Virago or Intruder for a newbie

**crashe** · 19th September 2005, 17:06

Originally Posted by roks

I'm only 5'2" hence my need for something low to the ground.....like me!

I am 4 ft 12 inches tall.... and the Virago is the way to go...

Just love cruiseing out there on the roads..
Sure they arent built to go as fast as a sportbikes..
But cruisers are just that a cruiser...

Paul in NZ - nothing wrong with the handlebars mate...

**TerminalAddict** · 19th September 2005, 17:10

just out of curiosity.

how are they for overtaking etc? top speed of 140 I hear, but do they struggle to get there?

**roks** · 19th September 2005, 17:13

waits with baited breath for the answer to this. It will be ages before I overtake anything...but those grannies out doing there shopping will see my grin as I go by.

**Paul in NZ** · 19th September 2005, 17:13

Originally Posted by crashe

...

Paul in NZ - nothing wrong with the handlebars mate...

Dey is ugly! And trust me - I KNOW ugly...

This has not been updated for a bit but.. For a list of short bikes for shorter beginners, go here....

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.sbl.html

**crashe** · 19th September 2005, 17:15

Originally Posted by TerminalAddict

just out of curiosity.

how are they for overtaking etc? top speed of 140 I hear, but do they struggle to get there?

Mate I have no trouble overtaking....hehehehe
Ask some of the lads that I have ridden with....
I get past the cars and trucks....

I am just slow on cornering out in the country...
Just need more practise.

Well ok sometimes I do have trouble, if they are going so much faster than what I can get the bike to do...

Great around the city, quick take offs...

**Waylander** · 19th September 2005, 17:16

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Dey is ugly! And trust me - I KNOW ugly...

This has not been updated for a bit but.. For a list of short bikes for shorter beginners, go here....

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.sbl.html

Nothing I have ever seen on a guzzi could be classed as ellegant mate. And who was the idiot that thought putting a v-twin in a bike sideways was a good idea anyway?

Horeses for courses mate, just cause you don't like them doesn't mean they aren't cool.

**roks** · 19th September 2005, 17:20

lol....my partner has a guzzi and although he's not fond of the cruiser tyle bikes, he agrees that one of themis right for me

**MSTRS:Me** · 19th September 2005, 17:21

Originally Posted by TerminalAddict

just out of curiosity.

how are they for overtaking etc? top speed of 140 I hear, but do they struggle to get there?

The EL doesn't struggle. I reckon it'll do 150+ on the flat with no headwind.

**crashe** · 19th September 2005, 17:23

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Dey is ugly! And trust me - I KNOW ugly...

This has not been updated for a bit but.. For a list of short bikes for shorter beginners, go here....

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.sbl.html

under 5'0" manage
5'0 - 5'1" flatfoot

+Honda CB125
Honda CMX250 Rebel
Honda CM250
Kawasaki KZ250 LTD
+Suzuki GN125
Suzuki GN250
Suzuki Savage 650
Yamaha XV250 Route 66
Yamaha Virago 535
+Yamaha YSR50

Rebel 250... has the air filters right by ya thighs...
which makes the bike seating area too wide... I know cos I sat on one.. and I decided that I wasn't gonna get bruised thighs all the time. So you need longer legs to ride this.. like Riff Raff has longer legs and could ride it great.

Savage 650 - yep I can reach the ground, but most people say they are a problem bike. I believe they aren't making them no more.

GN250 - too tall for me... feet swinging off the ground.

Virago 535 - hard to find these bikes... and they have a funny little tank.. in fact the real tank is under the seat. Can reach the ground, just.

Virago 250 - Just right - yep I would love to have higher handlebars on my bike... Ok I saw "Easy Rider" years ago and I just so love the ape hangers....

**SlashWylde** · 19th September 2005, 17:29

Hey there, get a Virago 250 I say. That's the bike I had for nine months before I graduated to a full licence and bought my VN800. mine was a 1993 model with 18,000 kms on the clock. Bought for $3700 from Red Baron and traded in for $3000 at 26,000kms (subsequently sold by the shop for around $3500 I think). These bikes hold their value so if you are looking to buy a second-hand model, $4k is what you should expect to pay depending on condition and mileage.

They are a very comfortable machine, very forgiving and great for learner riders. They will top out at 120kph to 140kph depending on incline and head wind. As for overtaking at speed? well I've out-run 400cc sports bikers through the twisties on my old Virago, taken a 5 day tour of the East Cape from Auckland through to Tauranga, the Cape, Gisbourne and Napier then Back to Auck with about 20kg of gear stowed on board. Also been down to National park in the depths of Winter for the Waikato rally then climbed back out again in the freezing cold.

No problems what so ever. Only thing that ever went wrong with her was a broken throttle cable early on because the original had rusted through after 12 years in situ.

Buy one, you won't regret it.

**Bonez** · 19th September 2005, 17:34

Originally Posted by crashe

Savage 650 - yep I can reach the ground, but most people say they are a problem bike. I believe they aren't making them no more.

They are. It's called the S40 Boulevard now.

**roks** · 19th September 2005, 18:06

Thanks for your comments everyone

**crashe** · 19th September 2005, 18:10

Originally Posted by roks

Thanks for your comments everyone

Your most welcome...
oh yeah and welcome to KB.....

**roks** · 19th September 2005, 18:13

thanks...super friendly site....I'm still going to check out the Lifan motorcycles though, I've a mate in Aucks who is going to go see them and report back.