Thinking about buying one of these.

I'm not an experienced rider, so I sure don't need a $15,000+ bike.

This one is about $8,500, new.

Hey Senior Chief - nice bike - but I like my Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT - most comfortable riding bike I have ever owned - put 450 miles on it Memorial Day weekend - love it

I dont know much about bikes, but that looks like a classic beauty to me.

Sweet bike.

But wouldn't you be better off buying a smaller used bike and then trade it in on a bigger bike once you get some miles under your belt?

Chief,

Great bike. You can't go wrong with a Honda and an 1100 is the perfect size for a starter bike. I go around 250lbs and I got a 750 Shadow ACE to learn. I quickly found that it was undersized for me in a matter of days.

Shadow Spirits are great bikes. I'd look into used first but then again that's me. I'm just a busted a$$ Marine Sgt... not a rich Chief like yooz!

I'd look for used too. You could pick one up for 1/2 that and it would still be 1-2 years old. Its nice, but I wouldn't go in debt to get one.

What DrVibbe said.....

Then when you learn how to handle the thing, buy a Harley.

Charlie

I forgot...this is the one i'm seriously looking at. I don't like "riders". If anyone else wants to ride, let them get their own bike!

Cycleman's BMW is a work of art as well as a badass bike too.

I owned a Shadow and loved it. You may want to look also at the VTX Hondas. I bought a 1300 last year and it is a great bike!! Nice sound, good looks, bullet proof!

They have a 1300 and a 1800, I find the 1300 to be much lighter and easier to handle as well as a lower center of gravity, very nice.

As a rider for over half my life, I can not say what is perfect for you, only for me. What I can tell you to do is to take the motorcycle safety program. There should be classes in your area and passing their basic course qualifies you for the DMV endorsement. They will provide a 'learner' bike for you, usually a nighthawk 250 or something similar.

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Once you've taken the basic course, and you pick up your own bike, call them back up and take the advanced course. That one requires you to take your own motorcycle in and you'll get to roll through a bunch of exercises in a controlled environment with the hope that, should you ever need to use those moves, you'll know what to do.

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One thing: motorcycles are single track vehicles. They do NOT want to stay upright. Plain and simple, the laws of physics only work because you're on it making it stay up and adjusting it to stay balanced and trimmed. If you are drunk, you will fall. Do not ride while impaired, EVER. Wear proper safety equipment (leather coat, gloves, helmet, jeans and sturdy boots). As fun as riding a bike is, it's also a dangerous form of transportation because of all the a$$hat cagers who will not look out for you. Stay out of their blind spots and always keep your own visibility in mind as well as an escape; braking and stopping is a panic move. Don't panic.

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Lastly, on he choice of a bike, I will say that I started street riding at 16 the day after my pedal bike was stolen. I had a 500cc Virago and now, 16 years later, I'm on a 650cc VStar and contemplating a move to an 1100cc VStar. I like the star line due to their ease of maintenance and you can do a lot of the work on them yourself. Some bikes with water cooling and fuel injection can be difficult to work on unless you have the proper tools and training so keep that in mind as you shop around. Check out what other people are saying about the model you've chosen and give it a test ride before you buy it. If it doesn't put a grin on your face or it doesn't feel right, then it's not for you. Some old friend of my father's from the Angels told me that "the bike picks you, not the other way around," and that's true to an extent.

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Good luck and remember that the SHINY side stays up.

Looks's like a chick bike.

been thinking about one of those myself....

Senior, I like the Shadow...my first bike was a 1984 V65 Magna...but would probably recommend nothing smaller than the 1100 version or going with a VTX 1300. Otherwise, my experience has shown that you'll be trading up in size in a year or so... I've been riding 20+ years and have moved on to the Goldwing (only my second bike) but I don't think I would have wanted to start out quite that big. No matter what, don't be too cheap on the safety equipment, I've used up a couple of $500 helmets and a couple of pairs of boots, and added some titanium to my shoulder through no fault of my own.

The best thing about CA is you can cut traffic on a bike...

A buddy of mine was married to a woman who saw a bike lane splitting and she opened her door on him. He was driving and he was held accountable as the driver. He's no longer married to her for that simple reason.

Shawn, have you checked out Berts Mega Mall? They are blowing out some of lasts years Yamaha's at what looks like some really nice prices. Also check out OTD or Out The Door motorcycles for true OTD price quotes. I was looking at the Honda VTX 1300C myself and got a quote of just over $8,000 out the door. Still a toss up for me between the VTX 1300C or a Yamaha FZ1 sport bike.

JJ

http://www.bertsmegamall.com/ 

Personally,I wouldn't get a motorcycle but if you do,get the biggest one they make that makes the most noise. Cars just don't see motorcycles.

I went on many many motorcycle vs auto accidents. Most were not purty. X

Right on Macs, It's cool with whatever bike you choose, but please don't take it on the freeway so soon. You mentioned you're inexperienced. Take the classes right away then start out doing market runs, then slowly build up to the freeway. There are way too many idiot drivers who never look for bikes or don't care.

Do as JJ said, OTD motorsports will blow every competitior away. Every single ATV or bike I've bought has been through them. As soon as you mention them to other dealers they turn nasty and say " just go there, I can't hang with those prices".

OTDcyclesports.com , It helps to look at the Manufactures website first then go there (OTD) for a price, you can call or they will e-mail you the price. It is said and DONE, no assembly fee's taxes, etc.. Other places will tell you the price and then add those items later. The name is OTD motorsports, but the web address is otdcyclesports.

Good luck!

These are even MORE fun

http://powersports.honda.com/atvs/utility/