Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The one and only key to my electric scooter was stolen. What can I do?
The other night, someone broke into our house and stole three things (that we have noticed so far)- my cell phone, a letter, and the key to my scooter. We didn't just lose them, since the alarm on the phone wakes me up, so I sleep with it right next to me. Even if I did misplace it, we would have heard the alarm by now. But I have a SunL scooter that was given to me since it needed work. I fixed it myself, and I know how shady SunL is, so I'm pretty sure I can't get new locks put on it. I can't drive it, access the trunk, or the battery compartment. I've been riding that since my gas moped is broken. Now that the key's gone, I have to ride my dad's motorcycle around, and I don't like to spend so much on gas. We're almost positive the neighbor kids did it, and I don't like the fact that they get a victory whenever I have to go off on the motorcycle. What can I do about the locks? Oh, and don't say call the cops- I'm not old enough (I'm serious, I've been stolen from several times and they say to have my parents call them.) My parents simply don't care enough to call the cops! How can I get past those locks without breaking them?|||learning to pick locks sounds like your best plan. that would get you into the trunk and whatnot in order to replace the locks. then all you would have to do would be to replace the ignition and those other locks. other than that your best bet is to call a locksmith. they will be able to make a new key for it. once you get a key, or if you end up getting all new locks put it, make some spares. keep one in your wallet just in case. i would also suggest replacing the locks in your house and possibly installing a security system. you could even rig up your own if you feel ambitious.
Is the Harley V-Rod an ok choice for a first motorcycle?
I'm considering getting a motorcycle and really like the style of the Harley V-Rod or possibly one of the Victory models I recently saw that is similar in overall shape / size.
I'm 41, 5' 11" 210lbs in "reasonably" good health and I've NEVER ridden a motorcycle before.
I have a lot of current road %26amp; mountain bicycle experience but other than basic balance I do not think the skill set will be all that similar fo an experience.
I have also ridden a small 125 dirt bike just as recreation for a few years off road years ago but other than that nothing.
I fully intend to take a local motorcycle training class but that will probably only give me a few hours of riding experience on a smaller bike.
So, given my lack of experience, I'm wanting opinions on if this choice of bike would be ok as a first bike or if I would possibly be endangering myself with this choice.
Any thought or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!|||i don't advise it as a first bike..too fast ..too heavy..too expensive|||no, that is too much bike for a beginner, even after a training course.
It's a good bike to have but start on something around 500cc and 5-10 years old.
Honda Shadow, Kawasaki Vulcan, maybe an 883 H-D if you can find one cheap|||The V-Rod is a muscle bike. It has a huge amount of low end torque, and high end RPM power. The posture on the bike is also a very unusual and (in my opinion) unfriendly posture. I personally believe that it is NOT a beginners bike.
If you really want one, I would suggest you take advantage of the deal that Harley is offering right now to give you the FULL value of any sportster you buy now back in trade when you upgrade the bike. Get a Sportster1200 (or an 883, but get the one with a larger frame), which is a much lighter and less aggressive bike, while still being plenty powerful and fast. Spend a year learning to ride, then trade it up for a V-ROD.|||I used to hear that half of all buyers of new Harley Davidsons were either total newbies to riding or else coming back to riding after 20-30 years (raising a family, no doubt). I wondered why total noobs would want a bike so big and heavy (not to mention expensive!)
Well, last year a friend of mine was thinking about a new Harley, so I suggested we rent one for a day and ride it around and see how we liked it. I was amazed at how manageable the Harley was. It's big and heavy, and not a great handler, but very easy to handle because of its low center of gravity. It was also very comfortable. It's not my kind of bike but I really liked it better than I thought I would.
Normally I'd say you want to start out on something smaller. Years ago we all started on 150s and 250s. Today there just aren't many bikes that small, so people learn on 500s, 600s and 650s.
When kids ask here if they should start on that hot Japanese sportbike, I'm worried they're going to kill themselves. In your case, that's not the problem--I'm more worried about the bike than you. 8^)
The V-Rod is a very powerful bike, more than enough power to get you into trouble, but let's assume that at 41 you're a grown-up, out of that 'testosterone-poisoned' age, and you don't have to use every single horsepower every minute. It's still a very heavy bike. Plus, if you ran out and bought a new one to learn on, it's very likely you're going to drop it once or twice while you're learning an that would be just heartbreaking with a brand new V-Rod. Or a Victory.
If you bought a Japanese bike, say 5-10 years old, maybe even with a few scratches and bruises on it, you could learn to ride, you could abuse the clutch, maybe even drop it once or twice. Then after six months or a year, you could sell this bike for about what you paid for it. and by then you'll know better what you really want. THEN go treat yourself to that new V-Rod. Japanese cruisers are pretty good--Honda Shadow and Magna, Yamaha Star, etc. Yamaha makes a 650cc Star, which would be the perfect little cruiser-trainer. And they're pretty cheap used, because, like you, people want to trade up to something bigger after a while.|||NOOOooooo,... You can't just walk onto an airfield and jump into a F-18 and go chase bad guys. Its the same with motorcycles; Bicycle experience? counts as zero. A 125 dirt bike ridden for a total of around 25 hours over a summer? counts as +.05. Thats the reality.
The MSF course will give you an leg up on the world of motorcycling, but will not get you ready to go out and ride a V-rod, bottom line.
You will have to start with a bike such as will be represented in the course. Whether it be a Ninja 250, a Yamaha XV250, or a Honda Rebel 250. Get your feet wet before you decide to ride over Niagra Falls in a milk crate....|||I agree with Spencer. Too much bike. Look for a used bike like a 600cc up and learn the skills. Then look to buy a newer bike. I don't agree with buying a new bike as a first bike because you are most likely going to drop it in the first year to 18 months. You'll be upset about scratching it up or breaking the mirror or something else. I have several years experience but recently crashed my new (one year old) Shadow when a dog ran out to grab the front tire. The dog was black and it was dark. He ran out of the unmowed median strip (knee high grass) and was there almost in a blink. Nothing I could do to avoid it. I remember grabbing the front brake and putting my foot on the rear one but have no idea if I ever had a chance to apply either. The next thing I remember is the noise of impact and my helmet grinding on the road. From where he lay dead and where I got up off the road was roughly 100 feet or so. 2700.00 damage to the bike and insurance for the hospital emergency room and such was around fifteen grand. (specialists and everything). Just remember to be safe whatever you buy.|||Ok. The Sportster is not much lighter than the VROD so I don't consider the weight of the bike a factor.
The VROD will have more power than something like a Sportster but you can get yourself in trouble on just about any bike.
While you don't have a lot of experience, you do have some. Given your age you are probably mature enough to keep yourself somewhat under control.
Hold off on purchasing until you take the MSF class. That should give you an idea of how confident you feel on a bike. You should be able to make an informed decision then. I've taken the class and it is real easy to tell who gets it and who doesn't. If you feel a little hesitant, go ahead and get yourself the Sportster. Ride it for a year and trade it in on the VROD. The ride free guarantee is a good deal.|||No. After taking the motorcycle class, get on a 750cc or higher bike. If your heart's set on a Harley, try a lightly used twin cam like a Super Glide. See what's for sale in Cycle Trader, at the dealership, etc. Some dealerships will give you a decent deal if you buy a used bike and trade it in within a year. Harley's current plan, Sportsters are given 100% of money back within one year if trading up. Get experience please. $20,000.00 and 200 miles does NOT make you a biker. Work your way up to a V-Rod, they accelerate very well and handle like a sport bike, so easy there turbo.|||I agree with everything here, but an exception to Polarbear. The MSF (at least when I taught it in the early 90s) actually expected you to know how to ride a bicycle, they stated it ahead of time. (The balancing on 2 wheels thing).
Yeah a VRSC would be too much to start with in my opinion. Go through the MSF (or RidersEdge if you are predetermining yourself to be a Harley guy). RidersEdge teaches you on a Buell Blast, which might be a good first bike for you, then maybe a Sporty, then think about a VRod. My advice on the VRod is to test drive one as the riding position/ergonomics of those are kind of funky. Neither me (at 5'9") or my older brother (about 6'2") find the seating position very comfortable. Myself, I find the frame section just under the tank digs in to the inside of my knee area, very uncomfortable, unless you want your legs spread out at the knees about 2 feet!!!!
I'm 41, 5' 11" 210lbs in "reasonably" good health and I've NEVER ridden a motorcycle before.
I have a lot of current road %26amp; mountain bicycle experience but other than basic balance I do not think the skill set will be all that similar fo an experience.
I have also ridden a small 125 dirt bike just as recreation for a few years off road years ago but other than that nothing.
I fully intend to take a local motorcycle training class but that will probably only give me a few hours of riding experience on a smaller bike.
So, given my lack of experience, I'm wanting opinions on if this choice of bike would be ok as a first bike or if I would possibly be endangering myself with this choice.
Any thought or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!|||i don't advise it as a first bike..too fast ..too heavy..too expensive|||no, that is too much bike for a beginner, even after a training course.
It's a good bike to have but start on something around 500cc and 5-10 years old.
Honda Shadow, Kawasaki Vulcan, maybe an 883 H-D if you can find one cheap|||The V-Rod is a muscle bike. It has a huge amount of low end torque, and high end RPM power. The posture on the bike is also a very unusual and (in my opinion) unfriendly posture. I personally believe that it is NOT a beginners bike.
If you really want one, I would suggest you take advantage of the deal that Harley is offering right now to give you the FULL value of any sportster you buy now back in trade when you upgrade the bike. Get a Sportster1200 (or an 883, but get the one with a larger frame), which is a much lighter and less aggressive bike, while still being plenty powerful and fast. Spend a year learning to ride, then trade it up for a V-ROD.|||I used to hear that half of all buyers of new Harley Davidsons were either total newbies to riding or else coming back to riding after 20-30 years (raising a family, no doubt). I wondered why total noobs would want a bike so big and heavy (not to mention expensive!)
Well, last year a friend of mine was thinking about a new Harley, so I suggested we rent one for a day and ride it around and see how we liked it. I was amazed at how manageable the Harley was. It's big and heavy, and not a great handler, but very easy to handle because of its low center of gravity. It was also very comfortable. It's not my kind of bike but I really liked it better than I thought I would.
Normally I'd say you want to start out on something smaller. Years ago we all started on 150s and 250s. Today there just aren't many bikes that small, so people learn on 500s, 600s and 650s.
When kids ask here if they should start on that hot Japanese sportbike, I'm worried they're going to kill themselves. In your case, that's not the problem--I'm more worried about the bike than you. 8^)
The V-Rod is a very powerful bike, more than enough power to get you into trouble, but let's assume that at 41 you're a grown-up, out of that 'testosterone-poisoned' age, and you don't have to use every single horsepower every minute. It's still a very heavy bike. Plus, if you ran out and bought a new one to learn on, it's very likely you're going to drop it once or twice while you're learning an that would be just heartbreaking with a brand new V-Rod. Or a Victory.
If you bought a Japanese bike, say 5-10 years old, maybe even with a few scratches and bruises on it, you could learn to ride, you could abuse the clutch, maybe even drop it once or twice. Then after six months or a year, you could sell this bike for about what you paid for it. and by then you'll know better what you really want. THEN go treat yourself to that new V-Rod. Japanese cruisers are pretty good--Honda Shadow and Magna, Yamaha Star, etc. Yamaha makes a 650cc Star, which would be the perfect little cruiser-trainer. And they're pretty cheap used, because, like you, people want to trade up to something bigger after a while.|||NOOOooooo,... You can't just walk onto an airfield and jump into a F-18 and go chase bad guys. Its the same with motorcycles; Bicycle experience? counts as zero. A 125 dirt bike ridden for a total of around 25 hours over a summer? counts as +.05. Thats the reality.
The MSF course will give you an leg up on the world of motorcycling, but will not get you ready to go out and ride a V-rod, bottom line.
You will have to start with a bike such as will be represented in the course. Whether it be a Ninja 250, a Yamaha XV250, or a Honda Rebel 250. Get your feet wet before you decide to ride over Niagra Falls in a milk crate....|||I agree with Spencer. Too much bike. Look for a used bike like a 600cc up and learn the skills. Then look to buy a newer bike. I don't agree with buying a new bike as a first bike because you are most likely going to drop it in the first year to 18 months. You'll be upset about scratching it up or breaking the mirror or something else. I have several years experience but recently crashed my new (one year old) Shadow when a dog ran out to grab the front tire. The dog was black and it was dark. He ran out of the unmowed median strip (knee high grass) and was there almost in a blink. Nothing I could do to avoid it. I remember grabbing the front brake and putting my foot on the rear one but have no idea if I ever had a chance to apply either. The next thing I remember is the noise of impact and my helmet grinding on the road. From where he lay dead and where I got up off the road was roughly 100 feet or so. 2700.00 damage to the bike and insurance for the hospital emergency room and such was around fifteen grand. (specialists and everything). Just remember to be safe whatever you buy.|||Ok. The Sportster is not much lighter than the VROD so I don't consider the weight of the bike a factor.
The VROD will have more power than something like a Sportster but you can get yourself in trouble on just about any bike.
While you don't have a lot of experience, you do have some. Given your age you are probably mature enough to keep yourself somewhat under control.
Hold off on purchasing until you take the MSF class. That should give you an idea of how confident you feel on a bike. You should be able to make an informed decision then. I've taken the class and it is real easy to tell who gets it and who doesn't. If you feel a little hesitant, go ahead and get yourself the Sportster. Ride it for a year and trade it in on the VROD. The ride free guarantee is a good deal.|||No. After taking the motorcycle class, get on a 750cc or higher bike. If your heart's set on a Harley, try a lightly used twin cam like a Super Glide. See what's for sale in Cycle Trader, at the dealership, etc. Some dealerships will give you a decent deal if you buy a used bike and trade it in within a year. Harley's current plan, Sportsters are given 100% of money back within one year if trading up. Get experience please. $20,000.00 and 200 miles does NOT make you a biker. Work your way up to a V-Rod, they accelerate very well and handle like a sport bike, so easy there turbo.|||I agree with everything here, but an exception to Polarbear. The MSF (at least when I taught it in the early 90s) actually expected you to know how to ride a bicycle, they stated it ahead of time. (The balancing on 2 wheels thing).
Yeah a VRSC would be too much to start with in my opinion. Go through the MSF (or RidersEdge if you are predetermining yourself to be a Harley guy). RidersEdge teaches you on a Buell Blast, which might be a good first bike for you, then maybe a Sporty, then think about a VRod. My advice on the VRod is to test drive one as the riding position/ergonomics of those are kind of funky. Neither me (at 5'9") or my older brother (about 6'2") find the seating position very comfortable. Myself, I find the frame section just under the tank digs in to the inside of my knee area, very uncomfortable, unless you want your legs spread out at the knees about 2 feet!!!!
WHICH ONE WOULD YOU BUY?
I'm defiantly buying a motorcycle, but I'm stuck between a 2009 Yamaha Raider S or 2009 Victory Jackpot. I've chosen these two because of the power and appearance of both I already owned a 2004 Harley Davidson Night Train and loved it, but I think harleys are also over rated after owning one, but I'm not saying I wouldn't own another one! Which one do yall think I should buy?|||i would go with the 2009 Victory Jackpot.made in the U.S.A.= very nice looking bike.a friend at work has one and some of the guys that work there have hd and they said that they wish they would of bought a victory.
Most comfortable cruser/touring motorcycle? Need your help.?
i'm tall with long legs, so a long bike so my legs not under me, the honda gold wing, does not work, my legs are uncomfortable
that leaves the Yamaha Venture, which has 4 carborators...don't want that
the victory vision...which is brand new????
the harley electra glyde, ultra classic...which is just too expensive for what you get
the other problem i never can ride one of the yamaha, sizuki, kawasaki they never have demo bikes. so how to tell if you like the ride.
the goal; comfort for legs and back, don't really need the ferrings, consule, radio, walkie talkie etc. More a comfortable touring bike for me and the wife, so when i take a ride i don't feel all cramped up.|||I'm quite tall myself at 6'5" with a 34" inseam. I ride a '05 GL1800A (Goldwing) and have modified it to make it very comfortable for me. Perhaps you can apply similar changes to the bike you decide to meet your comfort needs.
The number one path to comfort is to have a custom seat built to your physical needs. I went with Russells' Day-long saddle, http://www.day-long.com . Each seat is built to your physical dimensions and weight. My seat moved me back 2" and up 1" from the stock seat. This change on the Goldwing still left plenty of room for my wife on her "Queen" seat as she is rather small at 5' nothing...
Russell also installed a very supportive backrest for me that is great on those 900+ mile days!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/425315鈥?/a>
I also installed a set of Peg relocators that moved my footpegs forward 1" and replaced the OEM pegs with a set of Kuryakyn Mini-Wing ISO pegs, I didn't want full floorboards, these give me a little room to move feet around on.
In the handlebar area I installed a set of MBL handlebar risers that move the handlebars up and back and gives me some flexibility in adjusting these dimensions.
The finally upgrade which is more Goldwing specific, was a set of Mick-O-Peg highway bars that give me a forward place to move my feet to in a comfortable position with my long legs.
These highway bars are different from most as they swing up out of the way automatically when they are not in use, thereby not causing any interference while riding aggressively in the twisties.
Most of these changes can be applied to any bike you buy, with the custom seat being the best improvement I made to my bike.
I did rent a Harley Fat Boy a couple of years ago for a 4-day weekend and found the bike to be pretty comfortable with very little change for me, just an adjustment to the handlebar position.
It had a handlebar mounted windshield and a set of semi-rigid saddlebags. Not a bad weekend warrior, just wasn't the bike I was looking for in Long Distance touring. The real lack of power was a big negative for me, that and the wife did not like the rear seat at all.
Good Luck on finding your "Dream Bike" it is out there somewhere, just might take a little tinkering on your part!|||Check out the Harley Road Glide. They are less expensive than the Ultras. The frame mounted fairing handles really well. I've had one for 5 years and I love it.|||Victory has done their homework and will let you test drive them. i did and was wowwed.|||My husband is pretty tall and has long legs. We needed a new touring bike and wanted one that was a cruiser. We ended up buying a Yamaha V-Star 1100 Silverado. This bike runs very smooth, has a great sound, and is a good price. I have both ridden as a passenger and have driven the bike. It is really nice and doesn;t have all the fairings and radio and stuff. The Silverado has a windshield and saddlebags stock. We have ridden the bike from Michigan to Tennessee and from Mid-Michigan to the Upper Peninsula. The passenger seat is a little uncomfortable but all new passenger seats are, I just shift how I'm sitting or sit on something soft until we get a gel seat for the it.
Overall, nice bike, good gas mileage, low maintenance, good price, and a great ride.
(We couldn't test ride either, we read reviews online and my husband liked the way it looked so he bought it and couldn't be happier.)
They make these in 1300 CC now...
www.yamaha-motor.com|||There may be a place in your town that rents bikes.
This is a way to try them out before you buy.
Visit Eaglerider.com|||As a rider myself, I have tried the Gold Wing and also find it very uncomfortable. For comfort, I really the Harley Road King. The low center of gravity allows me to get my feet on the ground quick when needed, and my knees aren't in my gut when riding! It's not cheap but a better deal than the Electra Glides in terms of what you get for the money. I've seen the Victory bikes and they are sharp, and have heard they are excellent in quality; but haven't rode one yet.|||Check out the triumph rocket 3.|||my first thought was the honda cbr 1000, as they go on forever and never break but if your a tall chap perhaps a visit to the BMW dealership would be a prudent move, book a test ride of th new GS1000 rekon that should tick all the boxes
that leaves the Yamaha Venture, which has 4 carborators...don't want that
the victory vision...which is brand new????
the harley electra glyde, ultra classic...which is just too expensive for what you get
the other problem i never can ride one of the yamaha, sizuki, kawasaki they never have demo bikes. so how to tell if you like the ride.
the goal; comfort for legs and back, don't really need the ferrings, consule, radio, walkie talkie etc. More a comfortable touring bike for me and the wife, so when i take a ride i don't feel all cramped up.|||I'm quite tall myself at 6'5" with a 34" inseam. I ride a '05 GL1800A (Goldwing) and have modified it to make it very comfortable for me. Perhaps you can apply similar changes to the bike you decide to meet your comfort needs.
The number one path to comfort is to have a custom seat built to your physical needs. I went with Russells' Day-long saddle, http://www.day-long.com . Each seat is built to your physical dimensions and weight. My seat moved me back 2" and up 1" from the stock seat. This change on the Goldwing still left plenty of room for my wife on her "Queen" seat as she is rather small at 5' nothing...
Russell also installed a very supportive backrest for me that is great on those 900+ mile days!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/425315鈥?/a>
I also installed a set of Peg relocators that moved my footpegs forward 1" and replaced the OEM pegs with a set of Kuryakyn Mini-Wing ISO pegs, I didn't want full floorboards, these give me a little room to move feet around on.
In the handlebar area I installed a set of MBL handlebar risers that move the handlebars up and back and gives me some flexibility in adjusting these dimensions.
The finally upgrade which is more Goldwing specific, was a set of Mick-O-Peg highway bars that give me a forward place to move my feet to in a comfortable position with my long legs.
These highway bars are different from most as they swing up out of the way automatically when they are not in use, thereby not causing any interference while riding aggressively in the twisties.
Most of these changes can be applied to any bike you buy, with the custom seat being the best improvement I made to my bike.
I did rent a Harley Fat Boy a couple of years ago for a 4-day weekend and found the bike to be pretty comfortable with very little change for me, just an adjustment to the handlebar position.
It had a handlebar mounted windshield and a set of semi-rigid saddlebags. Not a bad weekend warrior, just wasn't the bike I was looking for in Long Distance touring. The real lack of power was a big negative for me, that and the wife did not like the rear seat at all.
Good Luck on finding your "Dream Bike" it is out there somewhere, just might take a little tinkering on your part!|||Check out the Harley Road Glide. They are less expensive than the Ultras. The frame mounted fairing handles really well. I've had one for 5 years and I love it.|||Victory has done their homework and will let you test drive them. i did and was wowwed.|||My husband is pretty tall and has long legs. We needed a new touring bike and wanted one that was a cruiser. We ended up buying a Yamaha V-Star 1100 Silverado. This bike runs very smooth, has a great sound, and is a good price. I have both ridden as a passenger and have driven the bike. It is really nice and doesn;t have all the fairings and radio and stuff. The Silverado has a windshield and saddlebags stock. We have ridden the bike from Michigan to Tennessee and from Mid-Michigan to the Upper Peninsula. The passenger seat is a little uncomfortable but all new passenger seats are, I just shift how I'm sitting or sit on something soft until we get a gel seat for the it.
Overall, nice bike, good gas mileage, low maintenance, good price, and a great ride.
(We couldn't test ride either, we read reviews online and my husband liked the way it looked so he bought it and couldn't be happier.)
They make these in 1300 CC now...
www.yamaha-motor.com|||There may be a place in your town that rents bikes.
This is a way to try them out before you buy.
Visit Eaglerider.com|||As a rider myself, I have tried the Gold Wing and also find it very uncomfortable. For comfort, I really the Harley Road King. The low center of gravity allows me to get my feet on the ground quick when needed, and my knees aren't in my gut when riding! It's not cheap but a better deal than the Electra Glides in terms of what you get for the money. I've seen the Victory bikes and they are sharp, and have heard they are excellent in quality; but haven't rode one yet.|||Check out the triumph rocket 3.|||my first thought was the honda cbr 1000, as they go on forever and never break but if your a tall chap perhaps a visit to the BMW dealership would be a prudent move, book a test ride of th new GS1000 rekon that should tick all the boxes
What is a good road bike/motorcycle for beginner? (not a bullet bike)?
although i drive a manual car i understand its different for a motorcycle but i understand the concept.
My price range is up to 5k. I'm going to be installing alarm systems over the summer and will need to drive it across the US. I have never really road a motorcycle before. i like the looks of the victory 8 ball.(dont know much about the brand but i have talked to a couple enthusiests and they say victory is the way to go) I like 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail, Shadows, but my favorite was the Yamaha Vstar 1100 Classic.|||I'd go with the Harley. I've ridden and owned Jap bikes but once I road a Harley, I was hooked. That's all I'll ride. Comfortable, great looks, great sound, never left me on the side of the road , doesn't leak a drop of anything and always starts on the first try. Totally reliable. What more could you want from a cruiser?|||thats awesome you want to ride. i suggest keep saving up and get the bike you want.
but jumping right and and riding x-country is a bad idea it takes alot of preperation and you have to know your bike inside and out incase something happens or does go wrong. because if it is mechanical it will break. good luck in whatever bike you get|||I like that you know enough to want to take the safety course! Good for you. After the course, a smaller street bike (depending on your size and weight) would be a good starter. I'd wait on the Harley until you have dropped something a else! We all drop them! Good luck with your future riding career...it's too much fun and it's all about freedom!|||The Yamaha will be way more dependable. On long rides, it's best to sit up straight. Harleys are powerful and noisy cruisers, but The Yamaha will not let you down. Maybe you should rent a bike or two before you make the big investment. Take your time and learn riding- take a safety course.|||5K will not get you a Harley, Victory, etc.. To travel across the U.S. you *need* reliable -- basically any of the Japanese cruisers of about 650-900cc. MSF: http://online2.msf-usa.org/msf/Default.a鈥?/a> Is the best for getting you started. You can rent motorcycles, $100+ a day.|||You would be best prepared for your journeys by taking a motorcycle safety course BEFORE venturing too far.|||I think it's the Honda Shadow or something along those lines are the ones that most motorcycle training classes use for instruction.|||unless your a die hard harley guy i vote for the yamaha..i had a 600 v twin,,,everything great in a bike [except not big enough lol]|||Dirt Rocket MX350 Bike
http://electricrazorscooters.com/
My price range is up to 5k. I'm going to be installing alarm systems over the summer and will need to drive it across the US. I have never really road a motorcycle before. i like the looks of the victory 8 ball.(dont know much about the brand but i have talked to a couple enthusiests and they say victory is the way to go) I like 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail, Shadows, but my favorite was the Yamaha Vstar 1100 Classic.|||I'd go with the Harley. I've ridden and owned Jap bikes but once I road a Harley, I was hooked. That's all I'll ride. Comfortable, great looks, great sound, never left me on the side of the road , doesn't leak a drop of anything and always starts on the first try. Totally reliable. What more could you want from a cruiser?|||thats awesome you want to ride. i suggest keep saving up and get the bike you want.
but jumping right and and riding x-country is a bad idea it takes alot of preperation and you have to know your bike inside and out incase something happens or does go wrong. because if it is mechanical it will break. good luck in whatever bike you get|||I like that you know enough to want to take the safety course! Good for you. After the course, a smaller street bike (depending on your size and weight) would be a good starter. I'd wait on the Harley until you have dropped something a else! We all drop them! Good luck with your future riding career...it's too much fun and it's all about freedom!|||The Yamaha will be way more dependable. On long rides, it's best to sit up straight. Harleys are powerful and noisy cruisers, but The Yamaha will not let you down. Maybe you should rent a bike or two before you make the big investment. Take your time and learn riding- take a safety course.|||5K will not get you a Harley, Victory, etc.. To travel across the U.S. you *need* reliable -- basically any of the Japanese cruisers of about 650-900cc. MSF: http://online2.msf-usa.org/msf/Default.a鈥?/a> Is the best for getting you started. You can rent motorcycles, $100+ a day.|||You would be best prepared for your journeys by taking a motorcycle safety course BEFORE venturing too far.|||I think it's the Honda Shadow or something along those lines are the ones that most motorcycle training classes use for instruction.|||unless your a die hard harley guy i vote for the yamaha..i had a 600 v twin,,,everything great in a bike [except not big enough lol]|||Dirt Rocket MX350 Bike
http://electricrazorscooters.com/
Why does it seem so few Harley owners...?
care to give the Japanese their proper due when it comes to motorcycles?
I ride a 08 1200cc Sportster HD Roadster. (883s are for sissies.) I've ridden numerous HD in my 30 years of riding experience and a good few Japanese bikes. I ride my Sporty because of it's light weight (in comparison to other Harleys, I mean.) exhaust note, and general overall feel of the bike. I didn't buy this damn thing so that I now have thousands of new 'friends' at the local watering hole. (More and more of them are weekend warrior dentists, doctors and wussy boy software designers with brand shiny new HD logo leathers that make them look like a walking, talking billboard.) I didn't buy this thing because it has 'a spirit' or 'a soul' (It doesn't. It's a ****ing MACHINE) that just so happens to have been around for 105+ years. Bread has been around longer. That doesn't mean that I think it has 'a soul'
That said I can recognize what the Japanese have done for motorcycles in general. Why can't you, Mr. Hardcore Harley?
Those Japanese practically own MotoGP and AMA with all of the big 4 bikes in there. They do great in dragging, too. So what's all this 'imitation' garbage? Remember in the 70s and 80s when Harley was PURE TRASH? I do. My old Fat Boy broke down TWO WEEKS after I bought it! Who do you think took advantage of that at put out similar looking motorcycles that, you know, actually ran for more than 5,000 miles without guzzling or leaking oil? The Japanese. While the government was bailing Harley out and screwing over the Japanese with taxes for the thank you.
While we're at it. Why do I never hear the loud mouths at the watering holes calling a Boss Hoss an 'imitation' or Indian or Victory bikes 'imitations'? But ALL of the Japanese cruisers are...even the ones that look nothing like a Harley. Well, I got new for you pinheads. Us Americans have 'imitated' plenty of things in the span of our years on this continent. Get off your damn high horse!
Harley is a great bike these days. Twice as reliable as they've ever been! Japanese bikes are pretty damn rock solid themselves, and those crotch rockets are amazing machines. You can't even tell me you wouldn't have fun busting 200mph in Bonneville Flats on an unlocked Busa or ZX-14, Mr. Hardcore Harley. I had fun with it! There's more to riding than 60mph, loud pipes and stopping at a new pub every 5-10 miles and stand around your chromed out bikes that you have PERFORMANCE parts on but then tell the sport bike riders that you don't ride for speed. (Hello double standard!)|||Word on that.
Expected that comment from Maddog. Man is what his user name is.
And Freak, I like how you can entirely dismiss a logical post because the man doesn't like 883s. Just a wee bit short sighted, yes? Bigger picture went right over your head, yes?|||lol....stfuposmf|||Funny....
In your first sentence you bang on 883 Sportsters and then you ask people to respect other bikes.
Funny stuff....
Respect gets respect.|||You said the same thing about 883 riders as you are claiming the hardcore do to metric bike owners.
Getting your knees in the breeze (be you a cashier or a welder) is the most important thing. I will ride with anyone who is willing to ride. My wife owns a chinese bike which I have even ridden a few times and the Honda Rebel I first started riding on.
My buddy has a Hyabusa which is very fun but I would not trade it for my cruiser, I prefer my feet ahead of my knees.|||The old panhead guys I used to know when I lived in NH never gave me any problems with my bikes. It was a friendly roasting and I gave as good as I got.
These days, it's the bad-boy wanna-bes that seem to take it seriously.|||I give you 10 points for noticing that so many HD owners are posers.
A guy told me he used to ride them. He said they ran the spectrum from the HOG guys to people on sportsters trying to bum money for gas.
I used to ride them. 30 years ago it was different, before they were status symbols and were just old beaters.|||May be its because Jap crap doesn't have a very long lifespan. I have a 49 Pan that I am the 3rd generation to ride. The town I live in is 14000 and I know of 18 Panheads 7 Indians 3 /2 BMWs and 4 Knucks here as well as 6 - 1950s and 60s Triumphs. I only know of one old Jap bike a 78 750 Auto and its quite new compared to American and Euro bikes still on road.|||Those "Hardcore Harley" OWNERS are using their brand label "enthusiasm" to hide their racist roots, the real cause of their dislike of Japanese products. Have you ever noticed that they're not quite as intolerant of European (especially German) brands?|||I ride Harley's. I also rode or owned just about every other brand and model of bike out there in the last 43 years I've had my face in the wind. In fact, I personally owned 26 bikes, with the last 5 all being Harley's. I don't run down any bike (well, I don't count scooters as bikes, so they are fair game). But I sure run down idiot riders, no matter what they are on.
I have a lot of praise for the Big street bikes from Honda, and owned several from CB 750's thru super sports and wings. Same goes for Kawasakis's and Yamaha. In fact, I rode for Yamaha on the desert circuit many years ago. It is no different than the ford vs chevy vs dodge etc that has gone on for years. Take pride in what you ride. But that doesn't mean you need to run down the other guys bike. I've ridden dirt bikes, street bikes. crotch rockets, touring bikes etc, even brands no longer around, that most people ave never heard of. I wouldn't have a problem climbing on 90% of them and going for a ride.
ride safe|||ive been riding sport bikes sence i could legaly put one on the road at 18 an used to get alot of **** from all my uncles buddys that rode harleys an other guys at the bars we would go to now 12 years later i still ride a sport bike a yamaha r1 an still ride with my uncle an all his buddys an still go to the same bars where all the harley guy hang an now i bring my friends on there sport bikes an nowadays i hardly ever hear a negitive coment about any bike sport or harley this past weekend i had a 65 year old die hard harley man come up to me an ask me if he could take my r1 for a ride i handed him the keys half hour later when he came back he said it hurts my back but dame that thing is fast|||Bigger Tony, I have respect for you, you have been riding for a long time, you ride for the passion and enjoyment of riding, you don't feel you're better just because you own a Harley.
What I have an issue with is the beginners, who never been on a bike before and they go out and buy a Harley, they fake that they are instant tough guys just because they own a HD.
The same guy that can't ride his HD and hits the brakes going around a tight curve at 10 mph will mouth me and make fun of me and my Japanese Bike, or that same guy will think he owns the local bar just because he rides up on a HD.
Where I live I see this all the time and it pisses me off !
I have no issue with HD Bikes, just some of the people riding them, I wear an American Flag decal on my helmet, cause I am a proud American that served in the military, but when some poser on a HD tries to pull that decal off my helmet because he takes it as an insult because i ride a Japanese Bike I really get mad and I inform him I will die to defend my American Flag decal, and if he wants to try to tear it off he's going to have to kill me first!
I ride a 08 1200cc Sportster HD Roadster. (883s are for sissies.) I've ridden numerous HD in my 30 years of riding experience and a good few Japanese bikes. I ride my Sporty because of it's light weight (in comparison to other Harleys, I mean.) exhaust note, and general overall feel of the bike. I didn't buy this damn thing so that I now have thousands of new 'friends' at the local watering hole. (More and more of them are weekend warrior dentists, doctors and wussy boy software designers with brand shiny new HD logo leathers that make them look like a walking, talking billboard.) I didn't buy this thing because it has 'a spirit' or 'a soul' (It doesn't. It's a ****ing MACHINE) that just so happens to have been around for 105+ years. Bread has been around longer. That doesn't mean that I think it has 'a soul'
That said I can recognize what the Japanese have done for motorcycles in general. Why can't you, Mr. Hardcore Harley?
Those Japanese practically own MotoGP and AMA with all of the big 4 bikes in there. They do great in dragging, too. So what's all this 'imitation' garbage? Remember in the 70s and 80s when Harley was PURE TRASH? I do. My old Fat Boy broke down TWO WEEKS after I bought it! Who do you think took advantage of that at put out similar looking motorcycles that, you know, actually ran for more than 5,000 miles without guzzling or leaking oil? The Japanese. While the government was bailing Harley out and screwing over the Japanese with taxes for the thank you.
While we're at it. Why do I never hear the loud mouths at the watering holes calling a Boss Hoss an 'imitation' or Indian or Victory bikes 'imitations'? But ALL of the Japanese cruisers are...even the ones that look nothing like a Harley. Well, I got new for you pinheads. Us Americans have 'imitated' plenty of things in the span of our years on this continent. Get off your damn high horse!
Harley is a great bike these days. Twice as reliable as they've ever been! Japanese bikes are pretty damn rock solid themselves, and those crotch rockets are amazing machines. You can't even tell me you wouldn't have fun busting 200mph in Bonneville Flats on an unlocked Busa or ZX-14, Mr. Hardcore Harley. I had fun with it! There's more to riding than 60mph, loud pipes and stopping at a new pub every 5-10 miles and stand around your chromed out bikes that you have PERFORMANCE parts on but then tell the sport bike riders that you don't ride for speed. (Hello double standard!)|||Word on that.
Expected that comment from Maddog. Man is what his user name is.
And Freak, I like how you can entirely dismiss a logical post because the man doesn't like 883s. Just a wee bit short sighted, yes? Bigger picture went right over your head, yes?|||lol....stfuposmf|||Funny....
In your first sentence you bang on 883 Sportsters and then you ask people to respect other bikes.
Funny stuff....
Respect gets respect.|||You said the same thing about 883 riders as you are claiming the hardcore do to metric bike owners.
Getting your knees in the breeze (be you a cashier or a welder) is the most important thing. I will ride with anyone who is willing to ride. My wife owns a chinese bike which I have even ridden a few times and the Honda Rebel I first started riding on.
My buddy has a Hyabusa which is very fun but I would not trade it for my cruiser, I prefer my feet ahead of my knees.|||The old panhead guys I used to know when I lived in NH never gave me any problems with my bikes. It was a friendly roasting and I gave as good as I got.
These days, it's the bad-boy wanna-bes that seem to take it seriously.|||I give you 10 points for noticing that so many HD owners are posers.
A guy told me he used to ride them. He said they ran the spectrum from the HOG guys to people on sportsters trying to bum money for gas.
I used to ride them. 30 years ago it was different, before they were status symbols and were just old beaters.|||May be its because Jap crap doesn't have a very long lifespan. I have a 49 Pan that I am the 3rd generation to ride. The town I live in is 14000 and I know of 18 Panheads 7 Indians 3 /2 BMWs and 4 Knucks here as well as 6 - 1950s and 60s Triumphs. I only know of one old Jap bike a 78 750 Auto and its quite new compared to American and Euro bikes still on road.|||Those "Hardcore Harley" OWNERS are using their brand label "enthusiasm" to hide their racist roots, the real cause of their dislike of Japanese products. Have you ever noticed that they're not quite as intolerant of European (especially German) brands?|||I ride Harley's. I also rode or owned just about every other brand and model of bike out there in the last 43 years I've had my face in the wind. In fact, I personally owned 26 bikes, with the last 5 all being Harley's. I don't run down any bike (well, I don't count scooters as bikes, so they are fair game). But I sure run down idiot riders, no matter what they are on.
I have a lot of praise for the Big street bikes from Honda, and owned several from CB 750's thru super sports and wings. Same goes for Kawasakis's and Yamaha. In fact, I rode for Yamaha on the desert circuit many years ago. It is no different than the ford vs chevy vs dodge etc that has gone on for years. Take pride in what you ride. But that doesn't mean you need to run down the other guys bike. I've ridden dirt bikes, street bikes. crotch rockets, touring bikes etc, even brands no longer around, that most people ave never heard of. I wouldn't have a problem climbing on 90% of them and going for a ride.
ride safe|||ive been riding sport bikes sence i could legaly put one on the road at 18 an used to get alot of **** from all my uncles buddys that rode harleys an other guys at the bars we would go to now 12 years later i still ride a sport bike a yamaha r1 an still ride with my uncle an all his buddys an still go to the same bars where all the harley guy hang an now i bring my friends on there sport bikes an nowadays i hardly ever hear a negitive coment about any bike sport or harley this past weekend i had a 65 year old die hard harley man come up to me an ask me if he could take my r1 for a ride i handed him the keys half hour later when he came back he said it hurts my back but dame that thing is fast|||Bigger Tony, I have respect for you, you have been riding for a long time, you ride for the passion and enjoyment of riding, you don't feel you're better just because you own a Harley.
What I have an issue with is the beginners, who never been on a bike before and they go out and buy a Harley, they fake that they are instant tough guys just because they own a HD.
The same guy that can't ride his HD and hits the brakes going around a tight curve at 10 mph will mouth me and make fun of me and my Japanese Bike, or that same guy will think he owns the local bar just because he rides up on a HD.
Where I live I see this all the time and it pisses me off !
I have no issue with HD Bikes, just some of the people riding them, I wear an American Flag decal on my helmet, cause I am a proud American that served in the military, but when some poser on a HD tries to pull that decal off my helmet because he takes it as an insult because i ride a Japanese Bike I really get mad and I inform him I will die to defend my American Flag decal, and if he wants to try to tear it off he's going to have to kill me first!
Standard/naked vs Cruiser?
Gonna buy my first bike, I was thinking one of those low cruisers that don't look like the Indian Chieftain type of things with a giant windshield and a huge leather bag with frills, something that resembles a Yamaha Warrior Base : http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/yamaha/cruiser/2009/warrior/base.html
this: http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/suzuki/cruiser/2009/boulevard/m50.html
or : http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/victory/cruiser/2009/vegas-reg/8-ball.html
but then I looked at some of the standard/naked ones and I cant decide now, I'm mostly buying for the look of it, but id like to be sure which ones offer better comfort for long distance riding and if someone can HIGHLIGHT the main differences between Standard/Naked and Cruisers etc.
I like the following standards
: http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/triumph/standard/2009/speed/triple.html
http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/ducati/standard/2009/monster/696.html
PS I'm 19 and I live in the big city so I'd like something that fits both in the city and something I can ride on the highway for a few hundred miles or so.
Thanks|||I noticed you like the new Ducati 696 and Triumph. Have you seen the Aprilia Shiver? Suzuki also has the new "Gladius".
I'm a motorcycle instructor and I ride sportbikes, I would opt for a standard bike. It lays down the basics in a more forgiving setting over a cruiser, plus it offers a more natural riding position.|||This question isn't about the bike it is about you. Choosing to buy or not to buy a cruiser is the dividing line. The cruiser crowd is into biking as a lifestyle, a fashion statement, a status symbol.
Those into motorcycling as a sport, for the handling and the feel of speed and acceleration are into standards, naked, dual sport or sport bikes.
Making that choice is to chose sides in a brother against brother civil war.|||I like all the bikes you have listed. If I were to choose it would be between the Triumph and the Victory. Just my opinion.|||I'd go with the victory.|||A Speed Triple is way more than you want or need for a first bike, the Monster will be rather too small for you (although try one it might suit). If you want comfortable long distance travel you will need to look for something with a screen or fairing, you can get aftermarket screens but, to me, they always look like an afterthought. I find that the cruiser ergonomics put rather too much weight on the lower back and don't allow for enough movement.
There are alternatives that will do the long distance in far more comfort without going the full-on tourer route, unfortunately, they and your choices are not the best for a first bike.
this: http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/suzuki/cruiser/2009/boulevard/m50.html
or : http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/victory/cruiser/2009/vegas-reg/8-ball.html
but then I looked at some of the standard/naked ones and I cant decide now, I'm mostly buying for the look of it, but id like to be sure which ones offer better comfort for long distance riding and if someone can HIGHLIGHT the main differences between Standard/Naked and Cruisers etc.
I like the following standards
: http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/triumph/standard/2009/speed/triple.html
http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/ducati/standard/2009/monster/696.html
PS I'm 19 and I live in the big city so I'd like something that fits both in the city and something I can ride on the highway for a few hundred miles or so.
Thanks|||I noticed you like the new Ducati 696 and Triumph. Have you seen the Aprilia Shiver? Suzuki also has the new "Gladius".
I'm a motorcycle instructor and I ride sportbikes, I would opt for a standard bike. It lays down the basics in a more forgiving setting over a cruiser, plus it offers a more natural riding position.|||This question isn't about the bike it is about you. Choosing to buy or not to buy a cruiser is the dividing line. The cruiser crowd is into biking as a lifestyle, a fashion statement, a status symbol.
Those into motorcycling as a sport, for the handling and the feel of speed and acceleration are into standards, naked, dual sport or sport bikes.
Making that choice is to chose sides in a brother against brother civil war.|||I like all the bikes you have listed. If I were to choose it would be between the Triumph and the Victory. Just my opinion.|||I'd go with the victory.|||A Speed Triple is way more than you want or need for a first bike, the Monster will be rather too small for you (although try one it might suit). If you want comfortable long distance travel you will need to look for something with a screen or fairing, you can get aftermarket screens but, to me, they always look like an afterthought. I find that the cruiser ergonomics put rather too much weight on the lower back and don't allow for enough movement.
There are alternatives that will do the long distance in far more comfort without going the full-on tourer route, unfortunately, they and your choices are not the best for a first bike.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)