Motorcycles

The Green bike with the girly tank is a metric.The easiest way to tell is the seam
on the gas tank.Plus the top end of the engine.Harley's are more square.
If the pic was on the left side,one could probably tell by the drive shaft vs.
belt drive.

 

True. I've also wanted a sports car, but the cost is prohibitive... for now at least. Motorcycles might just fulfill my need for speed and fun.

 

It's definitely a small engine, but it's... robust... I guess you'd say, for it's size. This guy I use to race with after work mistook it for a 750, he was shocked when I told him it was just a 500. There's another guy I race around with after work who has a Ninja 600, I keep up well enough, even through twisties and highway traffic.

I'd certainly like greater displacement at some point, but money is tight... and will be for awhile (new baby in the house ). Throwing the 500cc Ninja engine in my Vulcan, along with some other custom stuff should keep me happy for awhile.

 

It seems that you are similar to me but the manufacturers must not believe our market to be sizable.

I've ridden and still on occasion ride crotch rockets. I love the power at hand and yes, most of the time spent is putting along but drop a gear and they take off which is nice given how many drivers now are doing everything but looking at the road.

But, I hate the riding position as does my wife. They are OK to go 5 miles down the road with a passenger but anything longer, and it's misery for passengers.

So, where are the reasonably priced (subjective) cruiser style bikes that have more power than the v twins but not as radical as crotch rockets?

It seems that Honda is dipping its toe into that water with the CB1100

I find it hard to believe that there is no market for a 750cc to 1 liter inline 4, cruiser style bike with 85-120HP. And, it shouldn't weigh as much as a Fiat car.

 

That's the place to be.Just breezie old 2 lane country highway.Where you can lose yerself
within rolling hills and the occasional valley.I think about those roads every time I have
to take the Interstate or by-pass.I hate the Interstate.Can't stand it.No place for any
motorcycle.But out of a combination of necessity and expediency,the By-pass or
Interstate can save time.But I can't stand them Truckers.Especially Dump trucks.
I refuse to get behind a dump truck.They go as fast as their governors allow.
Which is around 65 mph { 70 unloaded }.They always spew out dirt and pebbles and
sand which ruin the finish of any new vehicle or bike.I can just go and look at my car
and see the little specs of ruined finish,attributable entirely to dump trucks.Plus all
truckers { 18 wheelers } kick up road dirt and gravel and toss behind.

 

rolling hills, occasional valleys. It all sounds lovely

Now what about those of us who live where it's flat as far as the eye can see?

I use to love to ride in NH and Maine. I took my bike on the ferry to Martha's Vineyard. Diverse landscapes makes riding even more enjoyable.

I've made the mistake of riding in NYNY and had the enjoyment of riding in upstate NY

 

I believe it is a pre Boulevard Suzuki.

 

To answer this in one word..... MOVE.
ROFLMAO

 

wise guy

it's pretty sad when the landfill is the highest point in the county

 

We all have motorcycles that we are interested in purchasing whether we ever purchase them or not and my heart leans in this direction....



but it's not exactly what I want. I'd like to see Indian come out with a new version of the Scout that was smaller than the Chief. As everyone knows I preferred the Sportster over the Road King or other larger Harley's because I enjoy a slightly smaller, more nimble, motorcycle. I think I'll have to contact Indian and ask them about the possibility of a new Scout in the future. It they bring one out, it's MINE!!!

 

Dude I work with rides a V -Star 250...it's fine on the highway. He's done plenty of highway time, including Fall River to Albany & back. It will run 65-70 all day and is still pulling at 85!

 

I took an Indian Chief for a test ride around 2000-2001.It was a lugger.
It didn't want to turn or brake.Felt unstable.Plus too much vibration.
It had the long wheelbase so on a straight stretch it was a good ride.
But they were selling for near $19,ooo.And that was before Indian
designed their own 100 c.i. powerplant.The bike kept getting better but also
kept changing hands.They came out with the smaller Scout but then went bankrupt
again.The Chief I test drove was pretty but had problems.Like single disk brakes
and control wires just hanging from the handlebar.The seat was nice but lacked
enough padding.More a Parade bike.Looked good but not functional.
A motorcycle has to be functional.I can't imagine pushing an early 2000 model
Indian Chief thru 2 hours of a constant downpour like I did with my mid 1970's
Yamaha 500 cc.That's one area that metrics excel.They are tested tough.
Them jap bikes are put thru the mill.A lot of those clone custom V-twin makers
are long gone.They had fat rear tires and loud engines { S & S } but NO engineering
or build quality.They were basically just slapped together.A motorcycle has to undergo
strenuous testing and endurance.

 

I just rode my bike through a torrential downpour. My glasses fogged up, my windsheild fogged up, the dang thing was begining to hydroplane and i was going through the mountains. I took my bike to work today because I was sure it wasn't going to rain. It was a good thing it only lasted about a half hour till I got home.

When it rains and you are driving your car....please...turn your lights on.

 

Personally I hate rain and motorcycling.It used to be every single year { summer usually }
I'd manage to get stuck in a downpour.I think last year was the first year since 1999 that
I managed to avoid coming home soaking wet.But I'm also riding a lot less.
About 1/3 or what I used to ride.I used to average around 6,ooo miles a year on
2 bikes.

 

He must be lightweight then. I'm over 200 lbs, and a 250cc won't have much left to accelerate away from trouble if you need it....let alone carry a passenger. I would not recommend a 250cc for extended highway use.

 

Good comments especially about a motorcycle needing to under go strenuous testing. I still hope Indian makes it this time. They are the oldest motorcycle company in America although they've faced troubling financial problems that have shut down production in the past. I do believe they need to improve the quality of their motorcycles, like Harley-Davidson embarked on under AMF leadership (both the evo motor and the water cooled motor for the V-Rod were started under AMF). I also believe then need the Scout along with the Chief similar to Harley-Davidson with it's large cruisers and the Sportsters because they have to compete with both Harley and Victory motorcycles for the "Made in the USA" market.

 

Now is not the time for Indian to attempt a revival.Most every clone bike maker folded.
Starting with Ultra then on to American Ironhorse.Harley is holding their own.But they
met demand about 5-6 years ago.Motorcycle dealers are closing their doors.
The economy is down and most people either got a bike before the Recession or
learned to forget that pipe dream.I think sportsbikes still have a way to go.
But the Cruiser market is about burnt out.Law of diminishing demand.
Honda VTX 1800 dropped off big time about 5 years ago.Same with the V-rod.
I'm surprised Victory is still around.

 

AMF was w/o any doubt the worst years for Harley.That is when the Japanese market
got it's foothold.In the 60's and 70's. Harley had labor problems and their bikes showed
it.Not good build quality.The Jap bikes became dominant and then took over the
motorcycle industry.With celebrities singing the praises of the new and Hollywood cool
Honda's { seen in many a 60's movie } " You see the nicest people on a Honda ".
Then came the breakthrough of all bikes.The Honda 750cc or CB750,a bike like no
other at the time.It was modern and fast and well ... big for the era.
First bike to utilize disc brakes.
BTW ... Evo's were not such a prize engine.The Evo's of the late 80's and 90's leaked.
And the initial V-rod engine was a German built { Porsche design } 1,ooo cc race engine.
In fact,the first couple year run of V-rod had Porsche stamping on their engines somewhere.
I'll have to go back and visit my huge motorcycle magazine collection to see just when.
My local Harley dealer { in Town } had a really bad reputation because the owner and
some of the sales staff acted like the Klan.They lied and pretended they didn't have certain
models in their warehouse depending on whether they personally liked ya.
When the V-rod was being marketed { about a year after the VTX 1800 } and I bought
the VTX first thing when they came out,I still wanted a V-rod.Of course my local dealer
{ who were motorcycler bigots } insisted on a waiting list and first come,first serve.
They wouldn't even tell ya when you put yer name & address down,how far up or down the
liest you were.It turned out I was pretty far up the list.When the V-rod did come out,I asked
how come I wasn't contacted.They said they called me and that's all their responsibility required.
That dealer was hated by most people who went there.However that dealer did have the
hottest Biker babes { like really HoT } who helped with sales inside the store for all the clothes
and little knick knacks with the Harley Logo.The dealer eventually went off to the Big City
with a huge new Dealership that was very large and impressive.But they still had a sales
staff with an attitude.

 

He's about 220lbs...the V-star has plenty of power.

 

Currently ride a Ducati Monster S2R. It's beautiful.

Want to eventually buy a Suzuki Hayabusa as well, because I am young and stupid.

If and when my back gives out, will probably go to a Yamaha V-Max. Those things are just a sight to behold.

 

I bought my Suzuki M109 at a Suzuki/Ducati/Triumph dealer.
When the Diavel came out I wanted one.I was real close last year to getting
one.They are supposed to be a mock cruiser/sportbike.They are awesome fast
0-60 mph.They have the most state-of-the art wheels and brakes.Plus some
models have carbon fiber bodywork.The bike doesn't fit me like a glove and a bike
should fit the rider as well as possible.I almost got around to test riding one.But I
don't wear a helmut and that was that.I own a few helmuts and hate every one of them.
Helmuts restrict a rider's ability to see and hear what's going on around them.
Diavels start at $16,ooo and the carbon fiber models at $19,ooo.
They have special on board computer riding modes and keyless start-up.

 

We can argue all day about it.
I have 28 years of riding experience including 2 tours across the United States....
An average person on a 250cc would be rung out after a few days of 500 + miles in a row and numbers will back this up.

V-Star 250cc produces 21 hp @ 8,000 rpm

A person weighing 220 lbs is going to have to be running above 7,500 RPM extensively to keep up with highway traffic which on more isolated stretches of the country average 75 mph - 80 mph. Here in Missouri, the main interstate cutting across the State, highway 70, will take you from St. Louis to Denver averaging 77 mph, just to keep up with traffic. I've done it 6 times round trip on a motorcycle, I have a sister in Denver.

Will a 250cc get you to work and back including a few dozen miles on the interstate...yes it will...but it is not designed as a tourer...in fact running it all day in the higher RPM range just to keep with traffic will lower the longevity of the engine components.

I would not recommend a 250cc for extensive highway riding...certainly for a large adult male...
I've ridden the Honda Rebel, 250 cc which is 16 hp and I could barely make it over 70 mph...your friend's bike only has an additional 5 hp to play with ....so the numbers say otherwise....a rider over 200 lbs is going to be running near full throttle on a long touring ride, and the vibration and buzz imparted from the engine to the riders hands, arms and patoot will definitely take it's toll. It's a training bike, and a short commuter bike....

Yes people can say....so and so road from the Arctic Circle to Venezuela on a 50cc mini bike...and sure there are iron butt masochists out there...but the average person could not keep up with the bikes built for touring...built for the highway...on a 250cc street bike. The numbers back this up...both in the weight of the machine and power available....the rider will go numb after a few days of 500+ miles in a row.

I would not recommend a 250cc bike for extensive highway use.

 

I think Yahmaha is trying to fill that void with the Bolt.

But yeah, I think there is a market for high performance cruisers below 750cc even.

 

I'd like to add a couple points.

Do not get a 250cc bike if you're not a fan of constant ridicule.
Do not get a 250cc bike if you're prone to getting a wild hair up your ass on occasion.

Man, I cannot stress enough how glad I am that I didn't get a 250. I'd be extremely disappointed by now. I think a 250 is the perfect bike for someone who really isn't concerned with performance, and simply wants economical transport, but couldn't stomach a scooter. It's a good starter bike for someone who's never ridden before, and is really intimidated by the idea of traveling on two wheels.

A guy I work with sunk $7,000 (after interest) into a new CBR 250, and pays about $180/mo on insurance!!! I feel so bad for him. 7g's could've bought a whole lot of used bike. He has about 20 miles of rural highway to commute everyday, he's getting burnt out with it already. Not to mention, the guys at work laugh at him every time he pulls in and out of the parking lot.

 

No idea what RPM he is running (no tach), but it's fine on the highway. He rode in today...we finished at the same time, and he was having no trouble running 70 for hours. Again: this is not his first bike. He has owned several...and he likes this one so much that he sold his big 900cc Vulcan! (Note: on a winding road, the Vulcan could not DREAM of pacing the little V-star!) He plans to run Tail Of The Dragon with it next year.

Comparing a Rebel to a V-star is like comparing a Yugo to a GTI! The Rebel is ancient...athsmatic engine, small frame, and until recently, they used hopeless mechanical brakes. The V-star has a much stronger engine (note: going from 16 to 21HP is a 31% jump!), it's on a larger frame (same as the V-star 650, IIRC), disc brakes, and is generally a better bike. His only complaints are no fuel gauge and no EFI.