Point me in the right direction...

[JenRose]

Hello,
I´m looking to follow in my father's footsteps and start riding. As he is no longer around, I am in need of some help trying to figure out where to start. Any advice will be warmly appreciated.
I'm 27, 5'9 160lbs and looking for something safe to get to work and back in. I am hoping to find something that I will also be able to enjoy as my skills develop. I am hoping to be able to ride along PCH, Ortega and up to Arrowhead as well. Can anyone suggest some good bikes that I should research and consider? There are so many options online, and when I go to different bike dealers, I am concerned that they are more interested in fleecing the newbie than making a safe, appropriate sale.
Also, are there any good skills classes for women? I attended one a few weeks ago and the innstructor seemed to think I was some sort of idiot with boobs and did not take me seriously. I wasn't too keen on being treated as a softie just because I'm a girl.

Thanks!

-Jen

[tricker]

I would suggest the MSF class before starting to look at bikes. I thought I wanted one style going in and then went a complete different direction. Look in RowdyRed94's profile and there's some useful information in it. Motorcycle-Journal Forums - View Profile: RowdyRed94

[stp1971]

First off for the bike what type of riding position do you prefer? If you do not know then go to the dealer and just sit on every one of them. Sportbike full leaned over, sportbike more upright. Standard riding position with you sitting more upright, feet up under you not behind you. Cruiser with your feet under you. Cruiser with your feet on floorboards in front of you. Cruiser with forward controls way out in front.

First thing is to determine your riding position. As this will determine what type of bikes to go for. Then once you do that see what the weight and the engine size is.

But a good seat feel sitting in the showroom is your first step. Then write down the bikes that felt comfortable and that you felt easy lifting off the stand upright.

When you get down to a couple of choices ask the dealer to hold the bike upright for you so you can get a feel of how it sits while in the riding position.

Then go from there.

[HAMMERPETE]

I second the MSF and I recommend putting some serious time under your seat on lesser roads that ORTEGA.
There is a whole lot of bad things that can go wrong on that road and many other SOCAL roads.
Accomplish your dream but be safe.

[Thundurburd]

Welcome to the forum Jen. You've come to the right place, there's a lot of experience on this site with an emphasis on safety.

You should fill out your profile when you have a chance to give us a little more info.

I'm curious what type of bike your interested in; sportbike, cruiser, standard. etc. I'm a cruiser guy, last year bought a Suzuki S50 which is an 800cc bike. From what I've read it's at the upper end of what's recommended as a beginner bike and I agree with that assessment. There's another thread here about a starter bike for one of our members wife. Maybe a little better choice than an S50.

If you're interested in a sports bike or something else, well we've got people riding darn near everything, so you should be able to get help.

Once you have a bike (or maybe even before) you should take the BRC (Basic Rider Course) training. If you are interested in good books, more info online, or other motorcycle related questions, just ask.

Enjoy and post often.

[Trapper]

Good luck Jen. Your dad would be proud of you for making an informed decision .

[Clint]

Welcome, Jen. At 5'-9" just about any bike is available to you. I'd spend some time sitting on every bike you can find for about 5 minutes each, then narrow your search and sit for ten minutes or more.

[JenRose]

Originally Posted by stp1971

First off for the bike what type of riding position do you prefer? If you do not know then go to the dealer and just sit on every one of them.

Then go from there.

I am most concerned with being comfortable, and I am a bit concerned w- what is initially comfortable and what will be comfy over the long haul. As you cant test drive a bike, it is hard for me to guess what will be comfy in motion. My mom has some lower disc issues and I don't want my back ending up like hers. Do tires influence the ride as much as they do in a car? Should I also be looking at that? Thanks for the suggestion to go and sit on bikes a lot. I had not thought about that.
Also, does anyone have any data regarding seat positioning and safety? I hate to think bout it, but there is always a chance to be in an accident. Does the position you ride in influence your liklihood of surviving a crash?

[JenRose]

Originally Posted by Thundurburd

Welcome to the forum Jen. You've come to the right place, there's a lot of experience on this site with an emphasis on safety.

You should fill out your profile when you have a chance to give us a little more info.

I'm curious what type of bike your interested in; sportbike, cruiser, standard. etc. I'm a cruiser guy, last year bought a Suzuki S50 which is an 800cc bike. From what I've read it's at the upper end of what's recommended as a beginner bike and I agree with that assessment.

Dad was a Harley man, but he used to race up at willow springs quite often, and I saw a lot of different styles. I think, because I am a bit of a lead foot, and a sport bike might be a bit too tempting in regards to speed, and the cruisers look comfy (and thats most important to me) that I will probably be looking at cruisers. I am planning to go sit on stuff after work and see what feels best.

Thanks for yur input!

[geoffsimpson]

There are a lot of really nicer cruisers on the market now. Obviously i stand by the others and suggest the course first...but you might look at a V-Star 650 Classic or a Suzuki C50t, maybe even an HD Sportster if you're so inclined. The HD in particular has a narrow feel to it and is not too much to handle although a newer rider can/will be quickly overwhelmed if not prudent. The C50t comes out of the crate with bags, floor boards and windshield so when you complete your course you can hit the road.

Bare in mind, that either of those options (and there are others) are heavy and somewhat cumbersome. So always remember that if you drop it, you'll have to be able to pick it up again.

If you want something a little more sporty but still with a better riding style, there are standards or sport/standards like SV650's and so on...

I asked my wife what she had pictured in her head when she thought about riding. Might work for you too.

[robertc729]

, you've gotten some pretty good advice so far.

[Uncle B]

Stare here first Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Buying a bike?
Jim McCraw/Popular Mechanics /July 2005
I think this is how you borrow what someone else says.

Nobody really has to buy a motorcycle. But these days plenty of people want to. And you may be one of them. Before you plunk down your money, swing your leg over the seat and feel that warm breeze of freedom, you need to resolve several critical issues.

AM I AN EXPERINCED RIDER? Riding a motorcycle is undeniably fun. It also can be lethal if done wrong. Therefore, before you even consider buying any kind of motorcycle, assess your skills and abilities. If you’re a rank novice, you need to learn how to ride. If you’ve been away from motorcycles for awhile, you should take a refresher course. And if you don’t already have a motorcycle license, you’re going to need one to ride legally. The best course of action is to go to a riding school.

HOW DO I INTEND TO RIDE? The kind of riding you’re interested in fairly well dictates the type of bike you should shop for. Conversely, the kind of bike you ride largely defines your motorcycling world and lifestyle. So besides selecting the motorcycle based on its mechanical and performance attributes, consider what circles you’ll likely be riding in—so to speak. If you don’t think of yourself as a racer or a biker in the WILD ONE vein, and you would be comfortable at, say, an Eagles reunion concert, consider a traditional bike, on the other hand, tend to indulge in extreme activities—think THE FAST AND THE FERIOUS, only on two wheels. If you want to hang with the hip-hop crowd, maybe you’re a sport-bike candidate. Folks who enjoy the touring lifestyle tend to be older—often retirees—and are in on kind of hurry when they watch the scenery go by on all sides. If an RV lifestyle or dinner theater appeals to you, so might a touring bike. But if you want to put some adventure into a long daily commute, you may be cruiser-bike material.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I SPEND? It’s a discretionary purchase—the mortgage comes first, okay? Depending on the type of motorcycle you choose, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5000.00 to $25000.00 for a new bike. Motorcycle dealers, like auto dealers will do what they can to help you with financing options, and many offer used bikes as well.

DO I REALLY NEED A NEW BIKE? For many riders, a used motorcycle is a better option. Besides being more affordable than a new bike, a used one is a sensible transitional machine. You may find that the bike you bought to get you back in the game is somehow lacking after you’ve spent some serious time on it. And the reality is, sooner or later your first motorcycle is going to hit the pavement. There’s no reason that the bike you ding up needs to be an expensive one right out the crate. Give yourself a few months to get comfortable—then you’ll be more than ready for a new set of wheels.

IS THIS THE BIKE FOR ME? As you shop, consider your body type: if you cannot put both feet flat on the ground when the bike is upright, it’s too tall for you, period. Also, if this is your first bike, or you’ve never ridden anything scarily fast, don’t even look at a high-performance bike. That said, if you see yourself using the bike primarily as daily transportation, consider a standard, or traditional, bike. If you used to ride years ago, these will look familiar, but feel better thanks to electric starters, fuel injection and disc brakes. If your commute is a long one, you typically do it with a passenger and you want a bit more style, the next logical choice is a cruiser. If you intend to spend many hours and miles in the saddle with a passenger setting behind you, you need a touring bike. For a little more performance in a touring bike, there’s a subset called sport/touring. If you primarily want to straighten curvy roads, your needs will be best met with a sportbike. If you want a basic commuter that can keep going when the pavement doesn’t, look at a dual-purpose bike: a standard bike with extra ground clearance and knobby tires.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED? Before you start riding, you’ll require a helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, rain suit and, possibly, dedicated eyewear—especially if you wear glasses. Don’t stint when you buy your riding outfit: should you ever need it, it’s all there is between you and the hard, coarse pavement. Buy a helmet that meets both DOT {Department of Transportation} and Snell Memorial Foundation’s current safety standards, nothing less.
Then, after you’re fully trained and equipped, prepare for adversity. Expose yourself to what you’re bound to face eventually when riding in a safe and controlled environment. While you may never intend to ride in the rain, sooner or later you’re going to get caught in a shower. Go to an empty parking lot or deserted stretch of road on a rainy morning to get yourself used to the feel of wet pavement and how the bike reacts to breaking, accelerating and swerving in the wet. These are skills you don’t want to have to learn on the job.

[JmalB]

+ elventy billion on the MSF.


Oh and look at an M50...

[DaveAlvarado]

That's some darn good advice there Uncle B.

Jen, if you're looking for a cruiser but something like a C50 still seems a little big for you but you don't want a 250 like a Honda Rebel, check out the Suzuki S40. It's a little less displacement than a C50/M50, and it's physically smaller so it might be a little more manageable for you.

I ride an M50 now and wouldn't really recommend a M50 or C50 as a first bike strictly because of weight--at over 600lbs wet, they're a little much to handle if you have to stomp one back upright, which is something new riders do quite a bit in the first few months.

[diamond_jim]

Originally Posted by DaveAlvarado

That's some darn good advice there Uncle B.

Jen, if you're looking for a cruiser but something like a C50 still seems a little big for you but you don't want a 250 like a Honda Rebel, check out the Suzuki S40. It's a little less displacement than a C50/M50, and it's physically smaller so it might be a little more manageable for you.

I ride an M50 now and wouldn't really recommend a M50 or C50 as a first bike strictly because of weight--at over 600lbs wet, they're a little much to handle if you have to stomp one back upright, which is something new riders do quite a bit in the first few months.

My wife is new to street riding. She's ridden my M some in the local school parking lot but was simply intimidated by the weight and size of the bike. She was so worried about dropping it. Almost two weeks ago she got a great deal on a new '06 Suzuki S40 and she loves it. We've been practicing a good bit a the school with cones and stuff. She's been absorbing all the CaptCrash videos and reading what she can find. She's riding it to the school and back now with total confidence and a big ol' smile on her face. I drove it home from the dealer and it was a blast because it was much lighter than my M50. I've also ridden an '07 S40 with some carb and exhaust mods. It definitely had more power so if you outgrow the power there is potential for a good bit more with some minor mods.

[Brad_M50]

My wife also found the M50 a little too big. So we got her a Hyosung. They have a 250 and a 650 cruiser. They look great and it runs awesome.

[hammersfan]

I would recommend one of the Suzuki 800's. M,S,or C. 50's which ever one takes your fancy.

[paperlady]

Years ago, I had a Suzuki 250 cc that I rode for about a year. Two years ago I bought a Suzuki C50t and love it. It was a little intimidating at first, but I quickly got used to it. I am 5'7" so it fits me nicely. One of the things I did was lay it down on my lawn to make sure I could pick it up. It was not a problem---just remember to use your leg strength.