Motorcycle advice...

[Fire Me Boy!]

Thinking about getting my first bike... looking fairly cheap, not into speed-demon type stuff.



Just some advice about a 1993 Kawasaki Vulcan (left) or a '78 Goldwing (right).

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Dayze

love the sound of these bikes.
Vtwins rule.

I don’t mind v-twins and have enjoyed riding the few v-twin sport bikes I’ve had the opportunity to throw a leg over but I grew up around 4 cylinder bikes and nothing matches the hair raising shriek of a high strung 4 cylinder sport bike whipping through the RPM’s.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Lzen

I guess that is true. I was a motorcycle n00b, too. Friends told me you will lay it down within the first 6 months. Well, that never happened.

Starting in the dirt is just the opinion of some people.
I’m like you, started pavement and stayed there.
Not that I haven’t or don’t ride dirt bikes when the opportunity arises though.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

I don’t mind v-twins and have enjoyed riding the few v-twin sport bikes I’ve had the opportunity to throw a leg over but I grew up around 4 cylinder bikes and nothing matches the hair raising shriek of a high strung 4 cylinder sport bike whipping through the RPM’s.

this is true...esepcially when you think you're about to max out the engine and look down and you have about 4k more RPM.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Dayze

this is true...esepcially when you think you're about to max out the engine and look down and you have about 4k more RPM.

This has never intrigued me.... I much prefer the low rumble of a cruiser (which is why I didn't even consider the crotch rockets).

To each his own, it sure would be boring with everyone riding the same thing. But I'd rather get to my destination in style than at 120 mph.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

This has never intrigued me.... I much prefer the low rumble of a cruiser (which is why I didn't even consider the crotch rockets).

To each his own, it sure would be boring with everyone riding the same thing. But I'd rather get to my destination in style than at 120 mph.

yeah; I had my cruiser too and love it (in fact, that'll probably be my next road bike).
the sport bikes are definitely race bikes with mirrors. it's a blast to feel the acceleration etc. Then again...if you're experienceing any kind of awesomeness on a sport bike, you're probably breaking several laws

I'm seelling my in the spring; and maybe in the next few years I'll probably look at getting another metric cruiser.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

This has never intrigued me.... I much prefer the low rumble of a cruiser (which is why I didn't even consider the crotch rockets).

To each his own, it sure would be boring with everyone riding the same thing. But I'd rather get to my destination in style than at 150 mph.

FYP

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

This has never intrigued me.... I much prefer the low rumble of a cruiser (which is why I didn't even consider the crotch rockets).

To each his own, it sure would be boring with everyone riding the same thing. But I'd rather get to my destination in style than at 120 mph.

For just cruising or general transportation v-twin cruisers are easier to get along with. They make power in an almost lazy fashion, probably because power is available so low in the rev range. 4 bangers are kind of buzzy by comparison.
Sport bikes in particular are not good at just lazily cruising around town. Without air moving through their body work they’ll get hot, they tend to buck and surge at low RPM’s and generally act indignant. Sport bikes are like a high-strung race horse, they want to get out and run. Fuel injection has tamed them somewhat but still it's in their DNA.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Dayze

the sport bikes are definitely race bikes with mirrors.

Absolutely.
Sport bikes are much closer to their racing cousins than sports cars are to theirs.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

For just cruising or general transportation v-twin cruisers are easier to get along with. They make power in an almost lazy fashion, probably because power is available so low in the rev range. 4 bangers are kind of buzzy by comparison.
Sport bikes in particular are not good at just lazily cruising around town. Without air moving through their body work they’ll get hot, they tend to buck and surge at low RPM’s and generally act indignant. Sport bikes are like a high-strung race horse, they want to get out and run. Fuel injection has tamed them somewhat but still it's in their DNA.

this is mostly true; they're not good for lazyily cruising - primarily (for me anyway) because of the riding position. Forearms and writsts etc. start to get fatigued.

Mine is an 08 CBR 600RR; it does buck a bit a super low revs (there is a small flat spot in the power curve around 2-3.5k if I remember) and if you're not careful you when the power recovers it can surge a bit if you're still on the throttle.. Fuel injection has helped out a ton. my ZX-6r (2003..R.I.P.) was carburated and it had a few flat spots if I recall and would get a little annoying in traffic.

Mostly though, I think the bikes want be in their happy ragnge - 8.5-12k RPM or so. The power REALLY comes on in that range; and the gears are so close together ratio-wise that you can really keep in in that range for a good flogging. But, the trade off is nearly constantly shifting (this isn't so much an issue on a litre bike given their torque). Definitely 'buzzy'. As you say...they definitley like to run/be pushed hard. And will do so with no problem.

I really liked my V-star 750's low end; it was nice for short roll-ons in traffic etc. But she was buzzy at hwy speeds (75+); mostly because of no 6th gear; and a fairly short 5th. othewise, and great bike. Especially for the $3300 i paid for her (she was 2 yrs old with 45 miles on it!) I'll probably look at another Star bike, but probaly in the 1100cc range this time.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Absolutely.
Sport bikes are much closer to their racing cousins than sports cars are to theirs.

in fact, there is a division of AMA racing call Superstock or Formula Xtreme ( I can't recall)/..the bikes are basically factory bikes with very very minor adjustments made for the track. Watching that division of racing is great; those guys ride the Sh*t out of those bikes; basically the same bikes you can go buy with no experience (a bit scary if you ask me).

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Dayze

in fact, there is a division of AMA racing call Superstock or Formula Xtreme ( I can't recall)/..the bikes are basically factory bikes with very very minor adjustments made for the track. Watching that division of racing is great; those guys ride the Sh*t out of those bikes; basically the same bikes you can go buy with no experience (a bit scary if you ask me).

Yes, you’re thinking of Super Sport. They are mostly 600cc 4 cylinders that aren’t allowed much in the way of modifications from a stock bike. Exhaust and appropriate injection mapping are about it for performance modifications.

[Inspector]

I have never tipped my bike over.

Of course it has 4 wheels and is a car so that helps a lot.

[wildcat09]

For my first bike, I bought a Suzuki Boulevard 800. I had zero experience on a bike. This one was perfect. I loved that bike. Problem was I travel too much and only put 3K on it over 4 years. Hated to see it go. It was shaft drive and fuel-injected and very comfortable.

[chief husker]

Are you an organ donor?