| Author | Message | ||
     Paulync |
Oh wise ones ( you know who you are ) my niece 22 y/o wish to start riding with my brother and I.. I with my Uly the brother with V-strom. We do the camping thing. a few mountain roads and back roads/trails rather laid back, places to trout fish. Need opinions on good bike to look at, she probably commute to the new job with it also?? Thinking KLR, Blast etc.. p | ||
| Florida_lime |
The answer may depend on her height, and strength level. KLR seat height could be an issue with some women, especially just starting out. Small frame person -- Suzuki DR200 or Yamaha XT225 or PW200. Honda's coming out with a CRF230L street legal version of the 230F for 2008. The small dual sports are light, and tolerate the occasional "drop" pretty well. They go along well with the type of riding you describe, accompanying a Uly and V-Strom. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
The V-strom 650 might be a good bike for her. If she's taller, and would want to ride with you guys wherever. | ||
| Paulync |
She's rather tall 5ft 8 in. athletic, military brat, followed her dad around during PT, Thanks for the suggestions p | ||
| Bertotti |
I always advice it is a good idea to start out on a small street legal dirt or trail bike. 250 is good most of the time that advice is aimed at people with absolutely no bike experience and are in their teens. The Klr and XR 650L are two nice bikes, bigger but if she is capable they would last her longer. How does she fit on the bikes you guys ride? | ||
| Paulync |
She has been away at school. I haven't had her on the Uly. Her dad, (my brother) has had her on the back of a couple of his bikes but this was the first she mentioned wanting one.sorry can 't answer that one. We're planning next summers trips p | ||
| Reepicheep |
KLR 250... either the old tall one (with the kick start if she really wants to humiliate the boys) or the newer super sherpa (lower seat height and electric start). | ||
| Florida_lime |
Super Sherpa isn't made anymore, or KLR 250 for that matter, so both would have to be used. Not necessarily a bad thing for a beginning rider, though. New KLX 250S is what I'd like to get my wife on, but it's taller than the old KLR 250. It IS a much better dirt bike than the other two models. Electric start, liquid cooled, being updated as an early 2009. Yes, 2009 ! | ||
| Old_mil |
Blast is a good choice. Depending on the skill level, an XB12Scg may not be half bad either. | ||
| Florida_lime |
We do the camping thing. a few mountain roads and back roads/trails rather laid back, places to trout fish. Blast IS a good choice for a beginner bike, but given Paulync's described usage, I'm not sure how it would do for that. | ||
| Xb9ser |
I also have a suzuki gs 500 great starter bike and used ones can be had cheap! | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I'd go with the Blast! I rode one at this year's Homecoming and actually liked it! | ||
| Packdog |
If your thinking of an economical solution: While poking around a local dealer earlier this month I noticed that they had a batch of Beta bikes. Never heard of them before, but they seemed reasonably well built and were really cheap. There wasn't any noticeable difference in seat height between the 250 and 400, so if it fits, just pick the power you want. I am 5'8 and I easily sat flat-footed on these bikes. These bikes were so inexpensive that I am considering getting one to thrash about on to practice stuff I am not confident doing on the Uly yet. The dealer I was at was selling them without the turn signals on, but were throwing in the "$50 light kit" so sounds like a cheap fix after they've been thrashed and dropped. | ||
| Gsron |
The 2008 Suzuki DR650 can be lowered 1.5 - 2 inches at the dealer. It can be put back to stock as well in the future. They are also cheap, about $5000 list. | ||
| Supertoon |
I think the new Concours 14 would make a reasonable starter bike, it is a bagger after all......  | ||
| Jjg0324 |
Honda has a new 230 dual sport model in the pipe. http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/off-road/ model.asp?ModelName=CRF230L&ModelYear=2008&ModelId =CRF230L8 | ||
| Bigkuri |
Not sure about the blast. Personally I'd go for a F650 (Fundro model with low seat), or the KLR you mention. Although the Fundro would be much easier for a new rider? Just IMO. Plus Fundro's should be dirt cheap? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I know of at least one BlasTT out there, nobbier tires, Uly front fender and a taller rear shock. Damn thing is a fire road demon. | ||
| Old_mil |
Personally I'd go for a F650 (Fundro model with low seat), Can't agree with the recommendation to get a BMW. The machines are relatively unreliable, and when they break, they break hard. Dealers are growing scarce, parts and labor are expensive and growing more so by the day. It's not the sort of brand you want for a 2nd or 3rd bike these days, let alone a first. If you go non-Buell, I'd recommend a used Japanese bike like a Seca II, Bandit, or perhaps even an SV650. | ||
| Smcnamara |
While I'm not in love with the F650, it's also a completely different sort of animal from the newer BMW's. With a Rotax engine (read: bulletproof)and no CAN-Bus electrics, it's a solid machine. That says nothing about the dealer network, etc. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I'm not a BMW guy, but work with several and they say the same thing as Smcnamara about the F650. I personally had a KLR (still wish I kept it) and think if they can swing a leg over it, it is one of the best starter bikes out there. Had a Blast and I don't consider it a good starter bike. It's geared towards beginners, but I don't like the slow, sluggish handling of it. It feels like it weighs more than my Uly. I recommend a Dual Sport of any kind as a beginner bike to anyone asking in my classes. Easy learning curve and relative low cost of ownership makes a great start for anyone. | ||
| Bigkuri |
Yep - not much to break on the early F650 (fundro ones). Chain drive, rotax engine, simple electrics; solid. Problem is most of them look a wee bit scruffy nowadays, but if you search there are some good ones around. Lots of low seat options too. The later F650's don't seem to last so well. But, like Old-Mill says, a Japanese bike is a different league. SV650's are wonderful wee things & go well too. | ||
| Growl |
Nobody mentioned Buell blast! ? | ||
| Bake |
Nobody mentioned Buell blast! Seems that are looking for a dual sport | ||
| Bertotti |
Someone did mention the Blast but they want to do some trail riding for fishing and camping. I wouldn't think that would be a good bike to learn trail riding on. A good street legal dirt bike or thumper is the way I would go. I have a Uly of course but still love the good ole thumpers. Should Buell ever let me down I will be going back to a XR 650L. | ||
| Cycletlh |
Get her a bike that she can ride with the both of you! If you get her a smaller cc bike it will not keep up and the comfort is not there. Went thru this with my wife. Look for a used v-strom then lower it if necessary. If she is 5-8 and athletic she should be able to handle it no problem. Will she drop it stopped or at low speed? Probably, but the minor damage can be fixed. If you are looking new, the Kawasaki Versys is another option. If you are on the cheap, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a good choice and can be modified for light dirt duty. A XB9 Lightning works well on fire roads and are selling for cheap as well. Soft bags and a select seat. They are much sexier than the other options. Ulendo and Cityxslicker both have done dirt work on these. My wife did 200 mile of which 75 were dirt last weekend. She turns 51 tomorrow. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Small effn world, I grew up out in Wildrose prarie and did most of dirt county road riding to my friends houses over in Colbert, Green Bluff, Chattaroy, and Mead. (most of which is paved now) The back side of MT spokane used to be a really hairy scary fun ride. 51 and still ridin on the dirt! Keep doing it, it will keep you feeling young! For cost wise the BlasTT is still a hot bike, and the right nobbies on it, it will do the fire roads just fine. I will try and get a pic of her bike when she set it up to post. I will ping you when I get back Spokane way. Nice to see a local back home Bueller. | ||
| Dfishman |
650 V-Strom is 420lbs.Big enough & light enough to be a good beginner bike that could be the only bike they ever need.5'8" is tall enough to reach the ground.They handle great,have good power & can do a little light offroad too. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
What the heck is a BlasTT? The regular Blast is not a good bike at all let alone a beginner bike and I'm very displeased with the use of it in RidersEdge. For being the size it is, it is a heavy feeling, slow handling bike. The suspension is absolute garbage. The Clutch action is worse than the suspension. The tranny lets out the most awful sound I have ever heard going into first gear on ALL of them. It's grossly overrated by about 40 HP. The autochoke thing is super flaky. If someone rides one of those as their first bike and actually continues to be a motorcyclist, it just plain amazes me. | ||
| Paulync |
Got her scheduled for the beginners course, we will see how she does, they live in Michigan so the course right now may be weather dependant. Next summers brother trip trip may look like a east coast thing up into Nova Scotia, never sure on the timing of these trips this far out. Our other brother is making noise about being left out, If we include him then it will be more road oriented, I may use either Uly or the electraglide, Brother #1 either V strom or Venture, Brother # 2 has too much money and no sense, so you may see where this may be headed. How much does that VTX 1800 weigh I may be picking it up a lot this summer. (Message edited by paulync on October 22, 2007) |
