You're not doing all freeway riding. You don't live on a freeway and every destination is not freeway. That's something to keep in mind.

Your size would be helpful.

A 250 sport bike is plenty. A 550 cruiser is fine. For most people. Unless you 450lb+, they'll get the best mpg and will be the easiest to handle. If you're above 450lb, skip the bike and walk there, you're fat ass needs the exercise.

 

I'm 5'11", 180 lbs., and very fit, thank you. I have a friend who started riding at the behest of her boyfriend and didn't continue because it scared her too much. She had a Rebel 250 and she told me the bike started shaking around 75, which is the average speed on OC/LA freeways. The last thing I want is a semi or anyone else tailing me and all my bike can do is sit in one spot and shake!

 

A Rebel was never intended to deal with the idiocy on those freeways. They were geared for about 55 mph comfortable. Top speed if you had no head wind was maybe 85 mph. She had no business being on any urban freeway on that bike. There are too many idiots on those freeways and everyone wants to do 90. I would never take any relatively new rider on a freeway like that, unless I wanted them to quit.

From what I've seen (never been there) I'd do every thing I could to avoid the freeways around LA. Or any city for that matter.

That said, your size opens up a plethora of possibilities. Any 500 will do the trick, the 650 twins will do better yet. All will be capable of 100 mph, which means there's still some juice left at 75. The Rebel wasn't geared for that although your friend's bike shaking wasn't due to design. It was either equipment or rider caused.

If you're doing canyons and want more sporting I'd suggest the EX500 or any of the three 650 Kawasaki twins. I especially like the Versys due to the longer travel and the near sportbike handling, myself. Then there is the Suzuki SV650, older Honda 599s, and some others. I personally find the smaller bores a blast, because you have to be a good rider to ride quickly. I'm not talking 100 hp 600s, I'm talking 65 hp or lower 650s and smaller. I just find them fun. Same with Supermotos - small, incredible handling, and fun.

In cruisers the older Kawasaki 500 LTD has some serious power with a bit of revs - and a 6 speed. Honda's VLX is a bit low performance in general but can do the task. If you have confidence and some restraint, one of the best handling and strongest power customs was the last Honda Magna 750 series from the 1990s into the 2000s. They had decent clearance for cornering and a great power spread, but a new rider needs some maturity and restraint with it. It was only exceeded by the V-Rod, the V-Max, and probably the new Victory bikes in acceleration. Not the hot ticket for either a rider lacking in confidence or in restraint.

Again, depending on your maturity and any two wheel experience, if you want to start out used, any Honda CBR600F model was incredibly reliable and comfortable in spite of the sporting nature, with plenty of power. The entire series from the first Hurricane through the F2 and up to the F4i the media constantly raved about the bike's capability not just as a sportbike, but as a sport tourer. Not a bike I normally recommend to a new rider unless they actually have some good two wheel experience from serious bicycling (teaches steering and braking) or off road motorcycle riding. Keep that in mind.

Still, the best trick is to try to avoid the freeway regardless of bike - I hate freeways... even empty ones. I like to see corners...:thumbsup:

 

Considering your size, and your needs, I would say a 750 Honda Shadow, or 900 Kawasaki Vulcan would do you good, or something similar. A 650 is ok... but will be very buzzy and lacking power on some So Cal hills, but certainly not impossible to do if that's the bike you like. Go sit on some bikes in that size range and see what fits you comfortably.

 

I'm 5'10" 190 lbs and I got a V-Star 650 Custom as my first bike. It was cheap, is easy to ride, forgiving, and still has some pull left at 80mph.
The downside is that it is revving pretty good in that 70-80 range, so it does vibrate a bit at those speeds.
I think it was a good buy for the $1,600 I spent on it, but I am looking at upgrading next year. The biggest two reasons I am looking at upgrading is I found out I'm not a fan of having my feet in front of me, and I'd like to have a o/d, 6th, cruising gear on the highway. The biggest reason for looking to change is easily because of the riding position. I just feel more in control with my feet under me.

 

When I lived in Cali I rode a Honda 400 Hawk. But I traded it in on a Harley Electra Glide after a few years. Now days I don't think I would attempt it with less than a 750. Not so much the power but for the weight. The Hawk was a little light even with the speed limit at only 55 mph. On coming trucks would move it around pretty good. And if you plan on much freeway I'd suggest a windshield as well. Makes long hauls much more enjoyable as far as I'm concerned.

 

I have a 650 V-star, I purposely put a tach on it to see how hard I was working it.

50 is in the 4k range
60 is in the 5k range
70 is in the 6k range

55 is comfortable, 60 the vibrations start and continues and increases as you go faster.

 

I'd suggest a larger cruiser if you plan on doing the freeway a lot ... in the range of 750-950 cc. It can go a bit bigger if you want, and can afford the $$. I'd also suggest that when you get into freeway riding, go with some people who have experience. You're pretty close to me. If you send me a PM, you can ride along on one of our group rides. Get some experience on your bike first so you are pretty comfortable with speeds up to 80 mph and cornering. Then come along - and you should find it helpful.

cheers,
dT

 

Thanks dT, when I get my bike and a bit of riding under my belt I'll take you up on that! :thumbsup: I'm starting to think 750 might be a better way for me to go. Like someone else here said I think I also need to sit on a few different bikes to get something of an idea of how the different sizes feel.

 

I'm a beginner and I have a 2013 Kawasaki N650 as the second bike I have rode, but I do know the freeways around LA pretty well having lived there for almost 30 years of my adult life. The speed limit might be 55, but the flow of traffic now is 70-80 mph in many areas. Cars are getting easy to drive fast and the highway patrol is not able to enforce. I would suggest more on the side of the larger recommendations from others on this thread (larger displacement) - like 750-1000, but you need to work up to that from the scooter...So, you're going to want to get a 250-400 size bike first (and not drive it on the freeway until you are ready. I think the 650 was a good choice for me because I am tall, but to be honest, as a first bike, I would have gotten the 300 if it fit me. (and it is cheaper)

 

I'm 46 and lived in So Cal all my life, so I'm very familiar with the freeways. That's why my concern with having enough power to ride them. Even though the speed limit is 65 most do at least 10 mph above it. I do plan on riding the freeways and I want to have enough power to safely do so. I won't be hopping on the freeways right away though. I'm going to take my time getting acclimated on streets and very short stretches of freeway to start out. I figure as long as I respect the throttle the 750 shouldn't be a problem.

 

Remember that there is more to how an engine produces power than the number of CCs. A modern 750 twin will have about 1/3 of the horsepower of a 750 inline four. Very different animals indeed.

 

Yes, I know. The cruiser usually has the V twin engine though, right? I know I can tell if the engine has a "V" shape, right? I am definitely going to avoid the inline four. If you could shed some light on any other ways I could tell which engine is on a bike I might be looking at, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

I didn't say you were big, I said IF you were big.

And a 250 rebel is not a sport bike, it's a cruiser/upright style, and yes, it doesn't like highway speeds.

However getting started, you probably want to avoid highways until you get more experience under your belt. THe amount you learn in the first year just riding around is incredible.

I'd shy away from a big cruiser at first, because you don't know how to move a bike around yet. Heavier bikes are far less forgiving than light bikes. Once you can maneuver a small bike, a big one will be much easier to figure out.

Sounds like a 90's sportster 883 would be a good fit. A magna v45 is another good choice. They're powerful enough to hold their own on the highway and very light weight. And they're pretty cheap, and insurance will be cheap as well. They're cruiser types and their power is very manageable. The Suzuki SV650 is a 650cc v-twin but produces dangerous power for a novice rider, so not all v-twins are slouches or timid when it comes to making the ponies.

 

Yeah, I'm getting the idea that it will be awhile after I get my bike before I can take the OC to LA night ride. I don't think it will be before I want to give up my first bike though. I'm hoping my first bike will last me quite awhile. I don't necessarily want to have to go through the hassle of selling my bike and finding another one too soon.

The Sportster looks cool, but a bit out of my budget. I'm looking to spend $3k max, preferably less. I've seen the Magna before, I like those. I'm gonna keep an eye out for one of those for sure. Thanks.

 

Careful with the Magna. It's a V4, and pretty stout. Get careless and it'll drag you down a dark allay and have it's way with you...

 

Haha, sounds scary! Duly noted, though. Thanks.

 

"I'm 46 and lived in So Cal all my life, so I'm very familiar with the freeways. ... I won't be hopping on the freeways right away though"

It's good that you know them.
But there's a real difference to driving them in a car and riding them on a bike.
I recommend that you go with experienced riders quite a lot when you first start. It will get you up the learning curve and improve your safety dramatically.

dT

 

Absolutely. I'm definitely gonna take you up on that once I get a bike and have ridden it a bit. Gonna take the MSf first of course. Just gonna ride my scooter for a bit while I save for that and my gear and insurance. Gonna be studying and doing my homework in the meantime, too. Then it's motorcycle here I come!

 

no problem. definitely build your experience and get your bike. you're not in any rush. when you're ready we are sometimes around. or link with experienced guys down in OC. but find someone who will take the time to explain things. the best bet is to do some rides to places like the Rock Store (Malibu) and Newcombe Ranch up on the Angeles Crest. A good experience for many, many reasons. But you need to be fairly competent before hitting those roads.

dT

 

If someone is going to mention 650cc twins, I'll throw in my first bike. My wife "bought" me a Ducati Monster 696. It's a 700cc L-twin, 64 bhp, 403 lbs curb weight. I have no problems getting that over 100 mph, not that I have a habit of doing that. The power band is pretty smooth and linear, and ABS brakes are standard. Most days, she's my commuter ride. Ducati bikes are pretty maintenance intensive, but it does ensure you take care of your bike.

 

I've done all of the lower 48 on my 1200 cc Sportster . . . and plenty other bikers thought that was TOO SMALL. Me, I'm like 165 in soaked clothes, so it's ok by me. Wouldn't attempt more than a five hundred miles round trip on anything smaller.

 

To Meter Reader:

I grew up in Los Angeles and have driven the freeways to OC countless times. In So Cal the speed limit might be 60 but everyone might be going 80 or 90 so you want to get something that goes fast. I think a 250cc bike is out of the question if you are driving where you are, unless it is a sport bike.

If you buy a small sport bike, you will be able to ride comfortably on the freeways, though not for long periods of time so don't take it touring . I am about 5'10" and 220 lbs, wide and muscular (with a bit of cushion )and my first bike was a Ninja 250. I was able to get it to 90 on the freeway before it would shake, and it sped up and maneuvered well until you got it to about 80 mph.

That being said, if you are NOT going to get a sports bike you should probably look for something that has at least 600cc of engine, possibly more if you live in Southern California. Non-sport 250cc bikes like the Honda Rebel do fine on the freeway if you don't mind being in the slow lane, but for someone your size I would recommend something bigger since they won't go very fast or speed up very well past 65 mph. In Southern California this will probably get you a ticket. The lack of acceleration and maneuverability on the freeway may even get you injured or worse.

The one bike I have always kept is my KLR 650 because I can ride it in the winter here in Utah, and for some perspective it has a 651cc engine but does not accelerate fast at all past 75 mph. I can get it to 85-90 mph before the shaking starts, but I usually keep it at about 75-80 mph for better mileage anyway. Just because a bike has a lot of cc's does not mean it is the fastest or most maneuverable bike.

Considering the above, I would say at least 250cc if you get a sport bike, and at least 600cc if you get another type of bike since you live in Southern California. A few recommendations are the Kawasaki Ninja 250, the Ninja 300. I have not ridden the CBR250 but I heard it is good on the freeway as well. If you get a non-sport bike, try a KLR650, a Suzuki DR650, or even a Honda Shadow (many types).

I hope you find what you are looking for!

 

Thanks, themayoradamwest! Yeah, I'm pretty much decided that it's gonna be a cruiser between 650 - 750cc. I'm leaning towards Honda. Lot's of potential good deals on the older models. I know it's gonna be a long time before I actually make that ride from OC to LA, especially at night. It's something I'm going to have to work my way up to. I do plan on riding it on a regular basis though once my skills are up and I feel comfortable enough with it. Just got my little scooter back from the shop tonight and took a little cruise around the neighborhood. So much fun! I could seriously do that for hours if I had the time. I'm looking forward to the day when I get my bike! Thanks for the post! Very helpful!

 

A 500 cc bike will more than meet your needs. It will run all day at 65 MPH but will be a reliable lower displacement bike that can give you 50 MPG or maybe a bit better. I own a 1981 CX500-C Honda that I rode to work for years at 55 MPH plus. At that time, the national speed limit was only 55 MPH. The bike was a strong runner for everyday use but only held a bit over 2 gallons so I was constantly filling it with fuel compared to my newer and much larger displacement bike with a 6 gallon tank.

 

That's great, but if you look at my previous posts you'll see as I stated, the average speed on Orange County/LA freeways is 75 mph. Someone going 85 to 90 mph on these freeways is not uncommon. Going 55 around here could get you killed, whether you're on a bike or in a car. I need something that can do at least 75 comfortably and have enough power to pull away at that speed if needed.

 

Still applies. A 500-650 *standard* twin will have enough to get the job done. I would stay away from the singles. Some of the more docile inline 4s like the old SECA II & the Nighthawk 750 would work well enough and not be too hard on a new rider, as well as being nearly indestructable.

Just to be weird, since you have cruisers in mind, have a look at the Hyosung GV650. Borderline for a beginner but doable, and the power and handling you're looking for are there.

 

My first bike was an 84 Honda Shadow VT700, it was a raggedy old cruiser but I learned alot on it, and I bought it for $1300! There are deals out there, since this will be your first bike I recommend buying used. The Honda was a good little bike, 700cc of old school 80s V Twin Metric power, 64hp, 40lb of torque, 400lbs. with a 9k rpm redling. It was able to handle the freeways as well as the cities. And I rode the LA freeways so I know where youre coming from.

Best of luck to you.

 

Thanks! Sounds like a great bike! I really like the looks of the one on cl. Here's a link to it: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/3823420405.html Kinda low miles, which might be a concern, but I'd have to go look at it. I'm just trying to do more research while I save more money right now. If this one's still around when I get into the market, who knows? She might be the one!

Don't rule out the Yamaha VStar 650. It handles very well in the twisties. There is some vibration around 60 but mine goes away around 70 and it cruises just fine at 80. It is a very maneuverable bike.

Thanks, good to know. I've been checking out quite a few of those as well. I like 'em.

 

Don't rule out the Yamaha VStar 650. It handles very well in the twisties. There is some vibration around 60 but mine goes away around 70 and it cruises just fine at 80. It is a very maneuverable bike.

 

My first bike was a vespa.

 

I can do worse than that! :wink: Here's what I'm riding at the moment. http://www.tngscooters.com/Showroom/LS+49/default.aspx I'm not complaining, she does great for what I bought her for, getting me the 10 miles to work everyday and back, but not real thrilling otherwise. Just started riding her a week ago. I took her out today on a semi-canyon road just to see what it would be like. I have to be honest it was a bit of a boring disappointment. Barely made it up the hills, and I had to ride the shoulder to let cars pass me at one point. I need a motorcycle. :thumbsup:

 

I also had a 650 as my first bike and it was great. Of course, we don't have no mountains here in Flatistan.

 

If you are moving up from that, I would definitely avoid anything with a large displacement. Even that 500cc standard that I suggested earlier will feel like a big step up in both power and weight from that little cutie.