Looking for my first cruiser!

I am not a novice rider, but have been riding a land yacht ('83 Wing) the last 3 years. It weighs 960 lbs wet, and while it will pull away easily from most cars, it's a dog compared to other bikes. Smoothness and confortability is the key to the Wing...

So, with 97,000 miles on the Wing now, I have decided to look at new bikes. I too really like the V Star 1300 Tourer and the Suzuki C90T. I have the same concerns about both bikes.

The V Star 1300 Tourer is a good looking scoot. I am not crazy about the cheap looking plasti-chrome speedo, though. I have read that the throttle response on the 1300 is abrupt and takes some getting used to.

Concerning cruising range, I am switching to reserve shortly after 100 miles or so on my Wing(30 mpg is the Wing's average-my Chevy Cobalt gets 32!). That makes me leary of the C90T's small fuel tank. That's the problem with putting the fuel cell under the seat.

These forums have been an excellent source of information. For me, I am beginning to lean toward Kawasaki's Vulcan line. I want a new one and have saved so I don't have to borrow any money for the purchase. The Nomad is really enticing to me, but at $13,000 it's just beyond my price range.

I have said it before, but I will say it again: Bike dealers should offer demo rides. All 3 local Harley dealers and the Victory dealer in my area offer them, but not the Japanese dealers. I think it says a lot about the attitudes between the genres. I understand not letting someone without a motorcycle endorsement or proof of insurance, but I have both and sitting on a bike on the showroom floor tells me nothing about any machine's real world manners.  

Easy for me to answer as I just got my first cruiser about a year ago. Everyone told me to make sure I had at least 7-800 cc's. I bought a really nice '99 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic, and I love it. The problem is, my wife also loves it and loves riding on the back. Now, I'm not saying she's fat by any means, she's one hot mama, but with her weight plus my 205 lb frame, I'm really thinking I should have gotten a larger bike, perhaps 1100 or larger.
I'm just saying, think about whether you are buying a cruiser for 1 or 2 people.
-dag  

Alrighty... I've narrowed it down to two bikes. I'm considering a Vulcan 900 and a Marauder 800. Both fit me nicely and should have all the "oomph" I need without the overkill I don't. Yeah, I drooled a little when I saw the "Meanstreak," but I'd be insane to buy that as a first bike. SO... How about a comparison between the Vulcan 900 and the Marauder 800? WHo's ridden both? What are your impressions?
Thanks,
Mark  

I am 5'7 160lb. I did a lot of shopping and settled on a Suzuki C50. Of all the bikes in it's class it was to only bike that had EFI and a real gas gauge not a little blinking warning light. It also has an oil sight window so you can see your oil level emergency flasher switch on the handle bar controls and a passing light switch. Overall it offered the most value for the money. It is very manuverable in traffic, has all the power I want and has no problem on the highway even while bucking high winds. I couldn't be happier with my selection. The only draw back that I found was it has a narrow back seat and regular pegs for the passenger. The driver has floorboards and a heel shifter all the comforts of the large bikes.  Good luck.  

I don't believe they make the Magna's anymore. I used to have a v45 it was great but now theike to get would be the Shadow or the VTX. If it's your fisrt bike I would go with the Shadow, it's a 750. But for ease and simplisity I would really look at the Suzuki C50 Boulevards, they have a lot more to offer such as Electronic fuel injection a real fuel gauge and a lot of other features. A C50 will run you 6799.00 plain and 7000.00 fully dressed with saddlebags, sissy bar and windshield. Not a bad buy, the C50 is a 50 cubic inch cruiser meaning it has 805cc displacement. Good luck.  

As a new beginner rider, I took the Canada Safety Council rider course in April 2007, and was given lots of advice by well-intentioned experienced riders as to what size of bike to buy.  "Don't buy smaller than 1500cc's or you'll be trading up in 3 months, a season, a year, etc."  Confusing, to say the least, when I had no intention to buy or expectation that such a large displacement engine would be needed.

After picking the brains of all our riding school instructors, the best advice I got was from the head instructor, a very slender gal who puts about 25,000 miles a year on her Harley Road King.

She advised "Don't buy a bike bigger than you feel comfortable handling.  If you do, you run the risk of encountering situations that you would learn to handle and be comfortable with on a smaller bike, but may not handle well on a big bike.  Once you are comfortable on the smaller bike, if you still feel that you need to and/or want to, move up to the bigger bike.  The money you spend in the learning curve and trade-up process will be much more well spent (and maybe even less money) than if your first bike is too big and you end up shiny side down for any reason.  Then you've got what will probably be high-cost repair bills, not to mention potential medical concerns that may last a lifetime, avoidable if you had been less aggressive in terms of bike selection and/or riding habits."

I ended up buying exactly what I had initially envisioned as my first bike, a Suzuki C50T.  It's got all the snap I expect I'll ever need or want and gets about 50 mpg.  To me, it's what a bike is supposed to look like!  It's shaft drive, liquid cooled (you'll really appreciate that on hot summer days), fuel injected (starts immediately every time), heel-toe shifter, rider's floorboards, windshield, bags, and passenger backrest.  I only added a light bar and Cobra engine guards, otherwise it's stock.  I'm adding a luggage rack as I'm planning a trip from BC to Manitoba (about 1200 miles each way) this summer for a family reunion.  A good sheepskin makes extended periods in the saddle virtually no problem without the expense of a custom-built version.

So shop till you drop, and sift all the advice you'll receive (including mine) to determine what is right for you.  Then go make the best deal you can find.  

I'm really happy the way things have turned out for me.  This will probably be the only bike I'll ever own. At 5'8" and 190 lbs., the size is right, and at 66 years old at the time (now 67), it was important to be as sure as I could be that I made the right decision the first time.

All the best and enjoy the journey.  "Cheers" from the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.  

I'm 6'3" 240 and turned 45 in March.  I haven't been on a motorcycle since I was around 15.  I just bought a Suzuki C50T and it will be delivered tomorrow. I can't wait to hit the road.  Nice to see so many others in the same boat......or is it bike?  
2008 Suzuki C50T Black

Oh, no- it's DEFINITELY a bike!
Thanks to all who have shared their insight and experience here. I discovered one luxury I'm gonna have to avoid: Gotta stay away from heel-toe clutches! My size 15 Sasquatch feet won't fit safely in the middle of one of those without major problems accidentally shifting when I don't want to. The C50 is a great looking bike, but it's just not "me." But that Marauder... That may well be it!  

For What it's worth, my wife (5'4, 140lb) rides a Mean Streak (1500cc, 600+lb). She DID NOT start on it. Savage 650, Intruder 1400, then Mean Streak.
I started on a Vn800 (Drifter... little bigger than the rest). At 6' 210 Lb, it was a challenge to master, even at my size, just a little too much for me. But, with regular riding, it fell into place.

For the 4 cyl poster(sorry, saw it, didn't get name) and it's slow tonight.

Check out the Royal Star Tour Deluxe. I don't like the steep rake angle, feels a little twitchie to me, but, it felt like it was going to be a worthy bike.

Cruiser compared it to the Nomad. In top gear, the Nomad 1600 is faster up to about 90, then the RS opens it's can of whoop a$$. Mind you, I happen to like the Nomad's ride and manners more.

Didn't buy it, I was seduced by the dark side of a Wing.  

Just bought the M50 last week after a 15 year hiatus.  Took it out at night for the first two days and have been taking it to work ever since.  

If you think you will do alot of highway time you may want to look at getting a removable windshield to keep from getting beat up though.  

There is not an easier bike to start out with or get back into the saddle and if you want something of a sport cruiser this is the way to go especially with the price tag to value of EFI, shaft drive, and liquid cooled.

Good luck.  
2008 Suzuki M50 Marauder

I have read a few of the replies to the thread and thought I would throw my 4 cents in (Inflation yanno ) I was in the same situation as a lot of the repliers here.  I had not riden in years and was aching to get back on a bike.  I did my research and decided on the 2007 V Star 1300 Tourer.  I bought the bike at the end of May 2007.  On the ride to work this morning I turned 9000 miles.  I can not say enough good things about this bike.  Yes there some small complaints as you have read in some of the posts on this site.  The clutch is a bit noisy, the engine whines as most Yamahas do, the wind buffeting in the chest area was a pain at first, but there is simply no denying that this is one sweet machine.  I swapped the seat out for a Mustang with a back rest (Yes a back rest, I am 50 and love it), I added Bucks Lowers for the wind buffeting, I put passing lamps on, and rear floorboards.  I am so very glad I decided on the V Star 1300.  The bike has more than enough get up and go to satisfy my highway riding style, but is nimble enough to drive around town on errands.  Good luck with your search and consider the V star 1300 you will not regret it.  

I'm living testament to the fact that bigger is better. I was a newbie, too, and I wish I had known -- I've now bought three new bikes in six months.

I'm 5-9, 175. Started out with a V-Star 650. Too small.

Traded for a Suzuki C50. Loved it, but damn it, still too small. Felt fragile on the interstate, and the bike revved too high at high speed.

Ended up with a C90. Absolutely love it. It's a bull. Putting on Cobra pipes, Power Commander and K&N air filter next week.

C50 is a GREAT bike to start out on, but there is a great deal of wisdom in starting out with the bike you want and growing into it.

BUT, you should ride what you feel comfortable on.

How's that for wishy-washy?

.  

I just bought (now have 600 miles) an 07 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad.  Got a good deal on the 07 here in N CA - just under 11.5k out the door.  Beautiful bike, great ride - I chose this bike after a lot of sitting, reading, etc.  Seemed like the overall best bike for my wants and needs.  Plenty of power, but behaves quite well.  I would recommend this bike without hesitation.  

Greetings:
I jumped back on a bike after about 25 years. Bought a 750 Shadow and out grew it riding it home from the dealers.  I sold it two months later and lost a bundle.  Ended up with a Victory Kingpin which I should have purchased in the first place.  Before you buy any bike, at least test ride a Victory.... the new American motorcycle.... a very great bike!!
They might cost just a little bit more, but you will save it by absolutely no repair bills.  These bikes do not break.  45 to 48 mpg too.  More power than a HD and handles like a much smaller bike.
Try it, you won't be disappointed.  

There are some great bikes out there ........  
7 days without riding makes one weak