[QueensHonda]

I'm new to this site, the scene, motorcycles in general... Ive been a car man since before i could drive... know a lot about them, built them, and now i want a vintage bike. I looove the hondas and im interested in getting one. Im 6'2 290lbs. Is a CB500 too sall? I want a 750, but i keep gettin good deals on 500's help me out..

 

[jaimesix]

Welcome.

If you are 6.2 and 190...I recommend a DOHC CB750F made from late 79 till 82.( these were made also in 900 and 1100, same bike, almost identical, just bigger internals ).
I have a DOHC 750F 82, and I like it exactly because of tjhat fact, I like the feel of ridding a substantial bike, you will not regret it. The SOHC Hondas are cool, but you are a bit to large for that bike.
You can see my bike in my page, take the time to look at it. For some reason the pictures make it look smaller, it is a very nice bike.

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[kenessex]

quote:
I'm new to this site, the scene, motorcycles in general... Ive been a car man since before i could drive... know a lot about them, built them, and now i want a vintage bike. I looove the hondas and im interested in getting one. Im 6'2 290lbs. Is a CB500 too sall? I want a 750, but i keep gettin good deals on 500's help me out..

Short answer No. Go ahead with the 500. You are big enough that anything short of a goldwing will be small, so go ahead with what you can get. Lots of people will recommend that the best bike to get is what they have, but there are lots of good choices out there so give them a try. If the CB500 turns out not to be for you then sell it and move along to something else.
Ken
P.S. Just to show you how opinions are, I don't like the DOHC Honda 750s cause I think they are top heavy, overweight, slow steering pigs. But that is just my opinion and even though I am right on this one others may disagree.
K

AHRMA 412
Vintage racing - old guys on old bikes

 

[jaimesix]

Nobody told me that the DOHC CBF Hondas are this or that, I am talking from experience, ( it is my daily ridder )not because I own a CB750F. The CBF's ( 750, 900 and 1100 ) also have the added advantage of having what was then ( at time of production ) and
still is excelent braking power. The front and rear calipers ( front and rear disc brakes ) comefited with dual pistons. The braking power is excelent, and with your big frame, that is something to consider. I also had Kawasakies ( GPZ 550, 750 ) Yamaha Secas ( 550 , 750 ) and for a short time a Suzuki GS1100E.

I did not keep the 550's for long because I did not like how light those were, and how small. Judging from your weight and height, I recomend a Honda CB900F or CB1100F. I own one and I can attest to their power , reliability and swiftness. I would recommned any big bike for you, the Suzuki 1100E ( the one with the large round headlam, 1983) is a great bike too.
The 83 ( not 84, the model changed) Kawasaki GPZ 1100 is one bike that I always wanted, and still look for one. That is a nice powerfull bike.
You are a big guy, a 550 will not be the right bike for you. I am giving you my honest advise. My CB750F is great, I think size wise is a good choice for you, but I would go up in power, the 1100 or the 900 are basically the same bike, with bigger cc's.

Good luck, I hope you end up with the bike you like, with the power to move you around , brake power, etc to give you a great time.

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[Judeyramone]

I'm 6ft (though not 290), and have a 360, 650, and 900. I've also owned a sohc 750, which was a bit of a big heavy pig. If you're new to bikes, a smaller one would not be a bad idea, as in - learn on something you can handle. Physically, a cb500 is nearly the same size as a 750, but might be a bit easier to manage in a parking lot. Also remember this important truth - you're going to crash. Don't make your dream bike your first one - it's probably going to kiss the pavement. My cb360 is a blast to ride, very confidence inspiring, and its small size makes it turn on a dime in a parking lot or other tight situation. I think I'd be a much better rider today if it had been my first, 20 yrs ago.

 

[Geeto67]

are they 500 twins or fours?

I'm 6'5" and about 290lbs. I own a 550 four but it is heavily modified. I have commutted on the highway on a cj360T so I am leery when I hear people ask will that bike be too small for them. However, for me a cb750 is really damn comfortable, espically next to a 550 which can feel cramped at times.

Personally I am not a big fan of the 500 twin and don't recommend it to bigger guys.

What do you consider a deal?

 

[jaimesix]

quote:
I'm 6ft (though not 290),...." Also remember this important truth - you're going to crash." Don't make ....

Do not worry QueensHonda.....you do not have to crash, you will not crash, I never did , do not allow anyone to instill fear in you.

If you know your ridding limits, you can have plenty of good times within that parameter....falling is for dorks and daredevils looking for trouble.

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[monkey]

what is this???? everyone blurting out their stats (weight, height) who cares. just ride it.

dude

 

[Judeyramone]

quote:you do not have to crash, you will not crash, I never did , do not allow anyone to instill fear in you.

I'm not trying to instill fear into anyone. One of the times my bike & I went down was at a gas station, waiting to gas up with a passenger on back, and some stupid bitch decided to back out of the pump. Backed right over me & the bike faster than I could move outta the way. Another crash involved a jerk who ran a stop sign in front of me & then stopped in the middle of the intersection when he realized there was traffic coming.
I don't think I'm a dork, or a daredevil, and I don't generally go out looking for trouble. I don't know a single person with a motorcycle that hasn't been involved in some kind of accident, and as is the case with the two episodes mentioned above, it's very often not the fault of the motorcyclist. If you've never crashed a bike, more power to you. You're a much better man than I.

 

[Swagger]

I've found that actually RIDING the motorcycle tends to raise the statistical odds of having some kind of crash. It's not IF...it's WHEN.
Rear ended at a stop sign and cut off on a twisty mountain road, niether were my fault but that didn't stop it from happening. It's all in how you handle it afterward that determines if you are a rider or just an owner.

If this is your first bike, get something small(within reason) and managable to learn on. I'm 6'1" and 245, I may not know what it's like to be ginormous but large I'm familiar with. My first street bike was a CJ360T and I had a riot learning on it. Have fun, take a rider safety course and then go ride the damn thing.

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

 

[Geeto67]

If you are new to learning to ride, a dirt bike is the key. If anything it will teach you how to take a fall. I am not always convinced a vintage bike is the bike to learn on - the distractions on a vintage bike insure a steep learning curve (still the curve is less steep for old hondas than say old triumphs). Newbies and bikes that have the stopping distances of 1971 chrysler 300s with manual drum brakes are not always a good combination - espically since most newbies tend to have "watch this" moments (usually followed by something that makes the AFV audience cringe). However if you can ride vintage in everyday urban traffic I am convinced you can ride anything.


jaimesix - BTW the two piston calipers did not come into play until 1981 on the DOHC bikes. the 1979 and 1980 still used a design that the SOHC cb750s used in 77-78 - not very good brakes but decent for the time. The top hevay handeling of a DOHC cb makes me leery to recommend them to newbies.

 

[robertob]

I don't know what this crowd thinks of scooters, but I learned more riding Vespas (but I'm not a big guy) than anything else.

Get yourself something small and light and you won't regret it. Old scooters have a low center of gravity and are light, which is nice, but have crappy brakes which isn't. The light thing is good when you trip & knock it over, or have to get used to just handling the bike at low speeds. The brakes will get you used to vintage honda brakes.

In general I've had more low-speed accidents than high-speed ones, so a small light bike is better in that way. A big CB750 is a PITA to lift when you have to.

The dirt bike suggestion is a good one. Since you always crash on dirt (or at least I do) it teaches you a lot about traction and just general bike handling.

 

[monkey]

get a bike with 40 hp or less. ride a slow bike hard rather than a fast bike slow

matt

 

[Judeyramone]

Amen to the dirtbike. Dirtbike experience pays off on the street like nothing esle.

 

[kenessex]

JAimesix,
Not to bust your chops, but I am beginning to think that you might be some kind of California poser, especially after reading your bio.
" A cafe racer by nature, low handlebars, aerodynamic position , low drag, excelent speed and born to corner" come on and give us a break. So you would recommend that someone new to motorcycling should get a 900 or 1100cc bike and then advise them to not worry, they won't crash?
Most of the other advice has been right on. Get a smaller bike and learn how to ride.You might even want to consider something more modern to start with. Then you will have some personal experience to choose the bike that is right for you. Or get a slow handling, top heavy, overweight pig with mediocre suspension, handling and brakes with a fair amount of horsepower. All the while not worrying about crashing cause the same person that advised you to get a bike like his has advised you that you won't crash!!! Oh yeah, put some low bars on it and you can have a cafe racer too.
Sorry about the rant but I am about out of patience with self serving internet advice to the potential detriment of others. We need to get more newbies riding safely not killing them off. (OOPS, nobody probably ever got killed on a bike so don't worry about that either.) I must have learned the hate thing from JohnnyB. I'll go kick a cute little puppy now until I feel better.

Ken



AHRMA 412
Vintage racing - old guys on old bikes

 

[jaimesix]

You are right about the CB's being kind of heavy Gheeto. I would not recommend one to a newby either. In this case, though, fact being QueensHonda is 290 lbs and a tall man, in this case his body and strenght will keep the bike's weight commensurate to his characteristics.

If QueensHonda is a completely new to the motorcycle thing guy, I would recommend no cafe bars, clip ons, rearsets, niet! untill more experience is accumulated.

His weight is what makes me opt for a more powerfull bike. I remember when I was a kid, not a little kid no more, but a kid ( 15) ridding my cafe'ed Honda PC50 moped ( with pedals, although I got rid of M to make it more "motorcycle" like) I got into some trouble , on several occasions, and not due to crazy cornering, but to lack of power. you know, I was hunched on my moped with upside down handlebars a la cafe...when upon crossing a street, a car or any vehicle coming fast....and anything is fast when on a moped... I would not have the power to move away fast.....lack of power, response....is a dangerous situation in a motorcycle.....and...from that overview I consider that QueensHonda would be fine in a heavy bike, provided it has power commensurate to his body weight....if we were dealing with a 170lbs guy , perhaps my approach would be a different one.


Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[jaimesix]

quote:
JAimesix,
Not to bust your chops, but I am beginning to think that you might be some kind of California poser, especially after reading your bio.
" A cafe racer by nature, low handlebars, aerodynamic position , low drag, excelent speed and born to corner" come on and give us a break. So you would recommend that someone new to motorcycling should get a 900 or 1100cc bike and then advise them to not worry, they won't crash?
Most of the other advice has been right on. Get a smaller bike and learn how to ride.You might even want to consider something more modern to start with. Then you will have some personal experience to choose the bike that is right for you. Or get a slow handling, top heavy, overweight pig with mediocre suspension, handling and brakes with a fair amount of horsepower. All the while not worrying about crashing cause the same person that advised you to get a bike like his has advised you that you won't crash!!! Oh yeah, put some low bars on it and you can have a cafe racer too.
Sorry about the rant but I am about out of patience with self serving internet advice to the potential detriment of others. We need to get more newbies riding safely not killing them off. (OOPS, nobody probably ever got killed on a bike so don't worry about that either.) I must have learned the hate thing from JohnnyB. I'll go kick a cute little puppy now until I feel better.

Ken



AHRMA 412
Vintage racing - old guys on old bikes

Ken.
I understand. We have not discussed the issue at length. I read your reply after I responded to Gheeto.

I think I expressed my believe in that response. Being a 290lbs 6'2" guy, Queensland would not be safe in a 350 or a 500. It is not just his weight, but his height, and size. He needs a seat that will accomodate him well, he needs a bike that will hold ground on the tires at cornering. He needs stopping power. I can imagine a 350 Honda at a corner, just loosing grip and falling off. I can imagine the not so confortable sitting arrangements in a small bike.
What would be a 500 bike to a 170lbs beginner guy, is a CB1100 to Queensland. The 1100 and the 900 as well as the 750 are the same sizewise.( not engine cc's but physical dimentions).

I do not advocate crazy ridding nor cafe bars/ clip ons/ rearsets....not at all. But, yes, I advocate for a bike that will commensurate to his physical needs.

Thanks for the op to exchange opinions. That is what it is all about.

Jaime

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[Geeto67]

I'm his weight and much taller than him, and the guys at vespa soho can attest to me riding a honda cj360 into work a couple times before I quit there in july. I wouldn't advise it but it carried my weight at highway speed and I was never want for power. The parallel twin hondas have surprisingly quick acceleration for being such docile and smooth bikes.

a cb500/550 four is an ok bike for a guy my size, I own one and it is only 10hp down from my SOHC cb750 but more than 50lbs lighter. The 500 twin is a decent enough bike but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone my size as the seat tends to feel too confining. However at 6'2 290lbs you can really throw it around.

The big hondas from the late 70's early 80's (DOHC cb, VFR, etc...) are all top heavy bikes and to me that is harder than riding a heavier bike with the weight down low. a beginner will surelly scare himself one day when the bike begins to pull him over in a turn and he may not know how to correct for it.

I learned on a dirt bike, and some of the best street riders I know learned on dirt bikes. After dirt bikes my first two mounts were a norton commando and the K5 cb750 I still own. Kawasaki and suzuki still make 500cc bikes that are faster and stop better than all of this old junk. The gs500 and ex500 fit just about anybody and can be had for cheap used as the people who learned to ride on them will graduate up to bigger bikes.

 

[krapfever]

How 'bout a kz650? Or a Gpz 550? (kind of a cool mini- Eddie Lawson replica look) Or what about a Suzi GS? Light, quick, powerful, reliable, disc brake and not as top heavy as, say, a big CBF. All three of the above models can be found on the cheap. The kz's probably got the most "classic" styling of the bunch, though.

Really any bike in the 650 range from the late 70s thru the early 80s would accommodate a big fella as he's learning to ride (Nighthawks are kinda cheesy and underpowered in my opinion, though).

I had a CB500 for a while. It was a great looking bike but not much in the way of torque off the line.

For what its worth, I agree with the idea that a great deal more fun can be had thrashing a "slow" bike than wrecking a "fast" bike.





Honda go sideways!

Edited by - krapfever on Dec 09 2006 11:02:51 AM

 

[Geeto67]

I would be wary of kz twins from the 70's and 80's. Too many chains thrashing around inside (the kz400 has 4 internal chains). The gpzs are great bikes but a little heavy. I actually know of an early 80's one for sale on Long Island if anybody is looking (kinda cheap too).

I am not a big fan of the nighthawks but the nighthawk S is the last of the factory cafe racer and cool looking. it was a detuned 750 (700cc) and pretty docile.