What bike should I get??

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timtune

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What bike should I get.

Quick background
I've been riding for 4 decades. About 8 years ago I bought an 86' Wing so the Squeeze and I could take week long trips like I enjoyed with the guys. Worked great. Looped some great lakes, spent time in the Smokies, Deal Gap etc. Then my hip got too bad and I sold the Wing, although I could still comfortably ride my KLR650

Quick Foreground
Now a have a new hip and a Roadtrek 190 B class motorhome (Dodge 3500). We've always wanted to pull a bike with an Rv and then camp while we ride the local roads. Originally I assumed, because I hadn't really thought it through, that the bike would be another Wing. If we can drive to a good area and camp so much hard luggage seems redundant. Now I like the idea of the KLR. It's light. Will carry us both (150Lbs+125Lbs) at a leisurely pace and would let us explore most any backroad. But the reality is twofold. First the KLR just doesn't have the “ 2up mountain climbing grunt” or the on ramp acceleration that I so enjoyed with the Wing and second roads will no doubt most often be paved.

Therefore I'm thinking
  • 800cc minimum, 1000cc just right
  • must be comfy for the passenger
  • adventure tourer would be nice but sport touring or naked models considered
  • will consider anything built after 2000
  • hoping 5000$ is enough but ....
 
Sounds like a Vstrom 1000. 90 lb more than the KLR and just about twice the HP with loads of torque.

$_59.JPG


saftied $4500
Mint 2007 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 For Sale | Sport Touring | Ottawa | Kijiji

thos you might offer $6k for this = barely broken in

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2014 Suzuki V-Strom low km. | Sport Touring | Mississauga / Peel Region | Kijiji

and a terrific forum Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums
 
If you like KLR utility and the GL performance, you might like a DL650/1000 (Vstrom). They are wallet friendly too -- you can find 10 year old with <40K on the clock for around $3000. Don't let 40K scare you -- they routinely go 200K on basic maintenance.

A DL650 will make a KLR feel like a putt-putt, if you're comparing to a GL1800, the 650 will outperform acceleration and braking by good margin, the DL1000 by a lot.

I've had a couple of Wings, and a DL650. The DL is taller, inseams less than 30" will be on their toes.
 
I think the 650 is fine for him as well but two up in the mountains the 1000 will run away.

The other bike that fits is the CBF1000

$_59.JPG


The 2012 is lighter than the 2009 I had and will run away from almost anything.


The motor will feel very familiar ....the bike is 550 lb and you WILL get a thrill cracking that throttle...plus C-ABS...best brakes I've experienced yet

HONDA CBF1000 (2006-2009) Review

talk about torque but the Vstrom better on and dirt roads and more upright seating.
Not as comfortable for pillion.
 
Your price point will definitely limit options if you want to go the Adventure route. I'd say Vstrom or if you want something more polished you could try a Tiger 800. Most are rather high seat height if that still matters.
2012 Triumph Tiger 800 Adventure Bike | Sport Touring | Peterborough | Kijiji

Lots of options if you want to go with a cruiser of course. All depends how sporty or comfy you want to lean. A Boulevard M90 is a great 2up option as is a VFR800. You'll have to narrow it down a bit.
 
VFR good choice but pillion not so comfy ( nor is the cbf for two up )
Remember he's looking $5k ish
 
MacDoc said:
VFR good choice but pillion not so comfy ( nor is the cbf for two up )
Remember he's looking $5k ish
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Mhmm, that's why I said to choose how comfy or sporty he wants to lean. And there's a metric ton of VF800's on Kijiji under $5k so......
 
If your Goldwing had suitable performance, either Vstrom will do -- there isn't a whole lot of difference unless you're riding really hard. 2up on a DL650 will easily out everything a GL1800. The 650 is more popular than the 1000 in the used market -- once they hit 5 years old they usually cost the same. At 10 years the 1000s are often cheaper.

If you don't need the extra performance, stay with the 650 -- it's about 25% less expensive to insure -- for a good mature rider expect annual premiums around $750 on the 650 and $1000 on the 1000.

I would say the pillion on Suzuki's is way better than a VFR or CB -- by a country mile. It's wider, flatter, the pegs and handholds are also more comfortably situated. You can also get nice backrests, both standalone and integrated into popular top boxes.
 
MacDoc said:
it was the Tiger link that is over budget.
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I guess you didn't notice the 14 Vstrom you suggested is $7500 then.
I'm just giving options and the one I linked has super low km and been on there over a month so there's chance of a deal. There's a Tiger 800 listed for $6500 as well.
 
and I said offer him $6k for the 2014 Strom ....given the low mileage and 7 years newer than the 2007 it's good value at $6k - Tiger at $6500 asking would fit as well and light and lots of go.
 
I would say the pillion on Suzuki's is way better than a VFR or CB
Click to expand...

big time

The Vstrom 650 is not going to give him a rush ...it's only 20 HP more than the KLR650 but the 1000 will pull hard.
More on insurance tho and heavier.....the 650 has better fuel economy as well. $5k is an easy budget to meet with a 650 ABS
 
The Suzuki's are the Honda civics of the two wheeled world. No style, no character. You might consider a Euro bike. BMW,Guzzi and Ducati make models that fit your needs and budget. They are all equipped with better components than the mass produced Suzuki's.
Internet gurus will tell you otherwise. Blah blah blah!
 
Wingboy said:
The Suzuki's are the Honda civics of the two wheeled world. No style, no character. You might consider a Euro bike. BMW,Guzzi and Ducati make models that fit your needs and budget. They are all equipped with better components than the mass produced Suzuki's.
Internet gurus will tell you otherwise. Blah blah blah!
Click to expand...
All good until they break and your ride is down for months waiting for parts.

Internet Gurus and fanbois will tell you otherwise. Blew Bleh Blah Blap Blop.

/hammers sarcasm button
 
Another vote for the Vstrom. The 650 is big enough for two and is a bulletproof bike. Can be found cheap and reliable. Comfortable riding position and lots of accessories available.
 
timtune said:
If we can drive to a good area and camp so much hard luggage seems redundant. Now I like the idea of the KLR. It's light. Will carry us both (150Lbs+125Lbs) at a leisurely pace and would let us explore most any backroad. But the reality is twofold. First the KLR just doesn't have the “ 2up mountain climbing grunt” or the on ramp acceleration that I so enjoyed with the Wing and second roads will no doubt most often be paved.

Therefore I'm thinking
  • 800cc minimum, 1000cc just right
  • must be comfy for the passenger
  • adventure tourer would be nice but sport touring or naked models considered
  • will consider anything built after 2000
  • hoping 5000$ is enough but ....
Click to expand...
I think a key question here is how long will you be on the bike on these local rides once you've set up your basecamp with the RV. Going out for 2 - 3 hours a day is not the same as an all day ride. None of the bikes mentioned are going to be very comfortable for the passenger after 1 -2 hours and they'd be torture on an all day ride.
 
A lot comes down to what you expect from a bike. I test rode a VStrom 650 and it was not for me. Yes, it seems like a great utility bike and is probably a good choice for many, but it had no soul. Between that, the fact that I like bikes with enough power to give me a &*(^*(&^-eating grin and the short gearing, I was happy to get off after the test ride.
 
BMW F800R. Or 650/ 700 GS

Just traded my 2011 R a few months back, 90,000 kms and only chaged wheel bearings, chains and sprockets. Still had the original battery.

Big bike comfort with a Sargent or Corbin in a light package and easy to maintain. Find one like mine with the BMW luggage.

They can be found for less than $5k

Ride safe

2017 BMW R1200R
 
GreyGhost said:
A lot comes down to what you expect from a bike. I test rode a VStrom 650 and it was not for me. Yes, it seems like a great utility bike and is probably a good choice for many, but it had no soul. Between that, the fact that I like bikes with enough power to give me a &*(^*(&^-eating grin and the short gearing, I was happy to get off after the test ride.
Click to expand...
I think of the VSTROM as the 1500 series utility Pickup Truck of the motorcycle world. It's tough enough for working, comfortable enough to be an every day vehicle, easy to drive, dependable and has respectable performance when you need it.

I keep a DL650 for those reasons. I too like love a good &*(^*(&^-eating grin when I ride, A Vstrom won't deliver on that -- for that I keep a few other ponies in the stable.

I bought my Wee spring 2018 because I wanted to play a little on fire roads and didn't have a bike setup for that. After riding her for a year I have fallen in love with it and as I have said before, she has become my daily rider/tourer.

As far as price goes, they are reasonable. I bought my 2015 DL650X ABS for $5500. It had 24K on the clock, and included side & topcase, a Saddleman ADV seat (which is comfortable as hell but made from the worst possible fabrics for a MC seat) and a new Metzler tires. I got lucky, but I know a few others who have bought '12 with less than 40K on the clock for $4K.

TIP: Shop the Kingston to Ottawa and east Kijiji market for used bikes -- much better deals.
 
I doubt many of you people on GTAM now remember Speedway from years ago. Just the mention of a SV650 would light his fire enough to have insults and threats bouncing everywhere. Ahhh, the good old days.

Wanna be squeezed out of a tube? Suzuki has the bike for you.
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