I am now on my second bike. My first was a '83 Yamaha Virago. I got the bike in March of 1996 shortly after completing the MSF basic rider course. The course is more than just how to operate the clutch, shifter, throttle and the like. It also teaches you how ride smart and stay safe on the street. Completion of the course in California waives the driving portion of the DMV license test. All you have to do is take the written test (which the MSF course also preps you for) and you get your license.
Since I'm of a vertically challenged nature (i.e short) it's hard finding a bike where my legs will reach the ground. The cruiser style of bike is one that easily fits me. The '83 Virago is technically considered a cruiser, but the early models of the Virago ('81 to '85) were more of a cross between a standard and a cruiser. Newer models now reflect the traditional crusier styling. The resource that was of a lot of help in finding my first bike was Home of the Short Bikers which included two very valuable things: The Short Bike List and the SBL FAQ The Short Bike List is a list of bikes appropiate for short people grouped by height. The SBL FAQ contains tips and tricks for shorties in handling bikes that might seem to be too tall for short riders. The SBL list was very helpful in finding that first bike.
Unfortunately, the bike didn't last too long. The engine died within a thousand miles of me owning it. However, the bike was only $650 and was meant more to make sure i wanted to get into motorcycling. I got what I wanted out of it. It was fun to ride, I learned a lot about motorcycles and motorcycle maintenance. I had to get another bike.
I then spent about 8 months looking for a new bike. I tried various different bikes, including a new '96 750 Virago, but finances didn't work out for that one. I also looked at getting a Ninja 250, a Suzuki GPZ550 and a Yamaha Radian. Nothing seemed to fit me. I could ride them fine, they just weren't the bike for me for various reasons.
Well, at the end of May '97 my search ended. I ended up getting this: a '93 Yamaha Seca II. I had thought the bike was a little too tall for me, but I went for a ride and was hooked. It's a bit taller the than the Virago, but not excessively so. When I have both feet on the ground, I'm more or less balanced on my tippy toes, but if i shift myself around, i can get one foot more or less completely on the ground, and for most things, that's all you need. I am contemplating getting a new seat made for it from Corbin Seats which should lower the seat height by an inch or so.
