[acesito]

Hey Guys so i have been riding for a couple years not a bike but a scooter started with some bullshit scooter that was given to me a 50cc then bought a yamaha zuma 125. I loved that thing easy to get around fast but not too fast( but someone stole it ). I wanted to start or get a cafe racer but I don't want one to strong because I will find the need to push it .

I was going to purchase a cb 350 but i was told the have to many problems and i am opening up a bunch of headaches for myself. I like the 350 because its not big and not small. Have you guys found that this is true that parts will be hard to find and its not worth my trouble.

I don't want to go as big as a 500 do you guys have any recommendations that i can go with or is that bull i was told about the 350?
i like the royal enfield bullet 350 but they do not make it in the states only the 500.

your thoughts are much appreciated

i included a pic of performance and style im looking to achieve

 

[Joep7]

Get the enfield 500. I find it boring, it won't be too much for you.

 

[nicebikemate]

I've not ridden a 500 but the 350 is pretty much what you'd imagine from a small capacity single that's based on 60 year old tech and made in India... exciting it is not. Neither the 500 nor the 350 will instil enough confidence to allow you to 'push it'.. and if you do.. well you can kill yourself on a scooter if you try hard enough.

Build quality on the Enfield's isn't amazing but there is a treasure trove of after market parts for them though they're more in the vain of improving an old bike rather than turning it into a stylised hipster 'cafe' bike. Having said that they're undoubtably a better base for you to get started on a 'real' bike than a 40 year old CB imo.

 

[ILoveThumpers]

Displacement isn't always a good indicator of... Well, anything. How much trouble you can get yourself into has less to do with torque/HP and more to do with handling and skill.

Take the bullet for a drive. If it intimidates you then maybe look for something tamer.

Sent from my LT30at using Tapatalk

 

[ffarl]

I ride a 45 year old CB (CL) 350, and it's quick enough, nimble, and easy as hell to maintain. The guys that told you otherwise probably did a bunch of dumb shit to their bikes like pod filters and cutting the exhaust off and then wonder why they don't run right. Trouble is, the prices are inflated right now, so getting a solid runner might be a chore.

What you've got in that picture is a CB350 Four, meaning four cylinders instead of the two on my twin. They run a little smoother, but you've got 4 carbs to mess with, and it takes a little longer for the power to roll on. If you don't have any experience with carbs, get a twin or even a modern fuel injected bike.

What's your budget?

 

[acesito]

well i think a sr400 yamaha would be perfect but doesn't come out till june maybe i should just wait. my budget used is like 3000 new i can bring it up

 

[TrialsRider]

oops doh read

would a 250 honda be sufficient

 

[3364]

SR400 might be a good choice, June isn't far off and a new bike leaves you with just one headache to be concerned with, yourself. I lock mu bikes to solid objects which makes them harder to run off with. Only bike I ever lost was an xr200 that I stashed in some bushes unlocked roadside when it seized.

 

[hillsy]

Or go for the real thing* and get an SR500.

* Yeah - I see the irony of calling an air-cooled, kick start, big single Japanese bike that was made to mimic the Gold Star the real thing….but it's more original than the new 400.

 

[cweston222]

Displacement isn't always a good indicator of... Well, anything. How much trouble you can get yourself into has less to do with torque/HP and more to do with handling and skill.

Take the bullet for a drive. If it intimidates you then maybe look for something tamer.

Agreed. You've been on a scooter so any type of motorcycle is going to be more powerful and intimidating than what you're use to. I think you'd be fine with a 500cc in all honestly, but thats just my opinion. My first street bike was a 03 GSXR-600 and after a couple of months i wish i would have gotten the 750. Ive also recently road a CBR250 and I've never been more terrified when on the highway. Then again I'm 175 pounds and it didn't want to get up and go as fast as anything else I've ridden on the road. Also, i like the sr400. June is near my friend.

 

[Geeto67]

The 500 enfield is so easy your baby sister could ride it. You are being a moron about displacement, a29hp 500cc single is nothing like a 60 hp 500 twin or four.

 

[o1marc]

The CB350 twin is a very popular vintage bike with good aftermarket support. Your friends don't know what they are talking about, unless they have issues as described by ffarl, which is too often the case. They are still huge in vintage racing also. If you like the bike pictured i would recommend you find a CB400f instead.