My question revolves around questioning my abilities and lack of conficence. I'm educating my self on this whole new experience.  I have been searching and gathering information on varoius motorcycles.  I have started my Riding Course for insuring more knowledge on riding. I have looked at 750cc to 1300cc and not sure which way to go.  I'm Male, age 54, good health, 6' tall, 235 lbs. I don't want to buy a bike that I will grow out of in a short period of time, but I do not want something so large it will cause me undo harm?  Please give some pointers  and advise.  Thanks  

I wouldn't recommend going that large for a first bike. Cruisers have longer front ends than other bike styles and that makes it more difficult to recover, when the bike gets out of balance, which it will do during the learning process. When that happens, you're stuck with trying to muscle it back up by the handlebars, before it falls over the rest of the way. That's no easy task even for a young powerlifter, because when the bike gets off balance it's because you got off balance first. People routinely damage muscles and joints that way.

Unless you're already planning on taking long trips on the bike, 750cc is plenty of bike. It's got plenty of power and size for local riding, even with a passenger. It'll haul you and a passenger right on up to interstate speeds, easily. It just won't have the carrying capacity for passenger plus luggage and it won't soak up the road bumps like the heavier bikes do when you've already been on the road for 6 hours and your back is complaining.

regards,
Joe  

I had the same question a couple of years ago.  I had ridden as a teenager but now in my sixties and wanted a first bike.  I completed the saftey course and against all advice I purchased a Vulcan 1600.  The first couple hundred miles was 50mph or less on secondary roads.  I just completed a 1000 mile ride on Route 66 and couldn't be happier.  I am about the same size as you but I never lacked confidence.  I think we all are different and a lot depends on how we use our head.  Most experts will tell you to start with something a little smaller and then trade up.  I didn't but never regretted it.

Tom  

I think a 1300 would be fine like the honda vtx great beginner bike,The power is very forgiving there when you need it.Your size a 750 would be to small on hills and with wind gutless good luck  

Any vulcan owners out there ,just wondering how well you like it and if you have had any problems i have the vulcan 2000.  

I have the Vulcan 1600 Classic and love it.  I've put about 4000 miles on it this summer and the only complaint is the seat bothers my tail bone after about 1-2 hours ride.  I will try a pad first and then maybe a mustang seat.  I also need some kind of back support.  Power curve is just what I wanted with plenty of torque power in the mountains.  Looking to put a cruise control on next.

Tom  

Hi All,  I am taking the MSF next month and am wanting t get the FXDF Fat Bob.  I believe if I take it easy for a couple months I will get usd to it.  What is your opinion?  Too large of bike?  

Here's my opinion for what it's worth. When I started, I was 230, did weight training at least twice a week (and had been doing it for a while). I bought a Drifter 800. Heavy bike to learn on. I took it slow, and after a couple of months I felt competent on the bike. About a month after I took the MSF and got my bike, my wife took the MSF, and bought a used Savage 650. I  rode it home, and realized I could do things on that bike that I couldn't do on the bike I'd been riding for a month. It instilled confidence, it responded quickly, and it forgave mistakes.
Having started large, and gotten a sample of the other side, I'd say start small. But, buy used, and if possible beat (cheaper).

Wife sold the Savage the next spring for almost what she paid for it.

Worst day was when I dropped my Drifter. Crunched the brake lever, and throttle, dented the tank, gouged the fender, scraped the floorboards, bent the frame in the bags. It really sucked because I bought it new. Patched the working parts. When I finally sold it, I figure it cost me about a grand.  

After a 30+ year absence from riding bikes and with the kids grown up and married, my wife and I decided to become BAB's (Born Again Bikers) . My last bike was a GoldWing 1000, but now at age 58 with a bum knee I wasn't sure what bike I wanted. I looked at the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 classic at the dealer and just sitting on it rocking it side to side it felt like if I would put more weight on my knee it would give out and end up droping the bike. My wife convinced me on buying the Honda Shadow Aero 750. Bike is comfortable, good balance and power for Interstate cruising no regrets. My wife ended up with a Yamaha VStar 650 Custom for herself.