Any Thoughts on a 2005 500

[MAS Tequila]

I'm considering buying this bike for my dad to learn on.

He's 69 and 140 lbs.

Anything to look out for?

Any thoughts?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161612542891?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

MT

[recumbentbob]

Should be a nice bike for him.

[redjay]

Personally I think I would start him on a smaller lighter bike.
Maybe a 250 Honda Rebel or similar if this will be his first bike.

[OldSchool]

Personally I think it would be great bike for him to learn on. This Vulcan has a weight of 439 lb. In comparison the Honda CBR 250 weighs in at 357 lbs. I really think he would be able to handle the 82 lbs difference while learning. I also feel that once he gets used to the bike he will be much happier with the 500 than the 250.. IMO.. :yep:

[recumbentbob]

Don't waste your money on a 250. He'll want a bigger bike in 2 months and you'll have a hard time selling a 250.

[redjay]

Chances are if he likes the 500 he will be moving up anyway so why not an older 250 to begin with ?
If he does not want to continue there will be less money spent.

[dshelly]

Like Bob said, 250's are hard to sell. I've seen 250's on craigslist last forever.

[redjay]

My son sold his 250 Ninja in days.
Depends where you live and what insurance is going to cost you I guess.

[recumbentbob]

He got lucky.

[glwilson]

I'm considering buying this bike for my dad to learn on. He's 69 and 140 lbs. Anything to look out for? Any thoughts?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161612542891?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT MT

I had one exactly like it. Mine was blue and a 2005 also. Owned it just to dart around town or on short rides. Was hoping my wife would learn to ride; but never did.

It is was a great bike. It had a great engine that likes high revs. Its power band is in the higher range. The engine is similar to the one they used then in the Ninja's, if that tells you anything.

I sold mine for a song... Wish I still had it to this day.

There are a few issues with the bike worth mentioning.

For a small bike it sits fairly high. Not sure of your dad's height. I am 5'6" 30" inseam and I was fine on it.

The shifter can be a bit sticky, if that even describes it. In other words, you have to shift with determination to make sure it shifts. Not always, but most times. I just simply got into the habit of being committed to a shift to avoid it not going into gear.

The bike has a high center of gravity; thus is can tip easier, and cornering is different than a cruiser. On faster turns you definitely have to lean forward and toward the inside bar -- otherwise you will lose control fairly easy.

Also, because of its high center of gravity, it has a tendency to be more difficult to handle in slow maneuvers at first... or until you get used to it. So, if you father is inexperienced, he should certainly take it easy and be consistent with his first several hundred miles. I would recommend you and he take it out to a parking lot and do a lot of maneuvers until he is comfortable.

I do not think the bike is heavy at all. I think it might give an illusion of being so, again, due to its center of gravity.

I would agree the Honda's have a lower center of gravity and might be easier to learn to ride on; however once you know how to ride; the 500 is riot to ride, and definitely more fun than the Honda's.

JMHO:cheers:

Best of luck to you and your dad...

[xlock]

Great starter bike! I rode one we picked up for my girlfriend over an hour home and had so much fun on it I rode it a couple more times just for fun. Really suprising how well it did on the highway, it's not "wound up" like you'd expect at 65-70 mph. I'm 6'4" 240# and besides looking like a circus bear it was a blast as others have said. People suggested avoiding the 250 cruisers if we planned to be on the highway any and I agree.

[glwilson]

Great starter bike! I rode one we picked up for my girlfriend over an hour home and had so much fun on it I rode it a couple more times just for fun. Really suprising how well it did on the highway, it's not "wound up" like you'd expect at 65-70 mph. I'm 6'4" 240# and besides looking like a circus bear it was a blast as others have said. People suggested avoiding the 250 cruisers if we planned to be on the highway any and I agree.

I couldn't agree more. A blast to ride. And you are correct on the revs in 4th gear. They have geared the bike so it doesn't run at ridiculously high revs at its higher gears. However, you will not be running it as low as the range of a bagger's revs either.:cheers:

[duffy]

At his size/age it will probably be the only bike he ever buys.......I would suggest a Suzuki LS650. Small bike for a 650, it's light, looks good and is easy to maintain (single cylinder). Plenty of power for whatever he wants to do.

[Gypsy Dragon]

Great starter bike. I think 250 Rebels are great trainers, but within a few months, they become too small and under powered. A 500 is a good way to go for a trainer and a bike that can be ridden on the highway and moderately long trips. That one is pretty, and I hope you the best of luck. If you don't get it, try looking for a Honda VLX. It is a 600 Shadow and my favorite trainer/small person bike.

[Gypsy Dragon]

At his size/age it will probably be the only bike he ever buys.......I would suggest a Suzuki LS650. Small bike for a 650, it's light, looks good and is easy to maintain (single cylinder). Plenty of power for whatever he wants to do.


Also agree with the 650 Savage. Being a single, all the power is on the bottom end. Probably the easiest bike out there to learn on and still good for the highway. I had some friends of mind that were a married couple, regular sized people, that rode 2 up on one for years.

[gwdriver]

Buying your 69 yr old dad a bike and teaching him to ride.
Mas- You da man!
A father couldn't ask for a better son!

[The Black Knight]

I had one exactly like it. Mine was blue and a 2005 also. Owned it just to dart around town or on short rides. Was hoping my wife would learn to ride; but never did.

It is was a great bike. It had a great engine that likes high revs. Its power band is in the higher range. The engine is similar to the one they used then in the Ninja's, if that tells you anything.

I sold mine for a song... Wish I still had it to this day.

There are a few issues with the bike worth mentioning.

For a small bike it sits fairly high. Not sure of your dad's height. I am 5'6" 30" inseam and I was fine on it.

The shifter can be a bit sticky, if that even describes it. In other words, you have to shift with determination to make sure it shifts. Not always, but most times. I just simply got into the habit of being committed to a shift to avoid it not going into gear.

The bike has a high center of gravity; thus is can tip easier, and cornering is different than a cruiser. On faster turns you definitely have to lean forward and toward the inside bar -- otherwise you will lose control fairly easy.

Also, because of its high center of gravity, it has a tendency to be more difficult to handle in slow maneuvers at first... or until you get used to it. So, if you father is inexperienced, he should certainly take it easy and be consistent with his first several hundred miles. I would recommend you and he take it out to a parking lot and do a lot of maneuvers until he is comfortable.

I do not think the bike is heavy at all. I think it might give an illusion of being so, again, due to its center of gravity.

I would agree the Honda's have a lower center of gravity and might be easier to learn to ride on; however once you know how to ride; the 500 is riot to ride, and definitely more fun than the Honda's.

JMHO:cheers:

Best of luck to you and your dad...


:tup::tup::tup::cheers::wave:

[yoda]

My wife's first bike was an 01 500, pretty much the same bike. She put 20,000 miles (give or take a couple) and loved it. 6 speed transmission, and pretty bulletproof. She learned how to drop it at stops without getting hurt, (it seemed a bit top heavy for her at 5'2") but finally decided she didn't need to do that anymore. Once she figured out that she needed to put her feet down at stop signs, and that leaving the clutch out to take of while leaving the bike in neutral didn't work very well, she was fine. Accessories are not very easy to find, but for the riding she was doing at the time, it was perfect. Light, reliable, inexpensive, and fun to ride. What more could you want for a starter bike?