That would be a much better choice for you Chris and a much better value for your money.

 

I agree. It also would have enough power to get you out of some situations that the 250 wouldnn't dare.

 

The 700 is definitely a better starter bike than the baja.

A friend of mine had a 450 that was OK for running around town and cruising back roads and with one light rider (175# max)

 

Buy the Virago, it is a reliable, cheap and easy to maintain bike, it is also the perfect size for what you want, my buddy has the exact same bike and loves it.

Good luck,

Tim

 

Not sure about KS but keep in mind that a bike may require an endorsement on your DL. Also check your insurance, etc. when figuring out how much you will save on fuel.

 

Chris,

I am going to try and give the most constructive advice I possibly can here....

Don't spur the thing to get it to go faster, you will not like the out come

 

bajas suck you cant get parts for them. get a yamaha, suz, or a honda hoss

 

check your local law here in michigan its against the law to take anything under 450cc on the highway/interstate. i have a Kawasaki Ninja 500R, thats a good starter and there are cheap look at one of those, my recommendation is to play in the lawn(if you have one) to learn that way if you spill you have a semi-soft landing. then after you are proficent, on the weekend early in the morning drive it on the road before anyone wakes up. just my .20 (due to inflation)

 

Buy the Yamaha. At $900 you'll be able to sell it for what you paid.

 

Well, if it's not for the fun of riding but only for fuel economy I'd suggest that you get one of the name brand automatic scooters in the 400cc class. Easy to ride and they are quick. They do offer good weather protection and keep your knees warm, so you will be able to ride to work more often.
The downside of the off-brand stuff, as already mentioned, is that they tend to be out of commission for a long time due to some small parts that you can not get.

Just my2c

AlpineRAM

 

I'd go with the Yammi. That engine/tranny/rearend has been used by Yamaha for decades and is dead reliable. My buddy has the same bike and It had the same basic drivetrain as my '02 v-star. If it ain't broke...

 

Now you're talking Chris ... the Virago is a decent bike. You would like it a lot more and .... well, look a lot more respectable on it than the other one you were looking into. Visions of that scene in Dumb & Dumber where the two guys are riding frozen to the little scooter over the Colorado Rockies popped into my head. .

Hope you can work a good deal on this one. Being able to trust the person you are buying from sure give you piece of mind ... can't put a price on that.

Cheers,
PISTOL

 

OK, thanks guys....
I am going to look ateh Virago this evening, and will probably buy it if there is nothign major wrong with it..
I looked on Craigslist and Ebay, and found two like it selling for a little over a grand, so if I decide a bike isnt for me, I think I'll be able to get my money back out of it if nothign else..
Ok, any good advise for a newbie rider?
I've avoided bikes my whole life after seeing a couple buddies realy turned to hamburger on them right after high school...
Larry, I dont ride with spurs unless I am showing, but where do you put the rear cinch on a bike?

 

The main thing is to look ahead far enough to make riding decisions, watch out for oil slicks or slippery conditions. When something is happening that shouldn't happen, react to your gut, you can tell if you're not comfortable. Wear a helmet, no matter how dumb they look. Gloves also help with grip and stability. One more thing...when your'e riding on the road, don't turn the handlebars to steer, lean into it (sounds stupid, but just putting it out there).

If you have a friend with a small dirtbike 100-150ccs, I'd try to learn on that 1st, it'll be lighter and more easy to learn on for basics. then you can go to the Virago and feel the weigt differences and adjust from there.

 

This makes me think of my days in CA on a Suzuki Katana 750, until an old guy cut me off in traffic, and I had to lay the bike down in the middle of the street - almost got run over twice during that one.

The bike cartwheeled after I laid it down, and was totalled. I banged up my elbow pretty good, and my shoulder still hurts once in a while (13 years later). I was wearing a helmet, leather jacket, and studded gloves. Most of the studs on the gloves were burned off by the time I stopped sliding, but they saved my hands and fingers.

The only good that came out of it was the insurance company paid me $400 more than I paid for the bike in the first place.

I haven't been on a steet bike since.

Sorry Chris - not to rain on your parade - I'm sure you'd be a safe rider and all that - but so was I, and still almost got to meet my maker because of the stupidity of other drivers.

Oh - the old guy never stopped - probably never knew what happened.