Advice Needed

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:11:33 -0700, wrote:

>Hey guys, I'm really interested in getting a motorcycle for small-town
>commuting and leisure.
>
>Few things about me:
>
>I'm 6'3''
>Looking for a bike less than 2,000.
>Bike needs to look good, was hoping to get the Yamaha Virago but it
>was too small!
>
>Is there any bike that can fit my needs?
>
>Thanks for the help,
>
>-Andrew

First things first, before you buy a bike take a motorcycle riding course.

Ben
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"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" wrote

> "Standard" motorcycles of the type I mentioned will handle better than a
> little cruiser.

Upon what do you base that conclusion?
My (subjective) experience has been just the opposite, having recently
traded an Eliminator 600 for a Suzuki GZ 250.
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Wait wait wait, what about the Kawasaki Vulcan?
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On Jul 12, 12:13 pm, Steve T wrote:
> wrote:
>
> :Hey guys, I'm really interested in getting a motorcycle for small-town
> :commuting and leisure.

> :I'm 6'3''

> Take a look for a Suzuki Savage 650.

I owned a Savage 650 for a year or so. I'm 5' 8", 29-30" inseam,
32-33-inch sleave length. I found the Savage with the stock seat to
be intolerable for more than a half hour at a time, because the rear
step of the rider's seat was pushing forward so hard into my tailbone
that my lower back would go numb.

Without an aftermarket seat, I'm at a loss as to how someone 6'3"
would ever get comfortable on an LS650.
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"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" wrote


> Aren't both of the bikes you mention little cruisers? Low seats,
> handlebars higher than a "standard", feet on pegs forward of the rest of
> your body?
>

No, the GZ is a mini-cruiser but the Kaw. Eliminator 600 is about as
standard as it gets. Alas, it was a little tall and a little heavy for me
even though it had about the lowest seat height ever in a standard. I'm a
little less than average height (5'5") but it's mostly in the torso; short
arms and legs.

> What is your experience riding /other/ styles of motorcycles? Since you
> didn't mention it, have you owned any other than those two?
>

First bike in 1969, a Honda S-90. Most fun I've ever had on a bike. Then a
bunch more Hondas, all standards: CB160, CB350, CB550 then the Eliminator
and now the downsized GZ.

> In my half-million miles of two- (and sometimes three-) wheel riding,

I'm surprised you haven't run across one of the various incantations of the
Eliminator's over the years. They even put that badge on a little 250 a
couple of years ago (or is it a 125 ??).
The second Eliminator model was a 900 cc BEAST of a bike. Never had the
nerve to ride one of them but I really liked the LOOK.
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wrote:
> Hey guys, I'm really interested in getting a motorcycle for small-town
> commuting and leisure.
>
> Few things about me:
>
> I'm 6'3''
> Looking for a bike less than 2,000.
> Bike needs to look good, was hoping to get the Yamaha Virago but it
> was too small!
>
> Is there any bike that can fit my needs?
>
> Thanks for the help,
>
> -Andrew
>


Go for a dirt bike (with a set of motard wheels as well) to get the
skills up to date off road, then swap the wheels over for insane
commuting.......
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wrote

>
> You're wrong,

No, I'm not "wrong". It is, in the end, a matter of opinion and yours is no
more valid than mine.

Kawasaki calls them sport bikes. I guess they are wrong too ???
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On Jul 12, 5:03 pm, "Beauregard T. Shagnasty"
wrote:
>
> Probably for the same reason we've been trying to convince Ken that a
> bike with a 28-inch seat height, such as your Vulcan, is too short for a
> person 6'3" with legs.

Well, he did post that he had short legs. Instead of automatically
ruling it out, I'd recommend he go sit on one.
>
>
> As Keith just posted, "Weird I've ridden cruisers and standards back to
> back and the standard handled better by far." I agree, and especially
> for a beginner.

I'm also of the opinion that standards handle somewhat better than
cruisers. On the other hand, I don't think that cruisers handle
badly, or that it makes a big difference in the learning process.
People start out on cruisers all the time.
>
> It also wouldn't be quite right to suggest that Andrew, the beginner,
> was "into cruisers" at this early stage of his riding career.

I did say "if you're into cruisers". Since he mentioned liking the
Virago and asked about the Vulcan it didn't seem to be much a of a
stretch.

John
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"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" wrote in message


>> I'm also of the opinion that standards handle somewhat better than
>> cruisers. On the other hand, I don't think that cruisers handle
>> badly, or that it makes a big difference in the learning process.
>> People start out on cruisers all the time.
>
> I know they do. It's just that it is not the normal, "standard" <g>
> recommendation for beginners, that many besides myself have posted here
> over the years. That's all.

And as Yoda said, "if once you start down the dark path, forever
will it dominate your destiny!"

Only 1/2 a on that one, methinks...

Bob M.
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