jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 08/20/2014 10:04 PM |
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I rode a Suzuki Gladius SFV 650...WOOOHOOO! Fun bike! If I can find 60 minutes this weekend, I'll ride a Yamaha FZ-07.
As some of you may remember, I commute on a Kawasaki Vulcan 500. I've been toying with the idea of a naked sport bike for a while...we'll see.
http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelhome/708/home.aspx
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/SFV650/2013/SFV650.aspx |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/21/2014 07:25 AM |
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Didn't know we had a 22 year old on this forum!
But seriously, if you ride one of these donorcycle rockets, be careful. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 08/21/2014 10:09 AM |
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My first reaction to your post was "I'd love to be 22 again" but on second thought maybe 32 would be better. Funny story, the one I rode belongs to a 72 year old (he's selling it to get another cruiser).
Even if I do get a naked sport bike, I won't change my driving style (much because I don't want to get tickets, and I don't want to end up in the ER. Unfortunately because most of the people who ride these do behave like 22 year olds, the insurance is more expensive than my cruiser. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/21/2014 12:46 PM |
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| If you like getting off pavement and have some good gravel roads to explore in your area, consider a dual sport or adventure bike. More comfortable position, and can take you places a sport bike can't. |
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stinkyhelmet
Posts:94
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| 08/21/2014 02:34 PM |
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| On paper, I like the Yamaha. $1000 cheaper, 50 lb lighter, fatter tire in back, slightly more CCs and a shorter wheelbase. Brakes are comparable. It appears a little less "naked" then the Suzuki but the chopped exhaust is nicely done. Take the $1000 and get matching leathers and helmet :-) |
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Yo Mike
Posts:338
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| 08/21/2014 03:39 PM |
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Cycle World had a mini review of the Yamaha: they loved it. I sort of like it, but it has one serious design flaw: NO CENTER STAND.
Why? Due to the muffler configuration. Same thing with the FZ-09, but I saw on a FZ-09 usergroup that there is a company in Germany that manufacturers centerstands for the 09, and hopefully for the 07 as well.
Me, I find a centerstand handy when parking the bike for more than a few minutes, filling the tank, checking the oil, working on the bike, etc, and cannot justify the weight savings of a fugly, shrunken exhaust as a trade off to functionality. And if one cannot lift the bike onto the c-stand in the first place, one either needs more muscle or a smaller bike.
Either of those bikes should provide an excellent ride. I prefer the ergonomics of a 'standard' motorcycle to cruisers or crotch rockets.
Gas tank on the 07 seems small, at about 3.7 gal, but would be OK if the claimed 58 mpg was accurate.
Have you seen the Moto Guzzi V7?
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/21/2014 09:08 PM |
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| or a versys . . . |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 08/21/2014 09:39 PM |
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Geez, for the same money you could buy a carbon bike with Di2 Ultegra  |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 08/21/2014 10:54 PM |
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lsd, did my brother in-law put you up to saying that? He's been on me for years to buy a dual sport. He just bought a new Triumph Tiger this spring (he usually has a least three bikes in his garage). I've actually thought about getting a super moto, and have a set of slicks for my daily commute, but also have some DOT knobbies for dirt road adventures. I've been riding dirt bikes since '72 so a super moto should feel good.
stinky, the Suz I rode has 570 miles on it and he wants $6K so its actually $1K cheaper than the Yam. I have gear already.
Mike, I've seen 'em all. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/22/2014 06:52 AM |
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Sounds like a superduke for you, or a DL650 if your brother in law has any say . . .
Dale, if you ever come to the throttle twisting dark side, you'll understand. |
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pretender
Posts:46
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| 08/22/2014 07:44 AM |
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as a featherweight (back down to fighting weight at about 135), and only taking up about five and a half feet of verticality, i've got my eye on a CB500X. mainly due to it's light off-road capabilities. basically the same bike as the naked 500F, just with some more travel. i've ridden a versys, might go that route or a beemer 650 as they can be had used with low mileage on a fairly regular basis (the hondas have only been out for 2 years now- finding a used one isn't easy, but can get out the door under 7K on a new one). OR... may just trash that whole idea and get a bonnie. the off-road part i'll be doing willl be REALLY light- mainly just getting to the campsite after 6-7 hours of backroad.
got a put a new roof on the house, though, before i can justify pulling the trigger on any of em. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 08/22/2014 07:47 AM |
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HA! I do some work in the powersports industry and drool on a regular basis over so many bikes it's insane. Spent all day last Friday and Saturday helping out at the grand opening on a new Indian franchise.
It's a BMW 800G GS I'm jonesing for… that or waste all my time and get a bobber kit for some older single cylinder Suzuki or something. |
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pretender
Posts:46
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| 08/22/2014 07:54 AM |
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| i bet. that 800 is nice- just way more bike than i need (both in $ and in HP). we grew up with a pile of dirt bikes, atvs, and various other motorized contraptions on hand at all times. got the itch for speed and air early. which is probably good, seems like i got that out of the way. i don't need to go that fast at this point, mainly just wanna enjoy some nice cruises out to big bend or the san juans with no particular urgency attached. |
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stinkyhelmet
Posts:94
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| 08/22/2014 09:59 AM |
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I used to ride Suz DR650 dual sport with 17" rear 21" front with knobbies. I built up a second set of wheels with stock hubs and 17" excel road rims and found some Michelin Pilot race takes offs 120 front/180 rear....OMG  ....so much fun!.....rarely put the knobbies back on. The bike was a little heavy for supermoto but still a ton of fun.
A center stand sure would have been nice to make wheel changes easier  |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/22/2014 11:57 AM |
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| Pretender, definitely check out the current wee strom 650. Great bike for touring and exploring. Owners are happy. Not as much for the honda. |
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pretender
Posts:46
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| 08/23/2014 08:03 AM |
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| roger that, lsd. and that may happen, since i'm not on the warpath to get a bike, like, tomorrow. but just from keeping my eyes open in these parts, there are more versys available, and they tend to come in about 2K less than the wee (with similar mileage and condition). i've ridden them both, read all the reviews- not sure i can justify spending the extra dough. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 09/04/2014 08:38 AM |
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| I decided not to get either. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 09/04/2014 09:05 AM |
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| Because instead you got: ? |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 09/05/2014 05:14 PM |
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Nothing...yet.
What did you here about the Honda 500s that was not so good? |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 09/05/2014 08:58 PM |
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| Sorry I was thinking of the x, different bike, my bad. No knowledge of the s. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 09/05/2014 11:39 PM |
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I meant 500s as in all of them (500R, 500F, 500X).
I'm actually thinking about a sport bike now because after about 30 minutes, my "injured way too many times" neck hates me (that's why I dropped the naked sport bike idea). I don't like the look of all the plastic, but it might make for more enjoyment (?). The Yamaha FZ6R seems to be a great bang for the buck, but the Honda CB 500R doesn't look bad for the money either.
I keep waffling: there is nothing wrong with my Vulcan, a quicker handling bike would be fun... |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 09/06/2014 11:20 AM |
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| I might also ride a Suzuki V Strom just to see how it rides. I'm not a fan of the tall looking DS bikes but as I said I'm not really afan of all of the plastic either. The V is likely more functional and comfortable so maybe I could get used to its long legs. My bro-inlaw would be happy (not as happy as if I got a Tiger but...). |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 09/11/2014 02:58 PM |
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| Another bike on my radar because I like cruisers, is the new Indian Scout. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 09/16/2014 02:41 PM |
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| All these test rides are so fun! I rode a Kawi Ninja 650. Definitely the best of the "forward leaning" bikes I have ridden. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 09/22/2014 07:11 PM |
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| Picked up a kawi Ninja 650 this weekend. Report later... |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 09/23/2014 10:51 AM |
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Contemplating taking a trade for my "for sale" RV - interested in an endure moto, but just got offered a '76 Shovelhead project bike…
I think the wife would _________ (fill in the blank) |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 09/23/2014 11:42 AM |
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| "want one too!"? |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 09/23/2014 11:58 AM |
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: )
Not exactly what I thought would go in my personal "fill in the blank"…
I was thinking more along the line that she would "sh!t bricks", if she actually did perform that bodily function, which she doesn't. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 09/26/2014 11:50 PM |
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This little Ninja is pretty fun. Since I've ridden dirt bikes most of my life and mountain bikes for the past 25 years, the position on the Ninja is more natural than on my Vulcan. For those who don't know, this 650 does have the Ninja name, but is by no means a full on sport bike, and definitely not a super sport. The position, handling, and power make a great commuter, and play bike.
Here is a stock photo:
http://bikeglam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012-Kawasaki-Ninja-650-Black-630x473.jpg |
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pretender
Posts:46
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| 12/27/2014 05:40 PM |
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| Just put a deposit on a Ducati scrambler enduro. Was really hedging on which bike to buy- then saw this one coming out in March- it's perfect for what I wanna do. Can't wait till it shows up- perfect time of the year to go riding. |
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 12/28/2014 11:56 AM |
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I own an St-1300. Faster than I can go. great weather protection for those less than perfect days. 2 up capability too. It does a 1/4 mile in just under 12 seconds when driven by the right rider. tops out around 141 MPH and I went 200 KPH once (120 MPH). Can't really see the need for more power but I know that Hayabusa attracts a lot of 22 year olds.
Trouble with Naked bikes is they are sunny day rides like a lot of bikes. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 12/29/2014 12:22 PM |
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| pretender, did you get a chance to demo one? My brother in-law rode one in Palm Spring and said that they were pretty fun. Keep us posted! |
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pretender
Posts:46
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| 12/29/2014 03:17 PM |
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| Nope- blind faith (which is rather unlike me). Saw a couple vids, read the reviews, decided to plop the deposit. Displacement, weight, suspension travel, lack of cosmetics- perfect storm for what I was looking for. Intend for it to be an occasional camping bike. Nothing too gnarly, but definitely off-pavement. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 12/29/2014 06:15 PM |
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| The DR650 was a good suggestion, then. Hope you have a ton of fun with the duc. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 12/30/2014 01:25 AM |
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Posted By Pretender on 12/29/2014 03:17 PM
Nope- blind faith
I thought we were talking motorbikes not late '60's rock trivia but I'm gonna win this round regardless
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 12/30/2014 09:58 AM |
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True on the retro thing. Triumph is riding it well, and of course Harley in their own way.
Maybe the perfect bike for pretender is a BMW R1200GS. The current model with 125 hp water cooled engine and dynamic suspension is simply amazing. And expensive at well over 20k fully equipped.
Dale, you'll find a lot of 800GS riders who became much happier when they switched to the big GS. Heavier and pretty bad in sand and mud, but otherwise handles way better whether going slow and fast. And that great torquey motor. |
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pretender
Posts:46
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| 12/30/2014 10:21 AM |
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lsd- yeah, it was ballpark, but i want something that'll get me TO the off-road with a little more... enjoyment. couldn't care less about retro or the fact the bike is basically being made and marketed for a very specific demographic (i'm the guy who'd show up at a group ride hungover and in a t-shirt and take more pulls than the full body raphastelli dudes). it's just what i'm looking for- i think.
a month ago i was looking at the beemer (not the 12- way more bike than i want or need or would spend the $ on), the tiger 800, and the wee. figured it'd be one of those, but none of them seemed JUST right. hell, this may not be either- but around here at least there are enough ducati wackos that i can at least get a good return on it if i want to get rid of it.
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 12/30/2014 10:35 AM |
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| http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/04/15/2014-kawasaki-klr650-new-edition-dual-sport-adventure-first-ride-review-photos-specifications/ |
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pretender
Posts:46
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| 05/05/2015 06:46 PM |
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Bought a CB500 resto project a few months back (after a particularly enervating ski "vacation" with the kids). It's been fun.
Picked up the scrambler today- holy hell is it a blast. Smaller and lighter than the old Honda, but with almost double the horsepower. Almost feels like one of the moonlander surlys. |
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