what should i buy?(new, looking for first bike)
 

Hello, I am new to the forums and to riding. Im wanting to buy a motorcycle mostly due to gas prices but also because i do like them but unsure what i should buy first. From what ive read the Vstar classic is the one/type i want however i hear the oilfilter is hard to get to and i would perfer chain instead of drive shaft.

I want a low maintence cruiser bike for work and around town for now but possibly for touring in the future.

Durable, cheap to moderate price (under 8,000)

Chain driven.

Mostly just a good low maintence cruiser. something thats reliable and wont break on me.

I dont care about high speeds like some crotch rocket or much about style or looks but i do want a cruiser not a dirtbike or scooter

edit: Also need something with good leg space, im somewhat of a tall guy so need some room to strech out, mostly why i like the vstar classic is because my legs go down at an angle instead of at a 90, makes me feel bunched up on the bike and cramped. dont think i could ride like that

If anyone has some suggestions for a bike that would work for me please respond. Thank you.

Vstar's are nice bikes, I know that Vulcans might also be attractive for you. If you want something with less upkeep the shaft driven models are a bit better. Isn't much out there that won't break, but a chain has more of a chance of breaking. As far as the oil filter, I can't help you, but I've gotten some odd filters off more expensive things.

I would stick to looking at the Hondas and Kawasaki's for what you are looking for. They can't be short on leg space, but that can always be worked out. Just make sure you actually go see a bike before you are totally sold on it. Most people buy a bike that's too big/small for them...and that contributes to accidents.

really? the dealer said chain was less upkeep...hmm lol.

yeah i also looked at the vulcan 500 i belive. but dont think that would would be right for me. however ill go look at the honda and suzuki dealers tomorrow, see what they have. write down a couple names of bikes i like and do some research on them

If the dealers will throw in a relocation kit for the vstar i might go ahead and get that one

shaft is less maintence? awesome, didnt know that. thanks :)

edit: Out of yamaha, suzuki, kawasaki and honda what would you say is the lowest ammount of maintence or one that doesnt require alot of upkeep. aside from the cost the main reason i dont want a harley is because they are such high maintence

I've never had a Suzuki or kawasaki so I can't talk with first hand experience of them. When I had my Honda....I rarely had problems with it and the dealer was always helpful in helping me do the work right by myself. Yamaha makes solid bikes too, and I was always comfortable as hell on those bikes and I'm 6'2". I have heard good things about the Vulcan..and they come in a lot of shapes and sizes. Can't talk to much about the Suzukis.

Really, take a few weekends and go see all the bikes you can. Sit on them, ask questions....hell start 'em up and listen to them.

thanks alot mate :) ill make sure to ask them hear for the members opinions as well as my own research. BTW do you know any other motorcycle forums? ive been having a hell of a time trying to find any, this was the only biker forum i have been able to find

I'm going to have to disagree about Harleys being high maintenance. I change the oil & filter (which is very accessible) every 2500 miles. Change the fluids in the transmission and primary case every 5000 miles. Usually replace brake pads every tire change or as needed. Just some routine services to keep me in the wind. As far as looking for another motorcycle forum many are out there, just do a web search! If you're new to riding it would be a good idea to take a riders safety course and get a properly endorsed drivers license. Whatever you decide to ride please do it safely.

hmm, still way out of my price range lol. yeah i dont plan to do anything till after i pass MSF. Just a quick question about msf, is it required to get class M liscense or if i pass msf can i skip the tests for my liscense?

Few more questions about wind and helmets. One, what kind of helmet should i get and 2 should i get a windsheild? One thing im quite concerned about is going down the road and have a bug hit me in the eye or something to that effect. i would hate to loose an eye that way. could anyone tell me if this is actualy a fear i should worry about or does this not happen since most bikers ive seen have an open face helmet and no windsheild so can someone clarify this as well as reccomend a helmet that would be great. thank you

ive looked for other forums though. only found 3, this one, one caleld bikerskiss(didnt sign up since im not looking for romance) and one on about forums and couldnt find a way to post on it lol

First off, Welcome to the site and I hope you will stick around. There are a lot of nice people here who are more than willing to help out a fellow rider.

Next, A shaft drive is one of the most reliable and low maintenence drives out there. After that I would have to say that belt is better than chain but if you really want chain than make sure the chain is self lubricating.

As for the windshield/no windshield it might reduce the chance of getting hit in the face by a bug or other debris but you should be wearing eye protection anyway (required by law in most states) both day and night. I can't even begin to tell you how many times that I have been hit in the head, face and neck by bugs or rocks and I have a full fairing on my bike.

Anyway I don't want to discourage you about buying a bike but I would suggest that you sit on a few and see how they feel to you before settling one any one.

Thanks so much for all your help guys. one final question

i did more research on the oil filter and its the Vstar classic 1100 that has it in a bad place(under the floorboard and behind the exaust) however i havent found anything one way or another on the vstar classic 650(the one i want) can anyone confirm if the oilfilter is in the same place as the 1100 or is it easyer to acess.

Hey Lokua, Welcome to the site. I tend to agree that the shaft drive is by far to me a smoother shift and real low maintenance. I had an XJ750 Yamaha and loved it for the shaft drive. I now drive a Suzuki and am fixing to replace a worn chain. I have ridden more Yamahas in my day and really am partial to them. But I'm ok with the Suzuki I ride for now. I agree with HeavyDuty, Windshield is a way to go. I've had more rocks thrown at me by big trucks but haven't had my head taken off yet for the fact that I have a windshield. Go check all of the ones your interested in and see which one accomodates you better, and yes by all means take the safety course. It may lower your insurance rates too.

If you're able to get to a dealer who carries this bike just get down on the floor and have a look around under the bike. Also ask the stealsman and if he doesn't know about the bike since yamaha sells everything from bikes to quads including watercraft then take a stroll out to the service department with a list of questions for the service manager you would like answered. My brother rides a suzuki 1400 and the oil filter is easily accessible. I assume the smaller suzuki 800 or whatever it is is similar as far as oil filter. Look around and compare.

thanks lot guys, more than likely ill get a med windsheild as well as a full face helmet with a visor for extra protection, that should hopefully protect me from bugs and other junk flying up on me. the only problem is full head sheilds would get extremly hot after a bit. i have considered no helmet, from what laws ive read in texas you can do this if you get 10,000 worth of insurance or something like that but i dont really enjoy the idea of riding without something to protect my head so need to investigate other options.

Ill make sure to ask my dealer about it. if it is like the 1100 then ill have them put in a oil filter relocation kit since every review i have read about the 1100 is that the oilfilter is in a really bad spot and since i dont intend to pay someone eles to change my oil for me need to make sure its accessable

should cruise controll or anything be a factor? the only upgrades i intend to do are possibly saddlebags and windsheild, if passenger pegs arent standard ill probly get them too and same for full foot pegs(whatever they are called) if there not on it since i perfer those.

Is insurance on bikes very high? Im mostly wanting this due to gas prices but if im going to be paying that much more on insurance than i would if i just drove my truck theres no need so is like insurance spiked for motorcycles like they are for sport cars? btw im 19, i know due to my age the insurance is allredy spiked regardless of my ride but does it go up even more due to it being a motorcycle. I hate discriminating insurance companys.

edit: two more things if you will. A how do i keep my helmet from getting stolden (is it possible to hotwire a bike and steal it). im thinking a bike chain you use for a bicycle attached to the helmet and through the front wheel spokes would work but want to hear your suggestions

and B. i have this huge fear/concern about a blowout tire or flat while riding, one what do i possibly do since i cant vary well carry a spare and two if i have a flat can this like throw me off/over the bike? My guess is that if say my front tire blew out i would go sailing over the front of the bike, please try and explain if you have had a blow out and what happens so i can better prepare myself.

sorry for all the questions, im sure your all getting tired of them lol

Check with Foremost and Dairyland for the insurance. They are more into insuring motorcycles than most major insurers. Rates depend on several factors, so find an agent for one of the 2 mentioned and check their prices compared to major insurers. If you have a good windshield, try the half helmet with a good pair of riding glasses. I use these during the summer, and they work just fine for me. Cruise control is fine if you do alot of long highway rides, most are basically throttle locks that flip up or down to lock the hand grip. Most bikes have a helmet hook under the seat that locks. I'm not too sure about the newer models, but most will have helmet lock of some sort. Tires have to be kept in good condition, aired up and balanced, but as you know nothing is fool proof and you can't prevent blowouts from happening. Just be sure and check things on your bike pretty often, such as the regular preventive maintenance and you'll do fine. If you have any questions after you buy, jump on here and ask. I'm sure everyone will be glad to help if they can, and you can always check with you dealer. And like Leon said, get down to the nitty gritty with the salesman and look everything over when you are there, and don't let them throw you on something they want you to have, and buy to your liking. Hope this helps some. :D

Small update:

Ive been looking at other bikes and comparing the shadow aero, it seems like more bang for my buck than the vstar however i really perfer the looks of the vstar over the aero so my question is should i get the slightly better performing aero or the better style of the vstar?

Get whatever you like and feels better to you. Theres no substitute for comfort when you are riding. You might want to check and see what after market parts are available for each bike also in case you want to customize your ride.

some thoughts to new rider
 

welcome to the wonderful world of riding. Take the MSF course before you get on the roads, for sure. Your DMV can tell what's required to take the course.
Your dealer is trying to sell you a cahin bike or he wouldn't make such a stupid statement about the chain being less maintenance. Remember, when you replace the chain you'll probably have to replace the sprockets. The shaft is maintenance free.
I have always ridden with a windshield, both protection and for the fatigue factor.
You'll want a helmet with some sort of face shield. RIding in the rain (and you will ride in the rain) is like getting hit on bare skin with needles. The cheapest helmet lock is a gun lock that is a short cable. Bicycle locks are usually 3 feet long. The gun lock is less than a foot long.
Good riding to you and remember that cars can't see you. Ride defensively!

oil filter
 

I wouldn't worry about the oil filter it can't be that hard to find. I am an amsoil dealer and we carry it. they are about $14 shipped to your door. now of course thats because you are paying for the shipping to but if you were to decide that you also want to put synthetic oil in your bike then you could start to save money on shipping the more weight the more your shipping goes down.