[xarnthal]

Hello all,
I'm new to motorcycles in general to the point that I've never really been on the road on one. I've been on plenty of little 250 dirt bikes and I recently took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation BRC class in order to get my license.
My question is 1) Was this the first bike for anyone else? and 2) Do you think it's an ok bike for a first bike?

I'm a bigger guy, roughly 6'0 285lbs or so, and every dealer I go to tells me something different. One dealer tells me I'll be fine on an 1800 and the next tells me to look at a 650. When I first started looking for a bike(a few weeks ago) the Stryker and Raider caught my eye and I've been looking to get one of the 'leftover' 2011 Stryker's at the local dealer. The problem is they don't do any demo/test rides. So I have no way of knowing whether this is too much bike or not before I purchase it. The only place around that will allow me to test a bike is a Harley dealer and I may be heading down there to jump on one of the Dyna Wide Glides. The problem is I don't necessarily want a Harley because I don't want my teeth and pockets to shake out before I turn 40.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[jhuckle]

The Stryker is my first bike & I wouldn't want anything smaller & I'm about 100 lbs lighter than you.

 

[ssgtbarnes]

Any dealer worth a **** should allow you to do a test ride. If your dealer is telling you no, then I suggest you look elsewhere because there are plenty that will. You wouldn't purchase a car without doing a test drive and this is inherently more of a safety issue in regards to comfort. This is my second bike but first cruiser and like you I wanted to feel the bike on the road before I decided to buy. I gave my dealership a call and they had one fueled and waiting on me that afternoon. The salesman told me he wouldn't even talk numbers with me until I had ridden - they are all about riders being comfortable on what they purchase.

As far as being too much bike for a first time rider, this conversation can go so many ways it's unreal. Some will maintain that a smaller size is better for beginners so they can "grow into" the power as their confidence / abilities increase. Personally, I think it's up to you not only because you're the one writing the check, but you need to be comfortable on what you ride and you are the only one that can determine this. Bottom line: push until you get a test ride and if it feels good, go with it. I would recommend riding several different bikes (you mentioned the V-Stars) to make sure.

Hope this helps a bit brother and good luck. I've enjoyed the **** out of my Stryker and ride every chance I get. Hope to see you on here as a fellow Stryker rider!

 

[LLRayRay]

Stryker is my first bike and I absolutely love it. My dealer had a raven they used to demo so I was able to test ride before I purchased mine. I am 6'3" 250 and the Stryker has more than enough power for me.

 

[11Stryker]

http://www.yamahastarstryker.com/index.php/topic,148.0.html

 

[bigboi18184]

My first bike was a 1999 CBR F4 about 5 years ago, then went through another 3 or 4 of the CBR F4i (fuel injected) sport bikes.

I think the stryker would be a good first bike, the weight may a little awkward at first since it's over 600lb's but I got used to it pretty fast.

 

[acepilot2007]

Same as some of the others. The Stryker was my first bike. I never even rode dirt bikes or anything else. Took the MSF beginner course over a weekend and picked up my Stryker the following Tuesday. Planned on sitting in the parking lot and doing the same "friction zone" drills for the clutch to get used to it before ridding away. Let off of the clutch the first time and went home. Don't worry about people saying you should work your way up. Like it was said earlier, you're paying for it. Get what you like even if you think it might be "too much bike"

 

[xarnthal]

Same as some of the others. The Stryker was my first bike. I never even rode dirt bikes or anything else. Took the MSF beginner course over a weekend and picked up my Stryker the following Tuesday. Planned on sitting in the parking lot and doing the same "friction zone" drills for the clutch to get used to it before ridding away. Let off of the clutch the first time and went home. Don't worry about people saying you should work your way up. Like it was said earlier, you're paying for it. Get what you like even if you think it might be "too much bike"

So you had never taken a test ride before buying? That is the biggest concern for me is the friction zone getting into first gear. I understand the weight will be something I haven't handled yet, but no matter what bike I get I'll have that issue. I went to a 2nd Yamaha dealer today and they also have stopped doing demos at their shop. I'm about to just go buy one and learn on the fly. I know I'm comfortable on the bike from sittin on it compared to others and I won't know if it's comfortable on long rides for me unless I buy one anyways.
My other dilemma is they have a new red/black Stryker for 10,200 and a new red/black Raider for 11,120... Decisions decisions

 

[schimbo stryker]

Its my first bike and I didn't drive it before I bought

 

[disgruntled0311]

My Stryker was my first bike and I learned how to ride it when I took it home from the dealer. I was sweatin bullets for about 5 min. After that, no problem.

 

[Strykeback]

xarnthal I agree with the other post in that if a dealer will not let you take test rides I would look for another dealer that will. Maybe that one will not have the color combo you want but you need to test ride before you buy.

Like you I just got my license and have been shopping. I have test ridden a Stryker and Raider as well as rented a 2012 Harley Deluxe for the weekend which has the new 103 motor (had to get my riding fix and break in that virgin license) . IMHO the Stryker is 1300 is very manageble for new rider. One dealer told me if he sold me the smaller 650 cruiser they had I would be back in a year bored asking "What's next?" The Raider is very powerful but I was not as intimitated as I thought I would be after ripping through the gears on test drive. The Raider is bigger bike overall and more stretch out compared to the Stryker. For my 5'10 frame I did not feel like I had as much control of the bike even though there is just over a 100lb difference. I got back on the Stryker after the Raider ride and felt like I had been riding it for months it was just more natural for me. The same dealer that made the comment about the 650 told me he recommended the Stryker for a new rider over the Raider. He said too many guys with no riding experience come in and insist on getting the bigger bike so they have the braggin rights but find out they do not like ridding because the bike is too much to manuever. He said he wanted to find an excuses to ride and not excuses to not to ride.

So yeah I think the Stryker will be a perfect bike for a first bike as it will be mine for sure. Oh yeah by the way the Stryker is rated for 450lbs so can you still put a hot 120lb 5'10" 23 year old blonde on the back with capacity to spare!

 

[Mentat Ix]

Its a nice sentiment to keep looking for one to test ride, but I can tell you that no dealership in my area does test rides because of the liability issues. I bought the Stryker without riding it. The yamaha website does have a feature that helps you find the nearest dealership to you that does allow test rides; for me it was 3 or 4 hours out.

I've gone through quite a few bikes, and I don't think this one would be a "bad" starter bike. It's certainly harder to ride than your average 250. Not much different than the VStar 650 I had, though, if I remember right. It was several years between those two. I had a Honda Shadow 700 till last year, too - not really much difference there either.

So, I guess what I would say is, if you're extremely worried about the learning curve or accident prone, get a CBR250 or a Rebel or even the Ninja 650 - they are much easier to ride. If you can ride a dirtbike competently, though, I wouldn't worry about it. Get what you want and roll with it.

 

[Mentat Ix]

http://www.yamahastarstryker.com/index.php/topic,148.0.html

What the heck man; that's not even the same topic.

 

[2670]

Its my first bike and I didn't drive it before I bought

Me, too. I had ridden before a little, but this was my first ownership experience. Saw it, bought it, put it on a trailer, and rode it once I got into an area that I knew.

No problem starting on the Stryker. Go for it....but take it slowly in the beginning

 

[xarnthal]

Ended up buying, never did get a chance to test ride. I can say that the Stryker is way more friendly than the little 250 I rode in the MSF class.
I picked my raven '12 up saturday morning and trucked it home in my pickup. Put 170 miles on it since then it is for sure a fantastic first bike for someone my size, had a blast riding around and got a lot of compliments on it when I went to the local fair.
Thanks for the advice all and if someone were to ask me, as long as you're confident you can control the bike when you sit on it than everything else will come easy.

 

[jproos]

Ended up buying, never did get a chance to test ride. I can say that the Stryker is way more friendly than the little 250 I rode in the MSF class.
I picked my raven '12 up saturday morning and trucked it home in my pickup. Put 170 miles on it since then it is for sure a fantastic first bike for someone my size, had a blast riding around and got a lot of compliments on it when I went to the local fair.
Thanks for the advice all and if someone were to ask me, as long as you're confident you can control the bike when you sit on it than everything else will come easy.

I'm late to the party but my thoughts on this are that if you're aware of your skill/experience level enough to be asking the question then you'd probably be ok on just about anything because you'll likely ride inside your limits. Knowing your limits is a tremendously valuable skill that not everyone possesses.

 

[kakarot]

My first bike ever as well.... For the money, I think it's he perfect balance of looks/performance. 1300 is big enough for sure, but the Stryker is a low bike.... So just make sure you feel good on it. You could pop on the pipes/computer/intake and still be cheaper....then the 1800.

I love my Stryker, I'm very happy it caught my eye when I was buying a lawn mower

 

[deputystryker]

A 650???

This was also my first ever bike ridding adventure, I always rode 4 wheelers. I bought my bike before i even had my motorcycle license. I purchased my bike and i let my friend ride it back to my house.... It was 40 degree's outside if i recall. I was in his car with the heater on. The ride from the dealership back to my house was 45 minutes, so my friend was frozen when we got back.
Ive been behind the wheel ever sense. I let a couple of my motorcycle riding friends ride it time to time and i ride their bike.

 

[bigboi18184]

A 650???

This was also my first ever bike ridding adventure, I always rode 4 wheelers. I bought my bike before i even had my motorcycle license. I purchased my bike and i let my friend ride it back to my house.... It was 40 degree's outside if i recall. I was in his car with the heater on. The ride from the dealership back to my house was 45 minutes, so my friend was frozen when we got back.
Ive been behind the wheel ever sense. I let a couple of my motorcycle riding friends ride it time to time and i ride their bike.

Most people will recommend a smaller bike for your first because they are lighter and easier to handle. However every time I have had a friend get the smaller bike that was recommended they usually sale it and get the larger bike within a few months.

I would recommend doing the O2 sensor mod too, b/c in first and second the bike has a jumpy throttle. Just search O2 mod, haven't got around to doing mine yet but will be getting a lot done in two weeks when i go on vacation.

 

[Voltage]

Ended up buying, never did get a chance to test ride. I can say that the Stryker is way more friendly than the little 250 I rode in the MSF class.
I picked my raven '12 up saturday morning and trucked it home in my pickup. Put 170 miles on it since then it is for sure a fantastic first bike for someone my size, had a blast riding around and got a lot of compliments on it when I went to the local fair.
Thanks for the advice all and if someone were to ask me, as long as you're confident you can control the bike when you sit on it than everything else will come easy.

I'm late to the party but my thoughts on this are that if you're aware of your skill/experience level enough to be asking the question then you'd probably be ok on just about anything because you'll likely ride inside your limits. Knowing your limits is a tremendously valuable skill that not everyone possesses.

+1
Stay within your limits and you'll be fine. Your limits will change with expierence nad the ride will only get better