Motorcycle Questions

[EMPshockwave82]

I just had a couple of questions pertaining to motorcycles I was hoping the powers of ATOT could help me answer from their experiences. I've never ridden before but have lately been itching to buy a cruiser style bike to ride around on nice days.

1. How much should I expect to pay on insurance for a bike? (26, male, no accidents and no speeding tickets on record)

2. Any recommendations for cruiser style bikes? Yes I'm set on a cruiser, Harley style bike.
As a reference point some of the bikes that I think look good are the 2009 Harley 883 Iron, 2000 Honda Shadow and newer. Not really looking to buy a brand new bike and wanting to spend less than 4k on my first bike.


Thanks for any help or tips you guys can give me.

I am going to take the motorcycle safety course before buying my own bike.

 

[woodie1]

Insurance rates vary by state and by the motorcycle model.

 

[angry hampster]

$4k is going to get you something with very high miles and not a lot of power.

 

[Saga]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
$4k is going to get you something with very high miles and not a lot of power.

Or a great low mileage Nighthawk..

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
$4k is going to get you something with very high miles and not a lot of power.

$6k got me a 2007 Harley with 2,400 miles on it. For $4k you can get a very nice Honda Shadow which is a fantastic bike.

As for the OP's questions:

1) I am 27, one minor parking-lot accident and one ticket on my record and I pay ~350/year to insure a 2007 Harley XL1200R. A 600cc Shadow or an 883 Harley should be less.

2) IMO, the best-looking cruisers in your price range are the Shadows and the Sportsters, though in certain trims the Sportster is more of a "standard" than a "cruiser". I also really like the look of the Triumph Bonneville, but that's not really a "cruiser" per se. Give the Bonnevilles a look though; they're good bikes and have a lot of character to them. Kawasaki Vulcans are worth looking at, as well as the smaller bikes from Yamaha's V-Star line.

A few potentials pulled from the Chicago Craigslist for you, all in your price range:

2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 750, 4,400 miles
2002 Honda Shadow 750, 7,200 miles
1996 Honda Magna 750, 7,500 miles
1995 Yamaha Virago 750, 3,800 miles
1998 Yamaha V-Star 650, 12,350 miles

ZV

 

[EMPshockwave82]

I'd be ok with 6k if it got me something decent like a used but nearly new Harley.

I've been looking at the 833 Iron by Harley and like the industrial look of that bike but it's only in 09 and not looking to buy something new for 9k.

Thanks for the help Zenmervolt. Gives me a good starting point.

 

[2Xtreme21]

I really like the Kawasaki Vulcan. If I were in the market for a standard/cruiser-esque bike, I'd definitely get one. It's not terribly expensive and can be bought for cheap used.

Also, insurance, I got the bare minimum coverage for my bike (needed it to be able to ride it home from the seller, and have since upgraded) for $101/yr from progressive. The second you add collision, etc. onto it, the price goes up pretty high. Depends on the bike, the state you're in, your age, and your driving record though.

 

[Fenixgoon]

the biggest factor affecting insurance rates is engine size. i think progressive quoted me $4-500/year for my 1982 GS650. yeah, it's 27 years old, but its engine is 673cc, so the rates were higher.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the biggest factor affecting insurance rates is engine size. i think progressive quoted me $4-500/year for my 1982 GS650. yeah, it's 27 years old, but its engine is 673cc, so the rates were higher.

That's more than State Farm wanted for my 1,200cc Harley. Engine size isn't the end-all. In the case of the GS650, you're being hurt by the fact that it's related (rather closely actually) to the high-performance GS650G Katana of the same era.

ZV

 

[BoberFett]

You could probably find a 2000 or newer bike in the 800cc range for about that price. I have a 2001 Suzuki Volusia that I've had a lot of fun with. Taken it all over the country, put almost 30K miles on it.

I pay $240/yr through State Farm for insurance, which hasn't changed since I bought it when I was 26.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the biggest factor affecting insurance rates is engine size. i think progressive quoted me $4-500/year for my 1982 GS650. yeah, it's 27 years old, but its engine is 673cc, so the rates were higher.

That's more than State Farm wanted for my 1,200cc Harley. Engine size isn't the end-all. In the case of the GS650, you're being hurt by the fact that it's related (rather closely actually) to the high-performance GS650G Katana of the same era.

ZV

Bikes with plastic fairings are also higher. Bikes with the letters D U C A T I painted on the tank are higher still...even if you're talking about a naked bike.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
$4k is going to get you something with very high miles and not a lot of power.

Not really. $3-3.5K seems to be the sweet spot for a ~2003 Shadow/Vulcan (600-700cc) with < 10K miles. Pretty low miles with a decent amount of power for a new rider.

This is a nice-looking bike. Also good looking.

 

[Saga]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the biggest factor affecting insurance rates is engine size. i think progressive quoted me $4-500/year for my 1982 GS650. yeah, it's 27 years old, but its engine is 673cc, so the rates were higher.

That's more than State Farm wanted for my 1,200cc Harley. Engine size isn't the end-all. In the case of the GS650, you're being hurt by the fact that it's related (rather closely actually) to the high-performance GS650G Katana of the same era.

ZV

Bikes with plastic fairings are also higher. Bikes with the letters D U C U T I painted on the tank are higher still...even if you're talking about a naked bike.

What the shit is a Ducuti.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: angry hampster
$4k is going to get you something with very high miles and not a lot of power.

Not really. $3-3.5K seems to be the sweet spot for a ~2003 Shadow/Vulcan (600-700cc) with < 10K miles. Pretty low miles with a decent amount of power for a new rider.

This is a nice-looking bike. Also good looking.

Both good looking bikes for sure. Hoping my job moves me somewhere warmer for my next assignment.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


Bikes with plastic fairings are also higher. Bikes with the letters D U C U T I painted on the tank are higher still...even if you're talking about a naked bike.

Never seen one of those.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: angry hampster

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus


Bikes with plastic fairings are also higher. Bikes with the letters D U C U T I painted on the tank are higher still...even if you're talking about a naked bike.

Never seen one of those.

The worry thing is....I think I have.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Saga

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the biggest factor affecting insurance rates is engine size. i think progressive quoted me $4-500/year for my 1982 GS650. yeah, it's 27 years old, but its engine is 673cc, so the rates were higher.

That's more than State Farm wanted for my 1,200cc Harley. Engine size isn't the end-all. In the case of the GS650, you're being hurt by the fact that it's related (rather closely actually) to the high-performance GS650G Katana of the same era.

ZV

Bikes with plastic fairings are also higher. Bikes with the letters D U C U T I painted on the tank are higher still...even if you're talking about a naked bike.

What the shit is a Ducuti.

Oops. :laugh:

 

[DVad3r]

I really liked the Suzuki M50 special edition. Read a few reviews and they seem to be positive. I'd def hit it up.

If you want a Harley then I find the Nightster to be a very comfy bike when I sat on it several times.

Or just buy a V-Rod like me and watch your bank account drain each month, not to mention sit beside the window while eating chicken wings with your bike parked outside flipping the curtain back every few seconds to make sure everything is "cool"



Also be happy you don't live in Toronto or insurance would rape your ass.

 

[Greenman]

I'm with DVad3r, get a V-Rod. They cost too much, they don't handle as well as a sport bike, they have a few quarks, but there is nothing on earth like a V-rod. Takes a year at least for the grin to go away.

 

[Fenixgoon]

*shameless plug for a classic Suzuki GS*

in all seriousness, i don't know much about cruisers, so good luck in the hunt

 

[BZeto]

I liked my M50. I'm 23, clean record and paid like $500/year for full coverage. Now I have a CBR 600 and pay $1450/year full coverage

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the biggest factor affecting insurance rates is engine size. i think progressive quoted me $4-500/year for my 1982 GS650. yeah, it's 27 years old, but its engine is 673cc, so the rates were higher.

I'm paying $75/yr for liability on my 2000 Suzuki SV650..

25yo, clean record.

 

[rstrohkirch]

hrmmm

please post a screen shot showing your online profile for the sv650

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the biggest factor affecting insurance rates is engine size. i think progressive quoted me $4-500/year for my 1982 GS650. yeah, it's 27 years old, but its engine is 673cc, so the rates were higher.

I'm paying $75/yr for liability on my 2000 Suzuki SV650..

25yo, clean record.

I pay $30/month for full coverage on my 2008 SV650 naked bike.

 

[CombatChuk]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the biggest factor affecting insurance rates is engine size. i think progressive quoted me $4-500/year for my 1982 GS650. yeah, it's 27 years old, but its engine is 673cc, so the rates were higher.

I'm paying $75/yr for liability on my 2000 Suzuki SV650..

25yo, clean record.

I pay $30/month for full coverage on my 2008 SV650 naked bike.

I have $90/yr for liability on my 2002 Suzuki Bandit 1200S