Another newbie that's been lurking a while (livee)

[sil3nt]

You must be the luckiest Lifan owner around.

[livee]

You must be the luckiest Lifan owner around.

Haha! Now, Now, that bike gave me trouble-free riding for 3.75 years! It did start to have have starting issues after I'd ridden into town a couple of times, but that could have been fixed.... For a cheap bike, it looked cool, rode well, bit of a struggle in a head wind on the open road but hey I was meant to stick to 70 anyway! Not really a bad little bike

Thanks heaps for all the advice guys, I've got a lot of decision making to do!

[MIXONE]

Go for the big one because size does matter.

[livee]

I just found a 1997 suzuki intruder 400cc

I like it best of all BUT... can't find specs for one for that year, found specs for a 2011 same size... more than twice as heavy as the lifan

The virago is about 2kg heavier, the savage 30kg heavier, and this intruder is approx 160kg heavier!!! please someone tell me the 1997 model is no where near that heavy??

I'm only little, there's no way I could pick up that if I dropped it! I'm curious to know if I could even pick up the savage!

[blackdog]

400 intruder was a jap-market only special with very very few ending up in nz

i would be concerned about parts availability

only my 2c but i haven't seen anything that would be a better buy than that savage (put it in context with the virago at red baron, and compare age, mileage and price)

[livee]

ooh thank you, I'm so glad I came on here! You're a minefield of information!
It is looking like the savage is a very good choice, I'm a bit nervy about the size but its not more than I ever thought I'd go, worth a shot! I'll call them tomorrow

[livee]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-329022695.htm

Virago 400?? Cheaper rego p/yr than the savage....

FORGET that! Got my price range muddled... TM isn't exactly very good at keeping the search options within the parameters you specify!

[blackdog]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-329022695.htm

Virago 400?? Cheaper rego p/yr than the savage....

FORGET that! Got my price range muddled... TM isn't exactly very good at keeping the search options within the parameters you specify!

don't panic

most of the 400's are jap market only so rare in nz

the savage will be no heavier than they are and i still reckon more bike for the $$

look forward to finding out how you get on, best of luck

[livee]

Thanks heaps black stig, will def keep you posted!

I'm leaning all over the place! My master plan is to keep costs down - want to buy a house - so I think I should stay under the 600cc... keeps the rego down... i thought I had a Virago 535 suggested to me, can't find it though... need to keep my eye out for one of those to pop up...

No rush no rush..... (though this search has been boring holes in my brain all day!) Only been bikeless 2 and half weeks, I'm getting itchy!

[blackdog]

rego smedgo!

the difference is less than a latte a week

[The Everlasting]

Welcome to KB,yeah if you can get a bigger bike,go for it,since your 250 was stolen,as long as you have friends that ride 250's,because you will need one when sitting your full.

[gatch]

Don't let rego cost put you off if you are intending on getting some miles under your wheels.. As was mentioned, spread out weekly it's a cup of coffee..

I would recommend something bigger than a 250 if you intend on keeping it..

You WILL ask for more after a while. Not necessarily for high speed cruising, but for passing cars without needing a run up, going up hills, carrying luggage etc.

Go the 650..

BTW go hard, as you well know, bikes are the shit. Shoot me a message if you come through palmy for a ride. Always keen.

[livee]

Heya

So would the virago 535 need a run up to pass cars, carrying luggage etc etc?? Still leaning that way.... I don't drink lattes lol but yeah you're right, it is only $2 a week difference... but would the virago be big enough anyway?

And yep, my cuz still has her 250 so I'm sweet for the test... just gotta risk a big ride home when I buy, and riding round til the end of May

Haha Gatch, yea I know, bikes are the shit! Spent the day justifying to my boss why I need another bike rather than pay off some debt with the insurance money lol... I actually save money by having both forms of wheels! who would have thought! (as long as the bike gets more usage than the 4wd lol)

So anyone in Hamilton wanna go give a savage a good looking over and a test ride for me??

[gatch]

Heya

So would the virago 535 need a run up to pass cars, carrying luggage etc etc?? Still leaning that way.... I don't drink lattes lol but yeah you're right, it is only $2 a week difference... but would the virago be big enough anyway?

I've never ridden a Virago so I couldn't tell you for sure. But I imagine it would be streets ahead of any 250 cruiser you could get your hands on..

I doubt it would need a run up.. So long as you aren't intending on passing sport bike loonies at 100mph..

I've been riding constantly for nearly 10 years and my bike is a 400.. Good enough for me.

[rwh]

a single will be much cheaper for maintenance, and you will notice a fair power increase over a 250.

I test rode one when I got my full - and noticed almost no performance improvement over my vt250f. It remains, however, the only bike I've scraped in a corner.

Mind you, that had been dead for 3 months by then, so I might have just forgotten.

Richard