What has happened to the 500cc bikes?

[Ppanepinto]

Ok, I'm still looking for my first bike. No, I do not want a 700++cc bike to kill myself on. The problem I have is I'm 310 lbs, and 6'4" tall. I've sat on a Rebel, and find it too short. Most of the duel-sports that I like because of the hight are more dirt bike than street bike in the lower cc range, but I'm not sure that a 650 or higher would be a good way to go. It just seems that a 500cc bike would work, but no one seems to make them. If someone can point me toward something that is around 350-500cc and may work for my frame, it would be most helpful.

[Cablebandit]

A 650 twin such as the the one in the weestrom is very user friendly.  With your size it would also be low powered enough as a first bike.  You probably won't notice the top heaviness at 6"4"

[expatbrit]

A 650 twin such as the the one in the weestrom is very user friendly.  With your size it would also be low powered enough as a first bike.  You probably won't notice the top heaviness at 6"4"

Hell. One of the 650 singles is going to a decent first bike. Don't get too wrapped up in displacement as the be all and end all; different bikes deliver very different power from different engines, so my 'baseline' recommendation is under 50hp, under 500lbs. If you take the MSF and ace it, then you can look at something a little more than that, either in weight or power without too much worry.

The 650 singles, like the KLR650/DR650/etc will be affordable and if they /do/ happen to fall over in the driveway (which will quite likely happen) they just gain character. The 650 twins like the V-Strom/Ninja 650 etc will be significantly more powerful and a touch heavier.

I'm taller than you, but considerably lighter -- my first bike was a KLR650.

[DogBoy]

500cc bikes like the GS500, Ninja 500 or that old Kawasaki EX500-based cruiser wouldn't fit you much better. The dual sport 650s (Kawasaki KLR650, Honda XR650L, Suzuki, DR650) are all good bikes that are very forgiving, fun to ride and cheap to own. The V-Strom 650 is a great suggestion.

[scottzilla]

Ok, I'm still looking for my first bike. No, I do not want a 700++cc bike to kill myself on. The problem I have is I'm 310 lbs, and 6'4" tall. I've sat on a Rebel, and find it too short. Most of the duel-sports that I like because of the hight are more dirt bike than street bike in the lower cc range, but I'm not sure that a 650 or higher would be a good way to go. It just seems that a 500cc bike would work, but no one seems to make them. If someone can point me toward something that is around 350-500cc and may work for my frame, it would be most helpful.

The difference between living and dying shouldn't come down to 200cc's.

[nater]

Should be some used Ninja 500s or GS500s for sale somewhere in your area.

[Ppanepinto]

Thanks everyone, I am just looking to start slow, an now I have a place to start. I am just worried about getting too much hp for a first bike.

[bomber]

Then the KLR should be fine ;-}

Keep in mind, though, that a determined soul can find a way to do great personal damage with far less power than the KLR offers . . . . ..

[Skee]

A 650 twin such as the the one in the weestrom is very user friendly.  With your size it would also be low powered enough as a first bike.  You probably won't notice the top heaviness at 6"4"

+1 FWIW

I'm 6'+ and >200lbs & both the KLR or the Wee make great starter bikes.  they offer a good blend of stability & hp with comfy ergos for someone your size.  While excess hp can invite trouble, as scotzilla says, 200 cc should not make a critical difference.  Handling will.  So think about what kind of riding you want to do.  The KLR is more off-road oriented.  The Wee is more street oriented.  Both handle well on a wide variety of surfaces.  
 IMHO, the Wee will grow with you and on you, but I might be slightly biased about that.

In my unexpert opinion, a small displacement bike can be more challenging to ride on the street than a midsize bike.  My 175 cc Honda scrambler required more skill to keep planted in a corner than my CB 750 ever did, even though it didn't go nearly as fast, because it was so light.  Plus a small bike is a challenge to merge and pass on the highway.  But I learned a lot from riding it.

Make a decision & go with it.  Buy an older used bike, because as anyone here will tell, you'll have a much better idea of what kind of bike suits your style best by the end of your first season, and by then you might be wanting to trade.

[sfalexi]

Find a garage queen 883 sportster.  You'll get a good deal, can trade it in anywhere cause of the popularity, and it'll be cheap and fun and easy enough to learn on.  Dealers everywhere too.

Alexi






and now to watch my reputation drop......

[Kneescrubber]

Let's go back to the beginning. What's your experience? Why haven't you introduced yourself? http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,1.0.html , 500cc single or twin, 6'4" 310# makes a good guard in the NFL if you're quick on your feet. What's your story?

[coho]

Find a garage queen 883 sportster.  You'll get a good deal, can trade it in anywhere cause of the popularity, and it'll be cheap and fun and easy enough to learn on.  Dealers everywhere too.

Alexi






and now to watch my reputation drop......

 

That's an excellent suggestion, +1 for you.

[Ppanepinto]

Sorry, did not see the intro thread. So:

Hey everyone, I'm Paul and I'm looking to start riding. I have never ridden before, but both my parents rode rebels. I live in South Louisiana, I've always liked the BMW tour bikes, and hope to have one one day, right now looking around to learn as much as I can before jumping in. I'm 6'4", and around 310 lbs. I am looking for my first bike, something around the 250-650 range in size. As for gear, well lets just say the truth, I have no clue. I do plan on taking a bike training class before I do anything, but for now doing my research. I am signed up for a safety coarse.

[veefer800canuck]

Gear suggestions:

www.motorcyclegear.com  look in the closeouts section

or www.motorcyclecloseouts.com


As for the bike, a big fella like you needs a taller mount so you don't feel like a circus bear on a bicycle.

A Ninja 500 or GS500 is gonna feel like a total toy under ya and the suspension will probably not work well for your weight.

A V-strom 650 as outlined above will have a taller seat height, and likely be more comfortable for you. And the engine, while willing, is not a hand grenade motor of death with a hair trigger. It will be very controllable and easy to deal with. The throttle turns both ways, and as long as you remember that, you're golden.

You probably will need some heavier springs for the V-strom or any bike for that matter, I recommend you try these guys for fork springs:

http://www.sonicsprings.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=31_72&osCsid=d38215ce93df461397334d3537de2b48

For the rear shock, some folks have swapped on the DL1000 shock onto the 650 with good results.

If the rear spring is still too soft, HyperPro or others will offer replacements with a higher rate.

[Joey Stalin]

Gear suggestions:

www.motorcyclegear.com  look in the closeouts section

or www.motorcyclecloseouts.com

As an aside, I've been reading up on new gloves and helmets lately (WAY too much reading), and I wouldn't suggest motorcycle CLOSEOUTS for gear unless you know exactly what you're looking for. They have great prices but their return policy is nowhere near as hassle free as motorcyclegear.com.

To the OP, a KLR650 or XR650 or BMW F650 would be just fine for your height/weight as a beginner.

[expatbrit]

As an aside, I've been reading up on new gloves and helmets lately (WAY too much reading), and I wouldn't suggest motorcycle CLOSEOUTS for gear unless you know exactly what you're looking for. They have great prices but their return policy is nowhere near as hassle free as motorcyclegear.com.

Yup! Go with motorcyclegear.com. Get the best gear you can afford, and make sure you budget for it.

Take the safety class. See how that goes. You'll have fun on the little bikes in there, in both senses of the word 'fun'.

If you ace it, then a Wee will be great. If it's not as natural, a KLR might be good.

If you do get a Wee, avoid telling the guys at the Wheelnerds about it. We can't have Todd crowing more.

To the OP, a KLR650 or XR650 or BMW F650 would be just fine for your height/weight as a beginner.

I'd be a little wary of the (old) F650GS. It's much lower than the other two, and I felt very cramped on one.

[cbsnbiker]

Welcome, Paul.

My recommendation: visit a bunch of dealers, sit on bikes, kick tires, but don't buy until you've taken the MSF course. After the course you'll have a better idea of what you want in your first bike.

I agree with your impulse to choose a smaller bike for your first ride. Your size, though, does make many of the usual trainer bikes small for you.

At risk of falling into the cliché of "my bike is best," a used BMW F650GS ('01-'07) or current G650GS might be a good choice. (The Kawasaki KLR650 and bikes like it are awfully tall; you'd have to have really long legs for one of them to be a good beginner bike.) You did express an interest in BMWs. If they are a bit too low, there are taller seats available for them. If they are significantly too low, there are tall versions of them: the F650GS Dakar, and the G650GS Sertao. (They're in KLR territory.)

Also look into the smaller dual sport bikes from various manufacturers. Some are more street-oriented than others. You can always swap out knobby tires for more street-oriented ones. Or there are moto versions of them.

Kudos to looking into riding gear. Cars have seat belts, air bags, bumpers, metal frames, etc. to protect us in case of mishap. Our protection is whatever we're wearing during a crash.

Best wishes! Ask away as questions come up.

[KLRchickie]

(The Kawasaki KLR650 and bikes like it are awfully tall; you'd have to have really long legs for one of them to be a good beginner bike.) You did express an interest in BMWs. If they are a bit too low, there are taller seats available for them. If they are significantly too low, there are tall versions of them: the F650GS Dakar, and the G650GS Sertao. (They're in KLR territory.)

At 6'4" you'd have to have seriously whacky proportions to find a KLR "too tall".  Yes, it is tall, and top heavy, but at 5'7" or so with an almost 31" inseam I managed a full height KLR as my first bike.  OK, it wasn't the easiest thing to learn on, but I managed it (with many, many, instances of the thing ending up on its side at a gas station ).  In hindsight, for my size, I should have lowered it right away - instead I did so after my first year of riding.  At 6'4" the OP would be just fine on a full height one.

[cbsnbiker]

At 6'4" you'd have to have seriously whacky proportions to find a KLR "too tall".  Yes, it is tall, and top heavy, but at 5'7" or so with an almost 31" inseam I managed a full height KLR as my first bike.  OK, it wasn't the easiest thing to learn on, but I managed it (with many, many, instances of the thing ending up on its side at a gas station ).  In hindsight, for my size, I should have lowered it right away - instead I did so after my first year of riding.  At 6'4" the OP would be just fine on a full height one.

You actually made a valid case for my point: why a KLR may *not* be a good choice for a beginner.  

Granted, he's bigger and taller, but so is that machine.

He can use this info to help make up his own mind.  

[KLRchickie]

You actually made a valid case for my point: why a KLR may *not* be a good choice for a beginner.  

Granted, he's bigger and taller, but so is that machine.

I am also married to a man who is 6'2" and so long as he's not trying to use his KLR as a dirt bike (he *has* - but it's not easy) it is no harder for him to handle at parking lots speeds than his 250.  Even a total newbie, at that size, is just not likely to find a KLR too much to handle.  The bike isn't powerful enough to be a big problem, and a big man is unlikely to find it intimidating.  Unless he's got midget legs, he'll be able to stand over the bike with room to spare, and that makes things like all of my silly tip overs so much less likely.

He can use this info to help make up his own mind.  

Certainly

[Ppanepinto]

I know I said this, thank you. This is a very helpful place to be. As for the V-storm, it is one of the two bikes I'm looking in to. I really like the feel of the R1200RT, we had a police motorcycle rodeo where I work a few months back, and one of the officers let me sit on his bike to try it out. Loved it, but I am nowhere near ready for that size bike yet. I really want to work up slowly and do things the right way. And who knows, I may find out that a different bike might be better for me as I learn about the style of riding that is right for me.

[sfalexi]

I know I said this, thank you. This is a very helpful place to be. As for the V-storm, it is one of the two bikes I'm looking in to. I really like the feel of the R1200RT, we had a police motorcycle rodeo where I work a few months back, and one of the officers let me sit on his bike to try it out. Loved it, but I am nowhere near ready for that size bike yet. I really want to work up slowly and do things the right way. And who knows, I may find out that a different bike might be better for me as I learn about the style of riding that is right for me.

The R1200RT is essentially my dream bike.  THe only reason I haven't bought one is cause of a fear of the final drive.  There are reports of it failing, and it's so bad that people are carrying spares during long distance rallies.  If there was no fear of the final drive burning up, I'd be on one right now.  That thing is just everything I want in a bike.....minus the reliability that, unfortunately, is my #1 concern.

The V-strom seems fine.  Whatever you buy, buy used.  Just in case you find that the V-strom isn't your "dream" bike and want to move on, you don't take a big hit on depreciation.

Alexi

[kless001]

500cc bikes like the GS500, Ninja 500 or that old Kawasaki EX500-based cruiser wouldn't fit you much better. The dual sport 650s (Kawasaki KLR650, Honda XR650L, Suzuki, DR650) are all good bikes that are very forgiving, fun to ride and cheap to own. The V-Strom 650 is a great suggestion.

I have to second this. I don't believe it's possible to outgrow a 650cc bike (unless you decide you want to get into drag racing).  I have 12,000 miles on my KLR650 and absolutely enjoy riding it more than I did my Harley or Ninja 1100.  The reliability, fuel economy, height (great vision and security feeling) mod options, and the dual-sport community are second to none IMO.  

[Nodaclu]

and now to watch my reputation drop......

Nope....I repped you up one in fact. It's a great suggestion, and one I followed back in 2006.  

The only potential issue is that it's a smallish bike physically.

[Grainbelt]

They're back!!!  

http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/12/preview-2013-honda-cb500/

[expatbrit]

along with the X and a naked, al coming to the USA, FI and at a very reasonable looking price point.

/Awesome/. Go Big Red.

[HipGnosis]

along with the X and a naked, al coming to the USA, FI and at a very reasonable looking price point.

AND..  with ABS available!

Also;
Honda managed to get the CBR500R, parallel twin budget bike to be the weapon of choice in the European Junior Cup — displacing the KTM 690 Duke.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/honda-cbr500r-race-bike/

This means there will be race bits to upgrade the budget bits!!

[KingCast]

Funny you should mention that as in undergrad I remember 500s were all the rage and the Suzuki and Kawi stepped up to 550 and Suzuki cheated even more and went to 572 (I know, I had a "550" ES).... but guess what? Honda has a new range of CB 500s on the market that are decent commuter and great first time bikes
http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/12/preview-2013-honda-cb500/

If you don't like that try a used Kawi 650R it might be big enough I had one of those and LOVED it. Its cousin, the Versys, is one of the best bikes on the road and more like the V-Strom, a little taller 4ya.

[buls4evr]

  Or the NX700 series bikes from Honda which seem to be 700s with 500 power...............


  Actually this thread is so old this guy probably has purchased a bike and had his wreck on it already.