A bike choice question
in [Motorcycles]
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From: The Older Gentleman on 29 Jul 2010 18:19 dusty <hard.rider(a)the.big.roundup.com> wrote: > Thanx for the suggestion. I've had a look at the XT and noted it's > scarcity in my region. Aside from that I can't say I care for it's > look nor it's saddle. I could see me sliding off that without a prob > on a power take-off. I'm only 5'8" so would gravitate more to a > low-rider. Something like a 84-02Honda Shadow or Nighthawk or a Yam > Virago or maybe a VStar. OK. I thought you wanted a bit more off-road (or unmade road) ability. -- BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Triumph Street Triple Honda CB400F Suzuki TS250 Suzuki GN250 chateaudotmurrayatidnetdotcom Nothing damages a machine more than an ignoramus with a manual, a can-do attitude and a set of cheap tools
From: The Older Gentleman on 29 Jul 2010 18:19 BryanUT <nestle12(a)comcast.net> wrote: > On Jul 29, 12:38 am, dusty <hard.ri...(a)the.big.roundup.com> wrote: > > > > I haven't been keeping up with the industry since the early nineties > > so I'm wondering if there are any model suggestions out there? > > > > Thanks. > > BMW 650: > > http://www.bmw-motorrad.ca/En/model.php?model=G650GS *Very* good call. -- BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Triumph Street Triple Honda CB400F Suzuki TS250 Suzuki GN250 chateaudotmurrayatidnetdotcom Nothing damages a machine more than an ignoramus with a manual, a can-do attitude and a set of cheap tools
From: BryanUT on 29 Jul 2010 18:40 On Jul 29, 4:19 pm, totallydeadmail...(a)yahoo.co.uk (The Older Gentleman) wrote: > BryanUT <nestl...(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > On Jul 29, 12:38 am, dusty <hard.ri...(a)the.big.roundup.com> wrote: > > > > I haven't been keeping up with the industry since the early nineties > > > so I'm wondering if there are any model suggestions out there? > > > > Thanks. > > > BMW 650: > > >http://www.bmw-motorrad.ca/En/model.php?model=G650GS > > *Very* good call. > Too be honest, I've heard that the older ones are better since BMW started outsourcing the engine manufacture to Asia. I really have no experience other than window shopping a few years ago. I believe Mark O. rode one in Italy a few years back and gave it a thumbs up. I could see myself riding one.
From: don (Calgary) on 29 Jul 2010 19:20 On Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:28:02 -0300, dusty <hard.rider(a)the.big.roundup.com> wrote: > >That just means I'll be seeing and photographing it both ways. :) >There won't be any turning around until after I've been as high as I >can get on the Rockies, with my bike, first. Looking forward to it. If you are looking for the highest paved highway in Canada that would be The Highwood Pass in Alberta's Kananaskis Country. One of our favorite local rides is The 40 Loop, which takes us over the Highwood Pass. Here is a map of the route. http://actualriders.ca/dicerun.htm Check out the map and you will see a town called Black Diamond, The hotel there has a terrific bar where you can wear that stetson. It was redone a few years back for a Clint Eastwood western movie. I can't recall which one. Anyway the Black Diamond Hotel is a favorite biker stop. Here is a taste of what you will see in the Alberta and BC Rockies http://actualriders.ca/cc2007.htm > >I'll let you know when I'm heading out. Maybe let you buy me a beer in >a cowboy bar or someplace I can wear the stetson I'll be picking up >there on the way through. :) I've been east from here to Europe and >Africa but never west beyond Thunderbay, Ont. If you ever make it out this way please look me up. I'd be glad to give you a tour of some of our favorite riding roads.
From: dusty on 29 Jul 2010 22:22
On Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:18:45 -0700 (PDT), "?" <breoganmacbrath(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >On Jul 29, 1:48�pm, dusty <hard.ri...(a)the.big.roundup.com> wrote: >I'm only 5'8" so would gravitate more to a >> low-rider. Something like a 84-02Honda Shadow or Nighthawk or a Yam >> Virago or maybe a VStar. Keeping ground clearance in mind of course. > >Dude! Forget the cruisers for touring, they are just for boulevard >cruising. I'm not sure I take your meaning. Are you stating that a 500cc motorcycle shouldn't be on the highway? Because they can't go fast enough (legal speed limits)? Aren't powerful enough to carry my weight and it's own up a hill or something? What does, "just for boulevard cruising" mean? > >The cruisers you listed will kick your butt in about an hour of riding >because of the >feet forward position. I cruised the Autobahn for hours on a BMW 500 without a problem, why would a Shadow or Virago be any different? All the controls are in exactly the same places. Are they in different places on a touring bike? > >Forward controls prevent you from lifting the weight off your butt >with your leg muscles when you see a bump coming, you have to pull the >bars instead. "Forward controls"?? Can you explain how that would be different from the V-Strom? I've looked at some photos of it from 2004, when they came into production, to now, but can't see how they are anything but the 'forward control' type you're warning me of. Is there another control, auxiliary control configuration available for them? Like on racing bikes where the shift and brakes are on the back pegs and the bars are lower on the front forks so the rider can lay out on the seat and padded tank to avoid wind resistance? Can you elaborate for me? > >But, don't worry about needing a lower seat height. > >The best bike mentioned in this thread for medium/light touring is the >Suzuki DL650 V-Strom and the seat height can be lowered down from >about 32 inches to about 29 inches by installing a set of longer >aftermarket "dog bones". > >The longer dog bones allow the rear shock absorber relay arm to rotate >a bit further up into the wheel well, lowering the rear chassis. > >A lady who sometimes posts to this group under the nickname >"TexasShadow" is only about 5' 3" and she rides her V-Strom solo all >over the western USA. With a low-rider I won't have to buy anything extra or adjust anything. > >You can buy a DL650 equipped for touring from the factory. I think I posted that I wasn't buying new. Least of all do I want a 'touring' bike. I just want to ride from photo-op to photo-op, town to town or gas station to gas station until I get to the Rockies. Ample power, speed, reliability are the most important features to me. Next to that would be the availability of parts and service and the ability to man-handle the bike without help. All of these can be accomplished with a second-hand, checked-out, Honda or Yamaha 500-650, low-rider. Having a nice ride is nice but riding is nicer. > >The DL-650 doesn't have any more off-highway capability than the >KLR-650, but at least you can install some decent tires without having >to buy aftermarket rims. > >So far as the Kawasaki KLR-650 is concerned, the stock Department of >Transportation approved tires will only last about 3000 miles, they >don't have much of a knob pattern and the KLR's true character in so- >called "adventure touring" is to ride a very short distance on a flat >dirt road from a highway to a campground. > >The very narrow (about 1.6 inch) 21-inch front rim helps to make the >KLR look like a Dakar racer, but the front tire is so narrow it slices >right into loose sand, stopping forward progress. > >I was *very* disappointed at my KLR's lack of off-highway capability. > >The KLR off the showroom floor is about 90% highway and 10% dirt, >unless you want to throw hundreds of $$$ into wider Accel rims so you >can fit wider tires. I would consider the ability to cross open fields, negotiating a walking type trail and fording a shallow brook or stream the limit to my expectations of 'off-road' capabilities. Places where you definately wouldn't take a car. Thanks for your reply. |