Motorcycle Help

[BlackArrow]

Well I am getting close to the magic age where men go out and buy things to feel younger. As it turns out I was married very young and had kids and although I always wanted a motorcycle, I was told she would divorce me if I did.

Well, she divorced me anyway, and the kids are just about out of the house, so I think it is time. This will be my first true bike since I don't include dirt bikes and the old Norton that my uncle let me ride.

So I am looking for opinions, especially from Mapes. I don't really want a crouch rocket and I don't want a bike to go cross country on.

I want a fun, yet age appropriate bike that I can use within 2 hours of here but mostly for local riding.

And the choices so far are:

Harley Dyna Fat Bob




BMW R 1200 GS


Moto Guzzi Breva 1100


Ducati Monster



Please, all opinions are welcome and wanted.

[-Bar]

Honda Motorcycles - 2007 Shadow Spirit 750 (VT750DC) - Colors, Specifications, Pricing, Accessories, Gallery

Honda Motorcycles - 2007 919 - Colors, Specifications, Pricing, Accessories, Gallery


My favs from Honda.. I haven't looked at Harleys in a while.

[Thrashdragon]

The first link Bar posted, the Shadow 750, I was a week away from buying before my fiance and I split up last month and my disposable income became indisposable. I did a lot of research into it and it is a very solid bike. Hondas are known for making the most reliable motorcycle engines out there, and that 750 is a good size for a beginning or relearning rider. A 750 sportbike is a monster, a 750 cruiser is easy. This is a great resource: Hopnda Shadow Forum, very friendly people there that will helpfully answer any questions you have. They don't just ride Hondas, either.

Yamaha's Star line is also pretty nice.

I don't like Harleys. They vibrate too much, and they are severely overpriced. Most Harley riders buy them for the name and the "American Made" (although 60% of the parts are made in Japan). I know people who love them, though, so definitely find somewhere you can test drive one. I know the local dealership allows test drives so I would imagine most of them do if they have the space.

BMW makes a very solid cross country ride. I don't know much about their cruisers, but starting off new on a 1200 might be a bit much.

Ducatis are out of my price range so I've never even looked at them. They need to put a fairing on that red one though, it looks nekkid.

[WalkinTarget]

Ducati has monster sex appeal ... I am not a bike guy (had a quad a few years back but lacked the cajones to ride it effectively) but almost any Ducati is just buttery goodness. Sad thing they don't cost a few grand less ...

[-Bar]

Yeah the 750 Shadow is just perfect It would be the one I would buy if I could afford too.

Out of their color choices, I love the gray one best.

[mapes]

Well crap I'd say go get that Norton RIGHT NOW FROM YOUR UNCLE that bike is a piece of history....of course reliability might be an issue.

Well if you want something totally rock steady look into BMW GS's. Everyone I know who has one loves it. Plus you could get hard bags for it(like most BMWs).

I tend to stay away from Cruisers. I admit it I'm a performance junkie. However thats not the only problem I have with em.

Mapes problems with cruisers
1. Big and heavy...do things really need to be that heavy. It means parking it is harder and moving it by person power is that much harder and less stable. Plus god forbid you drop it....try picking up some of those things
2. Cost is crazy seems a bit much. This of course could be mitigated by buying a metric cruiser.
3. Antiquated design in frame... affect handling, brakes, suspension and even engine design....Yes we know your retro Harley now really loose the rocker arms! This issue is a big one for me. Even if your not pushing the envelop in riding I'd still want something more nimble and quick than a HD or metric cruiser...Those attributes are life savers.

As for other bikes. I'd much rather go for the Ducati Monster over the Moto Guzzi. Now don't get me wrong the Guzzi is a sweet looking Italian bike but again generally they're much heavier than the Monster. I do like one thing about HD's I like that finish on the bike....I think that model is called the Night Train if I'm not mistaken. BTW if you like the Norton look (which is sexy) look at the Ducati sport classic. If you were buying used I'd say look for ductai ST4. It has hard bags. Or look at a Honda VFR one of the best all around bikes of all time. Also check out Aprilla and Triumphs. My best thing to tell you to do is to sit down and think about what your going to do with it.

Nothing it'll sit in my garage
Ride down to the cafe to look cool
Just ride on sunny weekends
Just ride it to work
Maybe an overnight trip
Maybe a three of four night trip
Week+ trips
The ability to handle fire roads
Carrying ability needed
Monoposto or dualposto (1 or 2 seats)

Think about that and then I can give you a bunch of choices. Welcome to the world of two wheels...Its a fun one.

Also as your first bike TAKE THE MSF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!!

[Skud]

freedom

I would have to say the Ducatti has the most personality. It is a tough looking bike.

Been through the marriage thing too...my daughter graduates in a few weeks. Take care of yourself now...and enjoy your new bike.

[Minerva]

I like the BMW and if I was to pick up a color... negro por favor!

[linemanstud]

I was born a raised a Harley man, so naturally my vote goes there. What I will say about at least the BMW though is they make a solid bike. Maintenance on it will be minimal because they go for quality on their bikes. My uncle has one and he hasn't had to lift a finger on it yet short of putting more fuel in it. My dad has a '76 Harley low rider that he bought new. The only repairs that he has done, if you want to call them repairs, is he re-painted the tanks and he had to put new switches in for the lights, the horn, and the electric start.

[Hammy]

I was born a raised a Harley man, so naturally my vote goes there. What I will say about at least the BMW though is they make a solid bike. Maintenance on it will be minimal because they go for quality on their bikes. My uncle has one and he hasn't had to lift a finger on it yet short of putting more fuel in it. My dad has a '76 Harley low rider that he bought new. The only repairs that he has done, if you want to call them repairs, is he re-painted the tanks and he had to put new switches in for the lights, the horn, and the electric start.

+1 on this one.

The BMW is a solid every day rider.
Harleys are great for many reasons, but you do fatigue much faster on longer distance rides with them.

[mapes]

+1 on this one.

The BMW is a solid every day rider.
Harleys are great for many reasons, but you do fatigue much faster on longer distance rides with them.

Honda's are also know for they're reliability. You push the button and they start...period. In the day's of yore when Triumphs had heinous electrical problems and HD was owned by the bowling ball manufacturer AMF and shipped HD's from the factory complete with oil leaks... Honda came in and made bikes friendly and easy to use. The literally almost wiped out Triumph and HD with the introduction of a small easy to use and maintain bike. In fact Elvis rides a Honda in one of his movies. Honda's are also known for they're real world ergos. Meaning they're fairly comfortable to ride all day long. Thats the Honda ethos. It's not for nothing that I have the Honda Wing tattooed on my right arm!

The best thing to do is go around to some shops and sit on the bikes and see how they feel. Some dealerships allow you test ride and some do not.

I will say that HD's are prolly better for going two up.

I've owned 3 Hondas, Clapedout 86 shadow 750 cruiser (first bike), CBR1000f (sport Tourer), 89/91 NT650GT Honda Hawk(project bike). I've also owned three Yamaha's
YZF-R1 sport bike (current ride), FZR400 and a dirt bike WR-400. Lastly I've owned 1 Suzuki Bandit 400.

I'm just not into HD's not my thing so I can't talk about them. Honda's, Yamaha's and Suzuki's are all great well made bikes. I do not like Kawasaki's....for some reason the build quality doesn't seem to match the other big 3 Jap bikes or maybe I just think it's wrong to have a lime green colored bike! As for other MFG's Triumphs make a good but slightly heavier and pricer bike. Same goes for BMW. Ducati and Aprillias are awesome although you do pay for the Italian work of art concept.

[Hammy]

The r1200 BMW sits high- do you have any idea how you want to ride?

Slinging low is what Harley's do.

I have no experience with Honda's, with exception to the bike I bought to learn how to ride.

[mapes]

The r1200 BMW sits high- do you have any idea how you want to ride?

Slinging low is what Harley's do.

I have no experience with Honda's, with exception to the bike I bought to learn how to ride.

Good point. You should be able to stand on the bike and put both feet down flat on the ground.

[jeffro74]

hey,i have 2 kawasakis.they are really pretty good bikes.a ninja and a klr650,both are 60-100k bikes with good maintnance.my klr is green

[mapes]

hey,i have 2 kawasakis.they are really pretty good bikes.a ninja and a klr650,both are 60-100k bikes with good maintnance.my klr is green

Ok you got me there!! You have the ONLY 2 bikes that I think Kawi makes that are good. No really I'll show this thread to my wife and she'll laugh her ass off....


The KLR is bomb proof and the Ninja is an awesome learner bike.