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| *Vultures Knob>>>Cruiser Bike |
Motorcyclists: What is a good motorcycle to learn on? - Cruisers Only!? |
What's your oppinion? I visit dealers and I have books and I'm looking around online, but I'd like to hear what other riders have to say. I'm 5'5" tall and female looking for a cruiser... not a sports bike. The honda rebel or yamaha virago 250. Both have a low seat height and comfortable straight up seat. The virago has a v-twin "harley" look to it and weighs slightly less than the rebel. The v-twin gives the bike a more balanced feel. Dependability, gas mileage, and power are about equal. Go and sit on them. Put the stand up and feel how comfortable the bike is and how balanced it feels. Put the bike on its center stand and put your feet up on the pegs. Is it still comfortable, or do you feel cramped? Is it a comfortable reach to the handlebars? I'm 5'11" and both felt cramped to me, but may be just right for you. Like the previous poster said, take the safety course. And buy a good quality helmet, even if your state doesn't have a helmet law, until you get some experience under your belt. The Honda Rebel. 250 cc, so a good sized engine to start off with (plus the riding test is easier on smaller cc bikes) A little on the smaller end, so being 5'5" won't be a problem. I'm 5'11" and it worked great for me (got my licence just fine) I started out on a 125cc yahmaha enduro - a real piece of crap that I didn't mind tearing up a little bit. (ok, I tore it up a lot) The problem is that whatever bike you learn on, it's probably not what you are going to want to ride after you get the feel for it - but who has the budget to buy 2 bikes? To avoid this, you need to get a bike that is easy to ride but retains some degree of ridability in the long haul. It seems to me that a BMW R850R or a F650CS would suit your needs, and allow you to avoid owning a rice burner. My 2nd bike was a BMW R60/7, which I rode for about 12 years, and now I have a Moto Guzzi (sweet ride, that is) You might look around and figure out where the motorcyclists are congregating in your area (they do it everywhere) and go talk to them. Good luck and keep the rubber on the road! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/bmw-r850-... http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/ The Honda shadow or magna both came in a 700cc bike. That may be a little large for you but was a great first bike for me. -- On older yamaha Maxima 3 cyl 600 cc I believe. You may be able to find a rider's safety course that provides bikes to learn on while you take the course. That way, you can learn the basics of staying alive on 2 wheels, not drop your own bike in the course of learning, and some states even issue you your license after completion of the course. Otherwise, look for something that has a low center of gravity and will let you put your feet flat on the ground. Go with what makes you comfortable - you don't want to feel uncomfortable or awkward because you'll have enough on your mind as your learning to ride. It's true that your first ride will probably not be your last. I learned on a Suzuki TS185, moved on to a Honda Shadow 500 and now ride a Harley Davidson Road King Classic. Have fun and stay safe! I dont know what country you are in. I am Femail, 5 foot 2. On a CBT in the UK. I ride a Piaggio x9 Evolution 125. It is a maxi scooter so is the biggest learner legal bike in the UK. They also do an x8 with loads of room for shopping, a short person can reach the floor. They are well styled automatics (twist & go). all the details are http://www.piaggio.co.uk or there is a riders club here http://x9ocf.co.uk who cover both bikes. Both come in bigger engine sizes as you get better & pass your test. I would recommend the x9 evo 125 second hand as you may want to upgrade to the bigger engine soon if you really take to it. If however you only want to commute & do some shopping, get a new x8. Good luck & have fun. PS I got knocked off mine two months ago but a car driveing into the back of me & pushing me into the car in front! the size of the bike was the only thing that saved me. |
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