Which of these 2 motorcycles is the best Choice for a rookie rider?

Question

If you were in this situation what would you choose for a rookie rider.....a 2006 Suzuki s40 (145 mi) cruiser - 650 cc/ 350 lbs Single Cylinder, Carburetor, No ABS Top speed 80-100 mph with some vibration and no warranty Or.....
A 250cc/375 lbs Vento Motorcycle (v thunder)V Twin - with Fuel Injection, ABS, and all the accessories you would need for a bike. Top Speed 80-85 MPH with modifications available for faster speeds. With a one year warranty.
Both of them are the same price 3500.....I just dont know which really has the advantage....Help!

Answer 1

Have you sat on both bikes? Number of cylinders, fuel injection/carbs, ABS/no ABS, top speed, etc. don't mean as much as comfort when it comes to a bike you're going to ride on the street. If the bike is uncomfortable how much will you want to ride it? If the seating position/comfort is about the same with both bikes then go for the bike with the warranty. A warranty on a used bike is nice to have. Hopefully you'll never need it though. Have fun with whatever you choose, and be safe.

Answer 2

Vento is very new to that game here in the U.S., if that is where you are. Suzuki has been making the bike engine you described above for a long time. They have also a great record of being here for a long time. Until the Vento proves itself with parts availability and dependability here I would go with the Suzuki. Both are easy to ride, and the Suzuki will have no trouble with parts or service at any point. I like the Vento scooters as well, but would hold off until them and other Chinese type manufacturers prove that they both build a dependable machine and that they can supply the service, and parts and back up their warranty first.

Answer 3

I would choose the Suzuki. They have been making this one for a while. It used to be called the Savage. Vento is a relatively new product. From what I have seen it's mostly a lot of flash to attract people who don't know much about motorcycles. They are shiny, like a kid's toy and seem built about the same.
Remember, there is usually a good reason behind the price tag ( except for Harleys of course).

Answer 4

Do you not have any other options ?
For $ 3500 you could get better bike all together or save another 1000 and get a new rookie cruiser bike.

But if these are the only two:
I would go for the one with the warranty. 20mph difference is not that big of a deal. Having a warranty if something goes down is. If you are a rookie rider you don't really need 650cc. Fuel injection is better anyway...

Hope this helps
-Nathalie

Answer 5

The Vento's are JUNK... stay away.

I own an '05 Suzuki M50, 800cc... my first bike... nothing but rave reviews.

If you are looking based on price, go with the 650 Suzuki S40. Very well made bike! Take it from someone who rides, and own's a Suzuki.

In either case, if someone is a rookie rider, and has never riden, I would highly recommend them taking the MSF class from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. http://www.msf-usa.org/

Answer 6

1. fill up your tank. Reset your trip meter. Ride the bike around town, maybe out of town, but not too far, until you run out of gas (obviously make sure your reserve is off) When you run out of gas you will know roughly how far you can go on a tank of gas and you can use the trip meter as a sort of gas guage. so you know when you get towards that magic number that you need to fill up. 2. Bike can remain stationary just fine. You will want to make sure to keep the fuel tank at least 1/2 full and you need to put fuel stabilizer in it and run it for a while with the stabilizer in it so it makes its way all the way to the carbs. You should change the oil when you take the bike out after more than 3 months of sitting. (like winter) You can leave the battery in, you may need to charge it to get the bike to start. 3)Nope. Its fine to leave in in the normal running position all the time. only time you would need to shut it off would be if it was needed to service the bike, or an emergency. 4) Air cooled bikes (which I believe the V-star is?) need air flow to cool the engine. If it is just sitting stationary and not moving the engine could severely overheat without something to cool it down. I've seen some guys poor water on their engine during bike shows at the sturgis rally but i'm not sure if that's necessarily good either, or if it even matters. Liquid cooled bikes like most sport bikes however can sit idle just find because it uses coolent and electric fan to cool the bike even when just sitting. Idling simply means 'not moving'

Answer 7

Phew! I was afraid your question would be "Should I get a GSX-R1000 or R1?" Yaaaay! A new rider with common sense!

They both sound small enough for a new rider not to crap themselves, though I would warn against buying new. You WILL drop it a few times, so if your ego can handle beating up your shiny new bike then go for it.

I think you might like the larger one a little better, and even if a bike has ABS it will NOT handle or stop like a car does. Since ABS is still very new to motorcycles, I think you should go for the 650 thumper and learn the "feel" of proper braking.

Answer 8

Most important is how you FEEL sitting aboard both models....which one feels best to you??

With that said, my next factor would be name recognition. Face it - the Vento isnt a name brand. Suzuki is, and you will have a better network of dealers that can help you, etc etc.

LAstly, why spend $35000 on a new bike that you WILL drop? (Everyone drops it while learning - you want to scratch up that shiny new bike??) Do yourself a favor - go out and waste $1000 on a Ninja 250 that is all beat up. Learn how to ride it and beat it up firther. Then, turn around ad sell it for $800 - it just cost you $200 to learn how to ride without mucking up a nice new bike!!

Answer 9

I would go for the Suzuki, just because it's known to hold up pretty well. The Vento is a Communist Chinese clone of a Yamaha Virago, mechanically... but from the reviews I've heard of it, it doesn't have near the same quality as the Japanese design they ripped off.

Answer 10

The Vento