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"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve) 03/31/2016 at 10:15 • Filed to: motorcycle advice

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So one of the reasons I’ve never bought a motorcycle is because I never thought there was one that fit my personality. Sport bikes are too sporty, and V-twin cruisers are too loud and brash. Dual-sports are not really me, either, because I’m not really into the off-road adventure thing. Because I’m not a retiree, a Gold Wing isn’t my thing either. I want to learn, though.

Since I’m 300 lbs I’d love to find a cruiser that’s not overpowered and not really noisy, without the H-D connotations...

Yesterday I saw a guy riding his Harley Sportster with a sidecar... with his dog in it...without super-loud pipes. They were actually kind of quiet.

My wife commented that if we were going to get a bike, it should be like that. With the dogs in the sidecar. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 10:20

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Your other option for 1940s technology + sidecar is, of course, a Ural.

cazzyodo > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/31/2016 at 10:24

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2 wheel drive ftw!

jminer > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 10:25

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I’m a Honda man, but I will say that bike you pictured is pretty sweet. I’ve always had a soft spot for a sidecar. My dogs always look so lonesome when I ride away...

Just a warning though, a Harley from 88 is not going to be a particularly reliable machine. A new Harley is a pretty reliable machine nowadays, a nearly 30 year old Harley won’t be though. That price is pretty tempting though as a sidecar around these parts will cost you $3k all on its own.

If you're open to suggestions, a Honda Shadow 1100 is a solid bike, that if you go back to the mid 2000's can be had for a few grand. Has decent power, and quiet pipes from the factory.

jariten1781 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 10:33

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Do not get a sidecar unless you want to have conversations with randos every time you park and at every stop light.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jminer 03/31/2016 at 10:34

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Maybe upgrade to a Valkyrie eventually... The V-twin thing just isn’t me.

jminer > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 10:40

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I can’t blame you at all, I’m no fan either. You had said you were thinking of a cruiser and pointed out a couple of HDs so I recommended the shadow.

If you want a big bike that’s not a v-twin then the valkrie is just about your only option.

I’m not as big as you (6'2" 230#) but I don’t need a big bike to get around on. My daily is a 500 cc bike, that I frequently do 2 up on. You don’t need a 900 pound bike to have fun on.

My bird IS the word > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 11:19

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I view bikes from a distance (since I don’t know if I will ever buy one, man’s got to know his limitations) cafe racers all the way. since you didn’t list them, and I am bored, photodump

triumph thruxton

moto-guzzi v7 (racer)

upcoming husqvarna vitpilen concept

mmmmmmmmmm. mmm. good luck finding something you will be happy with, motorcycles seem like an even more personal choice than cars. since sidecar,

ural

you can get these in 2wd and offroad them

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jminer 03/31/2016 at 11:22

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This is sort of more my style but a little fast

jminer > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 11:26

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I see, so you like that mid 80s cruiser style. Good news for you, they’re all pretty cheap.

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/5503439698…

That’s a v4, and a pretty unique bike.

DynamicWeight > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 11:41

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Buying a bike on looks is the normal way to do it, but it’s really silly. All bikes ride very VERY differently from one another. The best way to get into it is to take the class, then buy some cheap 250 to ride around on and get used to. This won’t be your forever bike but something to learn on. Then sit on and ride as many different styles of bikes as you can to see what you like.

I recently test rode a ninja 250 after many years of riding and many bikes. I had never ridden one before and I have to say it’s a ton of fun. Feels more like a scooter than a sport bike. My first bike was a Virago 250.

Pickup_man > jminer 03/31/2016 at 12:24

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The ‘88 uses the Evo motor which is plenty reliable, especially with only 24k. They’re still using that engine in modern Sportsters, only with fuel injection instead of a carb. So long as you don’t mind a little carb maintenance I wouldn’t feel too worried about that Sportster. The Ironhead though, stay away unless you really want to get intimate with your bike.

+1 on the Shadow 1100, good bikes, and Honda reliable. I test rode a few and found them to be a little under powered, and the tank was way to wide for my tastes, but great bikes if you find that they fit you well.

Also, Harleys come pretty quiet from the factory as well, it just happens that %99 of people make them loud.

Pickup_man > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 12:28

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If you like the Maxim look at either a XJ650 or XJ750. I’ve got a 750 and its a great bike. Plenty of power, but nothing uncontrollable, shaft drive is really nice for very little maintenance, and well maintained bikes are very reliable.

They did make a XJ550 as well, but it is a chain drive, and IMHO it may feel a bit small unless a vast majority of your riding is in the city.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 03/31/2016 at 13:14

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I used to have Ducatis and I had four classic Vespas too. But I got ride of them all except one 66 Vespa for a garage ornament (should I ever get a garage). I knew a couple people who died on them and another couple who almost never walked again. I would go trail riding or something but I am done with being exposed to idiots in giant SUVs texting. I always liked the thought of having my dog with me in the Z, it turns out that he seems to be pretty miserable in it. Maybe the noise and stiffness of the car. So I thought about a cargo mountain bike with the load in front so he could come mountain biking with me, he is a bulldog so, no he won’t be bounding about the mountain running, he will hike. Not that I would run, I was a Marine and I don’t run anywhere unless we are taking fire these days.