Advice for buying a used Motorbike (Newb) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

stang · 06-23-2009, 01:50 AM

I am thinking of buying a bike. Not a crotch rocket, but a nice cruiser. Right now prices seem pretty cheap, but I dont know what I should be looking for.

This will be my first bike (have driven Dirtbikes all my life though) so I dont want to spend tons of money on it either. (I guess a Harley is out... haha)

I am a bigger guy (6,0 over 200 Lbs) so it shouldnt be some puny thing either.

Any suggestions? Links to places I can do my own research?
Honda Shadow maybe?

GrrlGoalie33 · 06-23-2009, 07:27 AM

I've become a big fan of the Suzuki Boulevard line...What I have found recently is that if you want a bike that is reasonably new (less than 5 years old), you are looking at usually paying only $1000-1500 less than buying that same bike brand new.

Scour buysell.com, autotrader.ca, repo.com etc to find the deals. If the deal seems too good to be true, ask questions (just like buying a used car), and price out new bikes as well. Even if you aren't going to buy new, atleast you know their prices and that can help you negotiating on a used bike.

Bikes in the style you are looking for:
Honda Shadow
Suzuki Boulevard
Yamaha V-Star
Kawasaki Vulcan

an_album_cover · 06-23-2009, 08:37 AM

Don't forget Kijiji!

There are scams everywhere, but if you do your homework, you'll be alright.

Red · 06-23-2009, 09:05 AM

I have a 2004 Shadow. Hardly used (4K), in fact, not used last 2 years. I bought it to commute downtown, but have since moved jobs so I don't really need the bike anymore.

Is this in the ballpark of what you're looking for? If you're serious I would consider selling it for the right price.

Fozzie_DeBear · 06-23-2009, 09:20 AM

I'd take a look at the Honda Magna...I'm your size and it suits me...it isn't a huge bike but that makes it nimble and a decent starter bike...it has modest power at the low RPM (~25 hp) making it easy to drive...but when you open it up to 7k RPM it has gobs of power (~80 hp)...which means you won't outgrow it anytime soon.

I bought mine from the states for cheap and then shipped it to great falls (same with the jacket helmet etc) and then picked it up with a trailer.

photon · 06-23-2009, 09:27 AM

A guy I used to work with bought a cruiser, cool bike, but his biggest problem was with the service place.. apparently there was only one place in Calgary that serviced his bike and they weren't that good, so that was a source of frustration for him.

Can't remember what it was though, I want to say Suzuki but I'm not sure.

Something to research maybe? Bike owners might be able to say more.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 06-23-2009, 09:28 AM

I've got a bike pretty similar to Red's.
It's a 2004 Honday Shadow 750 Grey, but no windshield (windshields are for girls).
But it has quite a few more Kms.
I'd also be willing to sell it (not because I don't want it, but becasue I don't really need 2 bikes), but I'm not really in a rush so deal with him first.

Anyway, I'd totally suggest this bike to anyone looking for a cheap entry level cruiser. I've had ZERO problems with it, and I actually rode it down to California twice. It doesn't have the snap of some of the larger cruisers, but it does just fine on the highway. I'm 6'0 and a little over 200 lbs and it fits me pretty well.

Defintely suggest the Honda Shadow.

an_album_cover · 06-23-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

A guy I used to work with bought a cruiser, cool bike, but his biggest problem was with the service place.. apparently there was only one place in Calgary that serviced his bike and they weren't that good, so that was a source of frustration for him.

Can't remember what it was though, I want to say Suzuki but I'm not sure.

Something to research maybe? Bike owners might be able to say more.

Was this perhaps a little place known as Blackfoot Motorsports.

photon · 06-23-2009, 10:43 AM

Sounds familiar yeah..

burn_this_city · 06-23-2009, 11:14 AM

Theres a few dealers that will service Suzukis. Walt Healy sells and services them. Blackfoot is terrabad.

GrrlGoalie33 · 06-23-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Theres a few dealers that will service Suzukis. Walt Healy sells and services them. Blackfoot is terrabad.

Walt Healy also has an outsource, so if they get slammed, you can still get your bike serviced through them.

MoneyGuy · 06-23-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang

I am thinking of buying a bike. Not a crotch rocket, but a nice cruiser. Right now prices seem pretty cheap, but I dont know what I should be looking for.

This will be my first bike (have driven Dirtbikes all my life though) so I dont want to spend tons of money on it either. (I guess a Harley is out... haha)

I am a bigger guy (6,0 over 200 Lbs) so it shouldnt be some puny thing either.

Any suggestions? Links to places I can do my own research?
Honda Shadow maybe?

Wow, lots of Honda Shadow owners here. No wonder; it's a great bike.

I also have a Shadow and it's for sale. They come in two sizes - 750 and 1100 cc. Mine is the 1100 cc so it's bigger. As you're new, I don't know how comfy you'd be on the bigger bike. It's not your size (you're a bigger guy than me), but you have to be comfy handing the bike at slow speeds. The Shadow does sit a little low to the ground, which is good for a newbie. My bike is the Shadow American Classic, which is the top-of-the-line Shadow. I've juggled two bikes for a few years now and finally have decided that all I need is the Gold Wing and the Shadow can go to some other loving owner. It's in a shop here for sale for $7,500, which I've told them is pretty firm. The shop will take anything they can get over $7,000, which is what I want, but I'd cut $250 off for you, bud. It's black, is in great condition and is a great bike. It has around 17,000+ km on it. PM or email me (you have the address) if you want details or a photo.

BTW, if she's comfy on a bike, your wife would like this bike. It has a passenger backrest and, yes, one of those sissy windshields. My wife loves to ride it (passenger only, she doesn't drive it). My only worry is the larger size for a new rider. It's not a hard ride because it is lower to the ground, but it will take some getting used to.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 06-23-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Wow, lots of Honda Shadow owners here. No wonder; it's a great bike.

I also have a Shadow and it's for sale. They come in two sizes - 750 and 1100 cc. Mine is the 1100 cc so it's bigger. As you're new, I don't know how comfy you'd be on the bigger bike. It's not your size (you're a bigger guy than me), but you have to be comfy handing the bike at slow speeds. The Shadow does sit a little low to the ground, which is good for a newbie. My bike is the Shadow American Classic, which is the top-of-the-line Shadow. I've juggled two bikes for a few years now and finally have decided that all I need is the Gold Wing and the Shadow can go to some other loving owner. It's in a shop here for sale for $7,500, which I've told them is pretty firm. The shop will take anything they can get over $7,000, which is what I want, but I'd cut $250 off for you, bud. It's black, is in great condition and is a great bike. It has around 17,000+ km on it. PM or email me (you have the address) if you want details or a photo.

BTW, if she's comfy on a bike, your wife would like this bike. It has a passenger backrest and, yes, one of those sissy windshields. My wife loves to ride it (passenger only, she doesn't drive it). My only worry is the larger size for a new rider. It's not a hard ride because it is lower to the ground, but it will take some getting used to.

Just to clarify, a windshield would no longer be girly for you as you also have a Goldwing.
Once you graduate to a Goldwing you can pretty much do what you want, because they are the most awesome bikes ever (sort of).
One day when I'm old, I shall ride a Goldwing.

MoneyGuy · 06-23-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Just to clarify, a windshield would no longer be girly for you as you also have a Goldwing.
Once you graduate to a Goldwing you can pretty much do what you want, because they are the most awesome bikes ever (sort of).
One day when I'm old, I shall ride a Goldwing.

I'd thank you for this useful post except for that part about being old. I belong to a site for Wing owners and there are guys there in their 20s who ride Wings.

Wings are for (pick one):
old people,
people with money,
people who like to travel on a bike and ride in comfort,
people with class,
people who enjoy riding the best motorcycle on the road.

See, you don't have to be old. I'd say I'm in three of those categories (all but the first).

Bring_Back_Shantz · 06-23-2009, 01:43 PM

I didn't say you had to be old to ride a Goldwing.
I said I'll ride one when I'm old.

More specifically when I care more about being comfortable when I ride 1000 miles in 24 hours (I did that on my Shadow), then on being able to tear through corners (I do that on my MT-01, as the Shadow wouldn't really be any good for that).
Also, when I can afford one.

Claeren · 06-23-2009, 01:56 PM

Say with the Shadows, at 750cc and 1100cc, how different is the fuel economy between the two?

People always tell me to get the bigger bike, but I have always liked riding kind of undersized bikes? They are nimble and light, and although they sometimes lag a tiny tiny bit with my 6'4/210lb+ frame they go where I want them to. (Have ridden only twice at 750cc, but even 250cc was plenty when I had the chance to ride it?)

One of my favorite times ever though was riding 150cc scooters through the highlands of Thailand and Laos....

Am I totally crazy? lol

I don't like muscle cars either, I think there is something pure in the efficiency of a small car or a small bike. The minimum amount needed to perform the task?

Claeren.

4X4 · 06-23-2009, 02:05 PM

Would you guys care to elaborate on your love for the Goldwing? Purely for curiosity's sake.

burn_this_city · 06-23-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claeren

Say with the Shadows, at 750cc and 1100cc, how different is the fuel economy between the two?

People always tell me to get the bigger bike, but I have always liked riding kind of undersized bikes? They are nimble and light, and although they sometimes lag a tiny tiny bit with my 6'4/210lb+ frame they go where I want them to. (Have ridden only twice at 750cc, but even 250cc was plenty when I had the chance to ride it?)

One of my favorite times ever though was riding 150cc scooters through the highlands of Thailand and Laos....

Am I totally crazy? lol

I don't like muscle cars either, I think there is something pure in the efficiency of a small car or a small bike. The minimum amount needed to perform the task?

Claeren.

Dependings how its geared bigger bikes tend to be better suited for higher speed cruising. That being said anything over 650cc is plenty powerful enough for highway speeds. Those 150's and 250's you've ridden were possibly 2 stroke not 4. They are more volumetrically efficient due the type of engine. A 250cc 2 stroke is roughly the equivalent to a 450 or 500cc 4 stroke in terms of power. In terms of fuel economy you'd notice a decent difference between 750 and 1100 but not substantial.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 06-23-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Would you guys care to elaborate on your love for the Goldwing? Purely for curiosity's sake.

They're like the Cadillac of motorized vehicles?

They're just cool because of the sheer opulence of them. There really is no better motorcycle for driving a really long distance in great comfort.

Sure they won't tear up the track, but they've got a lot of kick, they look pretty good, and even a 90 year old could handle a long ride on one.

MoneyGuy · 06-23-2009, 06:33 PM

The Wing just drips quality and they run forever. There are Wings out there with hundreds of thousands of kilometres on them. Apparently, many years ago the sales guys used to start them up and stand a coin on edge on the bike and it would stand there as the bike ran, to show how smooth it is. They're also super comfy. They're called a couch on wheels for a reason. It's one great bike. I can ride mine for hours and...well, I do get tired because I take my bike driving seriously and work hard at it. Mine is a 1984 Wing and I love it.

As for handling it, I tell people that anyone can drive a Wing. However, eventually you have to stop. It's not a big deal actually. I'm 5-9 and it took a big of getting used to, but it handles just fine once you're used to it. If anyone wants, I can post a photo of the bike later. I drag a trailer behind it for long trips with the wife. No, I don't put her into the trailer, unless she misbehaves.