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Pricing,
specs, build a bike . . . this is a hot way to look at the new models! My
rating is WOW!
Compare bike specs for Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Aprilia, side-by-side! A solid article comparing 250cc bikes -- lots of info here An excellent article comparing 250cc bikes!
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2006 (August through December) Dear VTwin Mama,
While the bike is assembled in
China, its design is definitely Made in America, all components drafted up by
Johnny to his exacting specifications. Johnny
wanted to design a bike to American standards but have it manufactured and
assembled overseas to bring the price down to the bone and make it
accessible to about anybody. Says Johnny, “We were looking to offer a
bike that first time riders can enjoy, for people on a budget, for ladies
who want to get off the passenger seat and onto their own wheels, for
people who like to sit on a bike with their feet flat on the ground, and
for people looking for a full custom bike without the big price tag.” This June was the first shipment of full production bikes arriving at the Johnny Pag Motorcycles warehouse in Riverside, CA. Getting
attention is also one of the Spyder’s attributes. It’s got its own
personality, a peppy ride for a 250cc machine, quality design and
components plus sheer fun factor, and a price money can’t beat. It’s a
bike Johnny Pag can be rightly proud of. First
impressions. While some of the preliminary photos were good, seeing the
bike in person was, well, impressive. You get an immediate sense of a
full-sized, full-framed bike (360 lb., 73-inch wheelbase, 1000 lb. rated
load) with quality finish and no scrimping. A push on
the electric start resulted in immediate engine firing. No hesitation
whatsoever. Tapping the forward controls sent us rolling. I have to say
the first word in my head was “zippy.” Not zippyitty doodah, but
zippy! as in, hey, this 250 gets up and goes faster than I expected. The
use of dual carburetors greatly adds to the bike’s 250cc twin
cylinder’s performance with no lag or stutter, just twist the throttle
grip and go. Call that a crisp throttle response. The very smooth shifting
of the five-speed transmission added to the zippyness. In city driving,
the 250 Spyder will keep you up with the Joneses or as Johnny says, “The
bike will take you comfortably up to speeding ticket speeds.” Part of the
attraction of a smaller displacement powerplant is the matter of fuel
consumption (and also insurance rates). The 250 Spyder gets about 65 mpg
and with its 4.2 gallon tank, you can count on a good 250 miles before
you’re on fumes. And don’t try to stuff the gas pump nozzle into the
left fill cap opening. There is a filler cap and it does screw off, but
the hole is plugged and the second cap is just there to add symmetry and
balanced good looks by way of a pair of gas gaps instead of one. And those
turn signals by the way come off very easily without any unsightly
hardware left exposed if you they don’t fit in with your vision of
custom. The exhaust note is “mild” but pleasant, but we’re told
“optional” pipes will be available for those who would like to make a
louder statement. (There’s even a “performance” brake upgrade for
those who like to lock up their rear brake.) Coming off
a short-wheel based sport-oriented bike, I did need to “acclimate” to
the longer custom front end. Because of the rake, there is some getting
used to the handling at very slow speeds, but it all smoothes out once you
get up to speed. There’s compensation in the bike’s lowness, there is
no “fall over” feel you might get from a taller bike, and thus would
be a plus for a new rider or shorter rider. Even maneuvering through 180
degree turns, once adjusted to the front end presented no problems.
Because overall, the bike has a secure sense of balance. As I was
riding along I realized I wasn’t conscious of the suspension. In a good
way. Now I tip the gym scales at a few notches past 200 but the bike’s
compliance handled my weight without complaint. There was no bottoming out
although you have an adjustable seat height of a pavement hugging 20-23
inches, peachy for shorter riders and perfect for planting your feet on
terra firma when stopping. The handlebar controls were in the ergo zone,
but the cables will stretch on a brand new bike, so keep a watch on the
cable adjusters to keep everything adjusted correctly. The seat again gave
no feed back, but since I didn’t spend all day in the saddle, long term
effects are yet to be noted, but again this is an around town bike and not
intended for cross-country travel, but a great Sunday cruiser, grocery
getter and bar hopper. The
instrumentation, set up on a Harley-type gas tank chromed panel, has a
bright LED display. Moreover, the ignition switch is modeled after the
classic H-D set-up. Turning the big know allows you run with or without
your lights on. An interesting “euro spec” addition is the little
yellow button For more information, visit www.johnnypag.com. – Paul Garson Dear Paul, Friday, August 4 Howdy Mama, Here's my question: Engine guards- round and square. On my first ride I came to a stop sign and --whoops-- tipped my bike Barbie (Yeah, Barbie the Harley). I put a shiner on the end of the clutch handle and side mirror (I dropped her gently) so I've decided that engine guards, for me, would be a great thing. I have no interest in adding footpegs or anything, as I like the somewhat aggressive sit I have on my Sporty. They offer square ones for most bikes, but for my Roadster I can only get the round ones. Are there any advantages/disadvantages to round vs. square or will they work the same? Also, do guards help you when you pick up your bike, because I really had to give it the ol' college to try pickin' Barbie up off the ground. (however, I was able to do it without Ken's help!) :o) Also, just a thought to women buying bikes -- a lot of people told me to get a used crappy bike, but you know what? When you get something you love, you cherish it and take care of it, meaning you're going to be EXTRA careful -- and careful is what every biker needs to be! For me, getting a new bike made perfect sense! It has the latest safety features, there were no questions as to the past mechanical upkeep of it, the clutch is as smooth as butter, it comes with a good warranty, and it reminds me to PAY ATTENTION. In addition, regarding power-- ladies, you DON'T have to use that throttle if you don't want to. I got to tell you, it sure as heck makes life easier having that 883R engine under me. When I take off of the curb after parking, or when I'm pulling out of the driveway where there is a little dip, I just give it more gas and it rolls off smoothly. In other words, don't be afraid of that larger cc engine. I'm no expert-- in fact I've only been riding a month-- but I'm so happy I got a bigger engine as opposed to a 250cc that I had to learn on, because I found that to be somewhat challenging. Thanks a bunch Mama!! If there are any ladies in Santa
Monica or Los Angeles who
want to mentor a 25 y.o. newbie,
please contact me! I'd love to have some patient riding partners!! God
bless, Dear Holly, Should a more aggressive situation unfold in front of you, and the bike needs to, or is going to go down, the motorcycle will slide at more of an angle off the ground, giving you just that extra split second to get your leg out of there. And yes, with an engine guard, the bike will rest at more of an angle. This angle assists a rider in positioning themselves in such a way that the bike can be lifted back up with greater ease. Take a look at my Picking Up The Bike page, which has several links to sites that offer words and pictures for the correct handling of this. Then, with the tank relatively empty of gas and the petcock turned off, grab an old piece of carpet, and with a friend, lay the bike down and practice! I can appreciate your viewpoint on the first motorcycle purchase. I advocate getting a used bike if a person's gut tells them they would be best off on a smaller cc bike for a practice period before moving up in size. Why burn $$ at that point! For those who are unsure of what their dream bike really will be, this also gives them the chance to polish skills and be more in tune with riding realities that then translate to the dream set-up. I'm jazzed that you recognized your pathway more easily and are enjoying your choice right off the bat! Yahoo! Now, as to hooking up with other women riders . . . hop onto
my Women's Sites page and take
a look for local chapters of women-specific riding organizations in your area
and make contact! You may also wish to contact VTwin Mama site sisters in your
area . . . they are listed on my Let's
Ride page! At the very least you will move forward in meeting women riders
and start forming your personal network . . . and one may be in position to
offer you the mentoring you seek! –
Mama Dear VTwin Mama, One of the issues in choosing a “starter” bike for me is my height. I’m 6’1” and weigh about 165 lbs. My legs have a 36 inch inseam. On the Buell Blast that we used in class, my knees were up to my armpits. Shifting was an issue. This tells me I need a bigger bike. However, the bigger the bike… the more unwieldy it is to make my turns. I lost a little bit of confidence when I dropped the Intruder on a turn. Popped the clutch on the turn, Panicked and forgot to straighten up my wheel before laid on the brake, down I went. And this on a busy road!!!! My brother’s Intruder has a front crash bar with front pegs. He’s as tall as I am and rides with his feet on the front pegs. He shifts with his heel and breaks with his heel. I grew very frustrated with my turns today and he had me try it his way. It worked. My center of gravity changed, I felt more confident in my turns and starting out more balanced on a turn. I felt like a struck gold with that little bitty learning. I’m looking to buy a beater bike. A 1983 Magna 750. The seat height is 32” as opposed to the Intruder 29.5". I’m hoping this helps. However my brother feels that it is way too much bike for me. I’m stumped. I’ve read everything on your site about the newbie short rider and the types of bikes they should buy. So why am I having such a difficult time with my Amazon height??? Your site is very inspirational and its keeps me from not giving up. All the stories of other women who have stepped up to the plate and are riding gives me hope. Thanks so much. – Z from Ohio Dear Z, If in the balance of things, despite limited time on the Intruder, how does that motorcycle feel to you overall? If you only had to go in a straight line, are you gaining confidence in handling the clutch/throttle/brake combo? If so, I'm hard pressed to see why the beater Magna wouldn't be a good choice! It's already banged up so you won't be worrying about oopsie damage. Also, you can add a strap-on gel pad to lift your butt a bit higher off the deck if you need just a bit more leg room! Too much bike?! Well, many women choose to go to a mid-range bike after completing their course (congrats on your "M" !) and are glad they did once they have completed a bunch of parking lot practice sessions! Your brother is entitled to his opinion, but it's yours that counts! I can see one of your issues is assistance in getting to the parking lot, so, if your brother doesn't have the time, maybe one of his riding friends does! Ask! Or, check my Let's Ride page for a riding sister in your area who might be willing to assist. You might also check with the local chapters of women's riding organizations . . . it's time to expand your own circle of support! Send an email, make a call, say hi, and see what's possible! – Mama Monday, August 7 For Z who is 6'1" and researching her first motorcycle: I'm a 6' tall rider and would like to recommend Harley Sportsters. I have an '04 1200 Custom and find it extremely comfortable, particularly since it has forward positioned footpegs. I have a friend (woman) who's 6' 2" and rides the same model. Also, don't be afraid of a more powerful engine. My bike has a lot of power, but just because it CAN go fast, doesn't mean it has to. And the extra quickness has been very nice in some traffic situations where I had to get out of the way. – Li in Florida (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) Sunday, August 13 Dear VTwin Mama, I bought an Alpha Sport GV 250 Classic. I would strongly recommend this bike to any lady for a beginner bike. I ride the bike to work a couple of times a week (when not raining) and when we ride on the weekends I am able to keep up with my husband on his Harley. I am however considering going into a VStar 650 or maybe an 883 Low Rider next year. I find that at higher speeds the Alpha Sport is really light only weighing in at 352 pounds. I have been on my son's 883 but his is not very well balanced and difficult to stand up, but when I sat on a new 883 Low Rider at the Harley shop I felt comfortable on it it, pulled up without any effort, and seemed balanced much better than my son's. I have also found the VStar to be a well balanced and comfortable bike. We hope to sell our home and retire next year. Our plans are to buy a motorhome and trailer for our bikes and to go to North Carolina in the winter and back to PA in the summer. I would like to have a bigger bike by the time we make the official move. By the way I will turn 60 next year - you are never too old to learn to ride!!!!!! – Mary Dear Mary, Sunday, August 13 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Quinn, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Nancy, Riders with this model are asked to chime in now! –
Mama Tuesday, August 15 For Nancy who is considering a used 2001 Honda Shadow ACE: I have a 2002 Honda Shadow Ace and I love my bike. I want to go by it every morning and hug it before going to work. It handles great, rides smoothly and I've had no trouble at all with it. I bought it last year (pre-owned) and ensure I keep up with the maintenance. I recently added new tires . . . nothing wrong with the old ones, I just wanted something that grips the road more snugly than the OEMs that came on the bike. I felt the tires were too hard and didn't have enough traction to my satisfaction (ooohhh, a rhyme!!). I frequent the Honda Shadow Resource site at www.hondashadow.net/forum. Anything and everything you wish to know about your bike can be found there. Petra, I love your site and thank you for all of the hard work that you put into it, so that the rest of us can ride and learn!! – Donna, aka Shadow Runner (note from Mama: thanks for the input and a forum specific to the model . . . it's readers who share their thoughts that make the VTwin Mama site a 360 degree experience of sharing and caring! Heck, I learn soooo much it's hard to keep it all in my brain . . . how cool is that?!?!?! In this instance, I forgot that my Help By Make/Model page contains a directory of useful sites, one of which is the site you noted!) Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sue Ann, If you do then decide that you would like to proceed with practice time on a smaller cc bike first, then I'd shop for anything used, cheap, but running. Starting on that auto tranny bike would add an extra step . . . sure, you would gain general riding time, but then what are you going to do? Transition to a smaller standard tranny bike, and then move towards your dream bike? Just jump to a mid-range standard tranny bike? Sure, there are many motorcycle handling characteristics that are the same, but the clutch/shift handling is so important and does take time to master. So, take your course and then reevaluate your options.
Your focus should be on skill building, not "keeping up." You
have many steps to take before "keeping up" comes into play.
With any luck, you'll be moaning that you caught on so quickly with some
practice time that now you have to turn around and sell that bike for the
next one. That's a much better place to be than starting too big and
losing confidence at this crucial juncture in your pursuit of being a
rider for the long haul. Take a deep breath and plan out what makes sense
for you! –
Mama Tuesday, August 22 For Sue Ann who is signed up for a course, but researching her first motorcycle choice: I received all the same advice several months ago when starting out (get a bigger bike, you'll want to trade up quickly, and a smaller bike won't keep up on a ride with others, etc., etc.). Sue Ann, once you go through the course on a smaller bike, I think you'll realize what your comfort level will be. Forget about keeping up . . . I've been riding since October, and still have NO interest in riding with more than one other person. I prefer riding by myself actually, I can concentrate more easily. "Keeping up" isn't an issue. I think advice givers get ahead of themselves, and forget how long it took as a teenager to become comfortable driving a car. Learning to ride a bike is no different . . . all of the traffic related issues that made us nervous as new drivers come back tenfold when on a bike. I'm just finally becoming comfortable with the bike I chose to buy (an 800cc Suzuki Boulevard M50), not because of the size, but because everything about the technique of riding is new! Again, it's been said here numerous times: Enjoy the challenge of learning, and trust what your gut tells you. The same driver's ed logic applies to bikes . . . we didn't learn to drive a sportscar immediately . . . some of us learned on a stickshift first, etc. . . . and then we bought what car we could afford at the time and felt comfortable driving. Have fun! – Kat (note from Mama: solid advice!) Tuesday, August 22 Dear VTwin Mama, Anyway, I'm bookmarking this site and just wanted to say "good work on this site, keep it coming!" Thanks, – Nina Dear Nina, Of course, I'm assuming that $$ would be an issue, which may not be the case. If it is a concern, you would have to search to see what is currently available in your area on used scooters. Even brand new 50cc scoots carry a price tag near $2,000. If $$ are not a huge concern, then something that is fast enough to handle traffic, and large enough to offer a "presence" on the road, would work whether a standard cruiser style or scooter style. Honestly, for my money, I'd be addressing the learning curve issues you are having with the VX800 and get up to speed as quickly as possible through daily practice sessions so that the bike you have becomes the joy and solution you want it to be! How were you commuting to school before? Can you continue that until you've got the VX800 handling skills needed? I'm thinking that if took your search time for another motorcycle and spent it on practice, you would come out ahead! So now it becomes a matter of what exactly you need to address in terms of practice. So, if your neighbor is a safe enough zone to work on all those drills you went through in your course . . . great . . . do it! If it means getting to an empty parking lot nearby (school, church, etc.), is there someone who can get the bike there for a few sessions so you can get the feel of the bike and then handle it on your own? Why not spend 5-10 hours of one hour practice sessions before you go off in a different motorcycle choice direction?! You may find that your "basic" concerns will quickly evaporate, then allowing you to focus on doing a few practice runs to school during quiet traffic times (early Sunday morning for example). Give it some thought! –
Mama Saturday, August 26 Dear VTwin Mama, I have a question on carburators. I've read posts that talk about "jetting the carbs" and I'd like to know what this actually does? Is this something that's related only to performance bike? I read somewhere about making sure that your bike has "self adjusting carbs." What's the deal with carbs?? Appreciate any info you can provide. And keep up the great work. It may seem redundant to an experienced biker like yourself, but to aspiring bikers and newbies, your forum is great! I hope to be e-mailing you one day soon after I pass my MSF test and have my first bike !! Take care, – Nancy in Fruitport, Michigan Dear Nancy, Carburetors take air (through the air filter) and gas (from the tank) and feed it together to the engine. Jets are little orifices (available in different sizes) within the carb that control the flow. One only changes jets if something else is changed, like adding a hypercharger (big air kit, which basically delivers more air and boosts power), changing the exhaust pipes (where the by-products of combustion are expelled), or if you move to a place with a radically different altitude (from the coast to the mountains, for instance) than where the bike was set-up. So, if you change the amount of air or gas delivered to the carb, then the carb needs to be rebalanced and the jet orifice size is changed to handle that. That's jetting the carbs. All of this is related to bikes with a variable-venturi carb. People with this type of bike, who head to the high mountain ranges, can experience some problems, because the carb can't adjust for less air. The other type of motorcycle is one that is fuel-injected. Basically you've got a computer that is measuring all sorts of things and decides how much fuel the bike needs "relatively" (like how open you have the throttle, atmospheric temperature and pressure, etc.). So, it "injects" the necessary gas and in essence, it's a self-adjusting carb! Many make/models do not employ fuel-injection, some are available with fuel-injection as an option, and in the case of Harley-Davidson, all 2007 Sportster models will be fuel-injected (one of those news items I noted in my weekly Newsletter . . . a good source for what's happening in the motorcycle community!). If you're interested (more) in about how motorcycles actually work (a good winter-time reading project!) . . . I'd recommend Mark Zimmerman's The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance. He's funny, informative, and offers lots of details and clues! So, now you can determine for yourself if you absolutely
must have a fuel-injected motorcycle! I look forward to your "yahoo,
I did it" email somewhere in the near future! –
Mama Saturday, August 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Road Princess, Hey Mama, My learner bike died ('87 KZ305) at the first of the summer - and I haven't taken the time to try to do the wrenching myself (the death of it was taking it in to be serviced - and they saw a new woman rider, I feel). I didn't realize the damage they had done until about three weeks later, so I didn't even bother with the fight. They had even just let wires hang. Moral of the story: Do a thorough check on the bike immediately after service. Don't take their word! Yet, I digress from the main issue here: I'm having trouble with the significant other, the Harley man of 40+ years. He's soon to be 59, and I really don't think he wants me to ride in the first place. His bike is the only form of transportation he owns, so he's hard-core!. He feels like neither of the bikes have enough power for me to be on the road with them. I live rural, I come and go from work after the majority of traffic has come and gone, and I don't do the ride for the speed. I don't want to give it up - no, I'm not giving it up! Just before the service catastrophe I was getting the hang of the shifting and felt like I wanted/needed a heavier, and a little more powerful bike. I figure it won't take long to get back in the swing of things if I got the Shadow. His concern is the speed-demon 18 wheelers and farm equipment (and all the other folks that don't look for bikes). He thinks that nothing smaller than the 883 would be acceptable. He thinks that extra power will get me out of trouble. I do think he is genuinely concerned for me . . . but dang it - I want to ride, and ride comfortably with confidence. Many a short rider has commented on the 883 Sportster being a little top heavy, and not very comfortable. I have read that with the Ridley's they tend to leave the big boys behind at the start, and have no problem staying up with them in the long haul. I don't see that the power issue is such an issue, but I am a new rider and I know I don't have the experience on the road like he does. However, I would like to hear feedback from the short woman rider perspective with time under their belts and experience with such. Thanks loads . . . to my rescue once again! – Jana Dear Jana, Some hard-core Harley riders don't cotton up easily to anything that isn't Harley. My guess is that your s/o has never ridden anything else. I was talking with Jay Ridley at the AMA Women's Motorcycling Conference and he noted he loved women riders because they took the time to really ask a lot of questions and when they test rode, they didn't just putt a few feet, they wanted a full spin. When I tested a 2006 Autoglide during Myrtle Beach Bike Week, I had a smooth ride, good handling due to the low center of gravity, found the throttle to be quick off the mark and very responsive, and achieving and holding speed just fine. I see no reason that that Speedster would be any different. You s/o is not wrong about worrying about traffic conditions. But honestly, just about any bike can be powered correctly to get out of a bad situation. It's really about the skill the rider has and the knowledge they gain with practice and learning the specific handling characteristics of that bike. However, bike weight does come into play . . . the heavier the bike, the less likely it will get shoved around by higher crosswinds and truckers. For a long time the HD Sportsters were considered top heavy, but in 2004, Harley began working on these models in terms of dropping the seat height and center of gravity. A nice Sporty Low model is a thing of beauty and not to be confused with the older models. So, what to do. Honestly, I would stick to my guns, and if test rides are possible on the models of interest to you, ask your s/o to put aside his Harley-centric view for just a moment to assist you. Ask him to test ride so that he can see for himself. Also, stress that this bike for you is not necessarily the do-all-end of bikes you'll ever ride. Lots of riders get time in on a mid-range bike and then move up to a bigger model and their "dream" bike. As to keeping "up with them" . . . well, that's not your chief concern at the moment. Did your s/o hop onto a powerful bike and scream off into the night? I think not! Will a 600cc bike keep up? Well, if the group you plan on riding with are aggressive riders who like cruising at high speeds all of the time, you have no business as a new rider being with them. What you need is your s/o to respect your learning curve and help you take baby steps so that your confidence, safety, and enjoyment are maximized. If he gives that some thought, he'll realize that slowly
building these things will ultimately lead you to be a good rider, one he
can cruise with. And the fact that you suspect that he doesn't really want
you to be a solo rider . . . well, exactly why should he be the only one
experiencing the joy of riding a motorcycle?! 4.3 million women riders are
NOT CRAZY . . . they're connected to one of the most wonderful adventures
available! –
Mama Friday, September 1 For Jana who is looking at a Ridley and a Honda Shadow 600 and getting s/o static: I learned to ride a motorcycle in
1994, and in 1996 make a cross country trip from NC to CA and back on a
Shadow 600cc. There was plenty of power even crossing the Rockies in
Colorado. Of course, I am not one of those "hell bent for
leather" riders. Tuesday, September 5 More for Jana who is looking at a Ridley and a Honda Shadow 600 and getting s/o static: I had trouble learning to use a clutch
in the beginning too, it just took practice. Now I wouldn't give up
shifting for anything, partly because of the control it gives me, but
especially when I need to bleed off speed -- like going downhill on a
curve. (I've always wondered how creeping/slow riding is handled without
having the clutch element involved?? It's hard to picture.) Even now,
three years later, I still have people suggesting I get a Ridley. Talk
about water under the bridge. I still have my share of riding concerns,
but shifting isn't one of them. I don't even think about it anymore. It
gets built into your riding after a while. Thursday, September 7 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Mary, There is no doubt that the pre-2004 Sportsters were widely heralded as top heavy. They had some of the highest seat heights, which loosely correlates to a bike's center of gravity, as compared to other make/models at that time. HD has made improvements by lowering the seat height on standard models and introducing an expanded line of "Lows." To get a sense of center of gravity, sit on your chosen bikes and lean them a bit side-to-side and roll them back and forward. Because the bikes are at different dealerships (!), sit on several models at each dealership to fine-tune your feeling for that center. If you concentrate, you'll feel the mass of the engine (where the center of gravity is) and understand what I'm talking about! A lower back problem does give pause for concern. One low cost solution is to use a back support belt like the one seen here on the WebBikeWorld. Another solution is to incorporate a rider seat back pad or to choose a new seat with that incorporated . . . here is a Corbin page to give you an idea of what I mean. You should also check your reach to hand and foot controls to ensure you are not curving your back unnecessarily (solutions are available for modifications). Windshields can also aid in taking away the wind pressure from your body. Changes (parts and installation) should be negotiated into the purchase price of the motorcycle (readers have noted it's cheaper to do it then rather than wait till you have the bike). Happy shopping! –
Mama Thursday, September 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Three cheers to you for keeping this valuable forum going. You helped me get my confidence back. Thanks, – Sarah Dear Sarah, Wednesday, September 27 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jo, Tuesday, October 3 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear A Little Crazy, Of course, sitting on a motorcycle provides more important clues. You need to check your reach to hand and foot controls (you don't want to be reaching, but you don't want to be cramped, and when you turn the handlebar all the way in one direction, you can still reach the controls)), solid foot to ground (at your height it shouldn't be a concern), and overall feel. You don't mention if you've got your license yet . . .
if not, sign up for Harley's
Rider Edge course (they'll start you on the 492cc Buell Blast). If you
want to proceed learning on your own, there are lots of useful books and
DVDs that can be found on my Education
Center page. Enjoy your next steps! –
Mama Hey there Petra, Dear Susan, Cast wheels are typically an aluminum alloy or malleable cast iron or composite but magnesium wheels are also available. They are cast in one piece and are both light and strong. Mark notes that the magnesium wheels are machined to be absolutely true but also very expensive. In addition, the material is also prone to corrosion, which for street bikes can be a problem as most of us see damp and wet weather. For all cast wheels, no maintenance is needed except to check wheel bearings. The great "riding reality" issue I've personally experienced is what happens in a good crosswind. With spoked wheels, I never felt the wind hit the tires and want to shove me around. Now I have a bike with cast rims with cutouts and I can feel the "extra" wind sensation at the wheels. It caught me by surprise the first time, but if it's truly a windy day, I just slow down a bit! I've heard from some readers who have solid rims and they
can present a real safety issue on a good windy day. These can be modified
by a qualified shop (cutouts added) or changed altogether. –
Mama Monday, October 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Anon, Dear VTwin Mama, I am upgrading in the spring . . . I think to a Honda 1300R . . . I have a choice between spoke or cast wheels. I have been told by two salespeople that a cast wheel is safer when dealing with a flat at speed. The bike I have now (VStar 650) has spoke wheels and when I bought it it never occurred to me to ask about the differences. Other than handling as a result of wind resistance, should I be concerned about what the salesmen have suggested, which is that if I get a flat at speed with the spoked wheels it will more likely be disastrous? I wonder how much weight this should carry for anyone deciding on a particular purchase. Like so many, I want to reduce the risk factors as much as possible . . . but I do want some other opinions so I can have some balance in my decision making process. – Susan Dear Susan, With cast wheels, the need for the inner air tube was removed . . . one could simply put a tubeless tire on the rim. At the same time, some spoked wheels were reconfigured so that the spokes are anchored differently, thus allowing for a tubeless set-up. From a safety standpoint, I think there are two considerations. One, if you pick up something on the road that punctures a tire, there's less internal stuff happening when you run tubeless (no tube to deflate and twist inside and possibly expose spoke ends to further tear things up if it's that type of construction. Second, if you're riding along and something manages to blow sideways or come up off the road into your tire, if you have spokes and the object lodges in, it's possible it could start bending those spokes and compromise the overall integrity of the wheel. The chances are low, but it's not unheard of. Conclusion: the cast wheel rim is less likely to pose problems given freaky things that can happen on the road. That it also means no maintenance, it would be my choice. Like most riders though, the "look" of a
motorcycle is important, so if you like the spoked look, make sure it's a
tubeless set-up. –
Mama Wednesday, November 1 For Susan who is comparing wheel construction choices: I've had both. If it makes any difference, the cast wheels are SO much easier to clean. It's a booger trying to get your hands in between ALL those spokes -- one at a time -- front and back! – Pat Jones in Houston, TX (note from Mama: I'd forgotten about that but now remember well!) Friday, November 3 More for Susan who is comparing wheel construction choices: The shop is wrong: cast wheels are NOT safer than spoked wheels. On a road bike cast mags or spokes makes no difference. On a real off roader, such as a motocrosser or a desert racer or an enduro bike (think XR 650 Honda or DR 400 Suzuki), the only way to go is spoked wheels. The spokes make the wheel so much stronger for taking impacts, you can break a couple of spokes and not have the wheel collapse. A cast wheel would not take that kind of abuse. But for road work with dirt roads included, cast is fine. Cheers, – Kevin (note from Mama: most of the readers here stick to paved roads, but it's good to hear about other types of riding for comparison viewpoints!) Saturday, November 4 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Tim, Tuesday, November 14 Dear VTwin Mama, I did go ahead and purchase the bike; I fell in love with it and she and I just fit. Here is a picture of me posing on it! I got my permit, practiced, practiced, practiced, and loved every minute of it! I took the MSF course at the end of September and passed! I am now a happily licensed motorcyclist. Thank you for the support back then, and your website. Sincerely, – Karma Dear Karma, Tuesday, November 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Dependability and maintenance needed are another important aspect of what kind of bike you will want to ride. Nothing is worse than having a ride planned with friends and a bike that is not ready to roll on the date and time of the ride! This could also be considered cost of ownership whether you do your own wrenching or pay a shop to do it. Availability of parts and service on the road are also important considerations in this category. Only ride a bike with good product support. Street cred is important to some riders but comfort, dependability, and product support are the most important issues to this old man. I have been riding for close to fifty years and have ridden on most of the bikes manufactured since the mid 1950s. This includes American , British, German, Italian, Austrian, and Japanese. Since the early 1980s my choice has been Honda. My last bike was a Gold Wing but I now ride a VTX 1800 twin because it fits me best and goes where I think it should with no effort at all. It's comfortable, dependable, powerful, requires minimal maintenance, and it eats the miles up on my annual 5,000 mile trip. My son owns a Harley shop and calls me a traitor but he does love to ride my VTX when he gets a chance! Many new riders are entering the sport of motorcycle riding trying to be cool and have street cred without considering the hazards of riding, abilities necessary to be safe in traffic, and ability to control the machine they are riding. The end result usually is they crash and end up hating the sport or worse end up impaired for life. My advice is start with a comfortable easy to control machine and as your ability and confidence grow move up in size and power always picking a machine that feels like an extension of your body! – LD Dear LD, I had to chuckle on your son's view (which I know is done in jest) . . . I'm coming to realize that when a rider is comfortable with their choice, no amount of naysaying can really impact the joy. Lately I've had lots of comments on my BMW R1200C . . . it appears it's now being applauded for it's uniqueness, and while that might be the first comment, the second is always a question about the handling. You can bet, since I'm happy with my choice, that I'm able to enter a good conversation about the pluses and minuses with a view towards sharing and learning. That's good stuff! – Mama Monday, November 20 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Annette, Tuesday, December 5 Hey Mama and all Sistas!, So I am all excited that she got something for my 883! Was it the pipes, windshield, or a thousand other little goodies that I had been dropping not so subtle hints about? She tells me that they are going to install yet-to-be-named goodie that day so I needed to ride it down there. It was 40 degrees on Saturday here in Jersey!! But for the bike, anything! So off I go looking like the Michelin (Wo)Man with her following in the car. We get there and our go-to-guy, at the dealership (Ron-best HD employee on the planet!!) tells me that before they bring my bike around to do the mod, he wants to show me a trade they just got. So we walk into the service area and there, with a big red bow, is a brand new 2007 Softail Deluxe!! For the first time in my life I was speechless. It was the exact bike that I had seen in my dreams, two tone white and blue, mustache engine guards, passenger pillion and upgraded wheels!!! So I rode it home and now we can't wait for the first hint of Spring. I still don't think it has totally sunk in but I spent an inordinate amount of time in the garage this weekend just staring at the thing. I just couldn't keep it to myself. Sorry to go on and on. I'll send a picture as soon as I can settle down enough to find the darn camera! So Happy Holidays to all. Spring will be here before we know it and I can't wait to see everyone on the road. Ride safe and ride often!! – Denise at the Jersey Shore Dear Denise, Monday, December 11 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Debby, Basically, Moto Guzzi is currently offering two 750cc bikes and two 1100cc bikes. That Nevada 750 is a cruiser style vs. the more sporty style offerings. What fun! And I can see how it gives you a feeling that you're looking at a Rebel in some aspects. What I like about the Nevada 750 is that it's a nice mid-range bike with 5 gears, shaft drive, and good weight (not too light, not too heavy). However, for shorter riders looking to move up in engine cc power, the seat height is about 3.5" higher than the Rebel and the engine sticks out from the side a bit, so that would be something to further explore as it could impact leg position and reach to the ground. Still, thanks for bringing this bike to our attention . . . opening our "vista view" on bike make/models is always useful! Readers, has anyone taken the Neveada 750 for a spin or currently riding one?! – Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, I have been able to put limited miles on a 1978 Yamaha XS400 since. I would like to move on to a slightly larger, newer bike but have had difficulty due to my size. I'm 5'10", 131 lbs. and have a 35" inseam which is sadly incompatible with the 650-750 cruiser styles. I look and feel ridiculous when seated on them. I have also sat on my husband’s Honda VTX 1300 and that feels too big. I
am strongly considering the V-Strom DL650 with ABS. I have not been able
to ride it yet but have sat on it and love the upright positioning, leg
room and overall feel of the bike. Any thoughts or recommendations? Dear
Heather, But did you know that most metric cruiser styles in the mid-range (650-1000cc) can be altered with forward foot controls? Things like the Honda Shadow series, Kawi Vulcans, Suzuki Intruders, and Yamaha V-Stars. And not just on new bikes, but those that came out in the last six years or so. To get an idea, hop onto the J&P Cycles site, click on Metric Parts, choose Footpegs and Forward Controls, then choose the Forward Controls file folder and take a look . . . basic upgrade price is about $600. You can also grab extra leg room on cruisers by adding a strap-on seat pad, which not only lifts you up, but provides more comfort! Now, I only point these two options out to open up the possibilities again, just in case a cruiser style is really of interest to you. Otherwise, the sport-style motorcycles are often more comfortable for long legs in that the seat height is usually higher and the seating position allows long legs to "drape" down nicely. Since I'm the same height, I'll simply add that I rode a BMW K75 (750cc) bike for a number of years and the only thing I didn't like about the controls directly under my hips, is that there was no option to stretch my legs in front of me (no option to add a highway bar with integrated pegs) and this impacted my comfort for long-range riding (trips longer than just one day). The only "relief" I could get was to extend my feet back to the passenger pegs and that's not the best riding position in my book. Now, depending on where you live and how willing you are to travel, you might want to check into upcoming motorcycle shows as these are typically held during the winter months. There you would have a chance to really look at, sit on, and talk about options for a wide variety of motorcycles . . . all in one place! Yummy! – Mama |
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