So I agree with some of your points my first bike was actually an Enduro but only used it for about 4 months and didn't wride it that often but my V-Star 650 on the other hand I would consider a much better beginner ride and yes it's heavier but usually much lower to the ground than any of your other bikes so dropping it at slow speeds in my opinion is less than a taller bike especially for shorter people 😉
Yammie Noob is from the U.K. and I ride a 125 cruiser that’s efi it can keep up with a larger cc off the line with a max speed of 70 mph and is about the same weight as a Honda CBR 125
I’m a senior in high school, female, who weighs 90 pounds, and is 5’1, I happened to also ride motorcycles. It was incredibly hard to get where I’m at, everyone in my family said I couldn’t and even in the motorcycle class they recommended me a scooter. I love sport bikes, but because of my height and age I don’t have the money to adjust a sport bike to my height. I ended up buying a cruiser and I love her a lot. Every time I go out on a ride I can’t stop smiling, I have dropped her a few times however I was able to pick her up myself on an incline. Again no one believed in me, they still don’t. If your wondering what bike I got exactly she is a Honda Rebel 300.
i am that bro on my real boisss bike hd softtail lol full face icon airflight... cruisers are the way the truth and the light. ride long enough and you will get a cruiser
Cruisers are hands down the best beginner bikes. Low center of gravity, way easier to control, far more forgiving on the clutch, you can put your feet flat on the ground, very comfortable riding position, more torque down low, louder (and with a throaty thump rather than a scream), easier to work on, and get a lot more respect than other bikes. Plus, you won't develop a rossi fetish. For cruisers, it's all about the journey. Not the destination.
Yeah I think it's clear he's never ridden a decent Cruiser. A lot of the sport bikes are very top-heavy which makes low-speed maneuvering harder to learn. If you want the absolute best bike to learn on it's probably the Honda ctx700. You've got super low-speed handling because of a very low center of gravity. It's got a very friendly clutch, or you can even go with the clutchless although I'm not sure why you'd want to. The stylings unique oh, okay maybe a little ugly. But you've got the reliability of that motor which was in several previous generation Hondas. And I've seen several of those close to 300,000 miles. Plus you can buy New Old Stock, for around $5,000 with a warranty.
@@crp9985 This comment section is made for me, I want a Vulcan S(the Vulcan S here in Australia have been limited to meet learner regulations) to Learn on and later a M109r.
I strongly disagre new riders should ever buy a brand new bike. Buy something decently preowned. Something you can afford to make mistakes on, something cheap to repair.
I agree but I bought a new bike (2018 Honda Shadow Phantom) for my first bike and I didn't drop it during the year I had it. I came close a couple times. I was lucky, but I think it's a good idea to buy used and something smaller and lighter. I should've gotten a used Ninja 250 or something.
Yeah but a new rider should be focused on riding and not having to fix a new problems after each trip most bikes are being sold for a reason and often times it's maintenance
Didn't think they cost that much, a fool is easily parted with his money they say. You can buy a Chinese knockoff for 1/5th the price with RFID protection(not that you need it, it's so unlikely to happen it might aswell not even exist.) I don't even understand why someone would need a smaller wallet, what do you have in your pockets that you can't fit a 2 inch wallet inside? Seems like one of those items you buy for the name and not for functionality.
@@brandonwillis7411 I have one of those "slim" wallets and they're a god send, I lost it for a couple months at one point and didn't have the money to buy a new one, I hated using my old normal wallet because it's way thicker in your pocket and getting access to your cards takes way longer. But tbf unless you have a really bad wallet like I did then there's probably no point in getting a slimmer one. I'll also say there's some way better brands than ridge imo, like ekster for example, some even come with a tracker (which I thought I wouldn't need until I lost mine lmao)
@gemini232003 the best riders on the planet still use helmets my guy. Because it's dumb not too. Doesn't matter how good of rider you are, doesn't matter how well you pay attention, shit can happen anytime.
Don't get too low , ABS dual disc (if possible) 30° lean angle at least. No pull back bars , foot pegs over floor boards no forward controls . My opinion. First bike I owned '77 Low Rider drag bars , no forward controls pitiful pitiful brakes . But I had ridden lots of different bikes so I knew the limitations.
I started riding back in December, started on a Honda rebel. It’s a really forgiving bike light and easy to learn on. I out grew it kind of fast, like 5 months. I now have a shadow 750 and love it, but it is a very heavy bike and if I didn’t start on the much lighter rebel I definitely would’ve dropped the shadow by now
Was 18, 6’2 and my first bike was a cruiser and I didn’t even know how to ride a bike but when I got my permit I just went on the road and learned how to ride it was easy as shit to learn and I personally think cruisers are fine for beginners
@@kiiturii that lie doesn't even make sense. How are you going to practice if you legally can't get on a bike? You have to get a permit before you can ride at all. I just got my permit last month in Ohio. 40 question quiz and I've been riding ever since.
@@kiiturii Actually, in NC you only have to have a valid driver’s license and pass the written test to get a 12 month learner’s permit. The ONLY restriction on that permit is no passengers.
@@TheScrubmuffin69 I went and wrote a test and that was all that was needed, to get started, but had friends who just road, with no papers., My friends grand father road for over 60 years and never had his license but that was over 50 years ago.
I started on a cruiser, and I loved it. Other than the speed factor and as you said the braking. But it taught me to give myself more of a space cushion which I feel like made me a safer rider.
@Chris Lohr the ratio of bad sport bike riders and bad cruiser riders is pretty close to each other. No matter what you ride there is morons out there😂
As a semi new rider I love my cruiser and have never dropped my baby. Its comfortable and it won't go 170mph. I see your point about slowspeed maneuvers being a little more difficult but using the friction zone and rear brake in first gear is the best tip I have gotten from you yammie. Thanks for all the videos I can say some of your tips may have even saved my life!
3:17 I disagree. Best to buy your first motorbike 2nd hand from a dealer. - Where I live you still have the obligated warranty the dealer HAS to provide. - It’s a lot cheaper than a new one. - You’ll probably drop it anyway so at least you won’t be dropping a new bike. - It’s your first bike, you don’t know yet what suits you best. It’s financially easyer when you want to change motorcycles when the prices are lower. - When you find out the whole motorcycles wasn’t your thing, there’s less of a financial hangover when you sell a 2nd hand bike as opposed to a new one. - The market is flooded with 2nd hand motorcycles from people who bought a new bike as their first one and now want to get rid of it … don’t join the statistics 😉
Yes, I just bought a slightly used 2023, the guy had used it for about 340 km. Still 4 years factory warranty left and was much cheaper than a brand new, perfect
I appreciate all motorcycle in general. I have a motorized bicycle just to fill in the gap between me and my dreams. God bless you all and whoever you are, keep on ridin Moto brothers and sisters.
...and, since then, have you dropped it? I am considering a cruiser, though I am a beginner. But I also don't want to buy a bike that I would sell in 2-3 years, I find it waste of resources (then again, if I wreck my cruiser because of inexperience, that's gonna hurt my wallet too )
That's why you do a pro biker move and stall the bike out the dealership dropping it in driveway caving the tank and scraping the whole side. Gotta get past that sooner rather than later.
@Brainstorm Bike is a loss, I skidded on my ass and backpack 200ft. I only had minor road rash and cracked ribs because I was geared up for it... Thanks for your concern!
My Vulcan S650 is doing me just fine as a new bike. I am a big guy, so the weight has not been an issue. Only downside to the Vulcan S650 for noobies is the snatchy throttle, it can be intimidating to new riders and frustrating (stalling out or applying to much power) and yup, it was to me at first, but that is what empty parking lots or very quiet side streets are made for. Practice! Practice! Practice! Read the MSF manual over and over and over, your owners manual the same and take a damn MSF course! Also watching good RU-vid videos teaching you tips and techniques helps too -- the MSF instructors are REALLY good at ironing out bad habits you've picked up!
My first bike (at 52 years old) was a 2007 Yamaha 650 classic. Enough power to get up (slowly) and go but not so much to get into trouble. Had it for 2 years then "graduated" to a 2010 Triumph Thunderbird. Has enough power for highway cruising. Also has the same size motor as my first car, a 1972 Ford Pinto.
That’s the bike I just got two days ago ! Any tips ? It’s my first bike I already have my permit and take the class next weekend. My brother drove it home in the rain and I’ve only rid it in a parking lot but no slight turns but this video really discouraged me Lowkey but a lot of other videos don’t agree 😂
Never ridden a motorcycle in my life, but have always been interested in riding. Finally saved up a pretty penny and took a MSF course and then purchased my first bike. A 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 custom. Gotta say it is pretty badass for an intermediate motorcycle. I love it, I ride it every chance I get. I'm not really one who has a "need for speed" so it's perfect for me. I have some aftermarket exhaust pipes on it and it sounds badass. The 250 Honda Rebel I was on for the MSF course was nice but I immediately knew I wanted something with more get-up. And my Vulcan definitely has it. Bought it at 12,3XX miles and in exceptionally good condition for $3k. No regrets at all. Ride safe y'all
Something I learned the hard way. The most uncomfortable motorcycle made is a cruiser that's too small. If your knees are higher than your pelvis you'll quickly lose interest. You'll be tired & sore in 45 minutes. Your knees will flop out to the sides in the wind & you'll slouch over & get cramps in your back & legs. So, knees down & legs almost straight. You can ride like that all day.
I started out, along time ago, on English jobs like Norton 750 twin, Ariel sq4, Matchless 500, comfy with meat, never looked back, competed some and never ate dirt. Lost some luck in the IDF, but hope to ride again where I left off! Nice video- thanks.
I started riding on a friends Pace Maker Whizzer motor bike in the late 40's. Bought my first Harley, a 1942 "45" Flat Head when I was 14 in 1955. I am now 80 years old, have a bad back, and ride a 99 Harley Softail Custom which is super comfortable. Pillow soft seat and buckhorn bars. It is almost the same as sitting in my Lazy Boy. Who needs all that power when your are cruising down the back roads listening to the drag pipes and watching the sun glint off the head light. I ride without a windshield most of the time but wear a helmet and goggles. To each his own. I was fortunate to have ridden most of the old classic bikes. Triumphs and scramblers. Rode an Iron Head sportster for 23 years. I even owned a Doodle Bug when I was 10. No body knows what that is. Then a Cushman motor scooter before the Harley. We had freedom back then. Of course, we lived in a small town in Kansas of less than 1500. OK, I done.
In case someone is wandering, the background is: Nocturne Op. 9, No. 1 in B flat minor by Chopin. Yammie, may I compliment you in your choice in music?:)
Been a subscriber for a while but I’ve just started riding over the last couple of weeks, and I’m 100% a cruiser man, nothing against sport bikes, cruisers are just more my style, I’m just shy of 6’5 tall and weigh around 135-140kgs (297-308LBS) and I love my cruiser. I’m early 30’s and my only regret is not getting a bike earlier in life. I’ve got a vstar 650, or as a guy at work calls it, a Yamaharley, as I live in Australia and for the first few years when you get your bike license you’re restricted to a maximum of 650cc, and I rock the full face helmet. ‘Dress for the side, not the ride’
I'm 6'1" 290lbs started on a little kz750 out in the country as a squid. And at 15 had no plates or insurance. Once I got my permit so I was legal dropped the kz and started riding a 93 1500 goldwing. Fell in love with it. Now I'm rolling on a 08 fat boy with loud pipes a k&n air filter and a handle bar mounted fuel management system. This thing has a lot of torque. Looking to add a Hayabusa to my garage in the future.
I also recommend new or near new bikes for your first one. I owned an older Kawasaki, the only reason I knew anything was wrong with it was from riding my much newer Honda and realized motorcycles aren’t supposed to feel like that (which my Honda was a sportbike and my Kawasaki was a cruiser). Turns out the tires were so old, they had hardened and the previous owner left it on the kickstand so long the bike kept trying to lean over towards that side (even on the highway when the rubber warmed up). Later, the carbs needed love. Knowing how it was supposed to respond meant I realized it needed to be rebalanced as the carbs were out of sync. Not something I would have ever realized day one. Anyway, my two cents.
This is literally why I'm planning on a new bike, I don't trust other people to take care of their shit, and it looks like deferred maintenance could easily eat up any savings.
@@hlaw2830 my first street-legal bike was about a year old, had like 1200 miles on it and it worked great (you can usually find a bunch of lower CC bikes that people bought, outgrew and turned back in that have no issues). I usually buy my bikes from dealerships so I have someone to go back to if there are problems. Most dealerships want to keep you as a customer and will make it right (to a certain degree) if you can build a rapport and buy through them for bikes/gear, they will usually move mountains for you as you’re more valuable. My first bike was a 500cc and I threw about 6k miles on it (then I got hit by a car). the Vulcan I put about 40k miles on, despite its issues and having to nickel-and-dime it along. I still miss the bloody thing, even though it had its quirks. 😅
@@DrTranofEvil I'm planning on keeping the Duke, as I know that slow car fast is more fun than a fast car slow. It's my third dive into motorcycles, but this round things were different, so I guess the third time really is a charm. First time it was the gixxers, with their starter bike debate on liter bikes; second time I found Moto Guzzi, but came up empty handed for advice; third time I found our Saint Yammie, and learned there was more than I could ever come to know. In quite a short time the dust and gixxer grime has blown away, and once again I do remember, that bright yellow Ducati, as it pulled up when I was ten years old.
I got my bike license when I was 53 years old. The first bike I rode after I passed my test was a 1999 Suzuki Intruder VL1500 and I never looked back since. I now have a 2007 Suzuki Boulevard 1500.
I was going to get a modular last fall but got a rocking deal on a full face... I already had a 3/4 with drop down sunvisor... Hit a deer doing almost 60 mph a couple months ago in my full face... Only mark on the helmet was a small scratch on the visor where it hooks into the helmet at my right ear... You couldn't tell it was hit, but my boots, jacket, gloves and jeans sure tell the tale...
Agreed,I ride with a flip up helmet,and it's really the best of both worlds.It's easier to put on and take off than a full face helmet (I don't know why,but I'd always twist my ears trying to put on a full face),and it offers more protection than an open face helmet or a half helmet.
My first bike was a Yamaha V-Star 250. Legitimate V-twin (ok, it's a baritone rather than bass rumble), plenty of torque, and capable of cruising at 70-75 on the highway (tops out at about 80ish). Low seat height and lightweight, which made it a great bike to learn on. Rode it for over 10K miles (including a couple of trips from St. Louis to Milwaukee) before trading it in for a Harley 883 SuperLow. Much better than a Honda Rebel.
@Michael, thanks for the VStar review. As an older woman with some disabilities, I am returning to riding this coming spring, 2023.. I'm considering getting the VStar 250 as a beginner bike. I'm 5 ft and need to flat foot the bike for safety and confidence. Will be taking the MSF beginner course in Ohio. TFS
I bought a 2009 Harley Softail for my first bike and she is heavy but extremely well balanced. I am just riding around small roads right now and finally got out of first gear today(my third day of learning to ride)
IMHO I would say yes. Hondas are highly reliable, have a comfortable ride and are fairly quick. Do you feel comfortable on the bike, can you reach everything without any problems? If yes great. Take the MSF course and then another in about 6 months. Be sure to check the age of the tires - they might need to be changed along with the coolant and oil - just to be safe. I started a little larger with the 2010 Sabre against all advice but have had no problems. The only mod I have done was to have the front suspension (springs) changed out and that made a huge difference in ridability. Ride safe - ATTGATT.
Cruisers often have feet forward footpegs, making it more difficult to move your feet from the pavement to the pegs, or pegs to pavement, especially for a beginner. The low seat helps with shorter riders putting their feet down at a stop. They vary a lot for weight, power and price.
Yammie, as a Harley rider, you aren't wrong when it comes to big cruisers. To be honest, when I can afford it, I am looking at a Speed Triple for a commuter type ride. And I wear a full face modular ec rated helmet most days.
I’m 45 years old. My street bike was a 97’ Buell Cyclone, bought new in 98’. I owned two other Buells, before inheriting my dad’s 95’ Harley Davidson Springer Softail. I now ride an 90’ Harley Davidson Electra Glide Police. I still own both Harleys and love them. I’ve also owned an 02’ Yamaha R6 Champions Edition and a Triumph Legend. The Buells were the most fun, but broke all the time. The Harleys are my favorite for comfort and reliability.
I have an 883 and it feels slow. I love it tho. I didn't buy it to be fast. Might get another bike down the road for speed. 2 bikes is better than one!
My Yamaha ‘Vstar 1300t weighs around 668 pounds and this bike is nimble at slow speeds. The balance is perfect. I’m 5’6 150 pounds and this bike is a pleasure to ride at slow or faster speeds.
Here's my story: I wasnt looking into buying a motorcycle (always saw them as too dangerous) but a longtime neighbor passed away and his wife offered me his 1984 Honda V65 Magna for only $400. It wasnt running but $400 is cheap for something i had planned to resell. I wanted to ride it atleast once so i fixed it up ( changed old gaskets and hoses) and got it running in 2 weeks of working on it daily. A 600lb, 1100cc cruiser is alot for a new rider, but i took a liking to it and have decided to keep it
My first bike was a 2000 Vulcan 1500 Classic... Was never into the street bike life... Just enjoy cruising... I still own that one and just picked up a 2003 Mean Streak 1600...
I'm a starter cruiser rider, pickup a 2018 indian scout bobber and even though it's a 550lbs bike and a 1200cc I dont feel like it's too much, was able to do a military advance riders course with ease even after only having the bike for 2 weeks
2017 Scout Sixty for me. Never regretted picking it as my first. Smooth acceleration all the way to 100 mph with enough pep for passing on the highway.
5 лет назад
Yam, by the beginning of this week the last factory new 0 kilometer Busa in Brazil was sold. Right in my town.
as a new rider on a heavy vstar these are some good points. being in my late 30's i focused heavily on safety as i have a family and kids to support. Full gear (full face mask and padded jacket etc), and my rides are about 30-45 min each time, taking the same area just increasing it a bit more each time. I noticed a large difficulty in the turning slow. also very intimated by the crotch rocket style of bike i don't mind that my vstar weighs more than my car i find it super well balanced.
They do for short people. I am 5'2 and had a Suzuki LS 650 and now a Honda rebel 500. The rebel is perfect for city, mountain and highway driving. Occassions are better for beginner as you can drop it 😉 I never thought that my rebel was slow. Who needs 195km/h if the streetlimit is 120km/h 😂
Hate to be the guy to point out, but cruisers are stupid easy to maneuver at low speeds. Also, a new Yamaha r6 has an MSRP of 12.1k. A softail street Bob, is about 14k. Not a big difference. I'm not saying you're completely wrong, but there are myths about cruisers thay need to be dispelled.
My first bike is a 1986 Yamaha 700. A cruiser I guess. I will never wear anything less than a full face racing helmet, boots, pants, gloves, long sleeves, period. I crashed my four wheeler a few years ago at around 40 mph and my full face helmet saved my life. Helmet cracked like an egg (literally) so my skull didn't have to. Only broken bones were a few facial bones that broke due to the inertia of how hard my head hit the ground. I love helmets.
I know this is a old video but just got my first bike today.. a lifan lycan 250 a yamaha 250 clone.. standard cruiser frame.. thank you for your vids.. grow up racing bmx and building lowrider bikes.. love two wheels...
First time rider here. I bought a 2020 Iron 883 and layed it down making a right hand turn going 5-10mph on my first ride. $5,642 worth of damage! It was an expensive learning experience.
43 year old here, rode bikes since i was 6 till 28, all types and sizes. I moved a lot so i never got to the point i had enough time to get a bike after. Last week, my friend told me he is moving and he gave me his 1983 750 Honda Shadow. Bike has only 2000 miles, yup, 2000 miles. Garage kept and maintained like it was his child. He got it from his dad 15 years ago with 1000 miles. He gave me new tires and a new battery, and papers. So, i guess i have no excuse to not go cruising along Vancouver island scenic routes.
Started out as a cruiser Rider with a 2002 Honda Shadow Spirit 750 and after about 5 years I still have it it's my daily driver when it's not really cold out or raining
Helmets on a cruiser - to get the best of both worlds, get a flipover helmet such as LS2 Valiant (I own one). The chin moves all the way back (so no drag) or the Paracelsus look for urban riding with the visor up or down, then flip it forward and you have a full face helmet for the freeway.
Just so anyone’s interested in getting a cruiser, specifically a Harley. They have this deal (not all 50 states) where if you buy a sportster 883 if you’re unhappy with the bike you can trade it in for it’s full msrp using it as a down payment for another bike. One important thing about this though you can’t drop it, show visible wear (scratches) or have been in any accident minor or major. My dealership said you have a year to make that decision I’m still on the fence about it but I think I’ll keep my sporty 👍
I started on a cruiser, Yamaha XVS650 Classic. It was ok at the time, but definitely not what I wanted. The owner of it was the only one that got ahold of me that actually had an assembled and working bike. I decided to take it and learn on that for the next few years. At the end, I found that it was rather maneuverable for what it was, but I also learned that I am too tall for it to comfortably use it safely. I sold it in favor of a Triumph Speed Triple and I am in love. My triple is in a Street Fighter configuration and it's basically what I have wanted this whole time.
Yes for a couple of reasons. Cruisers have a decreased angle of attack so you have to be better at corners on a cruiser as you start scraping needed parts much more quickly on a cruiser. You have rides from 250 to 750 that are good starting models. Low seat height. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen guys bike bikes that were straight up too big for them...no not in power, although that is a common problem. Too big as in they couldn't touch flat footed. More than once I've been behind a guy that bought a bike stupidly and put it on the ground because of that. Low seat height, and low center of gravity really helps a new rider build skill and confidence.
Seriously, first experience on bicycles makes sense for beginner motorcyclists. Most of the basics of balance, handling, braking, and road safety awareness are skills that can be developed with experience on the road on a bicycle at lower speeds, less weight and less risk of injury than any motorcycle. For example, you may already know from experience on a bicycle to quickly recognize and recover if the front wheel begins to slide laterally when turning on a wet or loose surface. Because if you don't have the intuitive skill to recognize and correct that situation immediately, you're going down.
