Need advice on getting bike #2.

[JackFlash]

:biker: This is my first year of riding. I've had a blast riding with many of you. I'm looking forward to riding with many more of you in the years to come. Now, I need some advice and ideas about my next bike. Here's the details.

I bought my first bike, an '08 Suzuki GS 500F, in April. It only had 1300 miles on it when I got it and I put about 2700 miles on it since then. I'm counting on riding it through next season and putting many more miles on it. And since I have less of a learning curve next year and can eat up more miles faster than this year, I hope to be a much more experienced rider by then. At that time I'm thinking I may wish to upgrade to a little more motorcycle. I'm just not sure how much more motorcycle. This is where your years of experience and expertise come in.

I like the idea of Sport Touring, a quick bike with places to put things, that is easily maneuverable and good on the twisties. I don't need a rocket but I want the power to put a lot of real estate between me and trouble at a moment's notice.

I want a place to put my pants and jacket liners, and rain gear, along with other things that my pockets will not hold but that I will want to take on the road with me; items like Bug Slide, for cleaning off my face shield each time a big yellow bug splatters in the center of my viewing area, for example.

My question is, what is the most logical step up from what I ride now, to the riding I want to do? Right now, my riding is just around Ohio. Later, I may wish to ride into another state or even farther and may wish to spend some nights on the road.

I'm not interested in the cruiser style of bike or the leaning over, crotch rocket style. I like the standard / upright riding position, much like what I have now, without a lot of weight on my arms or strain in my back, a bike that when I have to get off of it, will be for reasons other than needing to work a kink out something that has cramped up.

It doesn't have to be a new bike because $$$'s are an issue. But if I can sell my present bike for nearly what I paid and add another $3000, I should be able to spend between $6 and 7000.

My limitations are that my inseam is 29 inches. My current bike has a 31.1 inch seat height. I can flatfoot it at a stop, but I usually don't because I don't need to. The Connie 14 is tall for me but if it could be set up for my height I could consider it, a few bikes from now. I know it's a lot more bike than I should consider at my present experience level. It's just what my fantasies point me towards down the road. The other large sport touring models make my mouth water just as much.

Give me ideas, advice, answers, or threats. I'm all ears. Thanks to all.

.
 

Edited February 25, 2015 by JackFlash

[snot]

http://m.kawasaki.com/ProductDetail/?id=721&section=specs

Concours might be good

[Pokey]

Vstrom or Versys IMHO, luggage options and accessories galore. The C14 is one bad ass hyper sport touring machine, only a good option for very experienced riders in most situations and circumstances.

Edited October 30, 2012 by Pokey

[Helmutt]

Viffer ftw! Not only because this place needs another VFR rider, but they are outstanding do-all machines without being overly powerful, yet sexy on the eyes.

VFR800 that is, not the 1200

Edited October 30, 2012 by Hellmutt

[Kmanlyst]

I am in the same boat I have hit 4700 miles on my 250 and really tell I have outgrown it. I have been looking at either a 650 or the 636 both are about the same on insurance but I am thinking the 650 might be a better choice the more I look at it.

[NinjaDoc]

you know my answer

my hidden agenda is to make ordn to vfrdn

[Kmanlyst]

lol I looked at a few for sale on Craigslist

'

[ReconRat]

Lady rider's chart of seat heights, but it works:

http://www.vtwinmama.com/motorcycle_seat_heights.htm

Total Motorcycles dot com seat height list:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionTwoB.htm

Motorcycle Views dot com seat height lists:

http://motorcycleviews.com/general/motorcycleseatheights.htm

Really cool motorcycle ergonomics interactive tool:

http://cycle-ergo.com/

If it's close to flat foot on a list or chart, check it out anyway. Sit on some of them to see what works. The suspension sags enough on most bikes to help get the feet flat on the ground.

edit: actually sitting on one is important. Seat widths and heights, foot peg positions, everything adds up to whether it "fits". Arm and handlebar positions, etc. That cycle ergo shows me not flat footed on a CB350, but I could flat foot a CL350 which was a bit taller (I think). I sat on a really tall BMW X Country, and the suspension sags so much I was pretty much flat footed on the ground, with a bit of bounce.

Edited October 31, 2012 by ReconRat

[J_Copeland]

Triumph Street Triple !

[rollnhot]

It seems you want a larger bike than the 500, take a look at the 1st Gen Concourse. Not as big and bad as the C14, but a solid touring rig. The Z1000, Bandit 1200 or FZ1. All good bikes.

[Pokey]

Saw a very nice FZ6 on the site for sale........awesome bikes!!!!

[DAC]

you know my answer

my hidden agenda is to make ordn to vfrdn

Wow - cool paint on the vif there Doc!

To the OP - the VFR is a good all around bike but there's lots of choices. Take your time - you've got all winter now.

[Revelstoker]

Just to keep up with the buy the best 1 bike in the world, which happens to be the one I own.

But really, plenty of power, tour, twisty, commute and a little space for your stuff in an upright riding postition =

[granda080]

Saw a very nice FZ6 on the site for sale........awesome bikes!!!!

This ^^. I love my FZ6. It's an upright seating position and an all around practical bike. The FZ1 is a great bike too. To me the 6 is more comfortable than the 1.

[Gixxus Christ!]

Vfr, vstrom or fz1 are all great choices, the new fz8 looks sexy as fuck too. Or if you wanna go brand new for 7k I'd test out a Honda nc700. It's getting great reviews in every mag I read, but will not have the huge top end of any of the other bikes I mentioned. I would like a Vfr, maybe one day ill have one, they are superb machines.

[drew95gt]

If you want something to do some light sport touring on, I recommend either of the Kawi 650's...the Ninja 650 or Versys. The Versys is a little taller which may be an issue with your inseam, but they make a lower seat option for them. Both of these would be good second bikes and a logical step up from a Ninja 250. I came from a Kawasaki Z750 and even though the Ninja 650 has a good bit less hp, the nice torque and easy ridability more than make up for it. My second choice would be an FZ6R or if you can find one a clean SV650.

[magley64]

Viffer (800 or 1200)

XX

Thundercat

Vstrom/weestrom

ST11/13

oddly enough, busa or zx14

connie or fjr

SV 1000/650

all of these are pretty comfy for longer trips(especially with the right seat), and have tons of luggage options

[Bad324]

if you don't like deal with shit electrical components, don't get a VFR800. Don't get a VFR1200 period.

FZ6, FZ1, Ninja 1000, SV650, V-Strom etc. The list is a mile long for competent sport touring machines

[Exarch]

My Buddy might be selling his super clean SV 650 soon, I'm not 100% sure what he will be asking, but I'd guess the $3-3.5k range. I think it's an 07 and I want to say it only has 5-6k miles at most. Let me know if you'd be interested and I'll talk to him about it since he wants a RC51.

[cOoTeR]

Your answer is in this for sale thread.

http://www.ohioriders.net/showthread.php?t=95415&page=2

[CBBaron]

You can add hard saddlebags or a trunk to nearly any bike these days. Most midweight sport/sport touring bikes have kits available to make it easy.

My choice would be a bike like FZ6, Ninja 650, SV650, etc.

These are a significant step up if power with only a minor increase in weight over your current steed. And they have comfortable riding positions.

Vstrom and Versys are also nice but the taller suspension will make them more difficult to fit a short inseam (great for us tall guys though ).

If you want to eat some miles on a trip the big liter+ sport tourers seem nice but I dont really care for the size and expense. Not to mention they will eat gas pretty quick also.

Try out as many as you can. Atleast sit on them and see how they fit. And look for good deals on used models.

Craig

[Mary#17]

you know my answer

my hidden agenda is to make ordn to vfrdn

Sorry, quick thread jack. I love that color scheme! Back to the regularly scheduled program.

Mary

[redkow97]

track days on an FZ6 would still be pretty fun.

I'd rock an FZ6 for sure if I could find one that's been crashed (read cheap).

[ScubaCinci]

Your answer is in this for sale thread.

http://www.ohioriders.net/showthread.php?t=95415&page=2

^^^This. Don't bother with an FZ8...it's basically a lesser FZ1 with inferior parts (suspension, etc). Comfortable to ride, not a lot of plastic to get damaged or get in the way of servicing and lots of aftermarket options for luggage, etc.

[NinjaDoc]

Wow - cool paint on the vif there Doc!

To the OP - the VFR is a good all around bike but there's lots of choices. Take your time - you've got all winter now.

Sorry, quick thread jack. I love that color scheme! Back to the regularly scheduled program.

Mary

Ty

But unfortunately that's just my imagination and photoshop u see there, need to actually get it done someday

Back to thread, that fz1 is a good deal, so is the fz6 up for sale here. U have tons of option right here