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Looking for a new (too me) street bike.

C

chacbalam

New member
Joined
Mar 3, 2009
Location
Petaluma
Moto(s)
Bikes I have owned, Bonneville, Street Triple, Wee Strom, KTM SMR, CRF 230, YZ 250,
Name
Tim
I can't believe that I am am about to do, but here goes... I am asking for some opinions pooled from the collected wisdom of my fellow BARFers. A little over a year ago I sold my last street bike. Since then I have confined my riding to the dirt or the track, but I'm starting to feel that itch again, you know the one that can't be cured by penicillin. I've been combing Craigslist looking at used street bikes and I am not sure what I want.

I don't need a crotch rocket, my last speeding ticket and a creeping awareness of mortality have convinced me that I don't need a go-fast bike. I am thinking about either a small dual sport/adventure type bike or something similar to the modern Bonneville. In the past I have owned both a Bonnie and a Wee-Strom and liked both of them. I do like the upright riding style, my back hurts enough already.

I want to keep the bike relatively light, so I am shying away from the litter bikes, other than that I don't want to take out a second mortgage so a $20k GS is out. I am looking in the range of 600-800 cc's for the adventure tour type bike. I am not looking to do much more than fire/unimproved roads, no hardcore offload stuff.

Ok, let the games begin.
 
chacbalam said:
I am thinking about either a small dual sport/adventure type bike or something similar to the modern Bonneville. In the past I have owned both a Bonnie and a Wee-Strom and liked both of them. I do like the upright riding style, my back hurts enough already.
Click to expand...

Scrambler?

Used F800GS? The new ones just came out so the old ones may drop into affordable range.

Tiger?

KLR?

Why not eh Wee Strom again? Versys...

An older Multi?

Anything will do the type of riding you describe.
 
I liked the Wee and have been looking closely at them. A plus is that I know how they ride and I know how to tear them apart. I guest that I am just looking for what other people like. The the f800 gs also looks good if I can find one at a good price as does the scrambler.

The only problem with the Strom is its weight and electrical output, off and width. BMW gives you more current which is handy if you want heated grips, light bar, and accessories. All those things are good for long distance riding.

I'm not familiar with the Versys.
 
chacbalam said:
The the f800 gs also looks good if I can find one at a good price as does .
Click to expand...

Not sure what you consider a good price but a 2009 F800GS (stay away from 08) with all the proper Farkle (crash bars, bash plate, cases, etc) will run around 10k. I know cause I just sold mine:teeth. If you go this route make sure to consider maintenance costs, BMW = bring more wallet. Good luck
 
$5,875 at San Jose BMW, only 40,000 miles; barely broken in.

Bikes_598_useddemo.JPG
 
c-mo said:
Not sure what you consider a good price but a 2009 F800GS (stay away from 08) with all the proper Farkle (crash bars, bash plate, cases, etc) will run around 10k. I know cause I just sold mine:teeth. If you go this route make sure to consider maintenance costs, BMW = bring more wallet. Good luck
Click to expand...

'08 only exists in Europe (or at least outside the US) as far as I know.

Also there were no significant changes until this year in manufacturing (and I wouldn't say a whole changed even now). Everything that did change should be covered under a recall.
 
Anything with 40,000 miles that I've ridden, is getting loose, in my opinion, too many.

XC800 looks like fun, Superduke, any big twin, not superbike power but big fun.
 
40k seems like an a bit too much for me as well. I certainly wouldn't be buying a sport bike with that many miles on it. What's good for a BMW? Do they last longer without rebuilds than a more higher strung sport bike?

I don't need superbike performance but 85mph cruising speed is a definate.
 
chacbalam said:
40k seems like an a bit too much for me as well. I certainly wouldn't be buying a sport bike with that many miles on it. What's good for a BMW? Do they last longer without rebuilds than a more higher strung sport bike?

I don't need superbike performance but 85mph cruising speed is a definate.
Click to expand...

85 is easy with the BMW.

40k is not high mileage for a bmw. Shit I have 33k on my 3 year old F800GS.
 
That GS looks pretty nice,or since you have already had a triumph,the new 800 tiger is a really nice bike as well
 
chacbalam said:
The only problem with the Strom is its weight and electrical output, off and width. BMW gives you more current which is handy if you want heated grips, light bar, and accessories. All those things are good for long distance riding.

I'm not familiar with the Versys.
Click to expand...
I thought people ran all that crap on wee stroms no problem? I a lot of stuff on my Versys no problem: heated grips, heated jacket liner, heated gloves, running lights.
 
Hey, OP... How will you know if a bike is "too you" until you ride it?

And why would you want a bike that's too you? Wouldn't you want one that's just the right amount you? As opposed to not you enough?

:twofinger
 
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