Hard decision - choosing a bike
in [Motorcycles]
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From: Sean_Q_ on 3 Feb 2010 17:20 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$17,000 (out the door) Whichever one I choose I'll have to reject 4 others that I really want. This is an awful dilemma. The Abyss of Buyer's Remorse looms before me on either side of the True Path... which is where? Alternate plan: buy none of the above and take my S40. However, if I were camped at (say) Quartzsite and wanted to ride into Phoenix for supplies, the S40's cruiser style isn't comfortable enough for a 200 mile round trip. Any help appreciated TIA, Sean Q '06 Zuk S40 / '85 Dnepr MT-11 / the usual relics
From: BryanUT on 3 Feb 2010 17:37 On Feb 3, 3:20 pm, Sean_Q_ <no.s...(a)no.spam> wrote: > Currently there are 5 bike types calling me like the Sirens of Capri. > Actually, I want them all! (For different reasons). Alas, money and > space to store them are limited. Also, I need to budget for the RV. > <snip> I assume you will be trailing the bike behind the RV. Depending on the trailer I may or may not feel comfortable loading and unloading an 800lb bike, therefor I'd go with either the Triumph or VStrom. Or a Sportster.
From: Mark Olson on 3 Feb 2010 17:44 BryanUT wrote: > I assume you will be trailing the bike behind the RV. > > Depending on the trailer I may or may not feel comfortable loading and > unloading an 800lb bike, therefor I'd go with either the Triumph or > VStrom. Or a Sportster. Weight is not a problem. The Baxley trailer "kneels" down to street level so you simply roll the bike on and off. http://www.baxleycompanies.com/SB001.html
From: Lew on 3 Feb 2010 17:49 On 03 Feb 2010, Sean_Q_ wrote in news:uEman.443$YR1.201(a)newsfe17.iad > 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 Do you mean '02? > > 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 > > > > 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. -- Lew
From: Vito on 3 Feb 2010 17:54
"BryanUT" <nestle12(a)comcast.net> wrote Sean_Q_ <no.s...(a)no.spam> wrote: > 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. > <snip> [ 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. Having done a tad of it, I agree on the lighter bike and recommend the Sportster if only because they need no valve adjustments, there are more dealers and their shop policies are friendly to travellers. I'd also recommend an enclosed trailer. |