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View Full Version : Bike recommendations for a 17 yr old



Wags
07-29-2013, 10:41 AM
My son wants to start riding with me, he has ridden with me since he was very young and has been around dirt bikes and 4 wheelers some. He is basically a novice . He is 5'7 200 pounds and going to just keep getting bigger from all of the weight lifting he does. Rider safety course will be must. He wants something that will be comfortable on the highway but not to big for easy town use, most likely in a cruiser style. Budget will be 2-4 thousand.

chipmaker
07-29-2013, 12:00 PM
If I was smaller in stature, in would ride a sportster. But I'm a former big time HD guy. http://silodrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/custom-sportster-harley-2.png

They look like so much fun. I started at 17 on a Nighthawk S 700.

Steve 0080
07-29-2013, 12:03 PM
2014 Honda 700 Auto.....light, nimble can be shifted or auto......


http://powersports.honda.com/2014/ctx700n.aspx

bobbyf6b
07-29-2013, 12:58 PM
Suzuki Savage/S40. 650 single. Inexpensive, low maintenance and small but powerful enough for highway use.

935

Bruce B
07-29-2013, 02:03 PM
Honda Shadow, either 750 or 1100. I'd go with the 1100. Not much heaveier than the 750, mild mannered, bullet proof, and it will do highway speeds with no strain. As a returning rider at age 57, I started on a Shadow 1100 and found it to be a good choice. I have a 30 inseam and weigh about 205. Economical bike too.

timjoebob
07-29-2013, 02:17 PM
Honda Shadow, either 750 or 1100. I'd go with the 1100. Not much heaveier than the 750, mild mannered, bullet proof, and it will do highway speeds with no strain. As a returning rider at age 57, I started on a Shadow 1100 and found it to be a good choice. I have a 30 inseam and weigh about 205. Economical bike too.

Totally agree. The weight will be over 500 lbs. I started on a '04 Shadow Aero 750. It has the lowest seat of the cruisers in that engine class. You should be able to find one with <7000 miles for about $4 grand. Maybe a touch more.

goldtahoe
07-29-2013, 03:36 PM
How about a uuummmmm .... F6B???? Guarantttteeeeedddd ... to turn some heads!!!

bigdew
07-30-2013, 08:53 AM
I would either go with a Suzuki M50 if you can find one or a Honda shadow. Good beginner bikes and plenty of power till he is ready to move up to a big bike.

Westernbiker
07-30-2013, 11:39 AM
Well Wags, I don't know where you live but I would not put a 17 year old kid on a bike here in Phoenix, NO WAY! :nono: I don't care if he has been riding dirt bikes since before he could walk. Maybe where you live it's not as busy and CRAZY :shock: as it is here. Just my 2 cents worth. :icon_wink: Good luck!

Wags
07-30-2013, 05:16 PM
We have been looking at a couple of bikes both Hondas. One is a v45 and the other is a 750 magna. Both in good condition and very reasonably priced. Haven't made any decisions yet, still looking.

bobbyf6b
07-30-2013, 11:01 PM
We have been looking at a couple of bikes both Hondas. One is a v45 and the other is a 750 magna. Both in good condition and very reasonably priced. Haven't made any decisions yet, still looking.

V45, very cool. I had a V65 and it was one of my favorite bikes ever!

Gumby
08-02-2013, 09:15 PM
I have a few students who ride and they all have been OK. I started on the road when I was 17 too on a cb350 and have done OK.

That being said I think you need time to understand how people act and react in real life. I have seen dozens of students in accidents where they technically didn't do anything wrong, but they didn't see the accident coming like a seasoned driver would so they couldn't avoid it.

Ninja 250 and the new little honda 250 are supposed to be nice and make you ride to go fast instead of just twisting the throttle.

Rider safety course first.

Wags
09-24-2013, 06:32 PM
Little update on the purchase
of a bike for my son. I ended up picking up a 1980 honda cx500 for my son. One of his friends has one and he really likes the way it looks. I bought the bike for $300 and we did some work on it: carbs cleaned, new clutch cable, fork seals, tires and new paint that my son picked out. Bike runs great and has more power than I thought it would. Body work done, should be painted tommorrow and if tires show up bike will be finished this weekend. Around $800 total investment and we will do some other changes this winter. Mainly new windshield and probably change handlebars then also, he will have a little money left over for any mods wanted. Thanks guys for all of the input.

Cool Hand Luke
09-24-2013, 06:56 PM
If it attracts this kind of crowd you did well!