I’m going to be buying a new 2008 or 2009 model motorcycle. I don’t want to have a very fast bike, I was looking for a cruiser or some type of smaller bike, since I am a new rider and young girl (22 years old). I want a bike that’s going to last, and that I won’t outgrow (I don’t know how into this hobby I’m going to be, but I can assure you that I don’t lust for speed and I could probably be very content with a 250cc). My biggest question is should I go Japanese or American? I’m thinking about purchasing a Harley Davidson 883, or a Yamaha V Star Custom/Classic. If you have any suggestions as to which brand I should go with, please state any experience you may have, as well as why you feel so strongly about either one.
Thank you so much. You are making a great difference.
Harleys are very good but they are EXPENSIVE and I think they’re bigger than they need to be. Japanese bikes are just a better deal for the money. I am a Honda person myself but all the Japanese mfgrs are good, they produce a very economical, reliable, long-lived product.
Cruisers are a good choice for a first bike, especially if you aren’t interested in ‘pushing the envelope’, you just want to ride and have fun. They are statistically safer, but this is probably because of that relaxed, laid-back riding style. They’re also good for people with short legs because they have lower seats. You want to be able to sit on a bike with both feet flat on the ground.
The V-Star is a good choice, or a Honda Shadow or Magna. My Honda is a water-cooled 1100 v4, a pretty big bike. It has >60,000 mi. on it and the engine is really like new. It hasn’t even needed a valve adjustment. It’s comfortable and smooth and wonderful for a long cruise. (But it’s not a cruise, it’s a sport-tourer).
250cc is fine if you don’t plan on long cruises on the freeway. A 250 can go on the freeway just fine, several exits, maybe commuting to work, but for long trips you want something bigger, heavier, more stable. It’s not just more comfortable, it’s safer. A 500 or 650 is all you need, and that’s not big at all for a cruiser.
And, while you might think you’re just getting the bike to go to school or work, consider the very real possibility that you will just enjoy riding so much you’ll find yourself doing long day-rides on weekends. Motorcycling is one of the few things in my life that turned out to be just as much fun as it looked like it would be!
Oh, and let me second what Earwax said. Don’t start on a shiny new bike. Get one 5-10 years old, perhaps already with a few scuffs and bruises on it. After 6 months or a year, you can sell it for about what you paid for it, and by then you will have a much better idea what you really want.
Best of luck!
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19 users responded in this post
japaneese is better
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Try them out. Sit on them. See what bike (out of all in the store, not just those two!) feels best to you. Also, I wouldn’t recommend getting a brand new bike if you’ve never been on one before. Odds are you wont down it but what if you did? Believe me, it tears your heart out to see someone go down on a nice bike.
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24 year old female, started riding at 19
Harleys are very good but they are EXPENSIVE and I think they’re bigger than they need to be. Japanese bikes are just a better deal for the money. I am a Honda person myself but all the Japanese mfgrs are good, they produce a very economical, reliable, long-lived product.
Cruisers are a good choice for a first bike, especially if you aren’t interested in ‘pushing the envelope’, you just want to ride and have fun. They are statistically safer, but this is probably because of that relaxed, laid-back riding style. They’re also good for people with short legs because they have lower seats. You want to be able to sit on a bike with both feet flat on the ground.
The V-Star is a good choice, or a Honda Shadow or Magna. My Honda is a water-cooled 1100 v4, a pretty big bike. It has >60,000 mi. on it and the engine is really like new. It hasn’t even needed a valve adjustment. It’s comfortable and smooth and wonderful for a long cruise. (But it’s not a cruise, it’s a sport-tourer).
250cc is fine if you don’t plan on long cruises on the freeway. A 250 can go on the freeway just fine, several exits, maybe commuting to work, but for long trips you want something bigger, heavier, more stable. It’s not just more comfortable, it’s safer. A 500 or 650 is all you need, and that’s not big at all for a cruiser.
And, while you might think you’re just getting the bike to go to school or work, consider the very real possibility that you will just enjoy riding so much you’ll find yourself doing long day-rides on weekends. Motorcycling is one of the few things in my life that turned out to be just as much fun as it looked like it would be!
Oh, and let me second what Earwax said. Don’t start on a shiny new bike. Get one 5-10 years old, perhaps already with a few scuffs and bruises on it. After 6 months or a year, you can sell it for about what you paid for it, and by then you will have a much better idea what you really want.
Best of luck!
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from personal experience i like the japanese bikes better.
harleys are ok, but i find them to just be too loud…. and thats coming from a guy that drives a really loud sportbike all the time!
the yamaha vstar and the honda shadow are my favorite two cruisers but go with what feels the most comfortable and makes you happy
keep in mind that almost any motorcycle can go from 0-60 in 3 seconds if you really wanted it to.
sportbikes might have more acceleration but you’ll out accelerate any normal car out there.
good luck with your search. get yourself some good gear and drive safe!
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the jap is a better bike for half the price they go better stop better and handle better
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Neither one is top of he line for that class. Both are underpowered for their size and I don’t think the 883 handles very well. The V Star needs rather frequent valve adjustment, as well.
Both are air-cooled
Look at a Vulcan 900. Liquid cooled bikes are more reliable and live longer.
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keep your money in America.
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I think you’re going about this the wrong way. Don’t make this a US vs Japanese question but rather which bike feels the best/most natural for your physique. Sit on each bike and judge how each feels to you:
Are the controls logically laid out?
Is the seat height and is the seat itself comfortable?
Are your feet comfortable on the pegs? Are your legs stretched out too much or do they feel crunched up ( are the pegs too high )?
When you grab the handlebar, are you sitting upright and comfortable or do you have to stretch to reach them?
Also, as mentioned above by one of the posts, for a first bike, you may want to go with a used bike to hone your riding skills. When you have a year or 2 on that used bike, flip it for a brand new bike. We all make mistakes as rookie riders and dropping a brand new bike can become very expensive ( even if the damage is just cosmetic ).
Good luck with whichever bike you choose and remember to always ride defensively.
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The sporty is a great choice! After I got my license, I got good at riding on my dad’s Sportster 1200, it’s a blast. Get some aftermarket pipes and you’ll be all set. Oh yeah, like the other’s said, get a used one!
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riding for 5 years
I would suggest the LOUDON Classic..in New Hampshire..so you could see lots of bikes..
I used to vacation there..and they had free rides on new bikes..like the Harley-Davidson’s and the BUELL..I heard that they stopped the free rides..
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BUELL is really my favorite..but its a super bike at 1200-CC..
..the Harley 883..is a fast bike…but the Harley’s are great handleing bikes..
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Yamaha is an exceptional motorcycle..
as is HONDA…250-CC…ain’t real good..you should look at 500-CC/
as minimum…water cooled..and shaft drive is really nice…I owned a 500cc Honda ascot..and it got 50-mpg…that was a 1984 model…
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The problem with a small motor..in my opinion..is the HILLS..and the Pistons…after a while..the pistons can’t take the strain…
so a bigger motor is a more lasting machine…and I’m really talking below 350-CC..//..400cc…500cc…should be just what your thinking about..except they are fast bikes…
a….175cc motorcycle would be considered SAFE,,,by comparison…
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Some of the motorcycles will do 125-MPH…very easily..
and its a matter of seconds to hit–100mph…
I’ve done 130-mph and was nearly blown off the motorcycle–when young(and a light-weight)..I rode bikes for 20-years…I’ve crashed a number of times…once at 50-mph..I did a complete flip in mid-air..and landed on my feet…while the motorcycle went in a different direction..all in a sliding motion..until the motorcycle flung me off(de-excceleration)saved me…so its a life saver to look down the road and be knowledgable about where your riding…I would say—familiarity is a life saver…
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You sound like a Honda Motorcycle enthusiast..I would say—500cc
last I checked..its 5000-dollars for a bike…my 500-ascot was 2800-dollars…[end]
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ALL the Jap/Euro/Am bikes will last with regular maintenance.
If you are looking for a *small* cruiser your choices are Japanese or an Asian clone of nearly the same price without the dealer network or reputation.
The HD833 and a V-Star Custom/Classic are not *small* bikes — both weigh well in excess of 500 pounds and cost more than $6,000:
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/new_vehicle_compare.asp?vehicle1=92546&year2=2009&mfg2=2&vehicle2=87117&go=Go
Your small cruisers include the Honda Rebel, 250 parallel twin and the Yamaha Virago 250 V-twin (relabled as a v-star):
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/new_vehicle_compare.asp?vehicle2=87147&year1=2009&mfg1=1&vehicle1=87063&go2=Go
Also the Suzuki Singles: the little GZ250 and the ‘big’ LS650:
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/new_vehicle_compare.asp?vehicle1=88160&year2=2009&mfg2=4&vehicle2=88129&go=Go
The 250′s are all about 330 pounds wet, while the LS650 is only 50 pounds heavier at 380 wet, 1/3 less than the HD. Also looking at under $4,000 for the 250′s and $4,900 for the 650 ($500 more than the ’08!)
On the road the 250′s are fun, easy to handle, capable of city, lazy country roads at 55-60 mph, and can be pushed to freeway speeds. The LS650 is a killer city bike, loves the country roads, handles freeway and interstate easily with a top speed, stock, of about 85mph.
In ’04 I needed transportation and the wife asked, "Have you considered a motorcycle." With the kids grown I could accept the extra risk, and went bike shopping. I needed something for running the streets and freeways of Los Angeles. A 400 would be perfect, but not available. A 250 would do, and I was looking at the Yamaha and Suzuki. Then I saw the Savage (renamed to S40), only a 50 pound penalty. Hmmm…. Sat on one, loved it, bought a used one.
Since then I have done over 21,000 miles on it, mostly my 4 mile one way daily commute. It can merge onto the freeway in 3rd, with two gears to go, and will keep up with L.A. freeway traffic at 85 mph. I’ve done the Angels’ Crest and Ortega highways and was not passed by a sport bike. I’ve done two 350 mile overnighters, leave home about 9 pm, freeway to the desert, a lazy putt under a full moon, back home before 7 am. Also did a run to OKC for a military reunion, which started with back to back 500+ mile days. Coming home on the backroads I managed to run from Parker AZ to Palm Springs on a single tank, over 70 mpg.
My bike is not fast, 85 is more than enough to get me a speeding ticket so I only do it when that is the speed of traffic. But it is *quick*. Off the line there is not much that can match the Savage. On the forum one girl laughingly related how she spanked a sport bike at a light. (sport bikes are fast, but need a little time/room to start winding — gutless at low rpm :^) )
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http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
try a Japanese bike, low maintenance and extremely reliable .you could do a slightly used newer bike for your first one.and save some money while you are learning. and seeing if you like it
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For the fit to your butt, only you can judge that one
For the right thing to do, only the harley fits that
For something cheap and small japp fits that (harley doesn’t fit at all, even with an 883 sportster)
Go take a rider training course, they usually use bikes like what you seem to want. You’ll get the benefit of being trained, and be able to try a few and see which you liked best.
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If your concerned with American VS Japanese, the only true completely american made motorcycle is a Victory.
I agree with most everyone else, dont make it an us vs them. Sit on every bike you come across until you find one that fits your body and comfort level. Of the 2 you mentioned, ive found the 883 very uncomfortable to ride, and the controls are horribly placed. The Vstar is a comfortable reliable bike that youll probably only have to change the oil, filter and spark plugs, especially on a new one. Keeping in mind, this is comfort for me, not you. You ultimately decide whats comfortable for your own body/style of riding. Personally, ive owned 2 Kawasaki Vulcans, a 750 and now a 1500 and find them very comfortable and have never had a single problem, other than i wiped out on the 750 which was totally my own fault.
As far as the CC goes, you’d probably be better off with a little more cc. I hated my 250 and so did my wife. Too small, felt very uncomfortable on any kind of major roadway. Id at least look at a 500 or better. Most of the smaller ones ive seen start out around 800 or 900 nowadays but its very easy to drive slowly.
I also second a used bike for your first bike, you may not "dump" your first, but ive yet to meet someone who hasnt at least "laid it down".
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My personel the opinion is to go with the Harley sportster, but not the 883. I think that between the sportster classes, the 1200 is far superior than the smaller one in power, handling and overall satisfaction. plus you wont outgrow it later.
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forget about where the bike is made and concentrate on what works BEST for you. Stay away from the 650 v star they tend to throw a rod at about 45,000 miles. I had about 30 of them come into my shop in the last 2 years. If its your first bike I would get a jap bike just because its no big deal to drop.damb Harley will cost a LOT to fix if you drop it.
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All I can add is stay away from those 250 Honda Rebels. Those things are a joke, and there’s no way in h*ll I’d take any of those "pizza cutter" tires on the highway.
883s are a dime a dozen, and all over Craig’s List for sale. With the economy the way it is, and people losing their jobs right and left, you should be able to find a great deal on whatever you choose.
Hey, and there’s always Italian. Nothing like a Ducati to excite the senses. (I know people will say too expensive, etc), but I bet a 620 Monster would fit you like a glove.
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Ya know, a cruiser is a poor motorcycle. Kind of like those kid’s bicycles you see in like walmart that are all gaudy but just heavy and not really fast or maneuverable or a very good bicycle compared to a bmx or a Mountain bike or a racing bike. You can get alot more bike for alot less money if you look at standard bikes or dual sports and forget about looking like ‘the fonz’.
If you are set on a crusier, that means you want a fashon accessory more than you want a motorcycle. So get the Gucci rather than the better made knock off. When posing the bike is more pose for the dollar. Be sure and give the other harley guys a thumbs up and an ‘aaaay’. If you get an 883, expect to be owned on a regular basis by $4K 250 ninjas.
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Whichever one suits your riding style and any other requirements.
It must fit you, be comfortable, and be something you like.
Most of the Japanese bikes will last a long time if not abused and properly maintained.
The same applies to Harley-Davidson.
Parts for Harleys are easy to come by, and will be for longer than most Japanese cycles.
I don’t feel very strongly about either one.
I rode Japanese bikes for almost 18 years, mainly Hondas.
I’ve been riding a Harley for the past 2 for many reasons, but those are my reasons. Not another’s.
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Live Free Or Die.
P.S. There are still demo rides during Bike Week in Laconia.
HD has their stuff at the race track in Loudon, the others are on the other side of the lake near the Weirs.
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