Hi Everyone,
Now that I've been riding a little longer, I've been considering a "next level" bike that will give me a little more highway riding ability.  I love the Savage, but when I get it on the highway and get up to around 60mph, the vibration from the big single and the lightness of the bike start to become a bit disadvantageous.  I'm also 6 foot, so I'm probably a hair tall for the Savage.

I like the Cruiser styling, the laid-back riding position, and the simple design, and I'd like to keep it under $10 grand, new.  I figure something like the Honda Shadow (which seems cool), or the Suzuki C/M50 (which are a bit much in styling for my tastes).

Opinions?  I'm not ready to write any checks, but I'm curious to everyone's thoughts.

Thanks.

Well, you will get recommendations all across the spectrum. Personally, I went from an S40 to a C50 this spring and love it. To me the C50 feels more nimble than the S40. The weight goes to 600 but has not been an issue. There are just a few known issues with the C50 and there is a good forum for support. You would be well served looking at one.

With that said, you indicated you would buy a new bike, not used, up to 10K. One of the reasons I buy used is that you can get a used bike with very few miles on the clock for a song, if you are patient. There are a bunch of old guys that buy a bike because they have always wanted to ride. They put on a few miles and then either scare themselves or figure out it is hot, cold, or wet out there. They park the bike in the garage and then, in a few years, get the nerve to tell the wife they made a mistake and sell the bike. Case in point, I picked up the 2007 S40 with 3,600 miles for $1,500 and this spring, the 2007 C50 with 2,200 miles for the S40 plus $3,200.

But new is nice. Take a look at them all and don't forget the Triumph America.

Good hunting

I had the same circumstances.  As much as I loved it for running around town, my Savage felt a little cramped and a little light for longer highway rides.  Rather than make a lot of mods to the Savage, I moved to a Kawasaki 800, the classic model.

It is working well for me.  It is bigger, more comfortable, but still not real heavy.  It gives me all the power I care use.  It is an older model bike, built from about 1997 to 2005.  Not sure of the exact years.  Although liquid cooled, it has a fairly simple and reliable carburetted engine.  What I really miss is the the Savage's set and forget belt drive.  I'm back to lubing chains.

Arnold wrote on 08/07/13 at 05:37:29:


Contact MMRanch......he is our forum Sportster expert.  He had a 1200 with issues, and just bought a used 883.  I also believe Lancer is knowledable about Sportsters.

My experience is limited to what I watched on the TV  show "Then Came Bronson".....and even though I was just a kid I could tell when they used a dirt bike painted to look like the Sportster for all the stunt work on the show.

Well MLB, wish you lived closer to me....my Harley ain't low miles, but i'm selling it under 10k and its in garage queen shape...LOL... of course its a 850+ lbs touring bagger, but I loved riding it. At 6' tall most Honda's under 1100 cc's won't do...my wife of 5'4" can sit a shadow 750 and touch. If you get a sportser 1200cc you will have to get a forward control set, I read somewhere that most MC companies design bikes for the average guy (5' 10"), so you will either have to mod your seat, foot controls, or find a used bike that a taller guy has already setup.

I would love to own a newer Triumph T100 i love the classic looks of them.

Midnightrider wrote on 08/07/13 at 20:19:23:


Very GOOD advice! That's how I stumbled onto the wifes 2004 savage and am now in the process of getting me one, it just FITS...nuff' said  

Suzuki 1200 Bandit...pretty much a standard type bike with a straight up sitting position but with a dash of "sport" look thrown on.  
No shortage of power.  Nope.