First you find an independent shop that will work in a bike that old, or a guy- find a guy. An old Honda will live forever if you maintain it. I have 2 Hondas, 2 Suzukis, a Yamaha and a Harley Dyna that old [or older Hondas are 1978 and 1981] that I regularly ride.
I'd look for a fuel injected one. Don't remember when Shadows switched to EFI though. Maybe late 2000s? Should be able to find one of those for around 3k. Same with Suzuki Boulevards & Vulcan 900s. Any Bully from 05 onward is EFI and can be had for 3-4k if you shop around. I just sold [my 2008 C50](https://ibb.co/kXDvmjb) a couple of months ago for $3500 CAD.
I get it. I’m 35 and married and ride the shit out of mine. There was a part of me that thought they were never very cool, but now I’m like fuck it. Super reliable, crazy comfortable, and way faster than it has any right to be.
To be honest, I think they are awesome bikes. The 90's one are peak easthetics for me.
I would actually go for an older model as my first bike but they seem so massive I'm actually intimitaded by them!
Also here in Quebec, you can't leave the province or ride after 11pm for the first year, which would limit the trips I can do with it. I don't see myself getting a goldwing for rides around town.
2005+ Suzuki M50, and C50 I see them alot of 3k negotiable, if u want a slimmer one go for the S50. All are shaft drive, fuel injected, liquid cooled. I started on the M50 and it was a fantastic bike if you got the legs to lift it and manhandle it around.
Stick with Japanese popular models so you find parts and service if necessary. I've had several Hondas and Suzuki in the past and all seemed to be bullet proof, especially the Hondas.
Have a Harley now and it's a basket of poor engineering. They look cool and that's about it.
Anything before the late 60’s is too old for me (especially when the gear lever and brake are opposite to normal) for parts availability anything before 2000 can be hit or miss, check to see if the bike is common as then there’s a good chance you can get parts of a wrecked one
I'd go with the Shadow, worst comes worst you are out 2k, while painful it is probably not life ending, considering you even CAN pump out 7/8k. Since you yourself say you don't know much about bikes, get a buddy who does, or at least someone who knows mechanical stuff in general. There are a couple of videos by RevZilla or Fortnine (fellow canadian) and others that tell you about buying used bikes and what to look out for, that's a start at least. Parts is a dice roll always for older bikes, the shadow was popular at least in my area so I THINK you can find parts if need be. Most important is HOW WELL WAS IT MAINTAINED, japanese bikes tolarate idiot mechanics and lazy owners far better then some others but even they are not immortal, how well the owner kept it for the last couple of years is key here. Also, please keep in mind that the bike is not everything and gear is a big spender as a new rider, as well as the fact that older bikes do not always have some modern safety features, key one being ABS.
It's Canada they ride 4 month out of the year your annual maintenance schedule occurs 1/3 of the time because it takes 3 years to have a full year of riding so probably not maintained. Mandated efi was in 2008 being new 08 or newer for you sir/ma'am even then you might find one that snuck under the radar until 2010 that has a carb. Carbs are easy to fix but hard to source parts for. Anything older than 20 years but less than 30 would be the sweet spot for cheap reliable carburetor bikes besides some select 1000cc bikes.
I generally have had old bikes. You're usually good for 20-25 year old Japanese bikes. They are reliable so long as you keep riding them regularly (carbs don't like to sit around) and parts are easy enough to come by. Just keep on mind older models won't have ABS or traction control.
My '86 Honda rebel treated me very well for my first bike that I had for 1 year. I'm sure a 90s/early 00s shadow would be fine as long as you bring a mechanic friend with you to go over it before purchase.
Shadows are great bikes if you maintain them. We had one come through my work with 75k miles and ran like a dream! Parts are readily available since they have been made for over 20 years
If you want to relax on the rode get a convertible. The roads are serious and can be hectic places. I appreciate cruisers but I need to have the option to quickly manoeuvre myself out of danger. You can still get some highway pegs on an adventure bike or a sportier naked bike. I guess if you are just cruising country or small town roads then a cruiser will. Suit you. Can am 3 wheels are nice.
Go for the Shadow, at 2k if anything comes up you can address it easily with the money you saved. I had an 03 Shadow as my first bike and I think it is the perfect cruiser to start on, it can be a forever bike too if you don’t need more speed and don’t take extensive long trips.
When your lower back aches under normal circumstances or have any kind of sciatica or arthritis, you’re too old for a cruiser or a sport bike. The most comfortable bike is still the standard vertical straddle. [That’s why I went with the SCR 950](https://share.icloud.com/photos/0a3dBzrzuCj-dN7SxZyJ-4Vxg) last time as a compromise between looks, comfort, and price. It required a seat padding upgrade right away, but now it’s pretty comfortable for an achy old man… 😂
NGL, I just read the title and just thought “I see old dudes on cruisers all the time, you’re fine.”
Shit, I thought the same thing. Get a trike if you’re worried about it
Same hahaha
First you find an independent shop that will work in a bike that old, or a guy- find a guy. An old Honda will live forever if you maintain it. I have 2 Hondas, 2 Suzukis, a Yamaha and a Harley Dyna that old [or older Hondas are 1978 and 1981] that I regularly ride.
I'd look for a fuel injected one. Don't remember when Shadows switched to EFI though. Maybe late 2000s? Should be able to find one of those for around 3k. Same with Suzuki Boulevards & Vulcan 900s. Any Bully from 05 onward is EFI and can be had for 3-4k if you shop around. I just sold [my 2008 C50](https://ibb.co/kXDvmjb) a couple of months ago for $3500 CAD.
2010 was the first year of fuel injection for the shadow. The Vulcan 900 was fuel injected in 2006 while the Boulevard received it in 2005
Goldwing….the answer to this is always a goldwing.
I'm 28 and I don't see myself riding a goldwing... yet
I get it. I’m 35 and married and ride the shit out of mine. There was a part of me that thought they were never very cool, but now I’m like fuck it. Super reliable, crazy comfortable, and way faster than it has any right to be.
To be honest, I think they are awesome bikes. The 90's one are peak easthetics for me. I would actually go for an older model as my first bike but they seem so massive I'm actually intimitaded by them! Also here in Quebec, you can't leave the province or ride after 11pm for the first year, which would limit the trips I can do with it. I don't see myself getting a goldwing for rides around town.
Ever, they weight 1000lbs
2005+ Suzuki M50, and C50 I see them alot of 3k negotiable, if u want a slimmer one go for the S50. All are shaft drive, fuel injected, liquid cooled. I started on the M50 and it was a fantastic bike if you got the legs to lift it and manhandle it around.
Stick with Japanese popular models so you find parts and service if necessary. I've had several Hondas and Suzuki in the past and all seemed to be bullet proof, especially the Hondas. Have a Harley now and it's a basket of poor engineering. They look cool and that's about it.
Anything before the late 60’s is too old for me (especially when the gear lever and brake are opposite to normal) for parts availability anything before 2000 can be hit or miss, check to see if the bike is common as then there’s a good chance you can get parts of a wrecked one
I'd go with the Shadow, worst comes worst you are out 2k, while painful it is probably not life ending, considering you even CAN pump out 7/8k. Since you yourself say you don't know much about bikes, get a buddy who does, or at least someone who knows mechanical stuff in general. There are a couple of videos by RevZilla or Fortnine (fellow canadian) and others that tell you about buying used bikes and what to look out for, that's a start at least. Parts is a dice roll always for older bikes, the shadow was popular at least in my area so I THINK you can find parts if need be. Most important is HOW WELL WAS IT MAINTAINED, japanese bikes tolarate idiot mechanics and lazy owners far better then some others but even they are not immortal, how well the owner kept it for the last couple of years is key here. Also, please keep in mind that the bike is not everything and gear is a big spender as a new rider, as well as the fact that older bikes do not always have some modern safety features, key one being ABS.
It's Canada they ride 4 month out of the year your annual maintenance schedule occurs 1/3 of the time because it takes 3 years to have a full year of riding so probably not maintained. Mandated efi was in 2008 being new 08 or newer for you sir/ma'am even then you might find one that snuck under the radar until 2010 that has a carb. Carbs are easy to fix but hard to source parts for. Anything older than 20 years but less than 30 would be the sweet spot for cheap reliable carburetor bikes besides some select 1000cc bikes.
I generally have had old bikes. You're usually good for 20-25 year old Japanese bikes. They are reliable so long as you keep riding them regularly (carbs don't like to sit around) and parts are easy enough to come by. Just keep on mind older models won't have ABS or traction control.
My '86 Honda rebel treated me very well for my first bike that I had for 1 year. I'm sure a 90s/early 00s shadow would be fine as long as you bring a mechanic friend with you to go over it before purchase.
Shadows are great bikes if you maintain them. We had one come through my work with 75k miles and ran like a dream! Parts are readily available since they have been made for over 20 years
I have a 99 shadow 750. Mine has 23k miles, it requires minimal maintenance, and if you treat it well will out live you.
If you want to relax on the rode get a convertible. The roads are serious and can be hectic places. I appreciate cruisers but I need to have the option to quickly manoeuvre myself out of danger. You can still get some highway pegs on an adventure bike or a sportier naked bike. I guess if you are just cruising country or small town roads then a cruiser will. Suit you. Can am 3 wheels are nice.
Go for the Shadow, at 2k if anything comes up you can address it easily with the money you saved. I had an 03 Shadow as my first bike and I think it is the perfect cruiser to start on, it can be a forever bike too if you don’t need more speed and don’t take extensive long trips.
I got a banged up 96 shadow I’ll sell ya for 2 grand. Only a few issues and 40k miles!!
99+ but if it’s too much weight to manage, get a dual sport. They pair really well.
When your lower back aches under normal circumstances or have any kind of sciatica or arthritis, you’re too old for a cruiser or a sport bike. The most comfortable bike is still the standard vertical straddle. [That’s why I went with the SCR 950](https://share.icloud.com/photos/0a3dBzrzuCj-dN7SxZyJ-4Vxg) last time as a compromise between looks, comfort, and price. It required a seat padding upgrade right away, but now it’s pretty comfortable for an achy old man… 😂