Another "Which bike is best?" thread.

[DFW_Warrior]

Wait, I thought anything more than 8hp is just wheelspin??? LOL Just kidding..

Why not a Strom650? Comfy as can be, cheap to buy, cheap to own, thrifty on fuel, and only KLR owners come in ahead of Strom owners when it comes to el cheapo mods to the bikes.

[Simmons1]

Originally Posted by DFW_Warrior

Wait, I thought anything more than 8hp is just wheelspin??? LOL Just kidding..

Why not a Strom650? Comfy as can be, cheap to buy, cheap to own, thrifty on fuel, and only KLR owners come in ahead of Strom owners when it comes to el cheapo mods to the bikes.

My KLR has been far from cheap! LOL

[Ben Eberle]

Originally Posted by Sleepy Weasel

Dumb question, but what about a Z-Rex? Or did you want more wind protection?

You'll need an aftermarket seat if you want all day comfort. The stock seat will have you looking for a rest stop within 100 miles.
It's a cult bike with lots of support and one of the best owner's groups around, the ZRXOA.
Biggest design flaw, the starter chain tensioner fails, ELS (expensive lightweight stuff) offers a cheap fix for that.
Mine has 116,000 miles on it now. It still consumes no oil.

[Andrew T]

Originally Posted by Simmons1

My KLR has been far from cheap! LOL

Mine too! Sure gets pricy trying to save that last dollar!

[Andrew T]

Originally Posted by Ben Eberle

ZRX... You'll need an aftermarket seat if you want all day comfort. The stock seat will have you looking for a rest stop within 100 miles.

Mine has a dished Corbin; I'd trade for a flat Corbin or Sargent (I have the stocker but have never used it, also no long trips yet).

[Ben Eberle]

Originally Posted by Simmons1

My KLR has been far from cheap! LOL

If a motorcycle is supposed to be an economical alternative to a car, then the best motorcycle in the world is a Geo Metro car.
Think about it, a one liter Suzuki triple that got 50 mpg on regular and had a track record of lasting 200K or more miles with little maintainance other than oil changes and maybe a cam belt change along the way.
Tires that last 60K miles and don't cost a lot to replace.

I'm hoping that Honda's new NC700X turns out to be the Geo Metro of motorcycles like it promises to be. And I mean that in a good way.

[Morgan Buchanan]

MY bike is best, because nobody starts swinging or shooting at me if I sit on it.

People always say, "Must be nice to get 40mpg every day." I say, "Don't buy a motorcycle to save money. You won't. A car is cheaper."

However... it saves me therapy bills.

I know in both of those regards, I'm preaching to the choir. LOL

[hizzo3]

My vote is to pick up a used low miles vstrom 650/1000 (<$6500). As long as they didn't run the motor dry on oil, they are practically maintenance free excluding your usual oil, tires and chain. You may need to do suspension work, but that depends on how you prefer your bikes. I have a shaft vn750... great bike, but down side to shafts are that when they go, its usually cheaper to just get a new bike. Plus you can't change gearing if you so need to.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Daytrader]

Have you looked at a Triumph Tiger 1050?

[PrairieParson]

IMHO, a BMW is not cheap to keep. For two up, a Connie 1000 or a V-Strom 650 or 1000 are both very reliable. The 650 is cheap on gas, and considering the size of your wife, you should have no trouble 2 up. A used one can be cheap. In fact, there is a V-strom 1000 listed on this site for only $3500, but it may have been spoken for. It was all ready for touring.

[hizzo3]

IMHO, a BMW is not cheap to keep. For two up, a Connie 1000 or a V-Strom 650 or 1000 are both very reliable.

This is the very reason I didn't not pick up a GS or GSA. It would have been another $3k up front. Then you have the dark beer induced, over engineered, costly replacement parts and oddball screws. I've clocked 12k plus on my 06 Vee so far this year, running down county dirt roads, fields, and pavement putting around town and long road trips. Tires, oil, chain have been the only maintenance related expenditures. Farkles on the other hand are extra and totally up to the rider.

Btw, the stroms (older at least, not sure on the new 650's) have a nice banana reminiscent seat that is wide and pretty comfortable for passengers as well as the operator. I can do 1.5 to 2 hours non stop, no discomfort, which for a stock seat is a rare find outside big cruisers and wings.

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[ed29]

There are a couple of Strom 1000s for sale on here for well under your limit as well as a BMW R1100RT. All are far enough under your limit you could get a plane ticket to do a fly and buy. Strom reliability and cheap to keep factors are pretty well known. I hear the air cooled Beemer 1100 is also pretty easy to do your own valve checks on so you could probably live with that bike too.

I almost forgot to answer the "Which bike is best?" question..... My bike is best.... all three of them!

[KenH]

She's taking the BRC next month then deciding if she'll ride her own.

[jcyuhn]

Originally Posted by KenH

She's taking the BRC next month then deciding if she'll ride her own.

I see a Ninja 250 in your future....

[wildebube]

OK, I'm biased, but how about a Moto Guzzi Norge? They can be found in your price range without being beaters. Reliable, comfortable, well-equipped, good handling, and different from the crowd.

What about either a used Goldwing like a GL1500/1800 or just a well maintained Honda Pacific Coast 800. Comfortable but not a screamer in terms of engine torque, but gets the job done.



RB

[DaveC]

Originally Posted by Red Brown

What about either a used Goldwing like a GL1500/1800 or just a well maintained Honda Pacific Coast 800. Comfortable but not a screamer in terms of engine torque, but gets the job done.



RB

More like this wouldn't you think oh and use 10w30.

[kurt]

Originally Posted by DaveC

More like this wouldn't you think oh and use 10w30.

I love that ride report on ADVRider.

[wbrisett]

I know the answer to the best bike question... It's close to Morgan's answer....

The best bike is the one parked beneath your cheeks.

There are SO many options, and SO many good bikes. The best is the one you liked enough to ride off the dealers lot (or out of somebody else's driveway).

Wayne

[KenH]

We test rode a Burgman 650 this morning. I don't remember Soozy's being so heavy. 590 pounds dry? Can that be right? A Burgman is heavier than a Norge?

I'd like to stay below 500 pounds wet weight. I have bad knees and while they are strong enough to hold up any bike, too much effort causes much pain.

I was kind of hoping for something in the 500-pound range, and naked. We don't go fast enough to need wind protection. Imagine an SV650 with an old school seat and tail, rack, topcase, bar risers, and hard bags.


Hmmmm!?!?!?!