| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
Ulys are too tall for him and he's not real keen on one anyway. 1125R and CR are just too much power. One air cooled Buell is enough in the family. I sure wish we had some inkling what type of bike might be introduced from Buell this summer. I just saw on gizmag that Honda has leaked what their next Goldwing will be like. Buell should leak something other than layoffs and plant consolidation. I can't see how keeping everything so hush hush really buys them that much. If I knew what was coming then I could plan to wait for it or not. | ||
| Thumper74 |
SV650 is more than enough bike without being overwhelming and you can get them used for cheap! | ||
| Hangetsu |
The new Ninja 650 is pretty sweet too and more than enough bike for a 17yo. The Yamaha FZ6 is also a nice option. | ||
| 407guy |
I second a used SV650. | ||
| 4cammer |
Used Ninja 250. Ride it for a season and sell for close to what you paid for it. | ||
| Hooper |
Motorcyclist magazine's latest issue ("Reason to Ride") has a long-term ride report for the SV650 and gives it high marks. I thought my Yamaha V-Star 650 was a great bike to start on...heavier than most non-big-twins, but really fun, great looking, cheap, and reliable. | ||
| Slaughter |
the new Ninja 650 twin is a great bike - gives the SV a run for its money. Also the GS500 Suzuki (aircooled) and the EX500 Kawi (liquid cooled) are great bikes. IF he'd be interested in a dual-sport, there are ALWAYS DRZ400s to be had for pretty reasonable... but realize that they're dirtbikes and most have been dropped at least a half dozen times. I bought a used DRZ400 a couple years back with no regrets. | ||
| Slaughter |
Oh and the DRZ is a tall bike - but it is a dirt bike and that just comes with the territory. A lot of people complain about the height of the Uly - but they're looking at it as a STREETBIKE - not a dual sport that NEEDS more ground clearance and suspension travel. The DRZ is very popular and you can get aftermarket suspension lowering kits if needed | ||
| Ronmold |
My son 16 also just got his lic. and now rides a DR350 and am looking for something a bit more comfy. Size is important but for the other reason, he's 6-3 200#. He loves the Uly but too much power and too much to insure. A ninja 250 would be great but are those full size bikes or would he be too cramped? They seem to have the same size specs as the Nin 500. | ||
| Edgydrifter |
The Kawasaki Versys is also a good choice. | ||
| Royintulsa |
used monster 750. may be the perfect bike for a 17 year old. or the suzuki would be a good choice too. i am just partial to anything other than japanese. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
He's liking the looks of the Kawasaki Er-6n which is a fuel injected vertical twin with a stainless steel under-slung exhaust (Buell??). It is a very nice looking 6,000 dollar standard. http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/product-details-f eatures.aspx?autoplay=false&id=373&scid=6 | ||
| Crusty |
When my wife was ready to move up from a Blast, she first tried a Sportster, but she never really clicked with it. Then she got a Moto Guzzi Breva 750, and loved it. While I've got a thing for pushrod V-twins, there really isn't a bad bike out there. That new Suzuki Gladiola looks interesting and reasonably priced; as do the Kawasuki 650 twins. If he likes the Er-6n, I'm sure it would be a good, reliable machine. | ||
| Tginnh |
If you want a different, smaller, air-cooled, V-twin, there is the 750 Breva: http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/Nuovi_modelli/breva750 /specifiche.asp?modello=breva750&pagina=spec The latest, revamped 650 Ninja has received good reviews, I believe. Triumph has a deep line up of machines. Something there for everyone. I'd love to have a Daytona: http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/2009%20Triumph%20Dayt ona%20675_10173.aspx | ||
| Tginnh |
Crusty, I didn't read your post before I hit the <enter> key. Glad to hear your wife likes' her bike. | ||
| Nutsosane |
I owned a Kawi Versys in 2007 and found it to be a wonderful motorcycle. It was so good I rode it for 8k miles and sold it to my brother. It's his firt motorcycle and we're headed to Nova Scotia in just over a week. The parallel twin makes good, useable, power; returns mpg's in the high 40's and get's 250 miles to the tank. NUTS | ||
| Danger_dave |
Triumph Bonneville SE. Mid power - tidy handling. He'll be way cool and that way you can steal his bike for enjoyment too. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Test road the Er-6n for my son at the local dealership. Nice motor but the shocks are as far from ULY quality as can be and when I hit a bump I wracked myself. Spoiled by the ULY. Just because a bike looks cool doesn't mean it rides cool. | ||
| Hooper |
And I think brakes are important. My first bike (the V-Star 650) has doo-doo brakes (drum rear). I rode it conservatively, but brakes are important. | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
My son is 18,several years of dirt biking,had a YZ450F,rode the hell out of it...Now he bought a 09 Yamaha R6S..Not quite as radical as the R6..600cc still hauls the mail pretty well..Could not get him on a Buell tho..I guess not cool enough for a teenager..Now we go on several different rides..Lots of fun!..He loves it..  | ||
| Xbimmer |
Test road the Er-6n for my son at the local dealership. Nice motor but the shocks are as far from ULY quality as can be and when I hit a bump I wracked myself. Spoiled by the ULY. Just because a bike looks cool doesn't mean it rides cool. Exactly. My step-son bought a 650 Ninja the same time I bought my Uly, his first bike at 23 years old. Just enough power and handling to keep him safer but not so much to get him in trouble. It's been a far more trouble free bike than my Uly for three years (though I've tripled his mileage) but bottom line my Buell is a far more quality machine. I believe that you get what you pay for and although a mass-produced Japanese "Buell" would cost less a Euro "Buell" IMHO would cost more. Buells and some of the aforementioned are leading edge and first class off the floor. Beginners are probably better starting off with basic bikes that function well without the expense of higher quality performance oriented components that not only increase the OTD price but also the cost of the, hopefully not but more than likely, spills that can/will occur with beginning riders. That Er-6N looks pretty nice to me actually, less plastic and stuff sticking out and less horsepower adds up to a great beginner's bike IMO. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I always get a kick out of watching a sport bike rider sitting straight up because those bikes are just so darned uncomfortable. Right hand on the throttle, left hand on their thigh and sitting straight up. Should be an electronic lever that you pull to convert from standard position (comfortable) bike to uncomfortable sport bike. Transformer bike. Another thing that is fact is that standard position bikes like the ULY handle much better for parking lot maneuvers than crotch rockets. I'm talking u-turns, etc. Since the ULY also excels at higher speed handling, I guess it is darn near perfect. Darn near isn't exactly but pretty close. We all know what needs improvement. | ||
| Hooper |
Right on, EG...I test rode the CR this weekend and my arms were killing me after 15 minutes. I got back on my Uly and it felt like I was on one of those old-timey bikes with the giant wheel in front and the tiny one in back. Other than that (and the crunched leg position), the CR was a riot...might need to try it with the tall bars. | ||
| Ronmold |
New stablemate for the Uly, along w/ 2 DR350's a 2008 Ninja 250! The 16 y.o. loves it even though he's a little cramped on it, but he's young & limber, and it's the new style in chick-magnet black! I'm sure we'll have it for a year or so and go to a 500 but it really is fun to ride and a whole lot better for my son's "social" image than putting around on an old kick-start DR350s as he takes it to school and can park right at the front door. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
We went out to the dealer and they had a ULY XT sitting outside and I told him to sit on it and it fit him perfectly. He now wants the XT but for some reason he thinks that I'm to foot the bill. Didn't work that way when I was a young'n. But then again I was one of five kids and my son is an only child. I keep looking for used on Craigslist and they are few and far between and a used 09' going for I believe 9500 bucks in Wisconsin which is a long way off. Local dealer will sell a new one for 11900 otd. I paid 11500 otd for my 06 with the bags thrown in back in late 05'. What to do. | ||
| Crusty |
The XT comes with bags, so it's only $400 more than you paid in '05. I paid full retail for my XT last year, and I think I got a fair deal. The bike is definitely worth the price. Buying local is a good thing, and buying new gets a full 2 year warranty. If you buy quick enough, you could ride to Homecoming to break it in! |
