PatriciaFG
Neo Member
I'll never understand the gloom and doom about "get a bike and you'll probably die" - it's the most tone-deaf, backwards thinking and alarmist opinions out there...
Guess what, you can also die in a car and if that happens, you can also drag 2-3 people minimum with you.
What's next, don't go swimming 'cause you can actually drown/get killed by a shark ? Don't get on a plane 'cause it may crash ? Don't get on a train 'cause they get derailed often taking out 40-60 people at a time ? The hell is this ?
The whole scare mongering "I knew X guy that as soon as he got his bike got killed" thing is just that, scare mongering, besides, IF that happens it's better to die doing something you love than having an accident on your 09:00-17:00 shitty job...
Having said that :
Puscifer , forget about shitty choppers/customs/tricycles , they're needlessly expensive, they're needlessly heavy, they have God-awful/inexistent brakes, they have terrible suspensions and the only thing they're good at is turning fuel into a loud noise, they're - literally - a relic of the past both looks and performance wise and their main demographic is A) outlaws B) people pretending to be outlaws and C) dads /older gents having their midlife crisis...
I cringe everytime i see a guy riding an HD wearing tennis shoes, puffy synthetic jacket and open face helmet, to ride those things, you'd better look like a... pirate, It's just a "lifestyle" thing at this point.
Instead, If you're looking to get back into riding, get a bike that A) is lightweight B) has great brakes C) has both ABS and Traction control and D) has enough power as to have that "passive" safety ability (i.e, being able to just twist the throttle and do an overtake without scaling down 2-3 gears is considered as such).
There's SO many options out there that fit the description that's not even funny, but, here's a couple of suggestions :
- Ducati Scrambler
187Kg, great brakes (even though it features a single single disc) and 75hp.
It's lightweight, it's nimble, it brakes beautifully, can be taken on fire trails.
Perfect city bike, good-ish price, feels like a...bicycle (it's very, VERY easy to handle).
Comes in a myriad of colors/models/specs (Icon, cafe racer, classic, 1100cc etc).
- Ducati Monster :
One of the most iconic models out there and one with a myriad of MY's : there's the 1st gen 600-750-900cc (which are very old by today's standards) - and the beastly S4R/S4RS (also old).
Personally, the last "good" version was the 821/1200 variant (2014-2021).
The last 2 versions look nothing like a monster and are so homogenized looks-wise that they might as well be Yamahas...
A 696, 796, 821 and/or 1200 (If you can handle that power) are all great candidates...
796
821
1200(S)
Had both a 796 and a 1200S, amazing bikes but...very different, the 796 with its 800cc air cooled motor and 87hp was very manageable and easy to ride, the 1200S on the other hand needed experience/lots of saddle time since the bike was a beast, 145hp + brakes from the (then) Panigale 1199 (Brembo stylema) weren't/aren't a good option for noobies.
796 is also lighter (187kg) Vs the 1200 (210-ish Kg).
- Yamaha MT07-MT09 :
They're Yamahas so they're good, the MT weighs 184Kg while the MT09 194Kg, both have OK-good brakes, 74hp Vs 119hp.
Looks are subjective.
Triumph Trident 660 :
Great price to performance ratio/price, it's British so it looks good, 190Kg, 95hp (more than enough), OK brakes.
- Triumph /speed/street) Triple series :
That 3cyl motor is sw-ee-t, great brakes on both the 765 and 1200 versions, very nimble, fast and great looking, one of the most iconic street bikes alongside the Monster...
106hp for the Street Triple, 177hp for the Speed.
The Speed triple is a bike for experienced riders just like the MT09 and Monster 1200.
There's also "RS" and "RR" versions which are even better specc'd.
If you want something more "classic"/retro, there's also the Bonneville, speed twin line etc...
Not good money to performance ratio (not many hp, mediocre brakes, heavy) but...you'll get your classic looks If you're into that.
Anyway I could go on for another 10 pages and I wouldn't even be able to do a complete list for your case but, here's my opinion :
Don't get something just because it looks /you think it looks "cool", don't get a bike which is beyond your riding capabilities, some of these bikes have literally supercar performance and in the wrong hands (whiskey throttle/Don't know how to take lines/Don't know how to brake properly/Target fixation) mistakes can get costly (to say the least).
Again - and always depending on your riding experience- get something which isn't that powerful, is lightweight enough, has both ABS and traction control and a good braking system.
Riding is a wonderful thing and don't let anyone to deter you from it, It's basically free psychological therapy and there's not many things or other hobbies that can compare to it (besides surfing I suppose or other physical sports).
Get an easy to ride bike as to do some weekend trips and city riding and whenever you feel confident enough as to be an asshole, don't do it on public roads but instead book a track day.
Also - and I can't emphasize this enough - ATGATT (All the gear, all the time), a GOOD helmet is obviously the most important thing but don't skimp on some Good pairs of gloves, riding pants+ jacket AND riding shoes/boots.
Don't get a shitty HD, there's so many good and beautiful bikes out there that it would be a shame to waste money on one...
Cheers brother
More useful and interesting information here
Spot on regarding ATGATT. A lot of people seem to think a five-minute ride to the shop doesn't require gear, but the pavement doesn't care how far you're going. As for the bike choice, the Ducati Scrambler really does feel like a bicycle, it is super rider-friendly. It is way better therapy than trying to manhandle a 350kg Harley bagger at a red light.
If you are just getting back into it, the upright seating position on the Scrambler gives you much better visibility in traffic compared to being slouched back on a cruiser. Plus, having a bike that actually tips into corners without a fight makes low-speed maneuvers in the city way less stressful for your wrists and back. Modern electronics like cornering ABS on the newer models also provide a massive safety net that those old-school heavyweights simply can't match.
