I think small dual sport bikes are about the best learners. They handle
very well, very nimble and forgiving of a new riders common mistakes. That
and if you have a place you can ride away from traffic until you feel
comfortable.
I know it's a terrible thought but the Chinese 200cc 4 strokers on E-bay
for a grand or so brand new are a remarkable good deal for a good learner.
Who cares if you beat it up learning......Sell it to a kid down the road
when you are done with it for a trail bike for a small loss and spend your
money on a nicer bike of whatever style you prefer.
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Curt Raymond" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Diesel List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] Motorcycle Opinions
Around here a bike under 750cc is considered a starter bike to ride for a
year until you graduate to a "real" bike.
Thats crazy though. The 454 is plenty of bike to haul my 230# butt around.
So then the argument is "I have to shift too much" which is naturally BS.
Anyway what I'm getting at is if your ego doesn't need a bigger bike good
deals can be had on smaller ones. I paid $750 for my wife's 454.
-Curt
Date: Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:01:04 -0400
From: Mitch Haley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [MBZ] Motorcycle Opinions
To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Curt Raymond wrote:
My wife's bike is an '89 LTD 454 and its a hoot.
You've got to remember, a late 70's-early 80's 450 could do the
1/4 mile in the low 14s, slightly quicker than a 911SC or a 500E.
A newer 250, like a 250 Ninja, should be a good performer too.
I took a test drive on a '81 GS450 around '84 or '85 when
dealers were swimming in old inventory (they wanted $11xx for
it brand new). When I shifted into 4th, not long after I took off,
I looked down and the speedo was swinging past 90mph. My mid-70's
CB200 was a bit marginal, even with a 125lb rider, top speed was
80 in neutral conditions, but a stiff headwind or hill could knock
it down under 70. I would not be happy with a 16hp motorcycle today.
I'd say that an old 350-500cc would make a fine starter bike, or
maybe a 600 or 650 BMW. Wish I'd bought a Honda FT500 Ascot back
in '86 when it was offered to me for $400. Quick enough and ~60mpg.
If looking at more recent bikes, find out how fast a 250 is these
days, it might be plenty and get 70+mpg. There's a low mile 250
Ninja near me, but they want $2600 for it. (a price I balked at
in 1986 when it was on a new 500 Interceptor) If I ever find a
nice R65LS BMW for $1500, I'll jump on it.
Mitch.
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