I have never owned a motorcycle before, but it has always been an interest of mine. Recently a work friend mentioned her husband selling his mint condition 2005 Yamaha Silverado 650cc with a bunch of extras for a good price that seems hard to refuse. I don’t have a problem with the higher cc as a starter bike, but I’m concerned about the weight of it (583lbs).
I am an in shape 5’4", 130lbs girl and am concerned that it might just be too big for me. My feet sit comfortably on the ground and I didn’t feel like it was going to knock me over, but I thought I should ask for a second opinion…
If your feet touch, at least one flat and one slightly better than toes, and if you can get it off the kickstand easily GO FOR IT. Once its off the stand and on the tires it basically weighs nothing which is why you see tiny little ladies sometimes riding these huge dressers. If you drop it, you may - just may - need help getting it upright again but I doubt you would drop it very often if you have some training and experience. Just remember, back to the bike and lift with your legs.
It’s not going to knock you over, but there may come a time when it reaches the tipping point that you may not be able to catch it. I doubt you could set it up if it fell. Are you planning on long trips, or just around town driving? That may make a big difference.
I’m a 5’6", 150# guy and I just spent a weekend riding a rental Harley Sportster 1200 which weighs about the same as the bike you’re looking at. I currently own a Yamaha V-Star 250 which weighs 350 lbs, and while I could definitely feel the Sportster was a heavier bike, it didn’t really matter all that much. I suppose if you drop it, it’ll be harder to pick up. but if you’re flat foot at a stop and it’s not too wide for you to comfortably sit on, then you shouldn’t have a problem.
though you sound like a novice, so if you haven’t already I urge you to take a Basic Rider Course just to get your bearings.
Thanks to all of you! Hearing that definitely makes me feel more confident - I really want this bike!
jz78817; I am planning on taking all and any courses I can, and have been recommended to a good school by a friend of mine which I plan on attending soon. You’re correct in assuming I’m a novice though; gotta start somewhere!
In reply to Morgenstern; I plan to use it for around town riding as well as longer trips, but it’ll only be used for fun, not as a commuter bike. I don’t currently know any other bikers close to where I am, so I would more than likely be on my own mostly. Is the potential of it falling and me not being able to lift it back up something I should be seriously concerned about?
good to hear. even if you get this bike I highly recommend taking the class before going out on the road. the basic rider course is as much about preparing for the dangers of the road as it is about handling the bike. Also, some states (like Michigan) will impound your bike if you are pinched riding without a motorcycle endorsement, and taking (and passing) the basic rider course is the easiest way to get that endorsement.
These cruiser type bikes have pretty low centers of gravity, so weight isn’t as much of an issue as it would be on other styles of bikes. For example, the big BMW sport tourers weigh about the same but the weight on that taller bike would definitely be an issue for a less experienced rider.
I agree with doing the MSF class before you buy a bike. If you’re generally pretty confident there, jumping right into a midrange cruiser like this 650 would be fine, but if you’re feeling at all skittish you might want to start on a smaller bike. Fortunately, the used market for little 250s tends to be pretty brisk so buying one for a year and then selling it to get most of your money back is usually pretty easy.
Also if you do decide to jump right in to a bigger bike, definitely shop around. Japanese cruiser bikes often don’t hold their value all that well, so you may find that the price on that bike isn’t as crazy good as you’re thinking.
That’s why you set the kickstand first. There’s a trick if it falls on the kickstand side, it might just be to lift it and kick the stand down when it’s up high enough. Check youtube, plenty of videos.
Anways, back to the OP. I took the MSF class. They use little tiny bikes. Honda Rebels (250?). There small enough that two people could probably comfortably pick one up.
When I went to buy a bike after the class, I was looking at them and the sales guy made the comment that if I was comfortable on that, after a few hours of practicing, I’d likely outgrow it after a few months and sold me a Honda Shadow 750 (it weighs somewhere between 500 and 600 pounds). I was terrified at first, but I got used to it very quickly.
I don’t know anything about Yamahas, but looking at some pictures, that looks like their version of my Shadow. My bike is pretty easy to ride, but if you’ve never ridden a motorcycle before, take the MSF class before you try. No point in dumping it halfway down the block because you panicked trying to shift gears and it lurched or some other silly reason.
Also, FTR, your size compared to the bike really doesn’t play into it that much. It’s more about you being in control of it. Next time you’re driving around look at the other riders. Plenty of small guys (or girls) riding huge bikes. I’ve only got a few pounds and about 4 inches on you and I’ve ridden a few friend’s Harleys (One of them was an Ultra Glide) a few times with no issues, though making a U-turn on a busy road is daunting, but doing that is, literally, what the MSF class is for.
I’ve always been told that if you can’t pick it up if you drop it, it’s too big. That’s why I can’t ride - I’ll always be the BoB. But my friends can be real douches at times - I think if you’re comfortable and know what you’re doing, it’s YOUR call! ENJOY!!
Let me say no with a small qualification; gas leaking from the cap. I don’t know how that exact bike works so I can’t say if there is a risk there. Most of the people I know who drop their bikes (and the two times I’ve done it myself) its basically backing out of a driveway or garage and “doing a dummy” and grabbing the brake with the wheel turned. So the engine is cold and zero fire hazard. Super-hot motor and the tanks leaks, even picking it up fast may not save the day.
If you use the newest approved pick-up you could surprise yourself
PS – crash bars help; sometimes a little rocking motion is all the difference. Do as she does but push down somewhat first and then lift as it rocks back.
On finding people to ride with - just to to a couple local events like bike nights or charity events and say hello to some folks. Maybe check http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/
and see if any Motor Maids chapters or anything are around you.
And a great big woohoo for the MSF classes – well worth the time and effort.
That’s more a crash than a drop. In a case like that even a Hulk Hogan type is most likely going to be trapped unless someone helps him out. But it is one of the reasons I’ve put crash bars on everything I’ve ever owned for any real period of time (even a dinky little 250 Virago); at least front and mostly front and rear. The cost isn’t very high and it is a big skin saver. Good riding clothes (jeans and jacket at the least) are also important at times like that; as we’ve said around the Dope “Dress for the slide and not the ride”.
And another PS – even if you are in a helmet-optional state like mine PLEASE wear a helmet. I may need a transplant some day but I would rather it wasn’t one of your organs.
I hope you buy a full face helmet, rather than the open face helmets cruiser riders seem to prefer. And some good gloves. If you go down, the natural instinct is put out your hands. You want some good palm protection. Good luck with the bike!
If you fell and ended up with your leg pinned under the bike, you’d have so little leverage, I’d be surprised if the average person could lift even a 300 pound bike off of them. That’s about the weight of a Honda Rebel. That’s about half the weight of a medium sized bike. A large Harley or Honda Goldwing is 3 times that.
Keep in mind, if you can’t shimmy out from under it, you’re going to be in pain and only going to be able to push it up with probably just one arm. It’s going to be like doing a side push up. You’re not going to be able to lift the bike with your upper hand, the only thing you’re going to be able to do is push it up with your lower hand.
You’re best bet is to learn to step away from it if you drop it when you’re stopped and take the MSF class so you know what to do if something starts to go wrong when your riding it.
Being able to lift the bike is one of those things bikers natter about like we believe it is important. Yet, I know plenty of people who ride but couldn’t lift a dropped bike. Older people, small people, out of shape people…I know lots of riders in these categories. What is important is if you can control the bike, not whether you can pick it up. Anyboy who claims s/he can lift a bike that has pinned hir leg is invited to link to a video demonstrating how that is done with a motorcycle of any real size.
A friend of mine, big, huge Harley guy, got his ankle pinned between the floor board and a curb. The bike didn’t even fall. It was only tilted a few degrees, but he was in so much pain that he lost the strength in his leg to push it back up.
My friend’s and I were in the house for about a minute looking at each other saying “why is he still honking the horn, didn’t they leave like 5 minutes ago?”. We finally went out there and realized what was going on. It took two of us (we were teens at the time) to push him and his wife back up just a few inches so he could get his foot out.
there’s a huge variance in power from 650cc depending on the type of bike and engine. 650cc gets you 100+ hp in a sport bike, but maybe 40 hp in a V-twin cruiser.
