Not sure if buy this 454

[educator]

Hi everybody:

I'm a wannabe rider, never rode anything larger than 70cc, but want to buy a 454 LTD to use to commute and cruise. There's a 90's one, mileage unkown cause odometer is not working, it's not starting because it's been sitting for a while now, transmission shift is loose and not working, and last time the owner parked it after using, it was heating because saw a bit of steam coming from the radiator.

Anyways, the mechanic who accompanied me to see it told me not buy, since most likely I would have to invest and invest, and things would keep damaging since its an old bike. And also that I live in Dominican Republic where there are no parts for that bike.(I can buy online from the US though).

Spite all that, I'm in love with the bike and would like to know what any of you 454 riders recommend.

[eaglerider]

Honest opinion...it takes some work to get a bike up an running right, and keeping it that way. Most parts for the 454 are no longer made, and used parts are getting costly and sometimes hard to find. Being a "new" rider on a bike bigger than a 70cc, you are likely to take a spill or two in the learning process. If you have little to no mecanical ability, and due to the sometimes difficulity in obtaining parts where you are, it would be my advise to find a later model, better condition bike other than the 454. This engine is not like other bike engines, like the Honda or others, it runs different, has very high RPM that the others do not have.