C50T a good beginner bike???

[Nightrage]

I recently moved to Florida from Alaska and currently work with many riders. Even before this I’ve been thinking of getting a bike. This will be my first bike with next to no experience. I want something to mainly commute back and forth to work with the occasional weekend trip. I’m 6’1”, 225 lbs and want to know if the C50T a good choice for a beginner bike? I’ve been doing a lot of research both on-line and talking to other riders but have been getting mixed reviews. Here’s what I want to know:

1. Is this bike too heavy for a first-time rider?
a. Some are telling me to get something smaller and others say to get something with more CCs…maybe the C90T.

2. Will this bike have enough power to get me around on the highway?

3. Is this bike too small for my size…especially my height?
a. Some are saying that my legs will be cramped but don’t the C90T also sit at the same height?


Are there any larger (6”1” or taller) out there with this bike can that can help me out here? Someone please help so I can get to riding. Thanks.

Rage

[robertc729]

I'm 6'2'' and have enough room, this bike is the perfect size for me. It has plenty of power even at highway speeds, that is no concern. The first thing you need to do is sign up for an MSF course, it will teach you the basics of riding. Opinions on starter bikes vary, you could start smaller, but with your height/weight, you may feel cramped on smaller bikes, but you shouldn't start on a bigger bike (i.e.C90).

[Jerryzuki]

Go for it rage, I can't speak for the taller folks but my wife and I rode 2 up a lot on our C fiddy T and never had a problem with power. Oh and the MSF course in not a bad idea for a new rider.

[Nightrage]

Thanks Robert. I'm signing up for the MSF this week and will definitely find a parking lot to practice in before getting on the road.

Rage

[frostbitevinnie]

The C90T is way too much bike for you. I would say no bigger than the C50T. The seat height is the same for both bikes and the 90T is about 1/2" longer. The C50T is about 130lbs lighter though. Still a pretty heavy bike at 567lbs. Have fun, be careful. Maybe get an older bike then when you drop it no big deal. You will drop it by the way, some day. Maybe pulling out from the dealer? Then you would be one sad puppy.

[TTungett]

I was a first time rider back in late April/early May, and went with the C50T...It's the perfect bike for me at 6 even 240...I highly recommend it...Do the MSF course and ride safe...

[zukirob]

Love my C50T but don't even think about a new bike right now because you will drop it within a week. Take the MSF course, get a light used bike (less than 500 cc) and then when you get tired of it, trade it in on the new C50T. It's more than adequate for cruising needs.

[Thundurburd]

I started out looking for a small used bike but ended up considering the C50 and S50. I got the S50 which is about 100# lighter than the C50 and shorter. I weigh a little more than you do and I can say for sure that the S50 can haul my butt around with no problem at all. If the fit feels right then in my opinion it would be a good bike for you.

Incidentally, I dropped my bike after only 5 days so zukirob has a good point about a smaller used bike. I had stopped coming out of a parking lot with an incline both to the front and side to side, and found out that a short person person like me needs to be more careful about where they stop. When I put my foot down it didn't touch ground and by the time I scooted over to the side the bike had tipped too much for me to hold the weight up. I would call it more of a slow drop.

My point is that there are way too many dumb little things that can go wrong when you are starting out and saying be careful is not sufficient advice. If the C50 is the bike you really want you should probably go ahead and get it. Your plan to do a MSF course and lots of parking lot practice is a very good idea. If you run out of ideas for practice goto YouTube and do a search for gershonbenfranja. This guy has posted a few practice videos and is getting better all the time.

[Nightrage]

Sounds like it's about 50/50 buy the C50T & buy a used bike. Out of you that bought the C50T as your first bike how many dropped it? I really don't want to drop the bike and will NOT even think about getting on the road until I've practiced a good long time in a parking lot but maybe I should get a used bike to practice on? If I were to get a used bike how long before riding the new one? How long "on average" does it take to ride safely on a bike?

[Nightrage]

For those of you who did get a C50T would you mine telling me what you gave for yours? I just want to make sure I get a good deal. I may get this and sit it in the garage until I'm practiced up with a used bike. May be a good idea and when I'm ready just give the used to the wife.

[Alan_Hepburn]

My 2 wheel life started out with a Burgman 400 that I bought used. And I did drop it, but not in the usual way - I was trying to load it into the back of my truck one day about a year after I got it, and it was almost all the way up the ramp (the front wheel was on the tailgate) when gravity decided it wanted to get in the way. The Burgie fell off the ramp onto its right side, with the back wheel still on the ramp. Other than a few scratches and a couple of cracks in the tupperware it was unharmed.

About a year later I traded it in on my 2007 C50T - I've now got about 3500 miles on the C50T and haven't scratched it yet. It carries wifey and I at freeway speeds with no problems, and easily handles my daily commute on a combination of slow city streets, expressways, and freeways.

[frostbitevinnie]

I have been riding various bikes since I was five. We had a very large back yard, all grass and my dad put me on an old Honda 160. I was young but distinctly remember it. Anyway, I have always had old used bikes. They are great!! You can drop them and so what. Goof around and crash at times, so what. Finally after all these years I bought my first new bike, the C90T. I guess I believe starting on a small dual purpose between 200 and 250 is a pretty good idea. Getting out in the dirt and learning how to really manuver a bike is good practice and a lot of fun. Of course you would not repeat what is done on dirt on the street but it is a great, safe way to learn. I was actually thinking about it today at work and I came to the conclusion that any bike approaching 800cc is too big for a beginner. Just my opinion of course but there it is.

[TTungett]

I disagree...Prior to taking the MSF in April, I'd never been on a Motorcycle in my life...I bought my C50T a week later...3200 miles later I still thinks its the best purchase I've ever made...It's a great beginner bike...

[frostbitevinnie]

Originally Posted by TTungett

I disagree...Prior to taking the MSF in April, I'd never been on a Motorcycle in my life...I bought my C50T a week later...3200 miles later I still thinks its the best purchase I've ever made...It's a great beginner bike...

Thats great, I am glad for you but I am just speaking from the 30 or so years of riding experience I have had. It's just my opinion and I am sure other riders with a lot of experience would disagree as well. I not only rode on dirt in So. Cal. but also on L.A. freeways. Boy am I glad to be out of that %%%% hole. Anyway, happy riding everybody!! I had a great time coming home today. First ride in hail and no place to hide. Bummer dude!!

[DanL]

I had never ridden, bought a C50T about two months ago, took the MSF course a week later, then started riding it (with practice in a parking lot). It felt huge compared to the MSF bikes. My first ride - to DMV - was terrifying. Stalled it once, then found a little confidence, then scraped the floorboard on a turn! (It really isn't one of the MSF bikes!)

Haven't dropped it (knock on wood), but did come close a couple of times - always when I was stopped or barely moving. The biggest difficulty was either stalling the bike on startup and trying to get the feet down while stopping (when engaging the clutch and rolling to a stop should have been easy) or leaning the bike too far in the wrong direction, then turning the handlebars. This happened once on an incline that I hadn't even noticed before. In a couple of cases, I had to just muscle it back up. (I'm 6', 178 and not particularly strong).

Anyway, I ride it almost every day on a two mile commute down one hill and up the next with five or six turns in between. Can't say I'm exuding confidence, but it's amazing how much easier it's become to handle. Since the first three weeks, I haven't had one of those incidents, but I'm certainly not confident that it will never happen. It's a beautiful bike that I would hate to drop - a 2005 with about 3k miles on it. Ebay is a great place to get a sense of how much they cost.

I would say that if you are coordinated and careful, with your size, you stand a pretty good chance of keeping it wheels down. Graduating up from a 650cc standard would take a lot of stress out of that first month though.

[frostbitevinnie]

I guess it is just difficutly for me to understand a beginner buying a new big bike. I am thankful for my experience with dual sport bikes, I guess I am lucky to have had friends and family involved with dirt bikes. Obviously there is very little comparison from a 250cc to my 1500cc as far as weight and handeling. But what I do know is that all the years on the small bikes messing around really taught me to have a completely unconscious ability to control a bike. I don't think about shifting, braking, evasive manuvering, quick stops, etc.. I just do it. It has been difficult for me to adjust to my C90T and I can't imagine how difficult or scary it would be to have zero experience and hop on a big cruiser. I took my 250cc out the other day and it was so strange not having floorboards, seat height and so on. Guess I had better take it out more often so I don't kill myself on it someday. Anyhow, take it easy guys be careful and practice, practice, practice. See y'all on the road.

[Colorado Cajun]

After 12 years of not riding, I bought a new 06 C50 to get back into riding. I've been enjoying it since. I'm 5'6" and weigh 150. I haven't dropped it yet (Knocking on wood). If I could afford another bike, I'd like something with a little more power but not more weight for those times you just want to get on it but it has plenty of power for everyday riding.

[Nightrage]

Got my permit today and signed up for the MSF. Should get in by the end of October. Should but a bike by next week. Going out this weekend to have another look but I'm still leaning toward the C50T.

[bonesnews]

Hey Nightrage,
I bought a C50SE 805cc and i am a new driver, This is my first bike and I can tell you that it would be a good choice. I like my bike and I have put almost 8000kms on it, and when i get around to it I will probrably buy the C90. I am not quite as tall as you I am (5'9) but i agree with all the other posts that it is a really good starter bike and no it is not heavy or awkward to drive, good power and mine is really smooth on the highway. But ultimately it is your decision on what you get.

[Nightrage]

Thanks Bones. I stayed in Edmonton for a few days when I drove down to Florida from Alaska. Awesome trip!

Rage