2 questions (first bike and storage)

I am 5'10", 225lbs and I am looking for a small cruiser as my starter bike. I was just going to get a bigger bike off the back, but I want something learn on before I spend too much money. I live in Pa and will be taking the MSF course, but honestly I think I am just gonna get a bike beforehand.

I like the Honda Rebel, but is this bike too small? I really don't care if some people think its girly or not, I just want to learn how to ride. I am also interested in getting something like a Honda Shadow VLX that is used. I want to spend 3,000 or less. I am even thinking of getting a scooter. My job is 3-4 miles away and its all in town so I would like to ride this thing everyday and with the gas prices....the money would almost even out after I rode it for so long.



My other question is storage. I don't have a garage, but I have a real private back yard and I have a patio I can store the bike under. I am just wondering how often do bikes get stolen? Should I think about getting a shed?



Thanks for reading

Don't fool yourself with gas savings. You would have to drive for YEARS to save enough gas to pay for a $3000 bike, especially only living 3-4 miles from work. Here are some numbers:

Just to cover any extra driving you may need to do, lets say you drive a total of 20 miles a day on average.

(20 mi / 20 mpg in your car)*5 days a week*52 weeks a year*$4/gallon = $1040 worth of gas a year

(20 mi / 50 mpg on a VLX)*5 days a week*52 weeks a year*$4/gallon = $416 worth of gas a year

So, assuming the bike is your ONLY form of transportation, you are saving $624 a year on gas. $3000 / $624 = nearly 5 years of riding ONLY the bike to pay for the bike with money saved from gas. If you stick with the Rebel, you are looking at about 4 years of riding to pay off a $3000 bike.

The main reason I want a bike is for the pleasure of having one...maybe I forgot to tell ya that

The gas saving is just a bonus. The main reason I want a small/cheap bike is to have for a couple years until I get really good...then I will get something like a Harley Low Rider.

Don't fool yourself with gas savings. You would have to drive for YEARS to save enough gas to pay for a $3000 bike, especially only living 3-4 miles from work. Here are some numbers:

Just to cover any extra driving you may need to do, lets say you drive a total of 20 miles a day on average.

(20 mi / 20 mpg in your car)*5 days a week*52 weeks a year*$4/gallon = $1040 worth of gas a year

(20 mi / 50 mpg on a VLX)*5 days a week*52 weeks a year*$4/gallon = $416 worth of gas a year

So, assuming the bike is your ONLY form of transportation, you are saving $624 a year on gas. $3000 / $624 = nearly 5 years of riding ONLY the bike to pay for the bike with money saved from gas. If you stick with the Rebel, you are looking at about 4 years of riding to pay off a $3000 bike.

-To some, gas savings isn't all about money but that is the usually the main factor and you just showed us how the bike could pay for itself over the next 4 years assuming gas prices stay at $4 a gallon (not going to happen). What's so crazy about that?

-Gas prices are projected to stay at a little over $4 a gallon for a year and then go up. I wouldn't be surprised to see $7 + a gallon 5 years from now.

-Since he plans on riding for fun, he would be riding more than just to work.

-The honda rebel gets 60+ mpg. (if he sticks with that)

I am 5'10", 225lbs and I am looking for a small cruiser as my starter bike. I was just going to get a bigger bike off the back, but I want something learn on before I spend too much money. I live in Pa and will be taking the MSF course, but honestly I think I am just gonna get a bike beforehand.

I like the Honda Rebel, but is this bike too small? I really don't care if some people think its girly or not, I just want to learn how to ride. I am also interested in getting something like a Honda Shadow VLX that is used. I want to spend 3,000 or less. I am even thinking of getting a scooter. My job is 3-4 miles away and its all in town so I would like to ride this thing everyday and with the gas prices....the money would almost even out after I rode it for so long.


My other question is storage. I don't have a garage, but I have a real private back yard and I have a patio I can store the bike under. I am just wondering how often do bikes get stolen? Should I think about getting a shed?



Thanks for reading



I would consider an electric scooter or electric motorcycle, sound's perfect for you. You could get an old bike for under $1000 if you want to ride with more range for fun. Just a thought.

And for the other question before this becomes a MPG fuel effiency thread is that yes bikes getting stolen is much more likely than cars because you can load them up in a pick-up and drive away type of thing, I park mine in a garage too keep it out of the rain and because I dont have full coverage lol.

And for the other question before this becomes a MPG fuel effiency thread is that yes bikes getting stolen is much more likely than cars because you can load them up in a pick-up and drive away type of thing, I park mine in a garage too keep it out of the rain and because I dont have full coverage lol.

My dad has a garage and his house is about a 2 minute drive, maybe I can park it in there and just walk 15-20 minutes every time I wanna ride haha

where is the best place to buy used bikes anyways?

My dad has a garage and his house is about a 2 minute drive, maybe I can park it in there and just walk 15-20 minutes every time I wanna ride haha

Screw that, I would just park it behind your house, it will be fine.

where is the best place to buy used bikes anyways?

Craigslist is the best place to find good deals. Ebaymotors can be good but don't get caught up in winning just to win, wait for a good deal and bid at the last second. One thing about ebay is you can't usually see the bike before buying it.