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jeremyc · 05-23-2009, 07:11 AM

I've been riding a Shadow 600 for one year and have recently been shopping to upgrade to a bigger bike. I've found two bikes for sale by private individuals near where I live and having trouble deciding which one to make an offer on:

2002 Shadow ACE 750 - 15K miles, tons of accessories (windshield, light bar and spotlights, cobra exhaust, cobra jet kit, driver floor boards, mustang seat, lockable bags), awesome custom paint job and 2 matching helmets. Some rust here and there on the heads of some bolts, some rust spots on the kuryakyn grips, and generally a bit dirty. Very comfortable ride. Some engine sputtering - the seller said it had been parked for 2-3 weeks.

2002 Suzuki Volusia 800 - 16 K miles, windshield, floor boards, lockable bags). Immaculate condition. The only two things of note on the ride were it felt like the brakes needed some attention and the seat was not comfortable.

Any advice on which one might be the best choice? Both are asking $3500. The Shadow is chain driven and the Volusia is shaft driven. How much weight should that have on the decision?

Any advice or hints would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading and ride safe!
J

MOKE1K · 05-23-2009, 07:36 AM

I like the VL800 Suzuki. Both bikes are carburated. The shaft will be less maintanance? I d go for the one thats in the best shape, simply because they have around the same milage? Both great bikes.Good luck!

The_AirHawk · 05-23-2009, 08:57 AM

I would avoid anything that has obvious carb issues, unless you like working on them.

Not that it's really all that complicated - but it's usually a PITA and can overwhelm an aspiring home-mechanic. And if you're wrenching, you're not riding.

seruzawa · 05-23-2009, 08:57 AM

From what I've seen I think the Suzuki has more oomph than the Honda. Better on the freeways.

Dr_Sprocket · 05-23-2009, 06:14 PM

I like the look of the Honda A.C.E better than the Suzuki. However, I would chose the bike in the best physical condition, given that they have roughly the same mileage. Good luck with the decision!

vtxalltheway · 05-23-2009, 07:55 PM

I'm Honda. Honda's have a track record of being able to "go a lifetime". The Suzuki is not bad, but the Honda would be a better deal. Either way, pick the best condition, but the Honda is gonna be cheaper, easier and will last longer.

newagetwotone · 05-23-2009, 09:13 PM

Wait, what??

jeremyc · 05-24-2009, 10:27 AM

Thank you all very much for your input. I went with the Volusia and am very pleased. I love my little Shadow, but I'm very excited about my new ride!

Kenneth_Moore · 05-24-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremyc

Thank you all very much for your input. I went with the Volusia and am very pleased. I love my little Shadow, but I'm very excited about my new ride!

Good call. You gotta figure if the Honda guy wouldn't bother to clean up his bike to sell it, he probably treated it like crap overall.

My neighbor got a brand new Volusia a couple of months ago. It's a decent looking cruiser, except for an extremely wide rear fender. I mean a like 240 tire sized rear fender, with a 160 that looks really weird in there. Wonder why they did that...

05-23-2009, 07:11 AM	#1
jeremyc Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3	Some advice on a purchase I've been riding a Shadow 600 for one year and have recently been shopping to upgrade to a bigger bike. I've found two bikes for sale by private individuals near where I live and having trouble deciding which one to make an offer on: 2002 Shadow ACE 750 - 15K miles, tons of accessories (windshield, light bar and spotlights, cobra exhaust, cobra jet kit, driver floor boards, mustang seat, lockable bags), awesome custom paint job and 2 matching helmets. Some rust here and there on the heads of some bolts, some rust spots on the kuryakyn grips, and generally a bit dirty. Very comfortable ride. Some engine sputtering - the seller said it had been parked for 2-3 weeks. 2002 Suzuki Volusia 800 - 16 K miles, windshield, floor boards, lockable bags). Immaculate condition. The only two things of note on the ride were it felt like the brakes needed some attention and the seat was not comfortable. Any advice on which one might be the best choice? Both are asking $3500. The Shadow is chain driven and the Volusia is shaft driven. How much weight should that have on the decision? Any advice or hints would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading and ride safe! J Last edited by jeremyc : 05-23-2009 at 07:12 AM. Reason: added asking price

05-23-2009, 07:36 AM	#2
MOKE1K Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kalapana, Big Island Posts: 3,956	I like the VL800 Suzuki. Both bikes are carburated. The shaft will be less maintanance? I d go for the one thats in the best shape, simply because they have around the same milage? Both great bikes.Good luck! __________________ "YOU CAN'T BOLT ON SKILL" "The only thing limiting your bike, is you" We survived Bush you'll survive Obama! "the most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." --thomas sowell

05-23-2009, 08:57 AM	#3
The_AirHawk Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Livin' in a Van: down by the Mariana Trench Posts: 10,891	I would avoid anything that has obvious carb issues, unless you like working on them. Not that it's really all that complicated - but it's usually a PITA and can overwhelm an aspiring home-mechanic. And if you're wrenching, you're not riding. __________________ *Parfois, on fait pas semblant* Sometimes, it's not pretend Oderint Dum Metuant Let them hate so long as they fear политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

05-23-2009, 08:57 AM	#4
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	From what I've seen I think the Suzuki has more oomph than the Honda. Better on the freeways. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.

05-23-2009, 06:14 PM	#5
Dr_Sprocket Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delmarva Peninsula Posts: 2,331	I like the look of the Honda A.C.E better than the Suzuki. However, I would chose the bike in the best physical condition, given that they have roughly the same mileage. Good luck with the decision! __________________ "Aid to the helpless indigent is civilized. Aid to the irresponsible is socially corrosive." ----- Schizuki (c. 2011)

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05-23-2009, 07:55 PM	#6
vtxalltheway Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 3	I'm Honda. Honda's have a track record of being able to "go a lifetime". The Suzuki is not bad, but the Honda would be a better deal. Either way, pick the best condition, but the Honda is gonna be cheaper, easier and will last longer.

05-23-2009, 09:13 PM	#7
newagetwotone Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,302	Wait, what??

05-24-2009, 10:27 AM	#8
jeremyc Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3	Thank you all very much for your input. I went with the Volusia and am very pleased. I love my little Shadow, but I'm very excited about my new ride!