Help me choose a motorcycle
- Thread starter ahtoxa
- Start date
Chevy2012sonic
New member
Scot
Athletic Supporter
Check out:
Suzuki Vstrom 650 or 1000 cc - can be had used on the cheap!
Any used KTM 990 adventure
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Yamaha Super Tenere (good luck finding one < $10k, though)
BMW GS800
You dig MTB, You want an adventure bike.
And then you'll want bar risers and a taller seat - good luck fitting on a forward-control cruiser w/o it looking weird or costing a buttload of money.
Suzuki Vstrom 650 or 1000 cc - can be had used on the cheap!
Any used KTM 990 adventure
Yamaha Super Tenere (good luck finding one < $10k, though)
BMW GS800
You dig MTB, You want an adventure bike.
And then you'll want bar risers and a taller seat - good luck fitting on a forward-control cruiser w/o it looking weird or costing a buttload of money.
ahtoxa
New member
Warming up to the adventure bikes.
Checked out the NC700x. I read some long-term reviews on it and it seems that it's geared to be an in-town commuter bike more than a long-distance cruiser. Which is fine, as I don't expect to go too far on the bike - no more than a few hundred miles a day. Small gas tank at only 3.7 gallons.
Kwasaki KLR650 - more of an adventure bike than the NC700x. Also, it's cheaper. I like the taller saddle height and the much larger gas tank, compared to the Honda above. However, it seems like it's rather old and the general design has been out for 2 decades. It's durable and reliable, according to reviews, but I'm not certain that it's the right bike for me.
I'd have to try it in person.
The BMW - under 10k, but much more expensive than other competitors. I don't think I'd want to spend that much over the Honda.
Still need to check out the other ones.
Keep the suggestions coming - I'm researching them all!
Checked out the NC700x. I read some long-term reviews on it and it seems that it's geared to be an in-town commuter bike more than a long-distance cruiser. Which is fine, as I don't expect to go too far on the bike - no more than a few hundred miles a day. Small gas tank at only 3.7 gallons.
Kwasaki KLR650 - more of an adventure bike than the NC700x. Also, it's cheaper. I like the taller saddle height and the much larger gas tank, compared to the Honda above. However, it seems like it's rather old and the general design has been out for 2 decades. It's durable and reliable, according to reviews, but I'm not certain that it's the right bike for me.
I'd have to try it in person.
The BMW - under 10k, but much more expensive than other competitors. I don't think I'd want to spend that much over the Honda.
Still need to check out the other ones.
Keep the suggestions coming - I'm researching them all!
the nc does have a smaller tank but the gas mileage (over 80mpg) helps it go further than the other bikes
honestly, we can all push whatever bike on you that we like. go out and test drive them all and see what you like. i owned a vstrom. my best friend has an nc700x and i own currently a hyperstrada. the honda is the easiest bike to get on as a new rider. the storage is cool and the bike looks and feels much more expensive than it is. the vstrom was the opposite. it felt cheaper and almost like it should be a few thousand less than it was. the hyperstrada is a hooligan of a bike with way too much power and fun than it should have but it disguises itself rather well with backs and windshield as a tourer. haha
i have watched the nc videos at the track and it looks leisurely at best. the strada is running past sportbikes as it wheelies down the track... and yes i take mine offroad. all 120hp of it hahaha
honestly, we can all push whatever bike on you that we like. go out and test drive them all and see what you like. i owned a vstrom. my best friend has an nc700x and i own currently a hyperstrada. the honda is the easiest bike to get on as a new rider. the storage is cool and the bike looks and feels much more expensive than it is. the vstrom was the opposite. it felt cheaper and almost like it should be a few thousand less than it was. the hyperstrada is a hooligan of a bike with way too much power and fun than it should have but it disguises itself rather well with backs and windshield as a tourer. haha
i have watched the nc videos at the track and it looks leisurely at best. the strada is running past sportbikes as it wheelies down the track... and yes i take mine offroad. all 120hp of it hahaha
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Scot
Athletic Supporter
That's why I refer to my Vstrom as The "Chevy Cavalier" of the motorcycle world.
Thing is - you can find used Vstroms CHEAP. I bought my 2006 in 2012 for $5000 with 15K miles
The price included two sets of Givi cargo boxes, aftermarket skidplates, a Scott MX steering damper, aftermarket windshield, new chain and sprockets, custom seat and new tires.
I've got about 10K trouble-free miles on it, average 55 mpg and ride the snot out of it. :banana:
ive got 86k on my harley, thats like a sonic with 400k on it hahaha.
depends on the area. in the north east we can only ride a few months a year so 10k a year is a lot.
each bike has a maintenance schedule. for valves and chains and suspension and all kinds of stuff. when you get more down to what you like or dont like thats another thing to consider.
ducs used to be horrendous.
my strada valve service is every 19k miles. one of the best in the buisness now. the cb500x i was looking at was about every 5k miles i think. it was odd...
depends on the area. in the north east we can only ride a few months a year so 10k a year is a lot.
each bike has a maintenance schedule. for valves and chains and suspension and all kinds of stuff. when you get more down to what you like or dont like thats another thing to consider.
ducs used to be horrendous.
my strada valve service is every 19k miles. one of the best in the buisness now. the cb500x i was looking at was about every 5k miles i think. it was odd...
Scot
Athletic Supporter
Good question - there is a guy at work that has over 120K on a Vstrom and bought a hyperstrada. He still rides the Vstrom in the winter.
I think it comes down to the same things as when looking at cars - how it's been treated over the years. I know some bikes are maintenance nightmares, but as long as you stay away from Ducattis, you should be fine.
Scot
Athletic Supporter
If it is two CRF250 engines Siamesed together, I wouldn't doubt it. My ex had a 250F that required plenty of valve clearance checks - because once they start moving (bad intake valve usually) they go fast until the valve eventually fails.
ahtoxa
New member
Really?
I was hoping it'd be more than that. I'd fully expect to ride 10k miles a year and have a bike be 'old' in two years is quite a short stint.
Blue hedgehog
New member
20k is old for sport bikes. Usually some kid had it, abused it, and wrecked it by 20k. Or didn't do any maintenance. My last Harley had 27k when I traded it in for my current Harley. It was still as strong as it was new. I just wanted a new bike with abs and fell in love with the colors of my current bike.
rdss
Junior Member
Was it even broken in at 27k?!
I am loving my Dyna Steet Bob, with your height I would recommend one with forward controls. You can get a used Dyna for under your 10k price range.