Re: Looking to start riding, need advice

Posted by sgtslag on
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Looking-to-start-riding-need-advice-tp4038137p4038257.html

The Scrambler is an older design, and it is actually a dual-sport -- not that it is very good at off-road riding.  I rode a '72 Scrambler 175.  They're alright, lightweight, nimble, but 70's technology.

The Kawasaki is belt drive -- incredibly smooth, better than chain drive, better than shaft drive, I would take belt drive over any other if I could!  Rode a KZ440 LTD belt drive, with the 6 speed transmission -- loved it!  My 440 was incredibly light, incredibly nimble, incredibly quick in town.  It was like riding an F-16, in town only.  It maxed out at 70 MPH, one-up, and it was rather scary at that speed due to being lightweight in every respect.  My 440 shifted remarkably fast, and smooth.  It was a joy to ride -- I laughed out loud every ride, it was that much fun; I also overshot a great many corners as I was having so much fun flying through the gears, zipping past the 30-MPH speed limit...

Tools is correct, you can over-ride any bike.  The reason I recommend a smaller bike is the ease of handling -- makes it easier to maneuver for a new rider; heavier bikes are much harder to finesse on the road.  They're lighter to pick up, and they typically won't carry you past 70 MPH:  the faster you go when you hit the pavement, the worse your road rash will be.  That is assuming you survive, as road rash will be the least of your worries.  Most people agree that smaller, lighter weight bikes, are better to learn on.  Just realize that you will outgrow them within a year's time -- which is why you don't want to buy a new/expensive one.

I'd recommend the Kawasaki, as it will likely be much faster, smoother, and more reliable.  The exhaust pipe on the Scrambler tends to get warm, beneath your thigh.  It always made me nervous, even though I never burned myself riding it.  I never took mine off-road -- never realized until a few years ago, that I could go off-road with it, 30 years after I stopped riding it.  Cheers!