wawazat said:Above your price point but falling regularly perhaps because Indian just killed it is the FTR1200. Not light but plenty of character and available in the S variant with all the nannies. I think they look cool. Also, the high mounted S&S exhaust completes this bike's look!
Also, the Kawasaki W series parallel twins. These started with a 650 and then morphed into an 800. Not a lot of HP but the bevel drive for the cam is cool and the vintage vibe is on point if that's your thing.
I had a W650. It was a great bike except the carburetors were very touchy about gumming up from gas containing ethanol. I'd go for a W800, they're fuel injected.
Hyabusa. ABS added around 2013 or 2014 I think. Leave lots of things behind in a hurry, maybe even your license if you let in enough stupid.
Thanks for all the suggestions and advice, everyone. I've been reading and researching everything, even if I haven't responded.
I rode the BMW all weekend and confirmed that while it's still a perfect motorcycle, it's just not what I want out of the experience right now. I have a handshake agreement to sell it to a buddy for $5500.
So, that's my budget for the next bike. And I've got plenty of time to find one--Bike Week is right around the corner, followed by tax season, so bike prices will be nuts around here for a few months.
At this point, I'm leaning really heavily towards supermotos--the challenge will be finding one in my price range that isn't destroyed.
Sort of along the lines of a supermoto that has the ability to do many things a 1st gen Kawi Versys 650 is interesting.
No nannies except abs on some,not really a priority for me but I put premium rubber on for added grip.
My '08 is cheap,dead reliable,short geared,wheelies if you even think about it,great engine charactor,will happily sit on the 4 lane for hrs or carve back roads with confidence,fire roads are fine.
Fun for short trips around town or load up the luggage and hit the road.
Stock suspension leaves a fair bit on the table,older R1 rear shock is a near direct bolt on to affordable 3 way adjustable awesomeness.
Had my forks revalved along with custom blended oil....miles better.
I've always been an inline 4 guy but the little 650 twin is still plenty entertaining at legal'ish speeds.
Save money on the bike and use the savings for trips or other fun things,sounds like whatever you choose isn't going to get worn out by riding it :)
https://advrider.com/f/threads/2015-ducati-hypermotard-sp-7k-charlottesville-va.1779475/
nmna but lusting after it myself.
As Professor_Brap has wisely said, "Supermoto is the best moto."
I love all motorcycles, so I'm not here to rain on anyone's two-wheeled parade, but for low-speed real-world fun, it is nearly impossible to beat a supermoto. Hooligan street-trackers are cool and fun, mid-displacement vintage-ish UJMs are cool and fun, but I'd say Suzuki DRZ, Yamaha WR250, Kawasaki KLX300SM, KTM/Husky 690/701...all stupid fun! Buy the best example your budget and local marketplace allows and enjoy! Nothing truly compares to a truly lightweight bike with long-travel suspension plus tons of grip.
So I just snapped this up on Marketplace for $900.... Clean Florida title and no issues aside from needing tires and some general cleanup.
Yes, it's stupid.
No, it's not at all what I had in mind.
I still want a Supermoto, and may end up just flipping this to help pay for one, but at this price I couldn't turn it down.
This is not the Speed Triple I willed. I willed it, dammit.
In reply to Tom Suddard :
bring da ruckus
Ooh, needs a GY6 swap for more stupidness.
For his use case the speed triple is way up there, but too much torque and power IMO. I had the old man version aka tiger 1050.
The Duc hyper is the droid you're looking for.
I have a Yamaha WR250R. Mine has suspension dialed in, tune, sprocket, etc. perfect for the kind of less than 1 hour rides I do which are under 55-60mph.
Tom: "I'm looking for something to eat. I want something that is chicken-based and that includes some vegetables."
GRM: "How about Chicken Kiev? Maybe some fettuccini with chicken? You could do a chicken and broccoli stir fry. You could also even do a blackened Louisiana chicken with okra."
Tom: "I FOUND MY MEAL, GUYS! I BOUGHT A BAG OF FRITOS!"
brandonsmash said:Tom: "I'm looking for something to eat. I want something that is chicken-based and that includes some vegetables."
GRM: "How about Chicken Kiev? Maybe some fettuccini with chicken? You could do a chicken and broccoli stir fry. You could also even do a blackened Louisiana chicken with okra."
Tom: "I FOUND MY MEAL, GUYS! I BOUGHT A BAG OF FRITOS!"
That's what half of us do here. I was looking at Z06's and ended up getting a Scion IQ once and then a Viper to fill the speed gap.
This is GRM. We do not have the attention span to look past a good deal in front of us.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
That reminds me of me in 2015. I was in the market for a new pickup truck. I ended up going home with a Mustang. Y'know, cross-shopping.
Now 10 years later I have a Z06 and a GX550 and am halfway shopping for a pickup.
brandonsmash said:Tom: "I'm looking for something to eat. I want something that is chicken-based and that includes some vegetables."
GRM: "How about Chicken Kiev? Maybe some fettuccini with chicken? You could do a chicken and broccoli stir fry. You could also even do a blackened Louisiana chicken with okra."
Tom: "I FOUND MY MEAL, GUYS! I BOUGHT A BAG OF FRITOS!"
Okay, I Lol'd. Nicely done.
I won't have much time to work on the Ruckus until after the $2000 Challenge, but Tim has grown quite fond of it. He took it for a spin and then spent an hour or so cleaning it up. Clearly, this is going to be a hot commodity in the paddock.
Nice work; it looks great cleaned up!
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