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I am saving up money to pay cash for a bike. Should have it by the end of Feb including cash for all the accessories that will be needed (helmet, jacket, gloves, "*****" helmet, etc) Leaning heavily towards a Suzuki V-Strom 650. I will use it to ride to and from work (round trip is 20 miles) and to make trips up to Bham from Prattville (weekends w/o my son). Plus I will likely join in some bike rides with a friend down here who rides with a group frequently.

Any suggestions from any current riders out there?
Please don't bother with any negative comments saying I shouldn't get one. I've heard them all and will just ignore them.

I have a 94 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 and love it. Eventually I plan to get a newer one, my dad and brother both have newer (2004 or newer) fuel injected Vulcans and they love them too. I had a 93 Suzuki before my current bike and it was ok, no complaints, just a little small (not Suzuki's fault I bought an 800).

I just looked up the V-Strom and notice that they're sport bikes and not cruisers, so I can't give you any specific advice, other than I suspect for the longer rides you'd be better off with a cruiser. Well, I can give you SOME specific advice, and that is to never even consider buying a Harley.

While not a current rider, I did have a crotch rocket in the 80's (Kawasaki Ninja) during the heyday of the insurance companies blacklisting sport bikes because all the people out in CA getting killed on them. Like anything, insurance will be the killer as far as costs go. Also most car drivers don't have a clue on how to drive around motorcycles & there's more of them now than in my day so you have to think ahead when driving one especially in bad weather. I drove mine year round but I had a car also for most of my driving. I never had an accident but a couple of close calls w/ traffic/weather. I wish I could find that $500 running motorcycle now that you could find all over the place in my day but all you get now is a parts bike for that price these days.

(09-27-2011 12:26 PM)GreenGiant67 Wrote:  I am saving up money to pay cash for a bike. Should have it by the end of Feb including cash for all the accessories that will be needed (helmet, jacket, gloves, "*****" helmet, etc) Leaning heavily towards a Suzuki V-Strom 650. I will use it to ride to and from work (round trip is 20 miles) and to make trips up to Bham from Prattville (weekends w/o my son). Plus I will likely join in some bike rides with a friend down here who rides with a group frequently.

Any suggestions from any current riders out there?
Please don't bother with any negative comments saying I shouldn't get one. I've heard them all and will just ignore them.

The V-strom is go for commuting and is very easy to add saddle bags (cases?) to. Or a Suzuki bandit (600 or 1200) is a nice bike for commuting and the occasional road trip or ride.

That's why I am leading heavily towards the V-Strom. It is a good beginner bike plus it is good for commuting and carrying saddle bags/cases as well.

Thanks for the responses.

As a non biker, I would like to know what any of you might think of the 3 wheeled cycles -- either two in front or two in back --for a person who is balance-challenged and had trouble with bycycles as a kid? I have seen TV ads for both front and rear arrangements but don't know anything about them.

(09-29-2011 11:31 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  As a non biker, I would like to know what any of you might think of the 3 wheeled cycles -- either two in front or two in back --for a person who is balance-challenged and had trouble with bycycles as a kid? I have seen TV ads for both front and rear arrangements but don't know anything about them.

The Can-am (the one with two wheels in the front) are crazy expensive, or at least used to be. An old boss of mine is a biker and he test drove one and loved it. Only thing keeping him from buying was the price.

I see a lot of people riding trikes, it's a good solution I suppose for those who don't want to deal with a bike but still ride a bike. I've never ridden one, but the only negative I ever hear is that they're kind of pricy.

Those Can-Am's are pretty cool looking. There are two of them that ride around Guntersville a lot.

Always lots of bikers up here, and riding an assortment of bikes, but nothing too wierd. Although, I did see a fat guy riding a gold wing that had training wheels on it.

Well it looks like I may be getting it sooner than later. I am in line for a promotion at work that will hopefully start in the next week or two. I am getting psyched.

It's a good time of year to cruise. Lots of people heading up to the Smokies.