Starter Cruiser Bike?

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well that was fun, couldnt reach ANYONE on a saturday afternoon, besides allstate, and the guy said they dont do standalone, and once i said ok i could look at bringing over my car with it, he said they dont insure anyone without their M license. Good riddance.

On a side note i went and tried out some more bikes, and i want to get some more opinions, Iv looked at the vstar 650 or the shadow, they both feel comfortable to sit on, but the sales person insisted they wont be for a guy my size(apparently because to be comfy on a cruiser for more than 5 minutes your knees HAVE to be BELOW your hips, they cant be on parallel or slightly higher than your hips) Any truth to this? Or was he just full of ****?

Also the Vulcan S felt a little tight, it wasnt uncomfortable, but it wasnt comfortable either, even with the extended reach etc

He says my only 'real' choices are essentially the m50/c50, or one of the 900s(Vulcan or V Star) I dont know weather to agree or disagree with him, iv only sat on them briefly and moved the weight around and the cruisers seem pretty comfy to me, but then again my knees are slightly above my hips or at best parallel on anything like the shadow or v star 650.

I am fond of the m50/c50 and the 900s though ill be honest. The weight i can also control(leaned it around 45 degrees side to side no problem)

Thoughts?


In addition i looked at some standard bikes(Naked?) for kicks, and i wonder if they are higher or lower than cruisers for insurance or about the same?(I can only speculate at this point since i wasnt able to get in touch with anyone)
the salesman also said the ninja 650 is a 'standard bike' and not a sport bike(LOL? not sure if he was serious)......Claiming it is exactly identical to the ER-6N
 
On my VTX my knees are parallel to my hips (so upper legs are basically straight) and I've ridden for 2+ hours at a time and was still quite comfortable, but I do have ultimate seats adding to the comfort level.
 
PrivatePilot said:
On my VTX my knees are parallel to my hips (so upper legs are basically straight) and I've ridden for 2+ hours at a time and was still quite comfortable, but I do have ultimate seats adding to the comfort level.
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so the salesman was full of ****?


Just tried Jevco, theyre closed on saturdays also....god this is depressing, no one picking up i just wanted some quotes, Better call tomorrow after work..

this seems like a fair bit of work, i finish and get home from work around 4ish...maybe ill have to take a day off from work to get some quotes?
 
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supernova12034 said:
so the salesman was full of ****?
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I could see how having your legs pointed up (knees higher than hips) may be uncomfortable, but level at least seems fine with me, and most bikes (based on a GIS) seem to result in the rider with a similar leg angle. The VTX is my first cruiser so my experience is based only on the 2500 or so K I've put on it over the winter and a few long uninterrupted rides, but it's fine to me, and I'm a 40+ guy who's body rapidly started to disintegrate when I hit 40. ;)

Highway pegs give you an alternate foot position as well that will let you stretch your legs out.
 
Most offices are only open until 1 on Saturdays. Should have made the calls first.
Also, you could look for a bike that has been converted to more forward controls.

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Standards seem to be slightly more expensive then cruisers, but not much. Try the personal next week. They're quick about running quotes.
 
supernova12034 said:
so the salesman was full of ****?


Just tried Jevco, theyre closed on saturdays also....god this is depressing, no one picking up i just wanted some quotes, Better call tomorrow after work..

this seems like a fair bit of work, i finish and get home from work around 4ish...maybe ill have to take a day off from work to get some quotes?
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He was gunning for an upsell for sure.
 
Pretty well any bike can be made to fit you. Some are easier then others.

Also keep in mind most demo or display bikes are set up to "fit" the most popular sized demographic.

Small and large folks kinda get the shaft.

But Seat swap, foot controls and handle bars can be moved or changed.

The "C" position of some cruisers are uncomfortable to some.

Knees above or parallel to hips won't be comfortable after some time.







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supernova12034 said:
What about the fact that he claimed the ninja 600 was a standard bike, I find that ridiculous
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He said the Ninja 650 was and he's right. It is an upright bike and he's also correct that it is identical to the ER-6N (it's a er-6n with a fairing but identical bolt for bolt).
 
Hardwrkr13 said:
He said the Ninja 650 was and he's right. It is an upright bike and he's also correct that it is identical to the ER-6N (it's a er-6n with a fairing but identical bolt for bolt).
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Interesting, I wonder if the insurance companies see it the same way, I guess by that logic the 300 is also a 'standard' bike? Although it's almost certainly classified as sport.
 
The cruiser "gynecological exam" position, due to their forward controls, is not to everyone's liking, and your knees might seize up. I prefer mid controls cruisers. A UJM, or universal Japanese Motorcycle, has a more upright "sit up and beg" position that is comfortable for many. SS bikes have a forward lean position, Which position you prefer will dictate your specific bike. Most beginner bikes have a very upright riding position.

The sales guy was certainly trying to upsell you. If you went to the Shadow forum, which I am a member, and asked if their Shadow 750s were comfortable you'd get a resounding "yes". The salesman's remarks would make members chuckle. Take a stroll there and ask. Your height and weight are very common for U.S. Shadow riders.

All the 300s are ideal beginner bikes, but insurance costs also depend on your age, where you live, your license and history. If you are 23 and just got your M1 any bike will be expensive to insure. If you buy a new 300 then it will be more expensive, especially if you took out a loan. Overall the 300 should not be more expensive than a Shadow 750. You need to ask about your specific case.
 
Hey @TorontoBoy you run the same name over there? I don’t remember seeing you on the map they have. You gonna be at the show next week? I have an extra patch for you, if you'd like it.

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Joe Bass said:
Hey @TorontoBoy you run the same name over there? I don’t remember seeing you on the map they have. You gonna be at the show next week? I have an extra patch for you, if you'd like it.

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Hey Joe, Yes, I use the same name, but mainly comment on the vt500, leather and sewing related stuff, and sometimes electrical (I love debugging electrical problems). I won't make the show, but would love the patch. I'll PM you.
 
TorontoBoy said:
Hey Joe, Yes, I use the same name, but mainly comment on the vt500, leather and sewing related stuff, and sometimes electrical (I love debugging electrical problems). I won't make the show, but would love the patch. I'll PM you.
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Iirc, you were very helpful with my headlight issue.

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