advice

[oldgoat]

just got back from seeing my doctor and lawyer

i ha ve been fighting a workers comp case for over 3 years and now it looks like we are going to settle check might be here by october all the papers are signed. now thats good news but here is what im asking? my doctor said i can go ahead and try and ride my motorcycle this fall or next spring. as most pepole here know my bike runs fair. but i want to go down to a more easy to ride motorcycle due to my knees and health. so im asking what type of bike would you all think i should look at ? i want a decent yamaha crusier maybe? that i can handle and ride to MD next year. i dont think a 650 cc would make me happy. and i dont want a big heavy touring bike as of now. my price range might be in the 3k range depending on this settlement and the possible sale of the venture. i once had a yamaha maxim and loved that bike. but was thinking along the line of a good virago? so whats your opion on bikes i wont be buying one till next spring.

thanks

[Guest]

Hard to say what you would want or like, James. Best bet is to look in the classifieds like ebay or cycletrader.com to see some price comparisons and try sitting on some different bikes to see which one fits you best. Probably an 1100 yamaha star would be nice for you. Plenty of room and power too for some long trips.

[gibvel]

Just got a 96 Virago 1100. Some things that I noticed, in the short time I've had it and the little bit I've ridden it so far, If you're 6 feet or over you'll probably want to go with highway pegs or forward controls.

 

I've got forward controls I'm going to be putting on mine.

 

On top of that you'll definitely want a windshield. How large depends on what you'll be doing with it. If you'll be riding highway a lot you'll probably want to get a larger one with some lowers. I'm just going for a small one as this will be for around town.

 

Might be able to find a V-Star for about that much. They have boards and forward controls already.

 

If you get one of the 2nd gen Ventures the pegs will be a bit farther forward than, I believe it's, the 85 and older. However, the pegs are right in the way of the oil filter cover bottom bolt. I don't think you can do an oil filter change without taking off the bar the pegs attach to. Two bolts, not a huge deal, but bear that in mind.

 

If there are any more questions you have on the Virago let me know and I'll try to answer them. Brad T's wife used to have an 1100 and a couple other people here have Viragos so maybe others will chime in as well. Another good source: http://viragotechforum.com/index.php

 

Let us know what you end up with.

[oldgoat]

thanks i should have said im small in the inseam im 5 ft 8 but have a 27 inch inseam even this first gen is a bear to get on but once im on and the air reduced in the shocks i can place both feet flat on the ground most of the time. but getiing on and off i have to do the hop and skip and drag my leg over the seat not a verry good feeling because at one time i tipped the bike doing that. a female friend of mine dianne bought the 650 vstar? and loves it but im thinking a 650cc just wont cut it for me. she has rode hers from IL to north dakota and said hers did just fine for that size bike. but after all shes 5 ft 5 and weighs about 120 me im 5ft 9 and lets say i pack a few good pounds. right now im looking at ebay and cycle trader thanks for that advice ruffy never thought to look there. im seeing 1100cc going from 4k and up im thinking high prices because the ridding season is still upon us? good time to check on one might be around january? the holiday season is over pepole have bills to pay and they just might have a second bike that they could part with at a fair price. of course this allso means i cant realy test drive it. but i can work that out some how.

[SC89Venture]

Look at the Kawasaki Classic 900 LT. Excellent mid range cruiser.

[goatman123]

I used to have a 96 Honda Magna and it sounds like what you're looking for. Very easy to ride, not heavy, and a V4 motor with plenty of get up. That was one of my favorite bikes.

[gibvel]

Think the Virago or V-Star would be good for your inseam. They both sit pretty low compared to the Venture.

 

Don't know about the Kawasaki mentioned but the seat height is 26.8" so it sounds good. V-Star 1100 is 27.2" and the Virago 1100 is 28.1"

[Guest scarylarry]

The Vstar 1300 is very light and is EFI too, the Kaw 900 is nice bike as well..

[SC89Venture]

900 Classic is fuel injected and belt drive fwiw

[Bubber]

1100 Vstar is a great bike I have had a couple and it is light and handles great.

I wouldn't mind having it as a second bike.

Bubber

[Motorcycle Mike]

Look at the Honda VTX 1300.

I have an 04 model with over 65000 miles on it. Toured with it, 2 up pulling a trailer.

It sits alot lower than the RSV with a much lower center of gravity.

It acually feels small compard to the RSV. It should do you well.

I love mine.

[Road Hawg]

Nice to hear that you will be up and riding again!

 

As for bikes, if you like the Venture, have you thought about keeping it and adding a sidecar to it, or perhaps some of those little landing gear wheels?

(Notice I didn't call them training wheels! )

Jim

[XV1100SE]

.... but was thinking along the line of a good virago? so whats your opion on bikes i wont be buying one till next spring.

thanks

 

I had a Virago 1100 before going to the 09 RSV. You'll find the Virago to be a very light bike compared to what you had. Easy to ride, familiar seating position, and performance. Easy to maintain. I sold my '99 for $3600 this spring so it should fit your budget. Early '80's had stator issues but anything after that is good.

[flb_78]

Suzuki Burgman 650.

 

Yeah, it's a giant scooter, but it'll run 90mph all day and still get 45mpg.

 

Very low maintenance, lightweight, easy to ride.

[DragonRider]

Old goat, if you want a great riding and running bike, easy reach to the ground. Try out the V Star 1300 Tour. I have one and I love, handles like a dream, short reach to the ground and the 2007's on ebay are very reasonable. There are several on the forum that have them besides myself, Bill Predock aka Snarley Bill owns one and he loves it and he is also short in stature, but that thats the only thing he is short on........................The reason I choose the 1300 is that it has fuel injection and belt drive. I have over 25,000 miles on mine and it has been no trouble to me what so ever. These pics are after I added the fairing.

[Sideoftheroad]

Don't know if the newer models have been changed or not but there used to be complaints w/ the vstar 1300's when they 1st came out about the handlebars. Most people would use Tour Deluxe bars.

 

Could also look at a Vstar 950. not sure if a used one would be in your price range. I also had a 04 Honda VTX 1300. It was good bike. Only problem I see is people that are trying to sell them are asking for prices for what dealers would sell for 2-3 yr old brand new leftovers.

[GAWildKat]

I dunno alot about bikes, however when researching my own future bike, I felt a suzuki volusia/c50, would make a great bike for me, so much so, hubby bought one as a 1st bike for himself. it's 800cc, shaft driven and for me @ 5'6" fits me like a glove with the stock seat. However hubby says after 2 hrs on the bike he gets a bit saddlesore on the stock. Hubby found his for $2700 in April, but I'm seeing them sell for between $3500-4000 on craigslist.