Is 650cc too big for a beginner...

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Alex

2004-04-05 15:27:56 UTC

Hi all,

I've been looking about the newsgroup and there's some really good
advice here. I have experience in riding, off road mainly 250cc bikes.
I am currently going for my full license (over here in Holland...)

I was looking at the kinds of bike I may want to buy, as and when I
get my licence. Im looking for a cruiser of some sort, not a big fan
of the 'Crotch-Rockets' (no offence...) Would 650cc be too big? Most
of the cruisers I've been looking at are huge 1100cc and such, but it
looks like Yamaha have some fairly affordable cruisers at 650cc or
there abouts.

Any advice from the collective would be much appreciated.

Regards
Alex

Someone

2004-04-05 15:44:09 UTC

Permalink

Alex,

The vstar 650 Yamaha crusier is very well suited for a beginner. It has a
low center of gravity and the clutch is bullet proof. I started on one of
these and I am glad that I did. After a year and a half and 23,000 miles I
was ready to move up though. These bikes look good and handle fairly well,
but after a time you will really notice how underpowered it is. I also
discovered that I preferred the standard seating position and am now riding
a BMW RT. I still have the Yamaha though and it is still a fun bike to ride
(although it does rack up as many miles now.

Something to keep in mind is that the service interval on the vstar is only
4000 miles. To check the valves you will need to remove the tank, airbox and
duct work, and the carb. It is a pretty big job, but after a few times it
goes quickly (about 3 hrs for disassembly and reassembly, about 20 minutes
of that time to check and adjust the valves if needed).

Cheers,
Doug

Post by Alex
Hi all,
I've been looking about the newsgroup and there's some really good
advice here. I have experience in riding, off road mainly 250cc bikes.
I am currently going for my full license (over here in Holland...)
I was looking at the kinds of bike I may want to buy, as and when I
get my licence. Im looking for a cruiser of some sort, not a big fan
of the 'Crotch-Rockets' (no offence...) Would 650cc be too big? Most
of the cruisers I've been looking at are huge 1100cc and such, but it
looks like Yamaha have some fairly affordable cruisers at 650cc or
there abouts.
Any advice from the collective would be much appreciated.
Regards
Alex

moto

2004-04-07 04:17:04 UTC

Permalink

Alex ...
I'm gonna assume your 'selection' of bikes there is about as wide (maybe
wider) than here. They seem to have bikes floatin' around there that
don't make it here until we scream for 'em.

A 650 or even a 750 isn't too big for someone than has some riding
experience as you seem to. A Honda Ace or Spirit are pretty easy to get
along with, and don't present any particularly intimidating features for
someone going for a street/ cruiser style bike.

moto

Some mornings it's just not worth chewing through the straps.

'02 750 Ace..... The Twin
'01 Magna.... Black Magic
'95 750 Nighthawk.Big Red
'95 Helix....... Little Red

TOXICTAVRN

2004-04-05 15:46:23 UTC

Permalink

a 650-750-800cc bike would be a fine starter bike, especially since you do have
some riding experience, actually some even larger bikes are really no different
for the most part than some of the smaller bikes, their power and weight are
very close, if you can ride the hell outta a 250 dirt bike than you already
have a good head start on riding and a mid size cruiser should not be a problem
for you

79 T/A WS6 455 ,Hurst 4 spd, Blk w/ t-tops, Heavily Fortified, 4mpg

00 Ram 2500HD QC V-10 4x4,Blk,5 spd,4:10 LSD, 10mpg

98 Intruder 1400, Blk, 5 spd, 25mpg

Demetrius XXIV and the Gladiatores

2004-04-05 16:32:19 UTC

Permalink

A 650 cruiser or dualsport is not too much. A 600 supersport might be.

Beardg

2004-04-05 16:36:18 UTC

Permalink

Post by Alex
Would 650cc be too big?

Beardg>>In a cruiser ...no way...you could even go larger if you felt like you
could handle the weight. Cruisers don't make power the same way a sportbike
does, and so are quite a bit easier to handle. If you want a cruiser,worry
about the size, not the power.

Thomas Muffaletto

2004-04-05 18:23:07 UTC

Permalink

the smaller the bike the easier, safer and more
fun it will be to learn on
no matter what bike you get, don't ride
at your friends level of experience until
you are ready. All I did for the first 100 miles
was practice the lessons introduced to me at
the MSF. Ride safe, read this group a lot
the things you learn here just may save your life.
at the very least im sure it saved me a few drops.
Tom

--
The American Diabetes Associations Web Site.
http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp
MY VTX1300C :)
http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/memberdetail.cfm?user_ID=162139

John Wesley Mullennix

2004-04-05 20:02:08 UTC

Permalink

I was in the same position as you last year. I bought a Suzuki Volusia 800
cruiser as my first bike. It's not that heavy, handles and drives well, and
has sufficient power, but not overwhelming power, for a beginner.

-jwm

--
***@charter.net
webpages.charter.net/mullennix
'03 Volusia

"I hit him to get his attention. I shot him to calm him down. I killed him
to reason with him." - Henry Rollins

Joe

2004-04-06 03:19:47 UTC

Permalink

Depends on you and where you ride and what type of bike it is. My first
street bike was the Vulcan 750... Still is... Learned at the MSF course a
lot and broke a lot of my dirt riding habits there... just keep those feet
ON the pegs! No using your foot in turns like on a dirt bike...
--
Joe - V#8013 - '86 VN750 - joe @ yunx .com
Northern, NJ
Ask me about "The Ride" on July 31, '04:
http://www.youthelate.com/the_ride.htm

Born once - Die twice. Born twice - Die only once. Your choice...

Wanna ride yer motorcycle on Saturday, April 24th? eMail me...

Clutchman

2004-04-06 10:21:09 UTC

Permalink

Alex,

Being in Holland, I have a question for you. How old are you, and if over 21
what power class are you expecting to do your riding exam (afrijden) on? If
you're under 21 you don't have much of a choice as you'll be limited to
0.16kW/kg or a max of 36hp for two years. This means you could get a
Hayabusa, but it won't ride due to the restriction. A (restricted) 600/650
especially a cruiser shouldn't be too bad as a learner. I would stay off
the highways tho, but you'll soon notice that you don't exactly have the
power to keep up with most vehicles. 120kph may be the limit, but hardly
anybody sticks to it.... :-)

Check out Timberwoof's FAQ if you need more info or drop me an e-mail:
http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq/europe.html (BTW, Timberwoof the
rules/laws have been changed a bit since April 1st. I'm working on it so
expect an update sometime in the near future. An update for the 25kW list is
being worked on as well...)

Clutchman

Vic Sagerquist

2004-04-07 03:52:01 UTC

Permalink

I started with a V-Star 650. In about a month I was ready for more.
Sometimes I wish I'd gotten the 1100. But the 650 is adequate for most
use and gets me better gas mileage than the 1100 would have. I have
26,000 miles on the 650 now and it still puts a smile on my face.

You'd probably tire quickly of a 250, but an 1100 would require a kind of
restraint that is learned over time. It'll get you in trouble faster
than a 650 will.
--
Vic Sagerquist
aa#2011
Supervisor, EAC Department of little adhesive-backed "L" shaped
chrome-plastic doo-dads to add feet to Jesus fish department
______________

Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day.
Give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish.

--Timothy Jones

Farm Dog

2004-04-08 02:02:52 UTC

Permalink

A 650 cc cruiser is an excellent beginner bike. My first bike was a Suzuki
Savage 650cc. I found out however that what I appreciated about it wasn't
the displacement but the overall weight. At 340 lbs I could muscle it
around easily even after the stupidest mistakes. After 1500 miles though it
wasn't enough for me. I moved up to a 800 cc Kawasaki but it was 510 lbs.
Big difference but not a problem once you have the self confidence built up.

The Yamaha 650 is a beautiful bike. Go for it.