so i went and sat on a few more bikes today to kinda get a feel for them. went to the suzi place, sat on an M50. (felt okay, just a bit wide in the seat area for me). they also sell yama's there so i sat on a vstar 650 and an 1100. the 1100 was actually the more comfortable of the two bikes. skipped the harley dealership...     went to the honda/kawi place. sat on a couple vtx's. seemed okay, still kinda heavy though. then i sat on a vulcan 900. 2 of them actually, the custom and the classic. seat height was nice. legs weren't too cramped at all. bike didn't feel as heavy as the others i'd sat on. oh, and it's fuel injected and cheaper than the others save the v-star 650.  i know, i know, you guys here are gonna be like, "what? you want a cruiser? buy a gs you moron! gs's are the king of newbie bikes!"    and i've sat on a few but they feel way too top heavy for me, i don't feel comfortable on them.  and i'm sure you'll all agree that feeling comfortable with your bike is an important issue, especially for a new rider trying to build confidence. so, feel free to comment and or flame me, i can take it. 

going to a cruiser are we?  not my type of ride.  i was on my dads 105 anniversary special edition Harley.  meh don't like hogs. he spent 40k on a bike but it has all the bells on whistles. 

my buddy had a vulcan 800. felt like I was sittin on a couch compared to my gs so I understand the comfort thing.

But isn't have a bike all about looking cool?    

well, i'm not talking bout dropin 40k on a bike, ANY bike. that's insane. but i'm also looking out for the comfort of my wife. i want something she'll be comfortable with me on. and eventually comfortable enough with that she can have it when i'm ready for a new bike.  

tell me about it...40k for a bike is nuts...but he loves it.  i sure don't lol

but i suppose if you have the expendable cash why not right?  i talked quite a bit with the sales lady at the honda/kawi place. we talked about the new bike honda is releasing. (i posted the link in another thread. i believe it's the DN-01??? ) something like that. anyways. she even said their price was crazy. she said they didn't even ask for one because she knows they couldn't sell it here. there isn't the market for a 15k 650cc bike. ain't happening. 

Quote from: frankieG on October 15, 2008, 11:52:46 AM
tell me about it...40k for a bike is nuts...but he loves it.  i sure don't lol

why nopt , people will drop 40k on a duc if need be 
tbh tho go to an hd place, and sit on a few. low COG, and sit on many, but best low COG is either HD, a boxer bmw, or a boxer goldwing which my skinny ass can pick up from a laying down position

TRy a Honda rebel 250.

i learned on the rebel 250. 

Nix the Star 1100...all the shat drive stars, actually.

Go try an XR1200.  Really.  That was soooooo fun...

You tried an FZ6, VFR 750 series if you want cheap, standard SV, Bandit 600, or any of the other standards.  Suzuki makes a new standard for sub 6k vtwin fuel injected, and of course I can't remember the name right now.

Dont listen to these clowns ...
If you want a cruiser ... you can do a lot worse than a mid 80's yamaha ... I'm pretty partial to 85 and up maxims and virago's.
Shadow 600's suck, but 750 and 1100's are OK, intruders are OK too, and vulcan 750's eat alternators and to remove that left case the motor has to come out of the frame, so watch out for that ... even if they swear that its OK, dont believe them.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on October 16, 2008, 08:20:57 AM
Shadow 600's suck
Cool.
Buddha.

WHAT!!!!!!! I love my Shadow VLX.
Don't be hate'in.

cafeboy

i believe he was refering to older generation bikes. 

Quote from: jserio on October 16, 2008, 12:28:49 PM
i believe he was refering to older generation bikes. 

I have to give him a hard time. It's what I do. 

well, i got good news and bad news today. the kawi place can get me financed. that's a step up for myself.  but the wife thinks i should wait till after the holidays are over so there will be more expendable cash.   

Buy a VLX. 

i sat on one last year. (vlx deluxe). it was okay but i'd really like to have F.I. and honda doesn't make an F.I cruiser until you get to the 1800cc bikes.  for now i think i'm leaning towards the vulcan 900. 

But the VLX has one carb and great mpg.  I am getting like 68 mpg 

okay. but how does it do 2 up?