If you ride a cruiser and enjoy touring, over the course of your riding life you may find yourself graduating to bigger motorcycles, the choice of machine dictated usually by the level of riding experience you have and the type of riding you do. At what point do you stop moving up, though?
Trading Up to a Dresser: Should You or Shouldnt You?
To say that my history with motorcycles was minimal would be an understatement. I had never ridden “anything,” and 26 years ago had ridden on a bike as a passenger for about an hour. My husband, Mike, rides bikes and has raced dirt bikes his entire life. When he retired, and a girl friend of mine got her motorcycling license, I decided to take the leap and work towards getting mine.
Reader Story and Review: From Bike to Trike
It all began 4 years ago. With the children grown and out of the house, my husband, Neil, said, “Its time to start riding again.” I said, “Have fun”! I had never ridden on a motorcycle, except for once when I was 18, and that ride was enough for me. I also once rode on the back of Neil’s motorcycle and didn’t think it was that much fun. But, for my 50th birthday, Neil somehow managed to have me take motorcycle lessons.
Reader Story: Learning to Ride, One Motorcycle at a Time
Manufacturers regularly update and improve upon motorcycles already in their lineups, but last year Honda didn’t just make an existing model better—it designed a brand-new VFR. A sleek, 167-horsepower, liquid-cooled, 76-degree V-4 VFR1200F has taken the place of the “either you love it or hate it” VTEC VFR800.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2010 Honda VFR1200F DCT With Automatic Transmission
I’m a sportbike gal at heart but when I heard about Honda’s newest custom cruisers, the VT1300 line, I had to check them out. There are three bikes based on the same platform: The Sabre differs from the other two with its muscular styling, skinnier front tire and chromed engine; the Stateline and Interstate have blacked-out engines and a retro look with their deeply valanced fenders and wider handlebars.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2010 Honda VT1300 Interstate
For years, Honda’s Shadow line of cruiser motorcycles has offered riders a pleasing combination of comfortable ergonomics, lighter weight, adequate power and lower price point, and its popularity has proved that the bikes are anything but scary to legions of motorcyclists. Now Honda has unveiled a newly styled model whose looks better reflect the dark nature of the Shadow name.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2010 Honda Phantom: The Dark Shadow
I purchased my Honda Shadow Spirit with only 400 miles on it. I love this bike! The bike is approximately 600 pounds but is weighted very well. Before I purchased this bike, I was riding a Honda Shadow VLX 600, which was very top-heavy. I bought the Spirit with the red windshield, engine guard and saddlebags already on it.
READER MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2008 Honda Shadow Spirit C2 750
Bike No. 1 is a 2007 Yamaha V Star 250. This was my first bike. I bought it brand new expecting to ride it for several years. This is a great starter bike. It is lightweight and easy to handle. I did not feel intimidated learning on this bike. The ride was so smooth and easy (though I didnt realize this at the time), and I didnt know that a lot of the bumps on the road were even there.
My friends thought I was crazy when I told them I was going to ride a scooter to Las Vegas to attend my first scooter rally. “That will take forever!” and “You wont be able to take any stuff with you!” and “Youll get blown all over the road!” they said. Honda proves them all wrong with the Silver Wing rightfully touting it as a touring machine that just happens to be a scooter.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: Honda Silver Wing, the Touring Scooter
I grew up on a moped, but I have been riding a Yamaha 230 dirt bike for about three years, and Ive been riding street bikes since last February. My first bike was a Honda VTX 1300C, which is a great bike, but I just purchased a 2003 Honda VTX 1800R. The main reason I chose the VTX 1800R was because of the looks. Then when I rode it, I fell in love with it.
READER MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2003 Honda VTX 1800R