people are riding in the areas you like to ride (my favorite ride is strangely free of crotch rockets, for some unknown reason) and get to know other riders. You can then have a more concrete set of requirements for your next bike (like "I want a bike I can ride for 600 miles and not feel it" or "I want something that is very comfortable for my passenger") instead of a more generic "what's good."

Because, when it comes down to it, you haven't developed a style yet, and once you do, you're the one doing the rider, not the folks in this forum! Take your time, build your skills, and learn how you like to ride. You'll have your next bike picked out (at least in your head) before you know it!

Answer 4

You are right to start with a cruiser or street bike.

Since you're a guy, you're probably tall enough to handle just about any bike. But as a beginner, you'll want to avoid one that is very heavy or has too big an engine. A rule of thumb would be to stick between 300-600 pounds; as for engine size, anywhere from 250-1000 ccs. (With a twin, you can go with more cc's because they just don't have as much power as a comparable size in a 4).

I believe Shadows come in more than one size. I do know that it is a twin, so no matter how big you go, you really won't have to worry about biting off more than you can chew.

You'll probably get a lot of advice about starting small and light. I don't disagree, but I think you should also consider starting with something big enough that you'll be happy with it for more than a few weeks.

As to which to choose - keeping these and other factors you'll be advised on in mind - just pick anything that fits into that criteria! You may want to pick up a bike mag which offers a new bike listing. It'll show pictures and specs for all models available for sale.

After you've narrowed it down, do research on the model(s) you have picked out. There are typically forums and groups for owners of that bike, and you can learn all about it from those who ride one.

As for Harleys, I don't think they're a good choice for a beginner. Not only are they costly (I can't comment on upkeep, although I've heard bad things) but they're heavier than average.

And of course, look into taking a safety course. There are lots of training schools around, but this is perhaps the best:

Answer 5

Honda Shadow or Yamaha V Star will make a good starter bike.Yamaha has alot of after market parts to dress up it star line of bikes.I have owned all makes of bikes and have had good luck with all of them.Several years back I switched to Harleys and i was hooked. The resale value on a harley cant be matched.You can ride the thing a year or two , take care of it, and sell it for sometimes more than you paid. You cant do that with other bikes

Answer 6

decide what you want to do with your motorcycle. If you are going to ride mostly around town and short trips into the country, a bike with an engine in the 650 to 1100cc range will do you nicely. If you are going to carry a passenger a lot, then stick with the larger displacements. If you plan to cruise long rides, travel around the country and ride for multiple days at a time, then get the biggest engine you can afford and test drive every bike being considered to see how the setup fits YOU. You may need to have some of the controls modified, maybe add a driver back rest, you may want engine guards with highway pegs so you can extend your legs out, you may want floorboards instead of foot pegs, etc. Only you can decide. But, decide on HOW you plan to use the bike first! Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW, Harley, it's all a matter of personal choice from there!

Answer 7

1) Take a class
2) Buy a beater (over a $1.50 a cc and you're buying too much bike)
3) Play with it for a while & see what you like/don't like about your bike and other people's bikes which you'll see a LOT more of once you have a bike...
4) Sell your beater for what you paid for it (bikes are pretty much always worth a buck a cc or so.)
5) Buy the bike of your dreams (well, this year's dreams...they'll change next year, believe me.)
6) Repeat 3-5 as necessary losing a bit more money with each exchange & nicer bike you buy.

One note, Harley's don't suck, but they are more expensive than they're worth & they require too much aftermarket modification just to be fun to ride & sound like you think they should...on the good side, they usually pull more on the resale market.

Have fun riding!

Answer 8

Hi before you decide on a bike of any kind go to some dealerships and sit on them you need to make sure that whatever bike you decide on fits you. I know people that have bought bikes that are to small for them and then they want to get something bigger with in a year. That is a lot of money they really end up putting out. For me I prefer a Harley Davidson But my friend rides a Honda so It is up to the person but if you want to look around go to all of the different dealerships. Good luck

Answer 9

Consider getting a used bike that you don't mind dropping, and then, after riding for more time, you will have a better idea what you like -- there is no wrong or right, just personal taste. Also, you should consider that their are lots of bikes that fall between cruiser and racer. If it's comfort you are after, note that a bike with a leaning forward position will take some weight off your *** with the forward support of your arms -- but then again, those who have weak arms arms might favor the leaning back, all weight on *** position of a cruiser.

Answer 10

Yamaha V-Star 650 and Honda Shadow 750 are 2 very good first bikes. I chose the V-Star as my first bike because the center of gravity is lower than on a Honda (this helps a lot for a new rider). Most important though is to get a bike that fits YOU and is comfortable for you. My advice is to go to several cycle shops and sit on several bikes first looking for comfort, THEN narrow down from there. Good luck with your shopping, and be safe out there.