scesnick
Veteran Member
Easy, Suzuki V-Strom DL 1000. Adventure sport bike without the BMW pricetag ( and more dependable also) They are the weapon of choice for around the world rides and /or Alaskan rides.
I too bought my first bike after getting out of a realtionship. That was almost 10 years ago, and I have never looked back. I already had my motorcyle endorsement on my license.
My first bike was a 600cc "sport" bike. I then moved onto a 800 "cruiser". When I decided I was finally comfortable enough with "more power", I did some research and visited my local (75 miles away) Victory dealer. Victory is the only dealer network that will let you test drive a bike before buying it. I wound up buying the bike I tested. (2004 Touring Cruiser) I now have over 35,000 miles on this machine! It has NEVER let me down. I do all the routine maintanence myself.
Last year my wife (girlfriend at the time) tested a Victory Vegas Low (she's short). She was riding an H-D 1200 Sporty at the time. She traded the H-D for the Victory, and couldn't be happier.
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this next comment, but I don't care. If you want to overpay for antiquated technology and a "name", buy H-D. If you want to buy a high quality machine - made in the the United States - with up to date technolgy and engineering, plus a whole lot more horsepower and torque, buy a Victory.
But first, and most importantly, make sure you really feel comfortable riding a motorcycle. I know of several people that bought their bikes with out first having their licenses. After only a few rides, they scared themselves silly, and put their bikes on the market.
Also, don't be fooled by "resale value". If you buy a top of the line machine, chances are you will never ttrade it. You'll just buy another "garage mate".
OK, I've rambled enough.
Good luck with wahtever you decide. And make sure you ride safely!
Marc
P.S. - Bring it on H-D fans.
Gem99ultra;1936438 If you want to buy a high quality machine - made in the the United States - with up to date technolgy and engineering said::thumbsup:
Here is a real nice looking 2006 Suzuki C50 Boulevard with 10k miles for $4995 right near you. It's a great example of a foreign cruiser. It even has saddle bags which you will learn to LOVE. I once had a small Igloo cooler, leather jacket, a full-face helmet and some gloves all in a pair of soft leather saddle bags on the back of my Harley. They are priceless, especially for those quick trips to the hardware store for a quart of stain. :thumbsup:
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I'd agree here, I ride an older version, the Marauder, 800CC, perfect size for me, and normally it's only myself. got the backrest for a rider, but she doesn't like to ride very far. I use it for my 2 mile commute to work, and an occasional ride out to dinner in the summer.
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