Well my young bloke is about to buy his first road bike. He was looking at 250 crotch rockets until I discovered LAMS comes into QLD on 1 July.
I have now convinced him that a 650 is the way to go, something like a V Star, looks OK, easy maintenance (not his strong point) and would keep up reasonably with some of The Motor Company's products.
I know he wants the Wideglide when he goes on his opens, but time (and the Ultra) will tell...
Any suggestions for something he wouldn't be embarassed on? (and I wouldn't be embarassed to be seen with)
Can't get a Sporty as it's limited to 660ml for QLD.
Depends on how big he is and is he after cruiser/sports. My son went through the same thing. He got his L's in dec 07, but would not wait till the LAMS came in in Vic. He ended up getting a Hyosung 250 sports with faring etc. Its a large bike (same frame size as the 650) so being a lump of a kid doesnt look like a pimple on a bum. It goes ok for a 250, but the 650 would have been a better buy. Link below is to Vic approved bikes. Dont know what your list is but should be similar.
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/86E6A9AB-1633-4E4B-8790-BFF74DF03487/0/LAMSlistpublishedWeb18March2009.pdf
i guess we all just lucky ur personal oppinion means shit on here then ay........
there ya go...........now ya got Switzerland off side..............u go rotten reject.i mean like...u ride a fkn rocker dude............and u think Jap cruisers are gay?????????
Ive looked at these Hinters in the flesh in a bike shop in Bacchys Marsh. About $7k from memory. The only thing that would concern me for a learner would be the handling with the rake on the front forks. They arent a bad looking ride for a made in china. Just my opinion.
no.........i just want people to ride thats all...........in my boys case he has no intention of riding ricers so i suggest he learns on and gets the feel of the cruiser style bike. Now i love HD bikes and that means all of em but if somebody cant afford one or doesnt fall into the learner legal catagory for them then i just glad that they still ride whether that be a GAY as u say jap immitation or not. I dont think its so much riding a HD immitation but riding what one can afford without starving thier family..Ask em......im pretty sure most would be on a Harley if it were possable for them.......Theres a lot of guys on Harleys that are immitation bikers.......... Ive never owned a metric and have always had ricers and still do........but its about the wind in ur hair and the cruzy layed back feel of riding a thumping twin.. And i dont think my son is going to look GAY riding it either....then when he gets full licence he may even buy a sporty for a while but dont be telling me straight after my post that nothing looks gayer than a HD immitation..cause my young son will be riding one which you had just read........not to try and look like a Harley but for the feel and experience on this first step to Harley ownership.........
PS........thanx SG...i didnt say that at all .... and to be honest, i dont mind the Rocker. its groovy.
Jap cruisers are gay?
Fangette owns a 250 VL Suzuki, great little bike to learn on, looks like a cruiser.
Jap cruisers are gay? hummmmmmmm...what a...ahhh forget it
Well, hasn't this post stirred up a few hornets!!!
Just to clarify a few points:-
LAMS is not only restricted to 660 ccs but also 150KW/Tonne
The boy is 19 and has ridden dirt bikes since he was knee high to a gnat. As with most 19 year olds, he typically doesn't use the rev range between idle and redline.
He has ridden a few 250 cruisers and thinks they're GAY - mainly because they're seriously underpowered. Left to his own devices he would just buy the quickest bike he could find and I'm trying to bring him into cruising mode so he can appreciate what biking is about, rather than who you can beat at the traffic lights. He is a fair sized lad (around 100kgs) and fit as a mallee bull, so bigger bikes are no problem.
Yes, Jap cruisers are gay, but what's the option? The Duke M620 would be sweet, but I also want him to get something that he can accompany me on tour with.
I have looked at a few of the mid sized cruisers and the XV650 looks the goods (as a former XJ650 & XJ900 owner I have always liked shaft drives). Would I be embarrassed to have him ride with me on this bike? Not as much as a CBR250 or similar.
I am really looking forward to some long trips together - Father and Son to the Great Ocean Road, Tassie, etc. And there is always the lure that if he behaves himself, one day the Wideglide might need a new rider.
Now, back to the action........Round 2.
As Red said,
my pick would be the Duc Monster
If he is as tall as you Laurie I dunno if he will like the jap cruisers they are pretty cramped buy him a 650 dirt bike and in 12 months a sporty or whatever.
That way you can use it when a blat is needed.
With the Hunter bikes, a lot of the bits and pieces and parts actually fit Harleys and vice versa, so you might be able to pinch, oh i mean borrow, some bits off the Hunter if you get him one.
get an old bonnie then you can chop it when hes done with it , but check out the hunter spyder like hoody said in introductions under deuce rider
That'll teach him an expensive lesson - long as he's OK.
