Hey Don, I'm 27 years old, 6'3" and 225 lbs. I've been riding for just over 6 months now. I personally wanted an older bike to work on. So I went with a '73 CB750K2 and it's my daily commuter (25 miles/day). Overall, I'm happy with it and enjoy working on it. But I don't feel comfortable with taking it on the freeways. I've never felt "overpowered" by the 750. I also feel a little left out when I ride with my buddies on their fancy new bikes. So I've also been looking for a modern Honda to take over my daily driving and perhaps start tearing down the K2 to build her back up.
I looked at the Nighthawk 750 fairly closely. It tugs at my heart a little because it has so much in common with the SOHC's. But I think if you're going to buy a new bike, you may as well take advantage of modern technology. I also am a little off put by the full fairing bikes with their uncomfortable ergos. So if you have to go Honda, I'd suggest checking out the new (just came out this month) 599 : http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/sport/model.asp?ModelName=599&Model Year=2004&ModelId=CB600F4 I really liked the naked 919, and this is kind of like his smaller brother. Plus, at $7100, it seems like a decent bargain. Other non-Honda's you may want to consider: the new for 2004 Yamaha FZ-6 (like the 599, but $6000) and the Suzuki SV-650. Sorry for rambling, but I've been looking into this very thing lately. Let us know what he decides on and how he likes it! Paul > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of LT Don & > Debbie > Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 12:35 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: bike for a beginner rider > > > --=====================_196662519==.ALT > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > My son, age 24 (fresh off of a Master's Degree at Virginia > Tech) is about > to purchase his first motorcycle. Very limited riding > experience, not much > beyond borrowing someone's bike at the frat house a few times > to zoom up > and down the road. > > He is targeting a late model Nighthawk 750 as his final ride > of choice. But > since he is just starting, he is thinking of getting either a > Nighthawk 250 > or perhaps a CBX 500 to get some riding experience under his > belt before > tackling the 750cc size bike. > > Primary issue -- he is big. About 6'6" and 225+ lbs. Think > football player > size, like a linebacker or tight end, and you have the right > idea. I am > thinking that even though the Nighthawk 250 is a nice light & > forgiving > bike, it just might be TOO small for him even as a beginner > ride. Maybe a > total waste of money, if he can't ride it more than a few times. His > girlfriend COULD claim it as her bike, though, and they could > eventually > ride together. > > I have no experience with the CX500. Better choice for his > body frame size? > > He has nixed anything with plastic, such as the CBR900 etc. > sport tourers. > (That would have been my choice since he will be commuting > to/from work in > the Washington DC area.) His mindset is such that it has to > be a Honda ride > of some sort, since his car is an Acura Integra and Acura > doesn't make > motorcycles. He is in love with the Honda nameplate. > > I suggested a SOHC-4 750, but I don't think he wants turn any > wrenches > since he is just starting his first engineering job and time > will be an > important comodity for him. > > Comments and suggestions welcome. And oh, I have encouraged > him to take the > MSF Riders Course asap -- I am sure some of you would be > suggesting that. > > Thanks. > > Don > > > > > > LT Don & Debbie > 1977 Mercedes-Benz 240D 200,000+ km > 1996 Buick Regal > 1989 Pontiac Sunbird (daughter's) > 1972 Honda CB-500K > 1971 Honda Express moped > Iowa > > Debbie: It's JUST a car. > Don: No, it's NOT. > > http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=207103 > > --=====================_196662519==.ALT > Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" > > <html> > <body> > My son, age 24 (fresh off of a Master's Degree at Virginia > Tech) is about > to purchase his first motorcycle. Very limited riding experience, not > much beyond borrowing someone's bike at the frat house a few times to > zoom up and down the road. <br><br> > He is targeting a late model Nighthawk 750 as his final ride > of choice. > But since he is just starting, he is thinking of getting either a > Nighthawk 250 or perhaps a CBX 500 to get some riding experience under > his belt before tackling the 750cc size bike.<br><br> > Primary issue -- he is big. About 6'6" and 225+ lbs. > Think football > player size, like a linebacker or tight end, and you have the > right idea. > I am thinking that even though the Nighthawk 250 is a nice light & > forgiving bike, it just might be TOO small for him even as a beginner > ride. Maybe a total waste of money, if he can't ride it more > than a few > times. His girlfriend COULD claim it as her bike, though, and > they could > eventually ride together. <br><br> > I have no experience with the CX500. Better choice for his body frame > size?<br><br> > He has nixed anything with plastic, such as the CBR900 etc. sport > tourers. (That would have been my choice since he will be commuting > to/from work in the Washington DC area.) His mindset is such > that it has > to be a Honda ride of some sort, since his car is an Acura Integra and > Acura doesn't make motorcycles. He is in love with the Honda > nameplate. > <br><br> > I suggested a SOHC-4 750, but I don't think he wants turn any wrenches > since he is just starting his first engineering job and time > will be an > important comodity for him. <br><br> > Comments and suggestions welcome. And oh, I have encouraged > him to take > the MSF Riders Course asap -- I am sure some of you would be > suggesting > that. <br><br> > Thanks.<br><br> > Don<br><br> > <br><br> > <br> > <x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep> > <font size=2>LT Don & Debbie<br> > 1977 Mercedes-Benz 240D 200,000+ km<br> > 1996 Buick Regal<br> > 1989 Pontiac Sunbird (daughter's)<br> > 1972 Honda CB-500K<br> > 1971 Honda Express moped <br> > Iowa</font> <br><br> > <i>Debbie: It's JUST a car.<br> > Don: No, it's NOT.</i> <br><br> > <font face="verdana" size=2 color="#009900"><a > href="http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=2071 > 03" > eudora="autourl">http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?se > lected=207103</a></font> > <br> > </body> > </html> > > --=====================_196662519==.ALT-- > >
