posted
So I just bought a new bike, and I'm really excited about it.
My old bike, a 94 Yamaha Virago 535 had some engine problems at the end of last season and is sitting around with a defunct motor right now. Since the thought of having to go a whole summer without a motorcyle is too devistating I went and bought a used bike this weekend.
Ironically, another Virago. But this time a '95 1100cc. The bike is in beautiful condition, and is an absolute monster compared to my old bike, which was getting kind of small for me anyway. It was my first bike and I wanted to start out small.
Anyway, I was checking the blue book value of my new bike and came across an intresting statistic. When Kelly calculates blue book for a motorcycle it's much simpler than for a car. You input the model and they give you a price, regardless of any add ons on the bike or mileage. But there is a chart they link to that shows you how they calculate average expected mileage. The chart is based on the year of the bike and the size of the engine. The larger the engine size, the higher the expected mileage is. Significantly.
I thought this was interesting. Is that because people who get smaller bikes are usually new riders and riding less than more experienced riders? Or is it simply that having a larger bike makes you want to ride it more?
I was a huge exception to this rule as I put about 15k miles on my 535 in 2 years.
posted
O tyhink you have deduced it. My Virago 500 was great, but it was too small to go on long trips. I took my first BMW on a couple of long trips, including 10,000 miles in 17 days.
Posts: 720 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
heh...I'll be good. I'm a bit nervous. I've never ridden on a bike bigger than 800cc. And I've messed around with some of my friends sport bikes too.
But this will definitely be a new experience.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
I love any bike or quad, but my bike is a 2000 Katana 600. If I trade it in or sell it, I would probably buy a bigger sport-tourer. Possibilities would be an Interceptor or ST-1300, or the delicious Yamaha FJR 1300. Outside possibilities would be a fire-breathing Ninja 1200 or a Hayabusa, which I would ride a gear tall and hang on for my dear life. I shun true sport bikes because of limited comfort, but love the looks of them, so I tend to gravitate to something sporty that I can ride in a more upright position. But I am not a cruiser man, yet.
I also have a sick Honda CR 250 2 stroke dirtbike that has more thrust/weight ratio than my Katana, a Sporttrax 250, a Polaris Sportsman 500, and the awesome Kawasaki Brute Force V-twin 750. The Brute actually can be power-wheelied very easily, even with a winch up front.
Basically, I am a redneck in disguise...
Posts: 1870 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
heh, I'm a cruiser man all the way. Sport bikes are fun to play around with, but I'd much rather have the comfort of a cruiser. And I love chrome too. Personally, i just think cruisers look much cooler. The attitude is more laid back. If I ever get a sport bike it'll be when i have enough money to have multiple bikes.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Count me among the crusier fans. I love my new bike so much! Sport bikes just don't do anything for me.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Seriously (I assume besides the "defunct motor" there's nothing wrong with it)? What sort of price would you want, and what maintenance at what costs would be coming up soon?
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Check out one of the motorcycle mags, I believe it is either Motorcyclist or Cycle World . At the back of the mag there is a colum that is titled "Best Buys" on used bikes. You can get a very decent bike for $2,000-3,000. I also bought mine new as a left over for about $5,400.
As for cruisers, they rock too. Heck, I think anyone who enjoys bikes like I do is a confidant and a soulbro. BUT, all I do is wash my bike, towel it off, and ride. 10 minutes, tops. No chrome for me to polish = more riding time... Posts: 1870 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I took some pictures of it that you can look at here if you'd like.
It didn't really take me any time to get used to the larger engine. Top speed is the same, it's just got alot more power to it. But not as much as I expected. And the weight difference is minimal. If I didn't *know* it was a heavier bike, I would've never even had a second thought about it.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I learned how to ride on my Dad's Yamaha Maxim 1100 ('81 or '83... we were never sure...). The thing weighed over 600lbs dry. It was huge.
Unfortunately, whilst learning, a nut cam loose inside the differential casing (this bike was shaft driven, kind of like a car - no drive chain here!) and fell into the gears, stripping them badly. That basically cooked the bike, and I had to push it home (only 4kms or so...). It's never been running since, to my knowledge.
Both my mother and my wife don't approve of the idea of riding motorbikes - the danger, the noise, etc... ... but I would absolutley LOVE to get a bike of my own one day... 1000cc's plus... big 'ol cruiser... (Not a Harley - overpriced, and I don't care for the sound)... *sigh*
Anyway, congratulations! I hope you end up falling in love with bigger bikes.
Posts: 353 | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Man, threads move to quick around here. This managed to fall to the third page in like 12 hours!
Anyway, thanks everybody. I'll be safe...promise.
I agree with you Wonder Dog about Harleys. They're way overpriced and I don't go in for the incredibely loud, can be heard 2 miles away, engine. That's what I like about the Virago. Cruiser, lots of chrome, but not lots of noise. Though the 1100 is significantly louder than the 535.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Eljay, I remember you posting a thread about your new bike, but don't remember what kind of bike it was...
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
*whistles at ElJay's bike* Very pretty. Do you ride it much? It looks almost too nice to ride...
Posts: 353 | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I just got it a couple of weeks ago, and it's my first bike, so I'm still on the front end of the learning curve. I'm getting a lot more comfortable, though, and I'm loving riding. So for now it's a couple of times a week, when the weather allows. I haven't done anything like ride it in to work yet, just gone for rides around town.
In a few more weeks, I can see myself riding whenever and where ever it's nice enough/I don't need to carry anything/jeans are acceptable attire.
And thanks! I love it. It's a 2003, and only had 507 miles on it when I got it, and is in basically showroom condition. I've put on about 100 miles so far is all.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Did you go and just take the motorcycle license test? Or did you take a safety course?
I took a safety course up in New Jersey, which automatically gives you your license at the end of the course. The Course was wonderful. It really made me very comfortable riding afterwards. I still took it easy for a bit, but within a month or so I was riding it to my job which was about 10-15 highway miles away.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
I took the safety class last fall. You don't automatically get your license at the end of ours, you have to test for it, but I passed the test. I'm really glad I did it, I feel like I learned a lot!
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
yeah, we had to pass a test too. but I meant you didn't have to go take the state test after the class.
And since in New Jersey the wait to take the state motorcycle test was over six months(atleast), it really made sense to take that course.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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