Upgrading Cruiser/Chopper

[sgunn65]

Back in October i decided to dip my toe in the water of biking. I had not ridden a bike since my teens and 30 years later I wanted a bike not a scooter/wave type. So I bought a second hand JRD Chopper (stop sniggering in the corner!!). I know they are meant to be rubbish but i have had a great few months learning to ride again. It has never let me down and has amazing fuel economy.

Now I want to step up. Ultimately I want a Harley but that will have to wait and i am not sure I am ready for one yet.

So what should I buy? I don't need to go fast. I love the chopper style especially the retro look ones. I just missed a 750cc Shadow American retro. I like the look of the Vulcan too.

Something 400cc and up seems about right. It needs to be reliable and look great (I am not a mechanic but I am a sucker for style especially retro style).

I am looking for something second hand around the 2-300,000 mark.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

[thaicbr]

I think there was a Kawasaki 900 on the classifieds for 325,000 the other day..

[furyrider]

I think the Vulcan 900 is a good buy. I was looking at that one and the honda fury. Then I ride on the fury with my wife and that is all it took.

[sgunn65]

The Fury is beautiful but out of my league I'm afraid. Enjoy

[BSJ]

I think the Vulcan 900 is a good buy. I was looking at that one and the honda fury. Then I ride on the fury with my wife and that is all it took.

How about learning to resize the photos. Some of us are on slow internet.

[LoneRider]

I think there are a few options, not only the 900 Vulcan. (even if this one is the only one you can get very new)

But how about a 400 cc Honda Steed, Shadow or 400 Vulcan or 600 Steed/Shadow, if you want a little bit more power.

Even the 750 Shadow is available here as second hand.

[LoneRider]

Oh, I forget.....I saw two times already a second hand 800 Suzuki Intruder for sale.

[submaniac]

If it were me, I would throw out the Yamaha Dragstar 400. I had the U.S. version, the V-star 650 for a while and it sounds like it would be the perfect bike for you. It is the only Japanese bike that truly looks like a Harley--all the other ones are watercooled and the V-star is the only air cooled japanese cruiser. It has been so incredibly comfortable, and reliable. The downside is that it was underpowered for the freeway. Acceleration is good, but over 80 mph it would not accelerate and the top speed was 90. But that shouldn't be an issue in Thailand.

Dragstar custom with the decals/Yamaha emblem removed (yeah, looks like a harley):

if you want the vintage cruiser look, then the "classic" model may be what you are looking for.

There's some for sale on Thaivisa's classifieds:

This one is for 142,000 baht:

http://classifieds.t...star-83393.html

If you want the 1100cc bike (which will make it a pretty fast bike) that also can be had for less than 300,000 baht:

This one is 280,000 baht:

http://classifieds.t...ales-55730.html

295,000 customized v-star 1100

http://classifieds.t...bike-76218.html

255,000 baht for the 1100cc ultraclassic:

http://classifieds.t...00cc-75387.html

Edited January 28, 2011 by submaniac

[submaniac]

more v-stars for sale:

http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/automotives-vehicles/motorcycles/yamaha-drag-star-400-cc-45681.html

400cc for 135,000baht

[sgunn65]

Great responses thank you. THe Dragstar Classic looks awesome.

It looks like a toss up between that and the Vulcan if I can find one that is right.