I am just curious to see if there are any cruisers here. I am looking to buy a Honda Valkyrie for my first bike. I know, I know, it's not a recommended bike for beginners, but I'm stubborn and am not a young kid trying to buy it for speed. Some people think it's just fine to start on, while others recommend another bike. THey say the biggest problem is the size, but the guys usually said if they were bigger and a littler taller (at least 5'10) there shouldn't be a problem.
I'm looking to buy one in July. I'm going to go to the motorcylce class here in OKC to learn to ride, then hopefully I will be able to go and find my Valk.
Later on I'd like to get a crotch rocket.... I'll probably start off small on those though, lol. Until, I get comfortable.
So anyone else got a cruiser type of bike?

Hey another person on here from OKC, OK. Howdy!
I have a cruiser myself. It's a Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 800cc.
I would highly recommend getting a learner bike first. One that is small and light and cheap. My first bike was a 1980 Honda 400cc CM400T (called "Nighthawk" or something) that I got at a sheriff's auction in Stillwater for $125. I rode that thing for 6 years and then sold it for $800. :tucool: Reason I say get a learner bike first is you will make mistakes and you will drop your bike. #1 you don't want to damage a new bike (You'll be so upset at yourself. Motorcycles devalue so fast anyway.) #2 you won't be able to pick it up yourself. Imagine it, you've dropped your bike, traffic is driving around you, gas is pouring out of the keyhole in the top of the gas tank, and you can't get your bike up off the pavement. Also smaller bikes are more maneuverable and better for learning.
Just my thoughts.

I crusie in Suzuki volusia 800

As Ansett suggested, being a beginner go with a medium one- 800 or 1000 CC max.These crusiers are big enough to travel comfy in high ways

Be sure to put a crash guard so that id you drop, the bike is protected

let us know what your buying

Seth
Hey another person on here from OKC, OK. Howdy!
I have a cruiser myself. It's a Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 800cc.
I would highly recommend getting a learner bike first. One that is small and light and cheap. My first bike was a 1980 Honda 400cc CM400T (called "Nighthawk" or something) that I got at a sheriff's auction in Stillwater for $125. I rode that thing for 6 years and then sold it for $800. :tucool: Reason I say get a learner bike first is you will make mistakes and you will drop your bike. #1 you don't want to damage a new bike (You'll be so upset at yourself. Motorcycles devalue so fast anyway.) #2 you won't be able to pick it up yourself. Imagine it, you've dropped your bike, traffic is driving around you, gas is pouring out of the keyhole in the top of the gas tank, and you can't get your bike up off the pavement. Also smaller bikes are more maneuverable and better for learning.
Just my thoughts.

One day I'm gonna buy a Honda Goldwing, take 6 months off and cruise from NY to LA. I can't wait :jumping:

Check out the motorcycle tread...:http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=12101 :D

I am definitely going to start off on the valkyrie. Some don't recommend it, some do. I talked with a few owners of valk's and they said it would be fine to start off as long as you can respect the "big fat lady" which I can and will. Can't wait. My dad is thinking about a Valk or a Goldwing as well.
In July, I will own one :claphigh:

you will make mistakes and you will drop your bike.

I cannot agree with this more. I have about 20 friends that ride, and only 2 of them haven’t dropped their first bike at some point in time. I dropped my first bike, and you probably will too, so just be very very careful, especially with tedious things that you won’t practice a lot. Most of my friends that have dropped their bikes have done so going less than 5mph through parking lots, or while actually parking the bike.

On a side note, my two friends that have not laid down their bikes started riding at about 18 years old. One had a Harley Speedster as a first bike, and the other had a Suzuki GSX-R. I still cannot believe their luck.

I to would highley recomend a more beginer friendly bike IE 800cc or less. People who say as long as you respect the bike are IMHO full of total BS. Respect does not have anything to do with skill. You can have all the respect in the world but a big bike magnifies any misakes you make and as a new rider you will make them. I did and any rider I know has gone through a learning curve. The question is do you want to go thorough it on something more forgiveing and easier to control, not to mention less expensive espically if's its used.

Also remember this is your FIRST bike not your LAST. You can get a used bike cheap, ride it for a year and sell it for next to what you paid for it.

But whatever you choose, you should definatly take the MSF class offered in your area. Depending on your location they cost anywhere from nothing to $300. Check out www.msf-usa.org. Also check out http://www.beginnerbikers.org/vbindex.php they are one of the best sites for beginer riders.

Keep the rubber side down.

2004 Suzuki Marauder 800 here.

I'm currently riding a 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1400. Absolutely awesome bike. I've been riding since birth, basically, so it was nothing to finally get a >1000cc bike.

For a beginner, I strongly recommend a Suzuki Boulevard S40 (maybe S50). Very reliable bikes that require little maintance and have tons of parts available. For a used version, look for a Suzuki Intruder 800cc or Savage 600cc. The Boulevard is basically the same bike, just looks little different and the engine is measured in Cu. Inches.

Check these links for more info:
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/S40K5/Default.aspx

Intruder Alert (http://www.intruderalert.com/)