Newbie needs buying advice - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

budlyte · 07-06-2008, 03:04 PM

Hello Everyone,

I've been reading as a guest on this forum for the past few days and decided it was time to join and post my first of what will probably be many questions. I apologize in advance for the lengthy post. Thanks for taking the time to read it.

A few specifics about me: I'm 39 years old, 5' 11", 31" inseam, and weigh 175. I'm looking to get back into riding after a 15+ year absence. I didn't do a lot of riding back then, basically one summer riding a friend's Yamaha 250, so I consider myself a beginner after all this time away. I completed the MSF course a few weeks ago and have been looking for a bike since then. With the price of gas so high these days, it seems that good used cycles are hard to come by around here, so I've been looking at new ones as well. Several dealers have some 2007 models left and are offering good deals.

I originally started researching the SV650 (non-S model) and V-Strom 650, as I thought that's the type of bike I'd like (more upright seating position). A crotch-rocket/sportsbike is definitely not for me. I found a dealer who had both in stock so I went to check them out recently.

I ruled out the V-Strom because the first thing I noticed when I sat on it is how my calves hit the foot pegs when I placed my feet on the ground. It's a tall bike, so placing my feet farther out didn't allow me to flat-foot the bike.

I sat on the SV next. No problems flat footing it or hitting the pegs. I took it for a ride and liked it overall, but I can see where an inexperienced rider like myself could get into trouble w/ the throttle if not careful.

Then I spied a 2007 M50 in the dark blue color. I hadn't looked at cruisers, as I didn't think I'd like them, but I loved the look of the M50 in that dark blue/purple color. I immediately hopped on it. It was much heavier than the SV, but it seemed to have nice balance. When I took it for a ride, I was only able to go about 35 MPH due to the speed limit on the road, but loved how it effortlessly rolled thru the curves. There was a C50T there as well. I sat on it but didn't ride it. It seemed a bit more top-heavy than the M50, but I understand they are very similar bikes overall.

So of the 3 bikes I looked at, I liked the M50 the best. I settled on a price w/ the dealer, but I wanted more time to think about it and do some research.

When I got back to town, I stopped at a friend's house because he has a C50T. He let me take it for a ride, and I couldn't believe how different I felt riding it. The C50T was not as much fun in the corners, and slow-speed turns made me very uncomfortable. I felt much more tippy on the C50T than the M50.

So now I'm a bit hesitant to pull the trigger on the M50. I had an ATV accident about 4 years ago, and ever since then I get very uncomfortable in tippy situations (like being in a canoe on choppy water) so I need to be sure the bike I get won't make me feel that way in most situations.

So here are my questions:

1. Is there really that much of a difference in the handling between the C50T and M50? The M50 just seemed to handle curves and especially slow speed turns better than the C50T.

2. Is the M50 too big of a bike for a newbie like me? I found mixed responses on this question when I looked earlier.

3. If folks consider the M50 too big for me, what cruiser do you recommend and why? I don't want a 250, so I'd prefer a 500-650cc bike if not the M50. I do like the looks of the Vulcan 500, and it seems to get good marks as a beginner cruiser, so that would be an option (if I can find one around here!)

I plan to primarily ride around town and to work (about 3 miles one way).