I'm thinking of getting a rebel and want to travel to Los Angeles at least once a year and I'll be mostly using it to go to school and work during the year. I also have no experience with bikes, is this an ok purchase or should i try to save some money to get a bigger bike?
2006-09-15 12:05:58 · 7 answers · asked by big_joe818 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
The rebel is an excellent bike for the size, however I personally would not take interstate trips on it , although I have known several people that have done just that. I took a friend on a 250 mile ride on her 125 and it did fine other than sinking down to 35mph on the hills. If it is a possibility I would get the rebel (as long as it fits you) and then trailer it to LA or take side roads.
If however you are larger framed, can't trailer it or take side roads then a better choice might be a 600 cc shadow up to a 750. These bikes are larger framed, light and easy to handle and yet have enough power for your trip on the interstate.
What ever you decide to do take your time and be sure of your choices. The best two bikes I have ever own each took me about a year each to find. The first one was a Honda shadow VT700C and I have never been sorry for that purchase. It is 23 years old and has 125,000 miles on it and is still going strong. The second bike is my Harley and that bike took me 18 months to select. To date it has 30,000 miles and has never once seen the inside of a shop. Just a little side note, I saved about 2K off the value of the Harley because I found it at a bankruptcy and paid cash.
2006-09-16 04:29:39 · answer #1 · answered by dreamwever4u2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard of some guys touring through several states on a 250. It's not particularly comfortable for such use, but it can be done.
If you aren't particularly tall, the Rebel is a decent choice for commuting if you do not need to go on the Interstate. Its top speed is around 70 or 75 from what I hear. It's a very beginner friendly bike.
The biggest issue with the Rebel is that it's kind of cramped for taller riders. If you find you don't fit on one, other 250's to look at would be the Honda Nighthawk, Hyosung Comet or Kawasaki Ninja. The Ninja 250 can get up to 100, although I hear it's not comfortable to ride it at high speed for hours.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with buying a cheap used Rebel, riding it for a year or so and getting good at it, then selling it and getting something a bit bigger next time that trip to Los Angeles comes up. Buy a good starter bike used and you should be able to sell it for close to what you paid for it.
I wouldn't go with something very large for a first bike, not that you need really big. I've got an old 500 cc Honda that's reasonably comfortable for long interstate rides. I wouldn't recommend anything much larger than a Yamaha V-Star 650 as a first cruiser, and with sportbikes, your best bet is to stay with 500 cc's or less.
2006-09-16 08:57:52 · answer #2 · answered by Mad Scientist Matt 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the Honda Rebel is an excellent beginner's bike to learn to ride on. It is pretty good around town in most cases too. When you say you are going to go to LA once a year, you might need something different. It is not a good bike for a very long ride, due to the size and vibration. Of course, that all depends how far you live from LA when you do this.
2006-09-15 22:03:03 · answer #3 · answered by Steve R 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I learned how to ride a motorcycle on the Rebel, the only problem with the motorcycle is that it is very small. If you are 6ft tall or more i would say forget it and go for something like a ninja 250 or a buell blast. If you are on the shorter side than i would say it is a very reliable bike and ok to get started on. Please take a safe riders course as well. It will help save your life and will make you a much better rider. Good luck!
2006-09-15 19:12:31 · answer #4 · answered by KevinHenn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Id get a little bigger bike. I started with the 750 Shadow, its a great beginner bike but still enough power for highway cruising. It really is a easy bike to learn on. If you want a Honda go for the 750 Aero or spirit, great to learn on and look great.
2006-09-16 05:00:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
be careful. i would not recommend such a small bike with little power. when riding, you will need every bit of help you can to get out of sticky situations. sometimes, the extra power in a bigger bike is what you will need.
2006-09-15 23:34:17 · answer #6 · answered by Ant 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
EXCELLENT bike
2006-09-16 07:32:59 · answer #7 · answered by R W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋