Motorcyclists - What did you start on, what do you ride now?

[ignutzz]

Funny that there was another motorcycle thread on here today. :) I hope I'm not repeating anything mentioned in there.

DH and I just passed our MSF course yesterday. We had a lot of fun doing it and I can't wait to have a bike. I'm the one who's really the most interested in this and we took the course because I've been talking about it for forever.

I wanted to get some female riders perspective on which rides fit us the best. Plus, I'm on the short side - ~5' 3"

What bike did you start off with and what bike did you graduate up to? (If you did the start with a small/beater bike, graduate to bigger/nicer bike thing.)

My personal taste is for a retro-look cruiser, I really don't care for the look of sport bikes. I was trying to do some reading on comparisons and found the Honda Rebel, Hyosung AlphaSport and Yamaha Virago well recommended (all are 250cc).

The slightly larger bikes that I'm considering are the HD Sportster 883, Triumph America and Yamaha V Star (Star Motorcycles). Personally, I'm really angling for the HD (I like my vehicles loud!).

I'd love to hear recommendations, reviews, experiences etc.

Thanks!

[kemaji]

I had a 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 for 5 years and I loved it. It was the perfect beginners bike. I could pick it up if I dropped it (which I did once when I first started riding), it was low enough that I didn't feel like I was struggling to keep my feet on the ground when necessary and had enough pick up so that even when I thought about graduating to a larger bike, I ended up not because it was really enough bike for my purposes.

I actually recently sold her (yes, I considered my bike a her) because I just don't ride often anymore. I rode a lot when I lived in California but the weather here in Ohio isn't as conducive to the kind of riding that I would do.

Here she is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v455/kemaji/motorcycle/motorcycle1.jpg

[ronspumpkin]

I have been around bikes pretty much all my life, my dad had them while I was growing up. I also dated a guy for 8 years that had a sports bike. When mom got her Honda this past spring, she begged me to take the motorcycle course with her. So, in June I took the classes and got my endorsement, just to please my mom. ;-) I had NO intentions of buying my own bike......until the day I got my endorsement and went home and rode mom's bike out on the open road. I went the next day and bought a brand new 2005 Honda Shadow VLX. I LOVE it. It is so much more fun being in the front seat!!
Here we are, mom and I, a few weeks after getting our endorsements. We returned to the scene of the "crime" so to speak to chat with our instructors.

http://images.snapfish.com/344856%3A723232%7Ffp3%3B%3Dot%3E2323%3D%3A96%3D%3B 58%3D3232%3A96%3A6767%3Anu0mrj
Me on left. Mom also has a Honda Shadow.

eta: I am only 5'1" the Honda is a little high but manageable for me. My feet aren't flat to the ground, but mom is 5'4" and it's perfect for her.

[ignutzz]

Kamaji Nice bike! You're right in the mid range with that one, I can see why you decided not to go bigger.

We had a mix of Kawasaki and Suzuki bikes at the course. I was riding the Suzuki and had a really hard time with the width of the gas tank (very wide and sqare at the bottom). I noticed that the Kawasaki's were much narrower and tapered into the seat line. They seem like they would be a good fit for women.

Thanks for the info!

[ignutzz]

Ronspumpkin You were posting while I was. :)

The shadow's are gorgeous. You guys look great together! I have always wanted to ride and once I got on the bike, I couldn't believe I waited so long!

I'm chomping at the bit to buy a bike this year and I'm driving DH crazy.

BTW, what did you think of the MSF course?

[ronspumpkin]

BTW, what did you think of the MSF course?

I loved it. I'm so glad that I took it. I took it really really slow though for a bit after taking the course. While I felt comfortable on the bike, I didn't feel comfortable with traffic. I stayed in the neighborhoods until I felt more confident. I was still pretty scared when we finally made it out to the main roads. I also dropped my bike twice after I got my endorsement. It's going to happen! I was stopped and didn't hurt myself or the bike, but I'm glad that I was just in my plat and not out on main roads.
Now, it's cake. I just sit back and enjoy the ride. My parents and I and my BF all ride together and It's great quality time with the fam! lol. I also have uncles and cousins that have bikes and mom and I now have their wives and girlfriend all wanting to get up front! I hope they do, it would make it so much fun to have a big group of chopper chicks out riding together!!

I'm chomping at the bit to buy a bike this year and I'm driving DH crazy.

What is holding you back?? Get one! You will be so happy you did. does DH have a bike already, or are you both looking to get one?

[ignutzz]

The course really is worthwile. I'm planning to take the experienced rider course once we get a bike.

While I felt comfortable on the bike, I didn't feel comfortable with traffic.

I feel the same way. All the "after the course" recommendations I've read say to develop a set of progressively more difficult routes until you're really feeling confident on the bike.

And go family! It makes sense to me that if you're going to be a passenger, you should also be a driver. Perhaps your family will end up doing a girls night out on bikes! :D


ETA: didn't see your last comment.

DH could take it or leave it, I, on the other hand, am addicted. This is a much cheaper way for me to get the Grrr factor of the Mustang GT I've been drooling over.

The hold up right now is cost (it's a very long story but we're just starting to get back on our feet financially after a bunch of off years). He thinks I'm a little bit crazy about this but I don't want to forget everything I just learned. I know I could buy a little Rebel used for about 1K and I'm on the hunt.

[ronspumpkin]

You can definitely find an older bike pretty cheap. My BF got a 1971 Honda 750 for $200.00!!! It's not pretty, but it goes! lol. I'm hoping to upgrade him in the coming years. ;) I hope that you find something very soon. Maybe we'll see each other at bike week or Sturgis one of these days! lol.

[ignutzz]

I'll keep my eyes peeled! :D

[kemaji]

ignuzz -- Thanks! I forgot to mention that my sister has ridden my bike a couple of times (she is 5'3") and had no issues with the height. I'm 5'8" and I really like how low it is, it makes the bike so much more stable.

[chortles]

Bumping this up to see if there are any other thoughts. Perhaps, a Ducati Multistrada? :D

[BethElena]

I've had my Aprilia SR50 (yes, it's a scooter) since Sept 2000 and absolutely love it. A full out motorcycle is not logical at this point in my life, b/c the premiums are sky high! DH & I took the safety course also back in 1999 and loved every minute of it, although there were a few there that shouldn't be within 100 ft of a bike.