I need help deciding on a Motorcycle.?

Question

I am from the Chicagoland area and I am looking to buy my first bike and I need help deciding. So far it is between the 2007 Yamaha V-Star Custom and the 2007 Kawasaki Valcun 500 LTD. What are the pros and cons of each? Which is the more reliable bike? Which company has the better service? Or would you recommend the Yamaha Virago or the Kawasaki Eliminator 125 as a first bike?

Answer 1

First of all, all of the marques you've listed will be reliable so that's not a factor.

The 125 will be very easy to ride, but it won't be legal or safe for any freeway use and you'll quickly find that it is underpowered for anything other than putting around town or going to school/work and home again.

The Virago 250 is an excellent starter bike, but again, you may find it to be underpowered after you get some miles and experience under your belt.

The V-Star 650 is an excellent bike which is capable of carrying you wherever you want to go. It's only flaw for a beginner is a long, low chassis which has less cornering clearance and forward ergos which make neutral handling difficult. What that means is it won't corner as well...

Of the bikes you listed the 500 Vulcan is the best all-around choice. Good centered ergos, not too big or heavy, easy to control and very affordable. After a year or so, you will probably want to trade up to a larger machine, so make sure you buy a used one so you don't lose a bunch of money on depreciation.

As for Harleys, they make nothing that is suitable for a newbie. The smallest machine they currently make, the 883 Sportster is over 550 pounds and very topheavy. It also has less responsive steering, heavy clutch pull and a narrow powerband which develops most of it's torque low in the RPM range. I know because we own one. Great motorcycle, but wait for a while before springing for one...

Also remember - no passengers for at least a year and make sure you take the MSF course first. Have fun and ride safe!

Answer 2

I think the 125 is just way too small so I would count that one out. Any of the other 3 would be fine depending on how much you want to spend and what look you like. To me the V-Star Custom, especially in the midnight trim, is the best looking of the bunch by far. V-Stars are also one of the best selling Japanese cruisers. I don't really care for the look of the 500 LTD or the Virago, but it's what you like that matters. I just rode a 2007 Vulcan 900 Custom a couple days ago and absolutely fell in love with that bike. It wasn't too much power or weight for a beginner and is a great looking bike. It is more money than the others mentioned at around 7K.

Answer 3

I would go with the Yamaha Virago, personally. Although, I have to say that the Kawasaki Eliminator 125 is an awsome bike too. It's a toss up, but I am leaning towards the Yamaha.
hope this helped. Happy choosing

Answer 4

If you already know and understand how to drive a manual transmission, it helps learning a motorcycle because it's one less thing you have to focus on when learning. The common saying is that if you can drive a stick and ride a bicycle, learning a motorcycle will be easy. If you can practice discipline and restraint when riding, you may be fine. It's not all fun and games on a sport bike. Even if you ride perfect you need to know how to react when other cars and bikes and trucks don't drive so perfect. That comes from building new instincts and reflexes, and driving habits. While I definitely recommend the MSF class, the class doesn't usually teach all you need to know. Many, many riders go down every summer due to overconfidence gained by taking the class. When I ride, I act like I’m invisible to other vehicles. On the highway, I assume that every car I pass or that passes me, doesn't see me and is looking to come into my lane. I'm ready for any move that car makes half a second before he makes it. You have to learn aerodynamics. If you get to close behind a rig, the wind can trap you there. When you pass along side of a rig the wind will pull you closer to the truck at one point and push you away at another. You have to learn all this and have counter balance and movements programmed into your body reflexes. There is so much more to it. You need lots of practice. The first time I ever touched a motorcycle, it was a 1997 Ninja ZX-6. I rode it around a parking lot for 5 minutes to find out how to shift, then rode 100 miles home on the interstate. I’ve been riding ever since with a clean riding history. (Thanks to God) So it is possible to start on something other than a 250. Not everybody drops their first bike. You don’t have to drop yours and you probably won’t if you just take it easy. Some people say that 600CCs is suicide for a beginner rider. That is simply not true. They make 600CC bikes that are suitable for beginners. In fact they make more entry level 600 bikes than they do 600CC race bikes. In no way does a 600CC bike remotely compare to a formula 1 race car. That is an extremist comment you should disregard. I don't hate the Ninja 250R but it isn't the absolute universal best choice for a first bike the way others would suggest. IMHO, the Yamaha FZ6R is the best entry-level sport bike. The newer Suzuki GS500F is a nice bike. I usually recommend this bike to the people who have been scared about getting a 600. It's got the power to scoot you around town and push you along the highway if you so choose. It doesn't look too bad either. Generally speaking, a 600 is a beginner’s sport bike. If it’s under 599CCs, it’s not really considered a true sport bike. The internet is the only place I’ve heard of anybody starting on anything other than 600 beside people who grew up riding dirt bikes. The Ninja 250R is a scooter with cute plastics. I’ve been to many, many track days, bike nights, meet-ups, and general bike cruises, and still haven’t seen one or even witnessed a conversation about them. They get no recognition in the sport bike community that actually rides. People recommend smaller CC bikes for beginners because most newbies are into it for the speed and flashiness of it and often underestimate the seriousness of riding safe. The temptation to tap into that power is usually too great to overcome. If you know you can and will respect the bike and get at least a thousand miles of practice before hitting the highway, and before group rides, then maybe you can start on a 600cc bike. Otherwise, help yourself out and start small. It is also wisely suggested that your first bike be a used one. You may not drop it but the clutch, brakes, and tires take a beating in the learning stages. You don’t want to go tearing up a new bike. Toned down sportbikes: 1. YZF600R (not the R6) 2. ZZR600 (not the ZX-6) 3. FZ6R 4. Suzuki GS500F / GSX650 5. GSX600 Katana (laughing stock of sportbikes) A.K.A. Can-O-Tuna 6. Daytona Triumph 600 Regular sportbikes: 1. GSX/R 600 2. YZF R6 3. ZX-6R 4. CBR 600RR Sport Hybrids: SV650 Ninja 650 FZ600 GSX650

Answer 5

All of the choices you mentioned are decent. My first suggestion is to take the motorcycle Safety Foundation Course. It is sponsored by a national organization and will teach you good habits.
Next i would look for a very reputable delaer. Just like car dealers there are good ones and bad ones. If one has an excellent reputation I would consider buying from that one.
Then I would look at resale value. People don't stay with a starter bike for long. In a year or so they will want to trade it in or sell it. You might select a bike that has good resale value.
One that comes to my mind is the Triumph Bonneville as a cruiser. You can ride it for a year and sell it quickly.
Finally get the dealer to let you test ride the bikes. Bike dealers don't all like to do this, but the good ones will let you.
Find one that fits your fram, your legs, your grip and is comfortable.

Answer 6

I would buy a harley, those new models have perfectly balanced motors and last 100,000 miles or better if you do the regular maintenence on them

Answer 7

I would recommend the Harley.

Answer 8

If I were to spend the money I'd just get a Harley