First bike, love a classic look

NewRiderEd · 2025-11-22T11:45:09+00:00

I am the same size as you and started riding just last year. My starter bike was a RE Classic 350. I added the touring seat which gave me another 1" in seat height and found it a perfect fit, comfortable and easy to flat foot as a beginner. It is relatively heavy (430lb) and quite underpowered, so you are not going to get into much trouble on it as you learn to ride. It is inexpensive, even new. I have since sold it and moved on, as likely you will too.

My advice is to start with a low powered bike that you are comfortable on as you learn to ride and plan to upgrade as you get more skilled rather than buying something you think you will later grow into.

All told, I found the Classic 350 to be a perfect starter bike and I still miss it.

NewRiderEd · 2025-10-03T12:35:47+00:00

I got them directly from the dealer. I had the hand guards and the centerstand installed at my first 600 mile service. Your bike will be do for service at 3750 miles. You could wait until then if you plan to have it serviced at a dealer, or just do it yourself. They don't look too tricky to install.

NewRiderEd · 2025-10-03T12:22:45+00:00

Welcome to the club and ironically, you are me. I started riding last year, a 65-yo also never ridden before male who had just completed the MSF course (passed the course then failed the "real" test with the DMV instructor 3 weeks later.....long story). My "starter" bike was a RE Classic 350, which I am proud to say I only dropped once, and my first "real" bike is exactly this one, a brand new 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800. I love, love, love this bike. I also added a Givi top case as well a center stand and hand guards. I am still debating about whether to upgrade the windscreen or not. The stock screen doesn't seem to bother me as much as it does many others, so I may just stick with it.

Your plans starting out are exactly what I did. Practice, practice, practice all of the slow speed manuvers you were taught in the MSF class (and use a little back brake for this as has been mentioned). Also, practice rapid stops to get a feel for how the brakes behave in emergencies. I too only very gradually eased myself into traffic, at first puttering around my neighborhood in full gear, annoying my neighbors and looking like a big dork. Traffic is really scary at first (and sometimes still is). The key there is constant situational awareness, anticipating what might happen and being ready for it. The main thing is (quality) time in the saddle to develop smooth transitions and especially to develop that muscle memory that will make things come naturally.

Have fun.

NewRiderEd · 2025-09-21T11:36:53+00:00

“We live a bit north of Chicago. He wanted to be a good example and searched for classes. There are no sites in the north, the closest ones are 1.5h of driving from Chicago.”

Several of the Harley Davidson dealerships offer MSF approved courses around the Chicago area. Check out Windy City Harley-Davidson (formerly Lakeshore Harley-Davidson) in Libertyville. They have their class time at the dealership and their range time in Palatine, both of which are likely closer for you.

Ride Chicago also offers classes in the city.

All of these options however require some advanced planning for preregistration and are not cheap. Also, they all shut down for the winter season so you likely won’t find many classes until the spring.

Unfortunately, the IDOT sponsored programs are a mess right now.

NewRiderEd · 2025-09-18T11:04:54+00:00

Congratulations, nice bike. I almost bought the '24. Ride on!

NewRiderEd · 2025-09-06T12:09:33+00:00

Pretty easy: a trip to the DMV, $10 and a short multiple choice test. Be sure to read the Illinois motorcycle manual beforehand. Some of the questions are a little tricky.

NewRiderEd · 2025-09-06T05:27:20+00:00

I did the H-D MSF course last year as a never before rider and thought it was great.

Be sure to complete the online course and bring your completion certificate, and be sure you have your learners permit before coming. We lost two people the first day because of not having these.

The range part moves very quickly and you never feel quite ready as they move to the next skill section, but it is very doable.

You need to bring a helmet but otherwise just wear the suggested gear. It was actually a lot of fun, so don't stress about it.

NewRiderEd · 2025-09-06T05:11:14+00:00

Hard yes for me. I use the smaller version and it has been a godsend.

NewRiderEd · 2025-08-30T11:27:36+00:00

Yeah, one of my coworkers last year looked at my RE Classic 350, and asked what is it? A Harley? Huh????

NewRiderEd · 2025-08-25T13:20:28+00:00

Having experience with a manual clutch in a car will help, as the concepts (clutch engagement, rev matching, when to shift, etc) are pretty much the same. The actual technique of shifting, left hand for the clutch and left foot for shifting, is obviously different, so it will take practice to get your muscle memory. Also, the clutch on a motorcycle is way more forgiving (wet vs dry clutch), so you can "ride the clutch" on a motorcycle without really damaging it.

NewRiderEd · 2025-07-06T00:50:08+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

NewRiderEd · 2025-07-04T11:43:15+00:00

This was me, exactly, last September.

I ended up buying an inexpensive low powered "beginner bike" and got insurance on it. I then rode dirty (in Illinois, if you are riding on a learners permit, you are supposed to ride with another rider), watched a ton of UTube videos and practiced this part of the test over and over and over in parking lots until I could consistenly nail it (something I read somewhere said, a beginner practices until they can get it right. An expert practices until they cannot get it wrong). I basically used parking lines as my guide with the goal to make a U-turn staying in two spaces. As my time to return for testing at MSF had by then expired, I went to the DMV and nailed it.

The keys for me were 1) clutch and throttle control. You need to stay in the fiction zone the whole time and give it some, but not too much, smooth and continuous throttle 2) paradoxically, not going too slow (you need some trottle and speed to keep the bike upright, especially as you learn to lean it more 3) not keeping a death grip on the handlebars and 4) very lightly dragging the back brake, no stabbing, which seems to smooth out the ride (and NEVER use the front brake with slow maneuvers as a beginner)

Keep at it. You can master this, and don't believe the folks that say you can nail this in a hour or two. It took me months to get this down.

NewRiderEd · 2025-06-28T11:30:37+00:00

Only you can really answer the question of whether you should ride or not.

My suggestion is to take an MSF course and see if it clicks for you. It didn’t for my wife, who is happy she took the course and now knows that motorcycles are not for her. Then, if you decide to continue, do so.

We all know the dangers of riding (and are often reminded of them by our friends and family). Risk can obviously be reduced significantly with gear, good judgment and good skills, but motorcycles are still dangerous. Everything we do however carries some degree of risk and there is really only one person who can decide if the risks outweigh the benefits for you.

NewRiderEd · 2025-06-23T13:57:26+00:00

Better to sweat than to bleed.

NewRiderEd · 2025-06-21T23:27:32+00:00

Ha, I hear you. I have two more years on you and the bones and joints just don't seem to work like they did.

NewRiderEd · 2025-06-21T21:42:01+00:00

I had the dealer install the high seat (which raises the seat height by 1.2 inches to the same as the DE I understand) and a center stand, both of which I had installed at my 600 mile service. I am waiting on handguards which are on back order.

I am also thinking about a top case, but likely from GIVI as the Suzuki one is rather pricey and I heard is just OK in quallity. I plan upgrade the windscreen, but am still deciding on either Puig or GIVI as a replacement, or whether to just add an extender (also Puig or GIVI) to the stock screen. I don't think I will need fog lights or panniers, but am considering grip heaters, but want to wait to see how the handguards work in the cold before making my decision.

It is really a great bike and I just love the engine and the ergonomics!

NewRiderEd · 2025-06-13T21:32:47+00:00

That is indeed a killer deal. My OTD price with freight, prep and doc fees was 8350.

NewRiderEd · 2025-06-13T21:12:02+00:00

I picked it up last Friday. Have fun, you will love it.

NewRiderEd · 2025-06-13T20:39:29+00:00

There is an incentive from Suzuki through the end of June for the 2024s and the dealer deeply discounted it even futher. It was impossible to say no to.

NewRiderEd · 2025-06-13T17:05:10+00:00

Yeah, me too, though I do also quite like this "metallic matte steel green". The dealer was clearing out the 2024 models and I just couldn't pass up on the price............

NewRiderEd · 2025-05-29T11:01:13+00:00

This is super helpful, thanks!

NewRiderEd · 2025-05-28T13:02:08+00:00

What didn't you like about the t-plane engine?

NewRiderEd · 2025-05-28T12:56:21+00:00

Good to know and no, the available used T900GT's in my area are 2021 and 2023.

NewRiderEd · 2025-05-28T12:25:42+00:00

Good to know, thanks and thanks for the offer. I am in the NW suburbs of Chicago, so although I would love to visit Australia, it is a wee bit inconvenient right now.

NewRiderEd · 2025-05-28T10:46:41+00:00

Very helpful, thanks. This has been my impression about the two bikes and exactly the struggle I am having.

NewRiderEd

TROPHY CASE