Hard decision - choosing a bike
in [Motorcycles]
|
From: .p.jm. on 3 Feb 2010 18:16 On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:20:11 -0800, Sean_Q_ <no.spam(a)no.spam> wrote: >I live near Vancouver, BC and plan to tour the American Southwest >in an RV during the winters. (ie, Snowbird). Hauling a motorcycle >for local rides. Eventually I also want to see Civil War sites. > >Currently there are 5 bike types calling me like the Sirens of Capri. >Actually, I want them all! (For different reasons). Alas, money and >space to store them are limited. Also, I need to budget for the RV. > >The bike types are: > >1. Harley Electra-glide >In particular, the one I sold and could (maybe) buy back. > >2. Honda Goldwing >Can't afford new (or nearly new); >low mileage '86 GL1200 Aspencade currently on Craig's for ~$4000 > >3. Suzuki V-Strom DL-1000 >New about Cdn $10,000 (out the door); used '82 in Craigs for $4800 > >4. Meriden Triumph Bonneville (Scrambler model) >New about Cdn $10,000 (out the door) > >5. Ural Patrol >New Cdn$17,000 (out the door) > >Whichever one I choose I'll have to reject 4 others that I really want. >This is an awful dilemma. The Abyss of Buyer's Remorse looms before me >on either side of the True Path... which is where? > >Alternate plan: buy none of the above and take my S40. However, if >I were camped at (say) Quartzsite and wanted to ride into Phoenix for >supplies, the S40's cruiser style isn't comfortable enough for a 200 >mile round trip. > >Any help appreciated >TIA, Sean Q >'06 Zuk S40 / '85 Dnepr MT-11 / the usual relics > > Get all of them http://www.aerotrailers.com/custom.html :-) -- Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!! www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me 'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.' 'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.' HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's Free demo online at www.pmilligan.net/palm/ Free 'People finder' program now at www.pmilligan.net/finder.htm
From: don (Calgary) on 3 Feb 2010 18:23 On Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:46:00 -0800 (PST), Rob Kleinschmidt <Rkleinsch1216128(a)aol.com> wrote: > >> 5. Ural Patrol >> New Cdn$17,000 (out the door) > >You sure you didn't mean $7,000 ? >$17K is laughable. With the hack it is the price. http://www.destinationcycles.com/Ural-bikes-for-sale-sidecar.htm
From: Bob Myers on 3 Feb 2010 18:29 Lew wrote: > If you're going to tour the Southwest, you'll want something that > does marginally well off-road. If you're looking at the V-Strom, > have you considered the 650? The V-Strom 650 will be plenty > comfortable on those 200 mile rides and does pretty well off-road. > You can pick up a 2006 for less than $4000. Second that. In fact, my first thought when the OP said that they were using an RV for the long-distance stuff, and just wanted the bike for local rides (esp. in the American Southwest) was "dual-sport." Something light enough to easily haul around and load/offload, with the flexibility to go on those roads where you really don't want to take the RV. The Wee-Strom would be ideal for that. If the "off-road" part isn't all that important, consider its more street-oriented sibling, the SV-650, as well. Other possibilities might be, say, a BMW F 650 or the newer G 650 GS. I definitely wouldn't be looking at something like a Gold Wing as a "haul-around-with-you," "local riding only" bike unless you had a really good way to load it and it was really important that you could do ultra-comfortable two-up riding. Bob M.
From: don (Calgary) on 3 Feb 2010 18:36 On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:20:11 -0800, Sean_Q_ <no.spam(a)no.spam> wrote: >I live near Vancouver, BC and plan to tour the American Southwest >in an RV during the winters. (ie, Snowbird). Hauling a motorcycle >for local rides. Eventually I also want to see Civil War sites. > >Currently there are 5 bike types calling me like the Sirens of Capri. >Actually, I want them all! (For different reasons). Alas, money and >space to store them are limited. Also, I need to budget for the RV. > >The bike types are: > >1. Harley Electra-glide >In particular, the one I sold and could (maybe) buy back. Too big and too heavy for occasional use. Further you might want to explore some of the back roads which often are not tourer friendly. > >2. Honda Goldwing >Can't afford new (or nearly new); >low mileage '86 GL1200 Aspencade currently on Craig's for ~$4000 See comment above and add, it's too old and might be a maintenance and repair headache. > >3. Suzuki V-Strom DL-1000 >New about Cdn $10,000 (out the door); used '82 in Craigs for $4800 82???? Good choice, although I wouldn't close the door on the WeeStrom. Personally I think it is more bike bang for the buck. Either one will ride the highway and the back roads quite well. Also if you get a good deal on a used one, you could probably get your money back on it when you decide to sell it. > >4. Meriden Triumph Bonneville (Scrambler model) >New about Cdn $10,000 (out the door) No comment. > >5. Ural Patrol >New Cdn$17,000 (out the door) Not the practical choice. More reasons not to buy it than to drop $17k on it. >Whichever one I choose I'll have to reject 4 others that I really want. >This is an awful dilemma. The Abyss of Buyer's Remorse looms before me >on either side of the True Path... which is where? Tell me something, when you are riding do you consciously think you would prefer to be riding a different bike? I have owned a lot of bikes and don't recall not being happy with the bike I was riding at the time. > >Alternate plan: buy none of the above and take my S40. However, if >I were camped at (say) Quartzsite and wanted to ride into Phoenix for >supplies, the S40's cruiser style isn't comfortable enough for a 200 >mile round trip. Probably wouldn't be a real big problem. I suspect the majority of your miles will be on short trips or simply exploring the local terrain. > >Any help appreciated What about riding two up? Is that a consideration re your choice? >TIA, Sean Q >'06 Zuk S40 / '85 Dnepr MT-11 / the usual relics > >
From: BryanUT on 3 Feb 2010 19:04
On Feb 3, 3:44 pm, Mark Olson <ols...(a)tiny.invalid> wrote: > BryanUT wrote: > > I assume you will be trailing the bike behind the RV. > > > Depending on the trailer I may or may not feel comfortable loading and > > unloading an 800lb bike, therefor I'd go with either the Triumph or > > VStrom. Or a Sportster. > > Weight is not a problem. The Baxley trailer "kneels" down to street > level so you simply roll the bike on and off. > > http://www.baxleycompanies.com/SB001.html Very cool. Yep weight[1] not a problem with that trailer. [1] I still feel uncomfortable with 800lb bikes, but that is just me. |