Starter Bike

[MickMick]

I have recently completed my Safety Course and I am ready to purchase a good used bike and start riding. Friends have suggested a Honda Shadow, Harley Sportster 883 and a VSTAR. Any suggestions? I am 6', 200lb and want a bike for riding in the country and need to keep up on the freeways as well.

[JackoftheGreen]

Mick,

Welcome to TMW! You've come to the right place.

Any of those three would be excellent started bikes, though my vote is for the Shadow. Honda builds a bulletproof bike you can count on, and honestly the price point is going to be a lot easier to swallow than the VStar or the H-D. You should be able to pick up a new-ish Honda Shadow for between $2500 - $4000 depending on what size you want. We have a Shadow 750 in our stable and it's totally sufficient for country riding, but on the freeway it tends to struggle a bit. Especially where we are out west, where the limit on some roads is 80mph. You may want to consider an 1100, which might seem a bit big for a starter bike but they're totally manageable.

Just my $0.02.

[brajon]

Honda Rebel is a fun bike also. It offers a comfortable ride.