[BigMike]

I am looking at getting a big scooter to save on gas, have fun, and save on gas. The plan behind the scooter was to get it so my wife could ride it too. Whilst I was looking for a big one, we found a cheap small one that she liked, so we picked it up.

So now.... I am debating over getting a big scooter, or a motorcycle. I'm kind of leaning toward a real bike now, because I can get one for the same price as the scooter. Mileage is not as good, 45-50mpg vs 70-75, but... it'd be a bike.

I found this one on Craigslist in my area.... What do you think?

http://richmond.craigslist.org/mcy/739157454.html

 

[stinkyboy]

Sportsters are chick bikes. Seriously. Don't take it to Sturgis.

Edit: For $1300, you can get a Chinese scooter that does better than 50 MPH and they are fun as hell. A few people at work are rockin' them and I think I'm buying one soon.

 

[Westy]

Overpriced and unreliable.

 

[gonefirefightin]

I have 4

2006 honda VFR 800
2004 honda valkyrie F-6
2007 Suzuki 400SM
2005 BMW GS 1200 adventure

I am building a custom airbagged 115 inch V-twin chopper for the bar hops and rallies

the valkyrie would be a great bike you and the woman, pretty stout and comfortable and you can find the 99 era bike for under 4 grand

I am pretty sure you might regret buying a sportster

 

[BurlyShirley]

Fine bike at a good price.

 

[Potroast88]

Sportsters are chick bikes. Seriously. Don't take it to Sturgis.

Here's my Sporty and I wouldn't hesitate for a second to take it to Sturgis. In fact, it would probably outrun 90% of the bikes there.

A few more "chick bikes".

 

[drkenan]

^^ Did you do the custom work on yours? If so I have a few questions for you...

 

[Potroast88]

^^ Did you do the custom work on yours? If so I have a few questions for you...

Yes, I did it all. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

 

[drkenan]

Yes, I did it all. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

You just opened up a major can of worms.

I'll be in touch soon...got a bit of a bike dilemna that I could use some advice on.

 

[?????]

You could get a sea foam scooter and still be cooler than this guy

...yes, there are two little front wheels.

 

[stinkyboy]

Those are cool bikes, and you can make them look butch, but they're still chick bikes.

 

[Kanye West]

Choice is simple really....

 

[BurlyShirley]

Choice is simple really....

Yes it is.

Here's my next ride.

 

[stevew]

It's getting to the point to where I do not even look out for scooter riders anymore. They are the most oblivious to their surroundings, knuckle dragging motorists, bar none.

Get a motorcycle.

 

[punkassean]

Choice is simple really....

Funny you should post that. I just ordered all black plastics and polished supermoto wheels for my '08 EXC 450. It's already ridiculously fun on the street with the knobbies, can't wait for the SM wheels, gonna be too much trouble for sure....

Mike, get a Suzuki DRZ 400SM. 6K and ready for fun right out of the box.

 

[BigMike]

Street bikes don't interest me at all. I don't want to have that much power geared that way under me. I can control my actions, but not all the time!

I am looking for comfort, gas mileage, a second seat (maybe with a gay back rest) and some more comfort and gas mileage.

I'm looking used, under $4k . Any ideas?

 

[BigMike]

oh, and on the scooter driving thing, I am always defensive on it, but the others out there who really don't think they are a "motor vehicle" and have to abide by the rulse of the road drive me batty.

 

[Kanye West]

I'm going to find some black plastics for my 380 MXC pretty soon. All black, no decals. When/if I toast the stock wheelset on it, I'll rebuild them with black rims.

I personally have no interest in riding a supermoto. I got myself into far too many "SH!!!T" spots with an underpowered DR350 just by being on the road. I just think the all black Katooms look dead sexy.

 

[jimmydean]

01-05 Yamaha FZ1 is what you seek.

45mpg, 2 up riding without issue, easy to ride from idle to 6k, a blast from 6k to 8k, a beast from 8k to rev limiter. Comfortable ride, yet easy to lean into when you want to haul ass.

Mine is an '03 with over 80k mikes. You can get one with under 10k miles for about $4000.

Mine is far from stock, but I've only got about $2800 total invested (insurance auction with salvaged title).

 

[moff_quigley]

I am looking for comfort, gas mileage, a second seat (maybe with a gay back rest) and some more comfort and gas mileage.

I'm looking used, under $4k . Any ideas?

Um that vintage Sporty is jarring as all get out. It's not the luxo barge like the bigger hardly ablesons. SV650, CB919, or just about any other big 4 "standard" will be more comfortable.

 

[G-Cracker]

I've got a 250cc Kymco scooter that I commute to work on 3-4 days a week. Took the motorcycle training course and don't consider myself an unaware "knuckle-dragger" though I agree with you that many of the Scooterists you do see know very little about riding.

I've also got a 1976 Honda gl1000 that I WAS trying to get up and running, but the deeper I get into it, the more messed up it seems to be. The previous owner backyard "repaired" much of the electrical system himself. I'm glad the battery was dead when I got it... turning the key with a good battery would've caught the damn thing on fire, teh wiring was so bad. So while I'd LOVE to get it on the road, I'm not prepared for the $1000 in parts and the next 6-months to get it safe. It's gonna go soon.

But I'd still love to have a motorcycle... probably a 450-650cc "traditional" bike along the lines of a shadow or nighthawk, etc. Not really into the crotch-rocket thing.

Good luck in your search!

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Harley <> motorcycle.

 

[jimmydean]

SV650.

The SV is truly an awesome bike and a solid platform. They hold their resale value, so that's good and bad. But a lot of people buy them until they figure out they want something faster, or sportier, or more cruiser, so they sell it.

But as a commuter, it's a tough bike to beat. Very easy to handle and for lighter (sub 180#) riders, they have lots of usable power. I really like the SV1000, but I'm about 260#, so the 650 feels like a Vespa

 

[punkassean]

I'm going to find some black plastics for my 380 MXC pretty soon. All black, no decals. When/if I toast the stock wheelset on it, I'll rebuild them with black rims.

I personally have no interest in riding a supermoto. I got myself into far too many "SH!!!T" spots with an underpowered DR350 just by being on the road. I just think the all black Katooms look dead sexy.

My dirt wheels are black and they look awesome with the stock orange plastics but I wanted polished wheels to go with the black plastics plastic for a nice contrast. Black on black would look really good too though....

My 450 has plenty of power, it weighs about 235 lbs and is derestricted so it probably makes about 48HP or so roughly. A bunch of guys I work with have DR-Z's and when we ride I don't have to downshift to pass cars but they do. I think the DR-Z 400 weighs closer to 300 lbs and maybe makes 35 hp or so at the most.

Big Mike, I still think the DR-Z 400 SM is a bike you would absolutely love. It meets all your criteria and is a blast to ride, great starter bike for almost anyone....

 

[BigMike]

That DR-Z doesn't look that comfortable as a commuting/around town bike.

I'm semi-serious about buying something, and if I go to look, I'll for sure look into it. I've just been looking on the interwebz for now, the SV-650 looks pretty nice too.

 

[jimmydean]

Super motos are cool if you race super moto. But they aren't very good for a commuter IMO. I tried to ride my Husaberg FC400 as a commuter and it was a joke compared to something like an SV650.

If you have only one bike and 2 sets of wheels, then you can make it work for dirt/street. But putting street tires on a dirt bike does not make it a street bike. If you don't mind having only 34.65 Hp @ 7,750Rpm (vs. 72hp @ 9000rpm for an SV650), then knock yourself out.

I have 140bhp on tap. Power to pass is never an issue.

 

[vinnycactus]

i picked this up about a month and a half ago. Ducati monster 620. It's been great to commute on. I test rode an SV but was way more comfortable on the Duc. Power is basically the same.

 

[disasterarea]

what about scooters from Aprilla and Gilera?

 

[DirtMcGirk]

I have this for around Seattle. 1000cc, gets around 45 MPG with the new wheels and nicer exhaust, and has enough power and grunt to move when its time to go-go.

I think the reason most scooter folk are ****-tards is because they don't have the power to get out of the way. The other day for about six blocks I was behind some kid on one, totally tuned out, going 30 in the left hand lane of a six land 55mph zone.

Go with a bike, you'll be happier.

Might I suggest:

Ducati Hypermotard 1100. Great for around town. Soon as dh season is over I am getting me one of these.

 

[jimmydean]

I love Ducati's and might get one at some point. But the cost of maintenance is HUGE.

The Hypermotard is a sick looking bike, but it doesn't corner well above about 65 and even in the straights it felt too twitchy above 80. For the same money up front you can get this:
2007 KTM Super Duke 990 MSRP: $13998

NOT A GOOD FIRST BIKE, unless you have deep pockets and a death wish.

 

[DirtMcGirk]

My Ducatis have been pretty low in the whole upkeep end of things.

And you're right about the Hyper, but damn if its not fun around town.

 

[BigMike]

Yeah, I'm looking at pre-owned (nice word for USED) for $4k or under.


Nice bike though....

 

[drkenan]

My Ducatis have been pretty low in the whole upkeep end of things.

You're pretty lucky. One of my good friends has shelled out a ton of coin on Ducati maintenance recently.

I've also been looking at SV650s. You can find them for under $4k here and there. I'm supposed to look at this one this week:

http://asheville.craigslist.org/mcy/735786541.html

 

[BigMike]

How about a '98 Shadow? http://richmond.craigslist.org/mcy/744312106.html

I just dig that kind of bike

I learned to ride on a Nighthawk 750 by the way

 

[skinny mike]

kawasaki ninja 250 perhaps? more power than a scooter, but not too much for someone who hasn't ridden a motorcycle before. not to mention cheap as well, they are $3500 brand new.

edit: i just realized that i didn't read any of the thread...

 

[BigMike]

kawasaki ninja 250 perhaps? more power than a scooter, but not too much for someone who hasn't ridden a motorcycle before. not to mention cheap as well, they are $3500 brand new.

edit: i just realized that i didn't read any of the thread...

I guess I should also mention I am 6'3" and 200 lbs. A Ninja 250 is a bit small....

 

[BurlyShirley]

I guess I should also mention I am 6'3" and 200 lbs. A Ninja 250 is a bit small....

I think you should just go with that Harley or one of those DR's. A big ass dude on a sport bike or a scooter is always something worthy of a good point and laugh.

 

[jimmydean]

I think you should just go with that Harley or one of those DR's. A big ass dude on a sport bike or a scooter is always something worthy of a good point and laugh.

Bite me. I'm 6'4" and 250-ish, but I look damn good on my bike.

Ninja 250, or a scooter, not so much

That being said, this is my next bike:

2006 R1 limited edition. 182bhp, Ohlins fork/shock, 50th Anniversary paint and logos.

 

[DirtMcGirk]

Bite me. I'm 6'4" and 250-ish, but I look damn good on my bike.

Ninja 250, or a scooter, not so much

That being said, this is my next bike:

2006 R1 limited edition. 182bhp, Ohlins fork/shock, 50th Anniversary paint and logos.

Its been really, really great getting to know you...

 

[BurlyShirley]

D'oh. Foot in mouth.

It's only my jackass opinion anyway. :biggrin: