I hate to admit it...,

[Downunderwonder]

I started on dirt bikes too. I stopped riding after a thief stole my bike and destroyed first gear. That resulted in a burnt out clutch from always starting in second gear. After that, I focused on my career, but my love of motorcycles never died.

This is definitely a bike that can be ridden hard. I admit that it hurts my pride to get a “beginner” bike, but if I am honest with with myself, the only larger bike I would be comfortable with would be a low revving cruiser sort of bike like a Yamaha Bolt or a Triumph Street Twin. The Suzuki 650 V-Strom was also a bike that I found very easy to handle, but for some crazy reason, my insurance company charges insane rates for the 650 and 1000cc V-Strom.

More plastic to break?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

More plastic to break?

What do you mean?

 

[Downunderwonder]

What do you mean?

If you were comparing insurance rates on Vstroms vs open tourers without all the fairings that cost big money each time the bike falls over.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If you were comparing insurance rates on Vstroms vs open tourers without all the fairings that cost big money each time the bike falls over.

I am about learning. The only thing I had considered was performance, I had not thought about repairing fairings. Thanks.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Since I am now looking 500cc bikes, maybe the Harley 500 might work too?
This is one I saw in the parking lot, and looks, but it seems to have a really low seat height, and is old school with two shocks instead the huge monoshock most bikes have these days, but I do love V-twins!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I just looked up the numbers, the little Harley has 33.5 bhp and 29.5 ft. Lbs of torque. It also weighs 70 pounds more than the Honda. That sounds like a real slug!

 

[Gaolee]

This is definitely a bike that can be ridden hard. I admit that it hurts my pride to get a “beginner” bike, but if I am honest with with myself, the only larger bike I would be comfortable with would be a low revving cruiser sort of bike like a Yamaha Bolt or a Triumph Street Twin. The Suzuki 650 V-Strom was also a bike that I found very easy to handle, but for some crazy reason, my insurance company charges insane rates for the 650 and 1000cc V-Strom.

SV650s were considered "beginner bikes", too. They were also a whole lot of fun to race, because they were light, could be made to handle, and had an entertaining power band. There's no shame in riding a "beginner bike." If anything, it would just prove that you don't care what other people think. I see a whole lot of 250s and 300s on the street out here lately. About half of those will end up on the racetrack eventually, because flogging a slow bike is so much fun.

I wouldn't call a Street Triple low revving. If you keep your hoof out of the throttle, it can act like a low revving machine, but it still has plenty of top end on tap if you want it. It just won't run out of revs as soon as some other motors.

 

[Gaolee]

I just looked up the numbers, the little Harley has 33.5 bhp and 29.5 ft. Lbs of torque. It also weighs 70 pounds more than the Honda. That sounds like a real slug!

It probably is a real slug. That wouldn't make it a bad bike if it's still fun to ride. But being a Harley, it's probably more expensive to go along with everything else.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

SV650s were considered "beginner bikes", too. They were also a whole lot of fun to race, because they were light, could be made to handle, and had an entertaining power band. There's no shame in riding a "beginner bike." If anything, it would just prove that you don't care what other people think. I see a whole lot of 250s and 300s on the street out here lately. About half of those will end up on the racetrack eventually, because flogging a slow bike is so much fun.

I wouldn't call a Street Triple low revving. If you keep your hoof out of the throttle, it can act like a low revving machine, but it still has plenty of top end on tap if you want it. It just won't run out of revs as soon as some other motors.

I would not call the Street Triple a low revver at all! It does have a torquey engine that punched me in the back sort of like the Bolt did. I know I could get used to it, it’s just that on the CB500, I did not have to worry unleashing gobs of power. Since I will probably buy something after Christmas, the Triple is not off the table. The Triumph Street Twin, however, is a low revver with a Harley style power curve. It is over $9,000, so not cheap by my standards, but if I have a bigger down payment, it could be affordable.

 

[Mike N]

Horsepower sells cars.

Torque wins races.

Hmm, I've seen that somewhere.......

 

[Gaolee]

I would not call the Street Triple a low revver at all! It does have a torquey engine that punched me in the back sort of like the Bolt did. I know I could get used to it, it’s just that on the CB500, I did not have to worry unleashing gobs of power. Since I will probably buy something after Christmas, the Triple is not off the table. The Triumph Street Twin, however, is a low revver with a Harley style power curve. It is over $9,000, so not cheap by my standards, but if I have a bigger down payment, it could be affordable.

Street Twin. Got it. I missed the two vs. three part. DOH!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am thinking of bigger bikes again. I like the options a little more size and power allow. Who knows, maybe test riding the CB500F was a little nudge I needed because I took it on the freeway and did fine. If I get a bigger bike, there is no reason why I couldn’t take it easy for a month or two. I am not a kid, I have gone fast before. I know enough now to not push my skills before I am ready.

To top it off, the Triumph Tiger 1050 above, that I almost bought in August, is still around. I may need to move quickly!

 

[Old Blastard]

Just brought home dad's bike. He quit riding at 84.

900 miles with the last 180 in the mountains in the rain. 800cc and shaft drive. Not a lot of speed, but usuable torque in all gears. If you pay attention and don't get silly, you'll be fine.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Just brought home dad's bike. He quit riding at 84.

900 miles with the last 180 in the mountains in the rain. 800cc and shaft drive. Not a lot of speed, but usuable torque in all gears. If you pay attention and don't get silly, you'll be fine.

Thanks, I have just had to honest with myself that I am a bit nervous. I am not really afraid, but I understand what can go wrong much more clearly than when I was young. What kind of bike was your father riding. I had assumed it was a Harley, but Harley does belts these days, not shaft drives. Is it a Kawasaki?

 

[Old Blastard]

Suzuki C-50 cruiser. It's pretty comfortable.

Take an MSF beginning class to reawaken your skills. Being older, we know what can happen and our friends always are there to remind us. Being cautious and a bit nervous is good. Tense and afraid is no fun, though.

 

[Russell L]

I used to ride a '75 Honda CB500 in the early '80s. Plenty of power for me. Wore it out and traded for a '74 Honda CB550-Four. It had a little more top end, but I actually liked the feel of the twin better. Years later I got a 2002 Sportster 1200 Custom. Much more power, of course, but I was never one to cut up on it anyway. Sold it and now have a 2007 Road King Standard. Love it, but miss my small bikes.

Thing is, I really just like to cruise. Just roll along. I love bottom end more than top end.

 

[fhm555]

I hate to admit it...I’m a fool for your stockings?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I rode these two bikes today for 14 miles a piece and I had a ball! The top one is a 2012 Triumph Speedmaster, the bottom one is a new old stock 2016 Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer. They are both torque heavy, low revving bikes. They were easy to ride, and frankly, they were easy to ride fast because I did not have to about wheelies or hitting a spot in the power band where they are flying. It would be great if I were totally comfortable with a 100-200 bhp bike, but fun doesn’t truly come until the rider is secure in his or her ability to control a bike.

 

[MMiller28]

Wheelies? Think about your family. Motorcycles are trashy.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Wheelies? Think about your family. Motorcycles are trashy.

Reading is fundamental. I was talking about bikes with smooth power bandts that will not wheelie unintended.