Thinking about getting a motorcycle

[moparguy]

Not a midlife crisis thing either. I'm dang near 70 so technically past all that foolishness. Had a Honda SL350 back in '70 and I've had a chance over the years to get several miles under my belt on friends bikes. But I've wanted a road bike/cruiser for the past 20 years. Main reason I haven't pulled the trigger is the family's concern of old guy wrecking on first few days of riding. Old bones don't heal fast. If at all.

Well, the wife still rides horses, not daily but two or three times a week with multi-day camping/riding trips a few times a year. I recently learned that statistically motorcycles are safer than horses. I'm about ready to live dangerously.

I've gone through several possible bikes in a Walter Mitty sort or way and am currently sweet on a Suzuki Boulevard S40. It's a lightweight (381 lbs. dry), 5 spd. 650cc single cylinder cruiser. Basic bike that looks like it's straight out of 1970. Only instrument is a speedo. Electric start with a carb. Seat for two up and will run north of 85 according to many reports.

My first choice was a new generation Triumph Bonneville. Second choice was one of the many much more technical Hondas. Since this for all practical purposes will be a 1st. bike I'm thinking it's better to start off smaller/lighter and cheaper. Once the muscle memory is there and instincts are right then move on up to a big boy ride.

A MSF course will be taken.

So, any thoughts on a Suzuki S40?

RonR

 

[SnoKing]

70, almost ready for training wheels!

 

[Whitewolf]

I like the simplicity of it and the fact that it has a belt drive. My first bike back in the early 80's was belt drive and it didn't produce the buzz that the chain on my second bike had.

The only thing I would suggest is to sit on it and see how it feels. Seat too tall? Too low? Comfortable seating position with your hands on the grips? How do the location of the pegs feel? Remember, you could be in one position for a couple of hours at a time.

The only bike I have left is NOT comfortable for long rides. I can go about 125 miles on a tank, and brother am I ready to get off. In reality, it wasn't designed for long rides. Kawasaki ZL1000 Eliminator. It was designed to go head to head with Yamaha's V-Max.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

A few years back I wanted to buy a MC for my wife and I to do some weekend rides with two other couples. My wife was very apprehensive but being the adventurous lady that she is, said okay. I was all set to sign the papers on a really nice HD but when I got home she said there was no way we were going to do that. My bride has tolerated me doing many dangerous things over the years but this time she planted her feet with a solid no. What I didn’t know at the time was the two couples that we would be riding with were on a weekend trip going up the hill to Wrightwood. Apparently something happened forcing one of the MC’s across the line which resulted in a head-on collision. The outcome was terminal. My point is, you may the best at controlling your vehicle but have no control over the moron in a full sized auto next to you.

Just my opinion…and yes…I’d still like to have a road bike.

 

[SnoKing]

I like the simplicity of it and the fact that it has a belt drive.

Are talking about the Can Am Spyders? Simplicity it is not. It has both traction and stability control features, along with anti-lock brakes. Adaptive steering and an electronic dash. Paddle shifters that must be up shifted but down shifts on it's own, or you can paddle shift down if you want. My limited model has an auto leveler rear air suspension and has a sensor to know if their is a rear passenger to adjust the stability control for that. It has Blue-tooth can connect to smart phone and both riders helmet intercoms. Phone calls, music and mapping can be routed every which direction. Smart phone navigation can be displayed in the right hand side of the digital dash display. The cruise control works very well. The electric parking brake can be a bit of a nuisance, forget to set it and turn off the key and it beeps at you. Put it in gear and try to drive with parking brake on and it beeps at you. I single foot brake pedal that controls front and rear brake might be a simplicity, however I wish get was repeated with a right hand brake level also. That would make the use of highway pegs safer.

Maybe everything I noted above contributes to simplicity? However there are a lot of complex systems and programming to make it all happen. nothing simple about working on them. You have to remove a lot of tupperware to do repairs and routine servicing, and it has to be removed and reinstalled in a special order.

 

[BigPapa]

Are talking about the Can Am Spyders?

He’s talking about the Suzuki Savage, or S40.

 

[Wayne M.]

Go for it moparguy!
After living in a dangerous city, and riding there myself for a very short time (Feeling very unsafe amongst the crazies) and after spending my youth on a couple of Hondas (one being a 1970 CL100) I do still get a severe urge to ride!
I’ve seen the Boulevard- a nice ‘70’s style jap custom thumper with chrome, and (I would likewise) go for the full MSF course and make it happen.

 

[SnoKing]

The CTX700 DCT bikes with Hondas automagic transmission get high marks as being simple to operate and reportedly handle great. Used ones are a bargain to purchase. However they are chain drive.

 

[DHayden]

I have had dirt bikes from the age of 9 and street bikes into adulthood. I had some close calls but after flying Medivac in the Army with a civilian MAST mission, I swore off bikes. As someone stated earlier, its not so much you but the idiots you cant control. Cars have no regard and pay NO attention to bikes. Especially in our world of distractions today, no thanks. That was my personal decision and based on wanting to raise my kids, do I miss it? Yes
On the other hand, when our time comes most people regret not what they did in life but what they DIDNT do. Reaching 70 your reflex and agility controlling a bike is not going to be good. I would ride in low traffic areas to feed the urge yet stay as safe as possible. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Wayne M.]

I totally agree. My kids have grown and now I’m out in a rural area. I fear deer more than other drivers.

 

[Cummins12V98]

HE!!, cows can be a problem! Returning from Parker to Salome. AZ the other night after dark and a whole herd was in the road.

Dirt mikes in my youth and then late 50's I bought a Yamaha V Star 1100. Enjoyed the bike for two years then bought a full dress 2009 Harley. No comparison! The HD is a much better ride and handles much better, love the bike.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Moparguy, did you decide on a bike? I’m looking hard at the ugliest bike ever released....HD Pan America.

 

[moparguy]

Don, I'm still in research/shopping mode. The only thing I've learned about the https://bikeswiki.com/Suzuki_LS650_Savage_(Boulevard_S40) that may be a deal killer is the low seat height. At 6' I'm not tall but my legs are over achievers. My Wranglers have a 38" inseam. I'll have to try and talk the owner of a Suzuki S40 into letting me take a trial ride to make sure my senior back and shoulders aren't too crunched up.

However to answer your question, at the top of the list; Suzuki S40, reasons, simple design, easy to work on, light weight, nice low end torque, CHEAP. 2nd on the current list is a Honda Rebel 500, it's a light weight (although a bit heaver than the S40) bike that's much more complicated with current tech everywhere. It's also a bit taller which may prove more important than I can appreciate today.

Good Luck,
RonR

 

[JR]

Moparguy, did you decide on a bike? I’m looking hard at the ugliest bike ever released....HD Pan America.

I wanna see a heel clicker if you get one!

 

[Mark31]

Moparguy, I, too, drool over "wheels". With my bad back, I would not be able to ride that Suzuki for any length of time. You are too big for that bike. You'd be a elephant on roller skates! I have to have my feet back under me and lean forward for the bars. I even put flat Honda 400 bars on my 72 (tweeked!) 750. When riding, the wind will take the weight off your wrists. When riding that style of bike, you have to pull yourself to the bars unless you put a windshield on it. A favorite irk for me is footpegs that hit me on the inside of my legs at a stop. I like the Honda NC750 and the Kawasaki 650 Versys, and the Yamaha 750 engine sounds interesting. Twins make so much more power. I had a Honda 500 single, a couple of Wings, ran the 3 Flags (8k trip), Daytona every March for years. I was about to make a move for a ride when a friend got killed sitting at a stoplight. Another time I was drooling bad, an acquaintance got broken up. I was sitting on one at the dealer's and caught a cramp. Reckon He is sending me a message? Edit: The local Pontiac dealer was 90 or so when he stopped riding his Honda 500 four.

 

[Wayne M.]

I have a real soft spot for vintage Hondas like the ones Mark describes. Bringing stupid money nowadays.

 

[moparguy]

Well, the DD continues. I'm now looking at small/midsize Asian cruisers. Was pretty satisfied with what I read about Suzuki S50's and all the similar Suzuki 50 series until cam follower issues popped up. Seems many engines have been lost needing rebuilds or replacement starting in the 20,000 mile and up range.

The past couple days have been about Honda 750 Shadows and it looks like they check all the boxes. Not TOO heavy, run forever with reasonable care and maintenance and the market is full of decent looking bikes in the $2k to $3k range with mileage between 10 and 20k.

A very nice looking '99 with 16,000 miles is for sale about 30 miles away. Asking is $1,300.00. The gotcha on why so cheap is lost title. The seller has a letter from the State DMV showing the vin and stating the amount of the surety bond required to get a replacement title.

I've always avoided complicated titles like the plague but may make the seller an offer contingent on them doing the legwork and providing a clean title.

RonR

 

[moparguy]

 

[endoscott]

Not much risk for that amount of $. Unless u think you might turn around and sell in the short run. You can still register in your name as long as State Patrol clears it as not stolen, which you can do yourself online. In Washington you won't get a clean title for a year or two but you will get it. Went through this on a camper a few years ago.

 

[moparguy]

endoscott, how would you check online for stolen? Carfax or similar?

RR