# I'm thinking about getting a motorcycle... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843 "2003-08-04T06:17:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/101 "2003-08-08T12:39:13Z")
I’ve never seen a speedo on a bike that wasn’t connected to the front hub. Also, changing the sprocket won’t make a difference in the reading. If you put on a smaller sprocket, you will go faster at a given RPM. **JaxBeachBoy** : I _thought_ someone else on the boards had an R1. Yours was stolen? Did you post a thread about it? If you did, I must have missed it. I hate it when people fuck with stuff. And stealing a bike is _personal_. Didn’t they used to hang people for stealing horses? Same thing. :mad: The entire (Vance & Hines) exhaust system was stolen from my Seca. Ooh, that pissed me off! I put a gun lock on the new one. And I have a strong cable passing through the frame of my R1 and around a building support, and it’s covered so as not to tempt a casual thief who might be passing by. I have full coverage, of course; but I’d hate to have to use it. ---
**Author:** ![peritrochoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peritrochoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peritrochoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/102 "2003-08-08T13:03:44Z")
I just completed the MSF course in my town last weekend, and just this morning got the motorcycle classification added to my license. So, I too am looking for advice on a first bike. I’m checking out a 1985 Honda Shadow this weekend, but I’m not yet sure what I’m looking for (or _should_ be looking for). FTR, I’m 30, 6’-3", and about 170lbs. With my 36" inseam and boots, I can stand flat-footed on most anything I’ve encountered so far. I’d rather not hijack this thread or start a clone, so **Johnny L.A., Spiny Norman, Coldfire,** and anyone else with lots of time invested in bikes, if you would email me (see my user profile) I’d appreciate it. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/103 "2003-08-08T13:32:58Z")
I wouldn’t worry about hijacking the thread. I think anyone looking for advice on a bike will be welcomed here. 🙂 I don’t know anything about the Shadow. I’m not into cruisers. But many people like cruisers. A 1985 Shadow will undoubtedly be cheap, which is a good thing for a first bike. And it’s hard to kill a Honda. Even with the transmission problem by CX500 refused to die. I’d say check it out this weekend. Ride it and see if you like it. If you do like it, and it’s “you”, then why not? But if you have a chance to try out different types, then you can make a better decision. Maybe you’ll like a standard’s handling better. Maybe you’ll like the laid-back style of the cruiser. But IMO, _any_ bike is better than no bike at all! 😉 And Hondas are great machines. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/104 "2003-08-08T13:37:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peritrochoid \* > \*\*I just completed the MSF course in my town last weekend, and just this morning got the motorcycle classification added to my license. So, I too am looking for advice on a first bike. I’m checking out a 1985 Honda Shadow this weekend, but I’m not yet sure what I’m looking for (or _should_ be looking for). FTR, I’m 30, 6’-3", and about 170lbs. With my 36" inseam and boots, I can stand flat-footed on most anything I’ve encountered so far. I’d rather not hijack this thread or start a clone, so **Johnny L.A., Spiny Norman, Coldfire,** and anyone else with lots of time invested in bikes, if you would email me (see my user profile) I’d appreciate it. Thanks! \*\* No need to worry about hijacking the thread we’ll talk bikes all day long. I’m almost your size, though an inch shorter and 10 pounds bigger. I have a 96 Shadow 600 and when I was married did a lot of touring on it. I think I’ve got ~27k on it and next weekend will be taking it to Florida. Good bike. You might be able to pick up a newer bike though for not much more then the mid 80s version. ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/105 "2003-08-08T13:42:57Z")
Damn you! Who said it would be ok to hijack my thread? Full coverage, eh, **Johnny**? I’ll make sure that you have to use it now ;). All joking aside, for the most part, I’ve pretty much figured out what I’m looking for. Anyone else who needs help should feel free to ask. This is the purpose of these boards after all. I’m still torn. Someone, quick, recommend three sport bikes that would be still be extremely reliable if purchased secondhand (I’m kinda sold on the Katana 600 but I feel like I still don’t know enough). ---
**Author:** ![peritrochoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peritrochoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peritrochoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/106 "2003-08-08T13:59:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*I’d say check it out this weekend. Ride it and see if you like it. If you do like it, and it’s “you”, then why not? But if you have a chance to try out different types, then you can make a better decision. Maybe you’ll like a standard’s handling better. Maybe you’ll like the laid-back style of the cruiser. > > But IMO, _any_ bike is better than no bike at all! 😉 And Hondas are great machines. \*\* Thanks, all. Yeah, I’m not sure a cruiser is _exactly_ what I’m looking for. But I figure if I like it enough and it’s reasonably priced, I’m not going to completely disregard it just because I’m not passionate about the style. I prefer the styling of the standards and sport bikes, but like you say, **Johnny** , any bike is better than no bike. I **do** plan to shop some this weekend, so I’ll have a better idea what I’m comfortable on. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/107 "2003-08-08T15:38:06Z")
Why, it’s almost 6 o’clock! Time to fire up the Divvy (patiently waiting in the shady and cool parking cellar), and rrrrrride on home. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/108 "2003-08-08T16:55:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flood \* > \*\* Someone, quick, recommend three sport bikes that would be still be extremely reliable if purchased secondhand (I’m kinda sold on the Katana 600 but I feel like I still don’t know enough). \*\* The Katana is a decent choice, as would be any of the Honda CBR’s. FZR’s and YZF’s have been around a while and are good, solid units also. Be careful about buying a bike that has been sitting for a while. You can easily run into problems with the fuel system being gummed up. Getting 4 carbs cleaned and synced and operating properly can be an expensive hassle. I would also advise you to be wary of bikes that have all kinds of aftermarket crap on them. Ket kits and pipes and clip-ons are nice, but when not installed properly are a detremint. Know what your buying! Also, don’t pay too much for the Katana. There are a million of them out there and you should be able to find one cheap. When I worked at the dealer, we almost couldn’t give them away, new or used. I imagine the used market is in favor of the buyer. * * * Bollocks! ---
**Author:** ![WhiteyFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@WhiteyFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhiteyFoo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/109 "2003-08-08T17:15:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flood \* > **Someone, quick, recommend three sport bikes that would be still be extremely reliable if purchased secondhand .** 1. Kawasaki EX250/500 2. Suzuki GS500 3)Honda NT650 Hawk (not Nighthawk) Also, not as recommended due to displacement but still good bikes: Suzuki Bandit 600 Suzuki Katana 600 Honda CBR600 F2 Yamaha FZR600 Since you are young, make sure you take a look at insurance before you buy. 18 + “sport bike”=high, high insurance. Stick with the standard, or naked bike for reasonable insurance rates. And if you are in the Houston area, give me a call and I can go bike shopping with you. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/110 "2003-08-08T17:15:08Z")
The Divvy required about .7 litres of oil. Par for the course for 1500 km’s, I’d say. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/111 "2003-08-08T19:50:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Why, it’s almost 6 o’clock! Time to fire up the Divvy (patiently waiting in the shady and cool parking cellar), and rrrrrride on home. 🙂 \*\* Why it’s 4 and time to ride off on my Shadow, but first to get my $1.60 per gallon of gas! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/112 "2003-08-08T20:43:08Z")
Ha! I only pay about $1.25! [sub]Per litre, yes. What’s your point?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/113 "2003-08-08T20:52:56Z")
My R1 is due for its first service (which occurs at 600 miles). I decided to drive the Cherokee today. Bummer. L.A. traffic in a four-wheeler! Ah, I had to go to the store anyway. ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/114 "2003-08-08T21:47:15Z")
> [@](#): > > And if you are in the Houston area, give me a call and I can go bike shopping with you. Alas, San Antonio my friend. Houston’s _way_ too big… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/115 "2003-08-09T14:04:18Z")
To **flood** and everyone else: Post photos when you get your rides! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/116 "2003-08-10T15:01:45Z")
I found this to be a good link [http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html](http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html) for anyone considering getting a motorcycle. If I can ask a question, what are honda 1985 cb 450’s like? There is one for sale and it has been lowered and Im kind of interested in it. Originally I was intending on getting a suzuki 250 maurader cruiser just because it was light and I could flatfoot it. ---
**Author:** ![JaxBeachBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@JaxBeachBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaxBeachBoy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/117 "2003-08-10T15:38:19Z")
BLah those were the two reasons I had read on other boards as to why speedos were off from the factory. I have a race prepped cbr600 (actually Konicelli’s old CCS bike, built by KWS motorsports) that I use on track, but I never get to use it as much as I though I would…I think I will sell it and use the money for a new streetbike…still not sure though, every time I watch a race on TV I decide to keep it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/118 "2003-08-17T19:29:34Z")
So **flood** … Have you made a decision yet? 🙂 **cherry** : As I’ve said, I’ve been a Yamaha Man since I was ten years old. However I rode my dad’s 1970 CB750 and my ex-g/f’s 197(?) CB360T, and I used to own a well-used CX500 (which has a different type of engine from the CBs). From what little I know of Hondas, they are the orignal UJM (“Universal Japanese Motorcycle”). They are standards with an upright inline two-cylinder (four-cylinder in the CB750-Four) air-cooled engines with chain drive. Hondas have a well-earned reputation for reliability. UJMs are classic bikes. The new Nighthawks still retain some of the retro styling. I rode the ex’s CB360T on the freeway and found it to be a bit “buzzy”. Not surprising on the freeway. I also found that the old-school skinny tyres made the bike feel a little jittery on the grooved freeway. Compared to my Yamaha Seca II (over 20 years newer than the ex’s bike, fairly light and with almost twice the displacement) the CB360T seemed heavy and underpowered. Still, the CB360T was a lot of fun to ride. It had no pretentions. It was a good, reliable, basic motorcycle. I would expect a CB450 to be very much the same. (I could, however, be completely wrong – just going on general impressions here.) I think a CB450 would be a little underpowered for modern freeway driving, but quite adequate for freeway driving as long as you don’t try to make it perform beyond its limits. It will probably provide years of trouble-free service as long as routine maintenance is performed. Being a CB-series, it will probably be inexpensive to buy. With no fancy plastic fairings, you shouldn’t worry too much about dropping it. If I had a nice big garage I’d probably have about a dozen bikes. One would be a first-generation CB750-Four, but I’d like to have one of the smaller Honda CB-series bikes such as the CB350, CB360T or the CB450 in my stable as well. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/119 "2003-08-17T19:33:40Z")
Oh yeah… [Here is a Honda CB450 site](http://www.osg.se/sweb/cb450/). A warning, though: When you enter, it opens a new full-screen window. I don’t know how to close such a window except by resorting to the task manager. Still, it has some nice CB450 pix and descriptions. The site recommends using Explorer 6.0. I have not tried it with my usual Netscape 4.7. ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843/120 "2003-08-18T08:07:34Z")
**Johnny** I think I’ve made up my mind. I like the specs on the Suzuki Katana 600s. A good used one goes for about 3-4K on Ebay. I’m sure I can find an even cheaper one here in town. FTR, I’m not going to be getting the bike any time soon. This was merely a starting ground so that I could get all my facts straight. I’ll probably be taking the class in the spring, and my parents and I will start perusing the bikes here shortly after. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-getting-a-motorcycle/192843.md?page=7)