Considering a used street bike purchase

[Stinsok]

Something big enough for me and the wife. It's been a very long time since I owned a bike and it was only a Yamaha 400. What's considered high mileage for a bike over 650cc? Other than tire wear, leaks,dings and scratches, what should I look for? Thanks!

 

[Cap'n Redbeard]

I like the old Yamaha Virago 750 and 1100. Not a ton of power but comfy with two people, reliable and cheap. Ditto for Honda Shadow, Suzuki Intruder, Kawasaki Vulcan, Yamaha V-Star... As far as what to look for, most obvious things: brakes, tires, fork seals, oil leaks, etc. Anything else would make itself known in a test ride: engine/drive train noise, front end wobble, stalling, electrical issues, etc.

 

[Cap'n Redbeard]

As far as mileage, I don't really know. I've had bikes with 10k miles that were a pain in the butt, and bikes with 50k that never needed a thing. So, ultimately I let the general condition of the bike determine whether it's a go or not. If a bike has high mileage but is still in excellent condition, it must have been cared for and maintained properly

 

[hondo4life]

There are too many different bikes to say anything. Pick one you think you like, and we can tell you if you should like or not.

 

[Biggbass]

Been riding since '71 and have had several bikes over the years...
I prefer a Road King. It's a great bike for solo or two-up riding. Comfortable, offers variable
leg positions for longer rides, smooth and has power to spare when it comes to passing
big rigs on the highway. Not too bagged up and not too stripped down.

 

[Tom Bomb]

I like the old Yamaha Virago 750 and 1100 […]

Me too. One of these early XV 750s, but stock standard, would suit me down-to-the-ground.

 

[capnjim]

I would stick with the MIJ stuff. When I buy used I try to find one that's being sold by the original owner and has maintenance records.
Its better to buy something a little older and higher mileage that has a good maintenance history.
Most of the MIJ 750's are excellent bikes.
Best of luck!!

 

[fhm555]

Steictly a personal opinion but I would be afraid to ride two up on anything smaller than something like a Gold Wing.

 

[PolkaHero]

After my '84 Yamaha Virago 1000 died last summer, I couldn't find another make/model that I liked better so I went with a "newer" Virago, here's my '89 1100:

 

[LoDownSinner]

What style are you looking for? Cruiser? Sport Tourer?

 

[GIBrat51]

Big enough for you and your wife to do what? Criteria is different, depending on what you want to do. Same for what constitutes high mileage. I'd consider the 45K on my '06 883 Sportster pretty high. I bought it new, and it's never missed a service interval; but, those are 99% stop-and-go, urban commuter miles. That's hard on a bike (car, too, for that matter). On the other hand, I consider my BMW R1150 GS Adventure, with 61K miles, to be not even broken in yet. It's all cross country, all day highway mileage; it's been meticulously maintained; and it's a BMW... What should you look for? I've found some good "how to buy a used bike" videos on You Tube; some very good, specific model ones (like a Gold Wing, for example). In general, though; can you still get parts for it? Will somebody still work on it? That can be a trick, sometimes. The Honda dealers here, for instance, wouldn't even work on my '80 CBX when it was new; don't even show up with one now... A very clean, 1-owner bike that's never been down, with maintenance records, would be the ideal; and the further away from that you get, AFAIC, the less ideal it becomes. We need a little more information, please...

 

[Stinsok]

100 percent sure that the budget will only allow a used metric cruiser.

 

[hondo4life]

100 percent sure that the budget will only allow a used metric cruiser.

I have only owned one metric cruise, a Yamaha V-Star 650. It is underpowered for riding two up, so look at the 1100, or the newer 950.

 

[Mike A]

For two up riding, I'd recommend something that's 1100cc minimum, unless you're both pretty small people, or never plan on going over 55mph or so. I bit the bullet in '07 and bought a new Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 and have over 28K flawless miles on it to date. It's been (and continues to be) a great purchase, although I'd recommend buying one that's at least a couple years old and save a bunch of money.

 

[GIBrat51]

You could always get one of these... this one's an '09 XL1200C (Sportster 1200 Custom). A used Sporty is usually not expensive, and they are pretty dependable - all of my Sporty's were/are. The Custom has a big enough gas tank to actually ride somewhere - especially in that part of the country. And no, they don't leak oil (none of my 4 Harleys ever did). With the Evolution engine's frame/engine mounts, they vibrate just enough to let you know it's a v-twin, and it's running.. And, since it's a Harley, there are whole catalogs full of accessories and doo-dads for it...

 

[Downunderwonder]

I have only owned one metric cruise, a Yamaha V-Star 650. It is underpowered for riding two up, so look at the 1100, or the newer 950.

I thought ''metric" was American slang for over a 1000cc.

 

[Downunderwonder]

View attachment 858185 You could always get one of these... this one's an '09 XL1200C (Sportster 1200 Custom). A used Sporty is usually not expensive, and they are pretty dependable - all of my Sporty's were/are. The Custom has a big enough gas tank to actually ride somewhere - especially in that part of the country. And no, they don't leak oil (none of my 4 Harleys ever did). With the Evolution engine's frame/engine mounts, they vibrate just enough to let you know it's a v-twin, and it's running.. And, since it's a Harley, there are whole catalogs full of accessories and doo-dads for it...

That would be four times the budget over here.

 

[hondo4life]

For two up riding, I'd recommend something that's 1100cc minimum, unless you're both pretty small people, or never plan on going over 55mph or so. I bit the bullet in '07 and bought a new Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 and have over 28K flawless miles on it to date. It's been (and continues to be) a great purchase, although I'd recommend buying one that's at least a couple years old and save a bunch of money.

I have ridden a big Vulcan Nomad two up, and it is like riding a couch down the road. Very comfy, very chill, less than fun when the road gets twisty... but who cares because road couch.

View attachment 858185 You could always get one of these... this one's an '09 XL1200C (Sportster 1200 Custom). A used Sporty is usually not expensive, and they are pretty dependable - all of my Sporty's were/are. The Custom has a big enough gas tank to actually ride somewhere - especially in that part of the country. And no, they don't leak oil (none of my 4 Harleys ever did). With the Evolution engine's frame/engine mounts, they vibrate just enough to let you know it's a v-twin, and it's running.. And, since it's a Harley, there are whole catalogs full of accessories and doo-dads for it...

I have owned a Sportster 1200, and I can't recommend it for much. It was quick in a straight line, it made that signature potato sound, and go usa it is made in amurrica yay. But it couldn't turn without scraping everything, the suspension was somehow too stiff and too soft, the build quality was less than good, and it was cramped for one rider. At least it didn't leak oil... it just burned it.

I thought ''metric" was American slang for over a 1000cc.

I'm pretty sure it just means anything that's not a Harley or Victory/Indian.

 

[Downunderwonder]

100 percent sure that the budget will only allow a used metric cruiser.

an actual budget may divulge an actual bike. You want sit up and beg seating specifically? I am quite partial to big old Suzuki GS GSX GSF with the big motors and all day rideable positioning.

 

[hondo4life]

an actual budget may divulge an actual bike. You want sit up and beg seating specifically? I am quite partial to big old Suzuki GS GSX GSF with the big motors and all day rideable positioning.

Yeeeeeeee.. my first bike was a 1977 GS750. Big flat seat. Awesome motor. Horrible brakes. Loved it.