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Kymco Filly 50
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RupmiscParticipant
Although I am 6 feet tall and would not normally want a lower cruiser, some of the sportster models (lowered, and maybe nightster?) actually have mid pegs.
RupmiscParticipantYou might also consider asking the school if any of the instructors would be willing to give you some private instruction on a school bike. I did that even after I passed the test. A couple of hours on the asphalt with an instructor there, and you will feel more confident when you repeat.
RupmiscParticipantThere probably is a lot out there, too much in too many places. I was really hoping to get some recommendations so that I could narrow the search. Especially with some recommendations on reliability. It would be nice to find a lot of usable information on one site that was generally trustworthy– like here for instance.
Elwood, do you feel bothered that the Sportster is configured to that that one chrome engine piece (sorry, don’t know what it is) gets in the way if you want to keep your knees in tight?
RupmiscParticipantRab, I’m sure you are right about 65 being doable, but it isn’t ideal. Especially on a 2 lane (each direction) highway, many entries from a full stop with no merge lane, speed limit 55, average speed 70, obliviousness level off the scale.
Off topic: I think that my Nighthawk has an optimistic speedometer based on “your current speed is” signs. It is maybe indicating 3 mph faster than actual speed.
Does anyone know of a reliable place(s) to look for comparisons on upright-ish mid level bikes like the FZ6/Versys/650R/SV650.
Same question for Sportster 833 or 1200, other Harley, Triumph or other cruisers/standards. Better yet, all in one place.I find that maneuverability, and controllable power are more important to me than top speed. I have no problem staying at reasonable speeds on purpose. I am more leery of instant accidental acceleration. Translation: I suspect that an intermediate cruiser could have a bigger engine than 650 and be OK, whereas more than 650 on a sport bike would be a rocket ship. I don’t know where Triumph fits in, but I do know that service and dealer location become an issue.
Anyway, the question is are there fairly reliable sites that deal with the area between brand new rider and experienced rider, in as responsible a fashion as this site does for beginners? Thanks.
RupmiscParticipantOn the one hand, the Complete Idiot’s guide lists the “mini monster” as a good beginners bike, and indicates that the FZ6 may be one.
The logic of how they came up with a 4 bike list with these four escapes me. Especially since the Buell looks, to me, to be a little small to be a great choice for many members of the heavier sex, including the guy in the picture. If you have the FZ6, why not the Suzuki 650SV or the Kawasaki Ninja 650R? If you have the Buell and the Ninja 250, where are all the other bikes recommended on this site?
Beats me.
RupmiscParticipantI suppose someone under 40 might take umbrage if I stated that attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, or that few now obtain a liberal arts education necessary to produce well rounded citizens with a grasp of history. That would be a generalization. May I point out that the 60s paid lip service to non-conformity. I’m one fifty year old who could care less what cool is. Hell, I wear full gear and got a Nighthawk 250 as my first bike (extreme nerd). I doubt others are much different.
Perhaps someone could really start a war over whether cruiser riders are more likely to go without gear than sport or standard riders. That should be good for some pithy exchanges.
RupmiscParticipantLook, I would wear a helmet (full face) whether there were a law or not. Still, I hate to regulate any adult (kids are different) without overwhelming reason. I’m not sure insurance cost does it for me. Would you mandate a certain diet because health insurance costs would be lower? How about forbidding any risk. Hell, motorcycles are more dangerous than cars, why not ban them? Freedom is precious, be careful how you curtail it.
As a practical matter, do helmet laws decrease insurance costs? It seems like a dead person costs less than saving a live one. I remember a news article about a consulting group that did a study for a country in eastern Europe. As I recall, they cited smoking for shortening lives and reducing expenditures on care for older citizens. As far as I know, the recommendation was not implemented.
RupmiscParticipantYou may have a point. It’s not a single cylinder any more (didn’t it used to be?). It really does look interesting.
RupmiscParticipantThanks for the info on the Versys. The BMW I was looking at was the Sport-Tourer the 800FT[?]. More looking for comfort and control in a mostly upright posture. The Versys feels more comfortable for my legs than the 650R which isn’t bad either. I’d even look at a Harley (standard), and love the look of the Triumph bonneville (but service would be a pain. I’d like a little more size weight , carrying capacity and power, without going to extremes. I have just seen it suggested that the dual-sport versions are both more comfortable and controllable (with the trade off being top end speed which I care little about).
The key will be mid size, mid weight, next step from Nighthawk 250 (which is loud and vibrates at over 50mph).
August 20, 2008 at 1:13 am in reply to: Why it’s better that I started riding at 27 rather than as a teenager. #10814RupmiscParticipantThe number/name thing confuses me. It is a 2008 Nighthawk 250.
RupmiscParticipantWhere did you find the small wiper blades?
RupmiscParticipantI want a bike that is highway capable and comfortable for a 100 mile trip. Yes there are town dirt roads, hardpan not trail. I like upright but appreciate performance. I do want to be able to attach saddlebags to carry gear (camera, emergency kit and rain/weather gear). Won’t be camping from bike. Won’t be doing track days either. Still recommend SV?
I also have same sort of question on Kawasaki (650R vs. Versys). Am also curious about Honda Sport Tourer (Interceptor-maybe with ABS this year?). Or BMW 800s. All as second bike. Comments?
August 18, 2008 at 8:35 pm in reply to: Why it’s better that I started riding at 27 rather than as a teenager. #10729RupmiscParticipantReally enjoying it more every day. I find that coordination is improving every time I ride. The hardest thing remains low speed circles, and very tight turns, and I try and find parking lots to practice in where I can get up to 30mph.
I find that years of experience in cars, Skip Barber racing schools, BMW advanced M School have all prepared me for the focus you need on a bike. My body would have been better at this 20 years ago, but I think the brain does a good job compensating.
RupmiscParticipantIf not the sex factor, then at least the comparison factor. Is the V-Strom pretty much the same bike? I see that the 2009 is on Suzuki’s web site, with ABS. Is the V-Strom a comparable ride to the SVs?
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