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Every once in a while I get the urge to look through Craigslist listings for motorcycles. It's been years since I've ridden, but I did enjoy it. I used my brother's Honda 450 for a summer and later bought myself a Honda 500/4. It was all the bike I needed, though I reasoned that I'd kind of like a 650 or 750. I always liked the looks of the Yamaha XS Special. But I digress....
Anyway, as I'm looking at some listings, I see references to 500cc, 650cc and 750cc bikes as "great for a beginner". I know I'm getting to be an old fart, but I remember when a beginner's bike was a 175 or a 250...maybe a 350. I'd think a beginner would have a hell of a time trying to right a 750 if it's about to be laid over. A rider can probably do 100mph on a 250. How the hell much faster does one want to go on only two wheels?
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Something like a Ninja 250 would be great for getting around town, but I wouldn't want to drive it for any sort of long distance.
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It really depends on how you will be using the bike. Neighborhood rides... to the convenience store or whatever, a 250 is fine. If your going to get on the highway, the extra weight and power of a bigger bike will save you from getting blown off the road by passing cars, trucks.
I had a 700cc cruiser, and recently stepped up to a 1200cc touring bike. Huge jump in power and comfort on the highway, but less fun running errands around town.
Something may have changed since you last road, but my 700 would barely touch 100mph... now my 1200 is a different story... heh, heh...
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I have a little Honda Rebel 250 that will hit 80, so I'd think that a 700cc bike that won't go 100 must have something wrong with it.
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I got back in the saddle in 2004. I honestly say that just about the only thing I am looking forward to now is spring time and the road trips I am daydreaming about. First you have to decide if you want a sports bike or a cruiser. I started out with a Honda Shadow VLX. Great bike which I could have kept indefinitely. I would not go any smaller. Yeah, back in the days 250cc was a middle weight. Now I am riding a 1300cc VTX. Great cruiser that I can ride all day.
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My beginner bike
Well, that's a lie. The very first was a 1964 305 Honda Super Hawk, then a '60 Bonneville, then a 74 Trident, then a 75 Norton with a bunch of Honda and Suzuki dirt bikes thrown in the mix at various times. Heck, there was even a Cushman motor scooter that I traded somebody something for.
If I can ever sell this villa in FL and move to NC, I'll buy one of these
http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/Bonneville_5308.aspx
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So you're saying nobody should ride anything bigger than a 250?
And we don't need any more than 640K of memory?
Choosing displacement isn't always about speed, and I don't let others make that decision for me.
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I love those old triumphs. I've been seeing some killer deals on some of the used buells. From what I understand, they are a really sporty ride, but not real powerful (70's tech engine), so a person might be less likely to get in trouble on one. Maybe you guys know more, but the good deals are due to the new frames being more lightweight, so the old ones are being passed over. Be careful! kj.
