Riders: Talked out of buying my first bike.

[Warhammer]

For 2 wheeler, I love to buy a honda gold wing loaded. My wife likes the honda DN-01 however i was not impresses with its performance.
For roadster, my choice would be honda s2000

I am gonna get flamed here but HONDA???? Get a Harley. The Ultra Clasic would fit the wife for comfort.
When I got the latest, my wife said get something she could be comfortable on also so the Ultra it was. Then she got her own bike (Fatboy). I said okay, I will trade mine in on a Street glide but noooo. She wants to keep the Ultra for "LONG TRIPS TOGEATHER".

Maybe santa will bring me the street glide.

Yeah, get a Harley! Then buy a pirate outfit and a DOT-approved do rag. Oh yeah... fringe, you need lots of fringe. And a wallet with a really long chain. And handlebar streamers. And several buddies to ride REALLY slow with you, while blocking the twisties from those who may want to ride at a bit more up-tempo pace. Then you can park for hours in the Granbury town square while you watch all the Honda riders pass by.

Or ride what you like and ignore "riders" who put brand loyalty above common sense.

[Beiruty]

Nothing against HD bikes. They are geat if you like a lot of chrome and alot of rumbles. Of coutse you need to as rich as Bill Gates. GW is like a techo geek touring bike, a dream machine!

[bigred90gt]

I have nothing against a Harley, but I have no desire to own one. The only Harley I would ever buy is a vrod. I've never owned a foreign car (on my 9th Ford) but when it comes to a bike, Harleys just dont do it for me.

[bigred90gt]

I have a question about the course and it's requirement. If you d not have a motorcycle endorsement on your license, and have to take the MSF course to get it, how do you get to the course legally on your bike without the proper licensing? What happens if you do not have the endorsement on your license and are pulled over?

If you are riding now without the endorsement you are illegal so don't sweat the ride to the course. Just ride your bike to the course and use their bikes for the course. You are trying to do the right thing so no one should bust your chops about riding to the course.

If you don't have the endorsement when pulled over I imagine it would just be another box that is checked on the ticket that you get to pay extra for when you settle up.

I dont have a bike, and not even sure if I'll ever get one (as noted in a previous post my wife is completely against the idea). I was just curious how it works, in case I decide at some point to just get one anyway.

[hangfour]

Greetings ... I have been riding motorcycles since I first got my drivers license. I have not had an accident except on dirt; I'm now 69 and still riding. The key for me is to remember two things: first, it's combat out there and if I am in an accident it is my fault. These two maxims have kept me safe so far. I keep up on training (just like with my pistol) and even now my skills are improving. A dear friend of mine who has also been riding all his life says: be afraid, be very afraid, and trust the motorcycle (not your instincts).

best of luck on whatever you decide.

[Texas Size 11]

For 2 wheeler, I love to buy a honda gold wing loaded. My wife likes the honda DN-01 however i was not impresses with its performance.
For roadster, my choice would be honda s2000

I am gonna get flamed here but HONDA???? Get a Harley. The Ultra Clasic would fit the wife for comfort.
When I got the latest, my wife said get something she could be comfortable on also so the Ultra it was. Then she got her own bike (Fatboy). I said okay, I will trade mine in on a Street glide but noooo. She wants to keep the Ultra for "LONG TRIPS TOGEATHER".

Maybe santa will bring me the street glide.

Yeah, get a Harley! Then buy a pirate outfit and a DOT-approved do rag. Oh yeah... fringe, you need lots of fringe. And a wallet with a really long chain. And handlebar streamers. And several buddies to ride REALLY slow with you, while blocking the twisties from those who may want to ride at a bit more up-tempo pace. Then you can park for hours in the Granbury town square while you watch all the Honda riders pass by.

Or ride what you like and ignore "riders" who put brand loyalty above common sense.

I've had a bunch of them and so far my HD Road King is my favorite I have ridden. If I find another bike I like more then I'll buy it and ride it. I don't care what brand it is.

I rode a Yamaha Stratoliner that I liked as well. However, the engine was larger and gas tank was smaller and that equates to a lot more stopping on a long trip. I prefer to ride more and stop less...

[Texas Size 11]

Nothing against HD bikes. They are geat if you like a lot of chrome and alot of rumbles. Of coutse you need to as rich as Bill Gates. GW is like a techo geek touring bike, a dream machine!

There ain't nothing wrong with a GW..very comfy, but it is like riding a lazy boy chair around. I won't lie, I wouldn't mind taking a long ride on one though. I just think it would seem sluggish as far as performance.

[gigag04]

The Honda S2000 is not a bike guys, it's a "cager" and a really impressive one at that. It is a lightweight 4 cylinder, but it has the high rev VTEC motor that generates decent horsepower (in the 230s iirc).

That said, I want a harley and not some foreign bike.

[safety1]

I sold mine about 2 years after getting it. Have you seen the way people drive now days. I have also seen
to many accidents. Bikers are 4 times more likely to suffer a fatal injury from an accident. It's not worth it!

[gemini]

For 2 wheeler, I love to buy a honda gold wing loaded. My wife likes the honda DN-01 however i was not impresses with its performance.
For roadster, my choice would be honda s2000

I am gonna get flamed here but HONDA???? Get a Harley. The Ultra Clasic would fit the wife for comfort.
When I got the latest, my wife said get something she could be comfortable on also so the Ultra it was. Then she got her own bike (Fatboy). I said okay, I will trade mine in on a Street glide but noooo. She wants to keep the Ultra for "LONG TRIPS TOGEATHER".

Maybe santa will bring me the street glide.

Yeah, get a Harley! Then buy a pirate outfit and a DOT-approved do rag. Oh yeah... fringe, you need lots of fringe. And a wallet with a really long chain. And handlebar streamers. And several buddies to ride REALLY slow with you, while blocking the twisties from those who may want to ride at a bit more up-tempo pace. Then you can park for hours in the Granbury town square while you watch all the Honda riders pass by.

Or ride what you like and ignore "riders" who put brand loyalty above common sense.

Arggggg Matey, one them thar' pirates here..... however, I have no fringe, no wallet chain, no handle bar streamers,
and I wear a helmet. Just wondering if you wouldn't rather dress as a pirate, sit upright to ride, and have the ladies
wanting to jump on the back of your bike for a ride? Or, maybe you prefer to dress in skin tight leathers head to toe
(Dominatrix style), and ride with your head down and your rear up........ to each his own. It's all perspective.
I don't really care what anyone rides (except I have no interest in Vespa's etc), I'm just glad more folks are riding.

[Beiruty]

there is no GW for 2011 runmor is that the next GW for 2012 would be more sporty in looks as well as performace as well as new engine amd transmisson technologies.

[edmart001]

Like I said in my earlier post - it will boil down to preferences.

I haven't ridden everything ever made, but have been riding for over thirty years and have ridden at least several of every style of motorcycle out there. I currently have only one and my bike is a Goldwing. It's been said that if you're thinking about getting one, DON'T ride a Goldwing or the decision will have been made and you'll have to get one for sure.

I've never ridden a bike more reliable, more comfortable, as nimble (for a very large bike) or requiring less maintenance. The thing just goes every time I push the go button. And they run forever if you take care of them. I've taken it on long trips and also use it for a 40-mile round trip commute. I may own other bikes, but I'll always have a Goldwing in the garage until they tell me I can't ride anymore.

Having said all of that, I would NOT recommend getting a Goldwing for a first bike. If one gets into trouble on anybody's big bike things tend to go south very quickly. Most folks can pretty easily force a 400 pound bike to do whatever they want it to do. But, I don't know anyone who can "manhandle" a 1,000 pound motorcycle. Once the lean angle gets too great, gravity is going to win big time. It takes good technique and experience to ride a big bike safely.

Furthermore, as said in another previous post, there are only two types of riders out there, those who have been down and those who will go down. A Goldwing is a pretty expensive bike to drop - all that Tupperware is not cheap to buy or to replace. I strongly recommend starting out on something cheaper to buy, cheaper to fix, lighter and easier to handle and then move up when and if that feels right.

Both of my sons had Suzuki SV-650s for their first bikes. These bikes were relatively inexpensive (especially if you can find a lightly used one from someone who is moving up), easy to handle, very nimble, enough power to go pretty much anywhere and do pretty much anything but not so much that one has to fight it to keep out of trouble, relatively easy to work on, bullet-proof engine, a very linear and predictable throttle response, good low-end torque (for when you find yourself in the wrong gear) and good resale value when/if you want to get something bigger after a couple of years.

There are a lot of 600cc class bikes out there, but most of them have high revving in-line 4 engines that are either barely loping or are in blast off mode. That’s great for the racetrack but not particularly good for learning or for riding in traffic (even for an experienced rider). The SV, being a V-twin, has a more linear throttle response and more low-end torque (as well as not so much blast off). It has less high-end performance than some other bikes in its class, but if you’re a beginner intent on not becoming a statistic, maybe that ain’t so bad.

[Warhammer]

Arggggg Matey, one them thar' pirates here..... however, I have no fringe, no wallet chain, no handle bar streamers,
and I wear a helmet. Just wondering if you wouldn't rather dress as a pirate, sit upright to ride, and have the ladies
wanting to jump on the back of your bike for a ride? Or, maybe you prefer to dress in skin tight leathers head to toe
(Dominatrix style), and ride with your head down and your rear up........ to each his own. It's all perspective.
I don't really care what anyone rides (except I have no interest in Vespa's etc), I'm just glad more folks are riding.

All sythethic, comfortable gear, sit upright, but not leaned back with my feet up like I'm on a Barkolounger. Have people (ladies too) who want a ride or to take a picture pretty much every time I stop. 2-3 times the range of any Harley or crotch rocket I've ever ridden with (I like to ride, not stop for gas). I'm happiest when I'm either dragging pegs on twisties or playing in the dirt and mud. (Oh, and it's a V-twin.) So, I don't fit either category. However, I'm with you on your main point... I just like to ride and like others who like to ride. I can just do without the "if it ain't a [fill in the blank] it ain't worth riding" mentality. I find that guys who say things like "Honda? Get a Harley and ride a real bike" also tend to say things like "Lace up shoes?!?! Can you show me how they work?" and "Toothbrush? But it ain't Sunday yet." (Just kidding, just kidding... I couldn't resist!) But they do tend to be the ones who hang out on bikes a lot but don't seem to ride much. I've had some great gas station conversations with real riders on Harleys. Most of them start along the lines of "What is that you're riding?" I've also caught a lot of attitude from weekend pirates on barely broken-in "hogs." I'll take the former over the latter any day.

[bnc]

My first bike was an SV650, too. The only reason I got rid of it was because it was stolen, so I didn't have much say in the matter. I would say an SV would be the highest performance bike that would be reasonable to start with. The best bikes to start on, imho, are small to medium sized dual sport bikes like the Suzuki DR series. They are cheap, tough, reliable, economical, easy to work on, and more forgiving of ham-fisted inputs to the controls.



Nice Strom, Warhammer. Is it the 650 or 1000? If I get back into riding the 650 would be pretty high on my list.

[Hoi Polloi]

Arggggg Matey, one them thar' pirates here..... however, I have no fringe, no wallet chain, no handle bar streamers,
and I wear a helmet. Just wondering if you wouldn't rather dress as a pirate, sit upright to ride, and have the ladies
wanting to jump on the back of your bike for a ride? Or, maybe you prefer to dress in skin tight leathers head to toe
(Dominatrix style), and ride with your head down and your rear up........ to each his own. It's all perspective.
I don't really care what anyone rides (except I have no interest in Vespa's etc), I'm just glad more folks are riding.

Given the OP's marital status and his wife's strong association of "motorcycles=kills the men I love and I can't handle the same thing again..." I doubt attracting the ladies' attention would rank very high on what bike to choose if his wife were ever emotionally OK enough with it for him to get one.

The perspective of this one lady is that a Harley is too loud, too slow, too much vibration, and too likely to leave parts along the road. A Gold Wing is too expensive, too heavy, and might as well be replaced with a small convertible which would probably weigh as much. Anything with monkey bars is ridiculously uncomfortable and unladylike and the extreme sport bikes are just as ridiculously postured in the other extreme. If you're gonna go through the risk and trouble of riding a bike, I think it should be fast, smooth, maneuverable especially on the bends, and should look cute to boot! If you're gonna do something, do it all the way!

I'm with Warhammer, the sport-styled standards are a great balance between the extremes. As long as they have nice paint jobs, that is!