Bike for 16 year old.

Davey1965

Davey1965

Joined
Apr 22, 2017
Messages
68
Location
Louisburg, Kansas
Bike
2004 ST1300
What would be a good older bike to get my son so he could do short trips with me...less than 300 miles overnight trips.. he is 5'9"...he does have experience on a KLR650...I want shaft drive...something that can do 75mph all day...something simple and low maintence. ..he likes this 1984 Nighthawk 700S.....what do you guys think ?
 
I always point an novice/non-veteran rider to a Suzuki SV650. I think the "S" has a small fairing. Nimble, reliable, quick enough but not vicious fast to get in over his head in a pressure/panic situation.

But it does not have shaft drive. I'm not sure which older mid-size bikes have shaft drive.
 
Love the Nighthawk 700S. Had a red white and blue one 15 years ago. Hydraulic valves, basic in line four, shaft drive. Sporty seating position. Will keep up with you no problem. They resell easy too.

ToddC
 
Post 2009 KLR 650, cheap, simple, reliable, easy to work on, tough as nails, can go anywhere. I love mine.
The chain drive is a non-issue with modern chains and requires minimal care. A good x-ring chain and sprockets will last over 20k miles.
Parts and accessories abound, as well as expertise on several forums.
 
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With the exception of our ST's, I wouldn't look at anything older than 10 years, or you'll run into problems sourcing parts, and spend more time wrenching than riding.
Look around and find a Honda 750 Nighthawk. They are bulletproof, easy to work on, and parts are still readily available.
The Suzuki SV650 recommended above is also a good choice. If you want smaller, you can pick up the Honda 250 Nighthawks from schools for next to nothing and they are pretty reliable.
 
How much does he weigh? A really large 16 y/o would need a higher cc bike, but not a bike like a 1300. If the power is there, the boy will use it and without experience and maturity, we can hope he doesn't get hurt. Think about the power to weight ratio and consider the bikes in that range. Height is one thing, but weight, athletic and riding ability should all be considered. My $0.02
 
Davey1965 said:
What would be a good older bike to get my son so he could do short trips with me...less than 300 miles overnight trips.. he is 5'9"...he does have experience on a KLR650...I want shaft drive...something that can do 75mph all day...something simple and low maintence. ..he likes this 1984 Nighthawk 700S.....what do you guys think ?
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You didn't mention what kind of riding you'll be doing. Canyon carving, backroad touring, highway cruising, etc. Has a lot to do with what you'll get.
 
If he is a capable rider already and 5'9" --why not buy him a good used ST1300? Get a set of Sena20 communication devices so you can coach him and help keep him safe. If he can ride a smaller bike--he can handle the 1300. My son just turned 18 and this is what I am about to do (except we have the JM CB radios already)
 
jonjonboo said:
If he is a capable rider already and 5'9" --why not buy him a good used ST1300? Get a set of Sena20 communication devices so you can coach him and help keep him safe. If he can ride a smaller bike--he can handle the 1300. My son just turned 18 and this is what I am about to do (except we have the JM CB radios already)
Click to expand...

I agree, though the ST has a lot of power for a 16 yr old. Really depends how mature, and what kind of rider he is. There are a LOT of guys riding old Moto Guzzi's. I'm talking about mid 70's bikes and newer. They will go upwards of 200k miles, are bulletproof, can cruise all day long at supralegal speeds, some have linked braking systems, shaft drive, and parts are still available (even if dealers are thinly spread). Even better, these are naked bikes and can be repaired at the side of the road because they are relatively simple.

If shaft drive is a must have, look at the newer Guzzi's. There is a national organization, rallies, and many groups having monthly breakfasts. In many ways, MGNOC is a lot like what we have with ST's - only its older.
 
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If the 84 Nighthawk is mechanically sound you already have a good ride for your son, Biggest downfall is the bike's smallish fuel tank,and lack of decent wind protection. My older boys first long trip with me was with his 650 nighthawk. Granted it was only four years old at the time and he was eighteen. We crossed Pa. on interstate 80 into NY then returned on Pa rt 6. Camping at our little grand canyon. It was a three day 1000 mile trip.
 

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Keep riding the shadow. Not a lot of choices for a shaft drive mid size bike. No new ones that I know of. My son has gone on lots of trips with me on a 650 single BMW.
 
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If you can live with a chain drive, I'd cast a vote for the Wee Strom DL650. Maybe one of the easiest bikes to ride that I've ridden as it knows where to go before you do. Mild mannered at lower rpms but able to run if you wind it up. Bullet proof engine design and just plain reliable.

It's what Della has learned on and we've traveled across the country with it for weeks on end. Same or better fuel range than my Tenere AND it can also do light off road riding to explore gravel roads. If I was on the student budget plan, it would be my only bike.
 
I haven't seen anyone else suggest a VStrom 650 so here it is. I loved mine and many times wish I had kept it instead of getting the ST. Very easy to ride and enough power to keep up on the interstate 2 up. Mine had ABS and a Sargent seat so it was all day comfortable.

Oops, how did I miss the post directly ahead of me?
 
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If he likes the custom style, why not a Suzuki Boulevard M50? 800cc, shaft drive, relatively cheap, fuel injected and comfortable for whole day rides and not bad looking.

It has more oomph than a Honda Shadow (but not too much for an unexperienced rider), handles well for a cruiser and is quite reliable/low maintenance.
suz50s_xl+2005_suzuki_boulevard_m50+ride_right_view.jpeg.jpg
 
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