Topic: Too big for bike?

[dramsell]

Hey everyone, I have a bike/weight question.

I am 6'0 and 245 and found a 1985 Honda Shadow 500 for 350.00 in good shape (just needs tires and a cable).

I drive 50 miles each way on the freeway for work and am considering this bike for commuting.

The bike should get 60 mpg based on what I read and that doubles my Accord mpg's.

Any thoughts?

Dave

[KB02]

If it's in good shape, pick it up. It's a good find. You'll be fine on that bike.

[kghost]

I'm 6'3" and 230.

I ride my 350F all over town 

[silentone]

I'm 6'5" and around 275 and ride a CB550.  I don't ride the freeway, but the surface streets around here are mostly 50 or 55 mph and it does just fine.

[bender01]

I just sold my 84 shadow. It was a real nice bike got 60mpg but it was the most uncomfotable thing ive ever sat on. Im 5'10 and i always was hunched over holding the bars or leaning back. very uncomfortable. The 500 mustve been made for smaller riders. The guy that bought it was very short and im sure hell be happy. If its in good shape at that price buy it and resell it if it doesnt fit. They are very reliable and ive seem them with 100k miles still going.

[BobbyR]

The problem with lighter bikes at Freeway speeds is not the power. I am sure that it has adequate power to move you along. I find they tend to get blown around a bit from the vortices of the vehicles around them. Trucks seem to be the biggest problem. I am 5 ' 8" and 200lbs so those bikes fit me fine. I like stability on the Freeways. Around town I would only need some that did 50 mph.

[goon 1492]

gotta remember too that these bikes were designed arounf smaller japanese people, some people have problems with shift/brake pedal spacing when their feet are on the pegs

[Jim F]

all you guys are skinny
6.5 and 325

thus the name Big-Jim
my 836 hauls my big ?/% around just fine

[Soos]

Not as tall, but at 5'11" and 165lbs, my '79cb650 fits me like a glove(rear was lowered 1" with longer swingarm) However with size 13 shoes/boots, my '81cb650 is cramped for space where the stock shifter sits.

The neighbor down the streets 750 fits my feet as my '79cb650 does, just enough room.

Sit on in, and try it out.
for $300 and running with title, it's a steal IMO.

l8r

[kirkn]

IMHO, you'll be unhappy on that particular bike (unless you CLING to that notion of 60 mpg vs 30).

My mother had one (also an '85 500) and it, indeed, was very cramped.  I'm 5-9, 225, and the cruiser bar on it put my elbows right in my ribs.  And, twisting the throttle was a motion like turning a screwdriver rather than turning a throttle.  Kinda awkward.

And, unless you have a largish Plexiglas-type windshield on it, you'll be fighting that windblast something fierce.  Your neck, shoulders and lower back will really be feeling it after a week of that.  On the other hand, if it DOES have a windshield, it might be fairly nice.  The wind actually circles up around and pushes you ever so slightly from the back.  At least, the handful of bikes I've ridden with such a windshield all did.

Bottom line, IMHO - if it has a windshield and the bars are OK for you, go for it.  If not, keep looking for something a bit less cruiser-ish.

Good luck, either way.

Kirk

[tramp]

friend of mine rode a 350 all over the place and he was 6'2 and about 220

[74cb750]

Man, most of you guys are too big

[Hawkster318]

So, at that price, if you get it and it doesn't feel right, you should be able to turn it around no problem.

[kach_me]

Man, most of you guys are too big

So what size are you?  Asked the 6'1" 215 lb'er...

I ride my 750 all over without significant troubles.  I think that I would agree that a windscreen would be nice because generally I get blown all over the place within my lane... but that's because the wind never stops here is mid-west Illinois. 

[Ecosse]

So, at that price, if you get it and it doesn't feel right, you should be able to turn it around no problem.

Excellent point.



Man, next to all you guys I feel like a squirt! At around 190lbs. and 5'11" I put myself on a diet!

[DarkRider]

A lot of 80s bikes have a wierdly bent handle bar...change the bar to a drag or superbike (or god forbid a different set of ape hangers) and you would be just fine...

heh some of you are tiny compared to me...6'2/390 lbs

[kach_me]

heh some of you are tiny compared to me...6'2/390 lbs

Pure muscle, right?

[bender01]

I have drag bars and had to get risers to let them clear the tank on my 84 vt500c . Thats when I found that cable re routing was going to be a nightmare. Or at least expensive to do it right. Im not sure some of know what this bike looks like. heres a pic of my old one.

[DarkRider]

heh some of you are tiny compared to me...6'2/390 lbs

Pure muscle, right?

Safe to guess about 80-85% muscle

[detdrbuzzard]

i am 6'0"" and about 230lbs, i ride my nighthawk 450 everywhere

[DammitDan]

I have drag bars and had to get risers to let them clear the tank on my 84 vt500c . Thats when I found that cable re routing was going to be a nightmare. Or at least expensive to do it right. Im not sure some of know what this bike looks like. heres a pic of my old one.

Wow...  That bike just looks cramped without a rider sitting on it!

[putnaja1]

I road my CB550 all over, including a highway where people aren't happy in the right-most lane unless they are going 75 (55 mph speed limit).  I'm 6'0, 230, and I had no problems going fast enough.