Cheap/Inexpensive sport bikes or motorcycles?

[Connor]

I am looking for a bike for the summer and then to keep. I have about 1500 to spend give or take and I have been looking around Craigslist but it is an open abyss if you don't know what to look for. I'm not like looking for a super bike or anything really fast but if its the right price, sure. My friend had a 1982 Honda something that had an 80mph limit but was really fun to drive. I have been looking at Honda's and some are nice but is there any other good makes or models out there? I like the "cruiser" or "touring" bike style but I am open to a chopper or sport bike if one came along. Looking for advice on where to find anything or what to look for. Please help!

 

[Tex]

I'm a big fan of the honda shadows. I have an 87 VT700C and an 07 VT750DC. The 07 looks better but the 87 is more comfortable and runs and drives better.

 

[AaronB]

Honda Rebel 450
Honda Magna 500 or 750
Yamaha Virago

Try oodles.com or motorcycletrader.com. Keep looking and be patient. My friend picked up a 1200 CC '85 Goldwing that has carried him all over Florida for the last 5 months after his truck quit. He only paid $1,500 so just keep an eye out. There are good deals out there. Probably not a sport bike just because they are designed to be run really hard. A good used cruiser should be well within your budget. My first ride was a Honda Magna 500 CC ride and I only paid $1,000 and got 47,000 miles out of it.

 

[MadJack]

With your limited budget the bike will be somewhat old. Late 80's or early 90's.

Lots of possibilities. Don't get too hung up on any particular make. All of the major Japanese makes will be comparable in both quality and performance. Condition should be more important to you than the manufacturer with such an old bike, as long as you stay with the name brand bikes.

You appear to like cruisers.

Some suggestions

Suzuki Intruder 700 or 800
Suzuki Savage
Honda Shadow series
Kawasaki Vulcan series
Yamaha Virago series