What motorcycle do you recommend?

Question

I want to buy my husband a motorcycle for his coming home present (currently deployed). However, neither of us have any knowledge about motorcycles. Which make and model do you prefer? Which would be best for a first time rider? Nothing too fancy.

Answer 1

Being that your husband has no riding experience, don't go overboard buying anything too large or powerful.

Answer 2

I am a fan of the SV 650 although I usually recommend it asa second bike. If hubby is careful it will all come out well. Remember this bike has 71 hp which is a handful for a beginner. Be careful, be safe, wear a helmet.

Answer 3

Buy him a gift certificate for the HD Rider's Edge course instead of a bike. When I was deployed, there was a really scary statistic going around. I don't remember exactly how it went, but I think it went something like this:

There are more Marines, Sailors and Soldiers killed and injured on new motorcycles than in combat.

I am not sure if that is exactly it, but I wouldn't doubt it.

If you buy him a bike, the first think he is going to want to do (after spending time with you) is hop on that bike and take a ride. If he doesn't know what he's doing, it will be an incredible risk.

Tons of the guys I was deployed with came home and bought bikes. NONE of them had any real experience riding. Several of them went down, but thankfully none were permanently injured.

I don't want to be a buzz-kill, but I also don't want your homecoming to turn into some sort of disaster.

HEY!

It sounds like the two of you made it through his deployment! That is the best gift you could have POSSIBLY given him. Congratulations to both of you.

Answer 4

honda 600 shadow  $5800   good bike  very dependable.  a little bit of advice   take a motorcycle safety course they will supply you with everything all you got to do is show up. you can get dicounts on insurance rates also  and  you will find out if   you really want to ride a bike or not.  its not for everybody.  i would rather spend $300  than 5000 or more and find out i didnt .    good luck and b safe

Answer 5

The question is show or go??? For transportation it is hard to beat  the BMW. for show a harley is impossible to beat.

I saw two kids in the avatar where are they going to ride?  

I would reccomend if you are stuck on this idea wait until he gets back and do it together. It would mean more to both of you.

Answer 6

I agree with a couple of the above answers.  A Honda Shadow 600 or 750 is a good starter bike.  They ride pretty good and are very dependable.  You can buy a used one that is 3 or 4 years old for around $3500 to $4500 or so and if your husband outgrows it you can sell it in a couple of years for nearly what you paid for it.

The second point I agree with is that if your husband is not an experienced rider (or if it has been many years since he rode) he should sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course or one offered by the state you live in or the base you are on (they are usually based on the MSF course and are nearly identical).

Answer 7

In my opinion a Suzuki SV650 is the best starter bike on the market.  It handles well and has more than adequate power for a beginner.  You get the advantages of a standard riding position and the confidence it inspires in a new rider.  Not to much plastic to break if you were to happen to drop the bike, I have seen first hand a buddy do so entering a driveway and hitting some loose gravel and he only really broke a lever.  They are fairly cheap to insure.  You will not quickly out grow the bike since many of the people I know who had purchased them as their starter bike kept them for many riding seasons.  I do not know of anyone having any problems with their SV's and there are plenty of aftermarket accessories to hop up the bike in any way you should find fit.  They really are great all around bikes.