First bike, $1500 or lower...

Hey guys, stupid me I posted this in the main forum and didn't realize there was a new forum down here just for motorcycles now, I swear this wasn't here last I visited! Anyway I hope double posting isn't a big deal, I thought maybe I could get some more specific advice from you guys. This was my original question..

I need something for commuting on, mostly just around town and occasionally on the highway for reasonable distances. I'd like it to be easy to work on, easy to find parts for, get reasonable gas mileage... And if it can look cool, that'd be awesome too. Having SOME way to carry at least a backpack's worth of stuff, conveniently..

So for under $1500 can I actually get onto something like that or am I asking too much? It'll obviously be my first, but I'm 30 and I kinda want to try it out in some form or another. I like cruisers more than sport bikes, but I do think dual-sports like the Kawasaki KLR650 are cool. I know the KLR is out've my price range, but I don't know what kind've cool like Mad Max tourer looking bikes there are, or maybe just something cool and a little zippy... Either direction, I need guidance, it will be my first bike, and I really don't want to spend more than 1k, so 1.5 is stretching it.. To give you a mind of my budget. That said, I do want the best I can get if that's possible that low.

Welcome any thoughts, I'm in Oregon, thanks.

I kinda want just a blacked out Mad Max type lookin' rough bike, haha. Something I can just play with and enjoy while I learn, whatever.

Anyway I did a search for Shadows in my area, someone mentioned those, condition is kinda questionable.. Kinda getting closer to the look of the bike I like, though..

http://medford.craigslist.org/mcy/1554381345.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/mcy/1574839962.html

http://bellingham.craigslist.org/mcy/1578700945.html

I like the hell out've the looks of this bike.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/1581841051.html

1979 honda cbc650

I like the hell out of it too. For $1k you're still comfortable enough to drop some paint and seat money into it and still feel like you have a good deal.

FuzzyLogic, if you want a cross country road trip to break in your new bike license, call me.

Dan

Yahaha xs 400 or 650 or older street legal enduro

I bought my wife one of these for $600; liberated the exhaust and added a same color bikini fairing. Great bike. 4 cylinders, 2 carbs, bulletproof.

'Zuki GS-550e.

There are so many choices and model numbers haha. I'm liking the look of the Ninja 250s and the Nighthawks right now..

pilotbraden wrote: Yahaha xs 400 or 650 or older street legal enduro

My first bike was 350 dollars and runs like hell. Its a 72 yamaha. I also bought an xs650 for the sake of bobbing it. Kinda like what you are aiming for... TCBrothers sells weld-on hard tails and the welding service as well. I know for sure they offer them for the xs650 and the Honda CB750. As far as year ranges, I dont know off hand, but its worth looking into.

Bottom line, xs650s and CB750s are out there. You can easily find parts and they are cheap. Also, this helps my argument.

Okay, I love that, it totally made your argument. Those are great looking bikes, just the kind've styles I like..

Is there a group for these 650s? I don't know if this is a XS, but it's close by and it's a Yamaha.. Any info? Thoughts?

http://salem.craigslist.org/mcy/1569074704.html

A couple others..

http://roseburg.craigslist.org/mcy/1546133720.html

I love this one:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/mcy/1573899400.html

914Driver wrote: I bought my wife one of these for $600; liberated the exhaust and added a same color bikini fairing. Great bike. 4 cylinders, 2 carbs, bulletproof. 'Zuki GS-550e.

Isn't that a GS550m?

My first bike some years ago. It was a heavy lump, but a Yoshi 4-1 exhaust helped a bit. And, a GS1000s fairing made the bike look even better while I pretended to be Wes Cooley.

For what it's worth, I've seen KLR650s close to your price range, at least in the midwest. And I'd say an unmolested, decently well-kept KLR is a much better buy than a potentially dodgy custom. KLR mods tend to be toward the geezer-luggage-doodad side of the spectrum, and they generally leave the important stuff alone. They're bulletproof bikes with a huge aftermarket, and they were unchanged for literally 15 years of their run, so parts are more than plentiful.

And as a former parts manager at a vintage shop, I should mention: old Yamaha parts a lot more expensive than their Big 4 counterparts. I don't know why, but that's just the way it plays out. Now, XS650s are generally the exception to that rule, but I'm just throwing that out there.

The problem I would have with custom work is that you often can't tell how well it's been done and you don't want to find out that your hard tail is falling off at 70 mph on the highway.

If I could find a KLR that'd be great, but I can't really afford to travel and really didn't want to go over 1.5k at the most for this.. I would love one, but just really can't go over that for the bike.

The price difference is totally relevant though, thanks for putting that thought into my head.. I just like the look of those Yamahas, if there are Hondas in that price range that fit the bill and look close... ?

I looked for Ninja 250s in my area also but didn't really see anything. I have a hard time searching stuff up for this, all the different names and models and types. Craziness haha.

You'll get it. This is like learning a new language - you have to immerse yourself in the vocabulary.

And while I have your ear again, let me restate: take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Beginning Rider Course. Survival on a motorcycle requires a counter-intuitive set of instincts, which require training and practice. There's a big difference between being able to just ride a motorcycle and surviving in town or in traffic or on the highway or on a twisty road. The best riders are always learning new skills, and you gotta start somewhere.

Seriously, I don't mean to talk down to your skill, but this course is the single best way to be introduced to street riding. Hopefully, by the time you walk out of the class, you'll have enough knowledge to actually second guess riding on the street. That's actually good. Being a little nervous makes you hyper aware, which is what you need to survive, even if you're just out for a lazy cruise. The old adage is, 'ride like everyone else is blind and trying to kill you.' I'd agree with that, but I'd supplement it: 'ride like a rabbit.' You'll never sneak up on a rabbit, and you'll never catch one on foot.

A motorcyclist in traffic should always be that alert to his surroundings, road feedback - all the things that go into situational awareness. And no matter how good a driver you are, that skill almost goes out the window when you're alone, exposed, on two wheels surrounded by a sea of two tone lumbering behemoths.

Riding is a mental activity. That's why I like it so much. It forces me to concentrate on what I'm doing, and everything else takes a back seat to my immediate surroundings and actions. It's quite calming for being so involving.

I'm a hyper vigilant young combat vet who doesn't take stupid chances - read you loud and clear, thanks for the looking out and good advice!

One of the best things that ever happened to me on a motorcycle was hitting a skunk. It came tumbling out from under the car ahead of me and I didn't have time to swerve. I learned that it can sometimes be safer to go straight over something that it may be to swerve. Not every time, mind you, but it helped me ride more confidently. This was confirmed a few month later when I hit a possum

I did have to throw my boots away, though.

Fuzzylogic wrote: I love this one: http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/mcy/1573899400.html

Doesn't it rain a bit in Seattle? Back fender would be nice.

OldSaw, yes that is an M, I couldn't find a picture of a 550e. Good eyes.

914Driver wrote: OldSaw, yes that is an M, I couldn't find a picture of a 550e. Good eyes.

Here's a 550e.

With a closer look, the original pic may be a 650g - shaft drive, bigger motor with slightly different body-work than the 550m.

All are good UJM's that can be found for relatively low dollars. Definitely go for an aftermarket exhaust to lose some weight and gain power.

Nope, that's not it. The 550e I bought was similar to the one I put up in that the tank & seat were like one component, the tank and side covers were the same color as the one I put up except the tank also had a red top. It was nothing like the one with the brown tank.

Dan

Found one. Like this only maroon and silver, the top of the tank was maroon also

.

914Driver wrote: Found one. Like this only maroon and silver, the top of the tank was maroon also .

Like this? With 16" front wheels and miserable carburetion?

Is all that plastic 'bodywork' on the front of that bike in the Craigslist add necessary? I like 'em a little cleaner and rougher looking than that, without the big windscreen and stuff..

http://corvallis.craigslist.org/mcy/1578547697.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/1584035230.html

http://corvallis.craigslist.org/mcy/1581851752.html