advice on good used bike

Greetings all,

I'd appreciate some helpful advice.

I'm 51, 250 pounds, and ready to get back into riding. My last bike was an
'82 KZ1300 that I sold in '92.

I'm not ready to sink a chunk of money into what might very well be a
"mid-life crisis", but I have a burning desire to get back on two wheels!

What would you reccommend to look for in a good used bike in the $2-4K
range?

Do you know of any reputable used bike dealers in the south Texas market? I
live in San Antonio and am searching the ads regularly but not finding
anything I can really afford that would carry my weight.

I would like something I can scurry around town in, back and forth to work,
as well as the occassional distance ride (50-200 miles) carrying my wife.

I suppose my bottom limit is in the 750 range.

Waddaya think?

 

Maybe it's just me and the way I'm reading this, but do you have a bike
again?

 

Probably because you said "currently go there".

I wouldn't think you'd be going there for just a cup of coffee or to smell
the motorcycles....

What kind of bike do you have?

 

Thanks Stephan,

I appreciate the lead for "The Motorcycle Shop" and will check them out.

Steve

 

Cool!

Is that the vertical twin, or am I thinking of another Vulcan 500? The one
I'm thinking of looks like the Vulcan 800A except it has the air cooled
vertical motor instead of the V-Twin.

 

Buy a bike just to kick it? What a weird person you be!

 

Well, if you ever look to selling it give me a shout! I'm looking for a bike
for my wife to learn on and something like that would be perfect.

BTW, for some reason I thought that motor was air cooled.

 

I'm not sure what/where you shop to get those prices....

I have a good leather jacket, Joe Rocket armored jacket, boots, gloves...AND
full face helmet and didn't spend half of that $500 you're saying.

Maybe you should go shopping with me sometime and stay out of those designer
biker stores you've been going to.

And if he doesn't want to spend $5-700 on his gear?

 

Two jackets, gloves, boots, and a full-face helmet for less than $250?
That's impressive. Brands/models? New or used?

Scott

 

Joe Rocket, HJC....keep going?

My helmet was $100ttl (CL-14 Tribe) and the Joe Rocket jacket (Phoenix) was
less than $50 with tax. The Joe Rocket jacket is my summer jacket and my
leather for winter/spring/fall was bought (as a Christmas present) at
Wilson's for $99 and is made out of pigskin and weighs about 50lbs. I have
chaps that cost about $40 and have had them for about 8 years. My gloves are
made by First Gear. My winter gloves are Tour Master. I also have a nice
black satin jacket that's Hondaline and says "Honda" down each sleeve and
"Honda - Follow The Leader" on the breast that I wear when I'm going to go
into some place nice. I even bought a nice leather vest for $9.

If you figure everything I have up, including the presents and "gimme's", I
still don't have anywhere close to $500 invested.

And I don't buy used gear.

 

So, it was more than $250 for the items you originally listed. Still,
it sounds like you got some great deals on some high-quality gear.

Scott Gardner

 

I just didn't buy the first things I saw. I shopped and found what I wanted
and what I was willing to spend. I'm still shopping for a couple other
things, but I haven't found them where I could put my hands on them and/or
for the price I'm wanting them for.

I've seen Charles' gear, and for him to suggest someone to pay those prices
for gear is laughable. His gear is crap that looks like it was found in the
bottom of a junk pile in the back room of some burned out bike shop.

 

Maybe, but he didn't spend anywhere close to that amount of money for his
gear. I was being "nice" when I described it the way I did.

Whatever blows his dress up is cool....just don't suggest someone is
supposed to pay those prices to ride a motorcycle.

 

I forget did anyone mention www.newenoughleathers.com ? just
asking. I know I got a screaming deal on a pair of Joe
Rocket Ballistic 4.0 pants from them.

 

You paid $700 for a jacket and "armor"? Yeah, right! Sure you did!

A couple hundred dollars for "each piece"? I can pay less than $100 for a
good jacket...either leather or fabric. I can pay $100 for a good helmet.

Together, it'll add up....but not anywhere close to what you're claiming.

 

You paid $700 for a jacket and "armor"? Yeah, right! Sure you did!

A couple hundred dollars for "each piece"? I can pay less than $100 for a
good jacket...either leather or fabric. I can pay $100 for a good helmet.

Together, it'll add up....but not anywhere close to what you're claiming.

 

Didja mean http://www.newenough.com ?

 

as with most things in life, you generally get what you pay for and
there's no free lunch.

how much do you value yourself ?

skin grafts are more painful and more expensive than the best riding
suit could ever be.

 

Yeah that's it...umm. Just testin' all y'all, that's it just
a test. Ever have one of those lifetimes where you can't
even fall on the floor? Yep...been one of those lately.
--
Nefarious Necrologist 42nd Degree
Some people ride, some just like to show off their butt
jewelry once in a while.
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<3 )3~ <3 )3~ <3 )~ <3 )~

 

Sorry Beemer...I misspelt the dang page anyway. Must be a
loose nut between the chair and the keyboard.

That WASN'T them BTW...take out the leathers. leave the
rest. I really have to start using my favorites instead of
typing from memory.

I should have just cut and pasted thusly.

http://www.newenough.com/


--
Nefarious Necrologist 42nd Degree
Some people ride, some just like to show off their butt
jewelry once in a while.
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<3 )3~ <3 )3~ <3 )~ <3 )~