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General Category >> The Cafe >> Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
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Message started by Dave on 11/10/13 at 04:26:16

Title: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Dave on 11/10/13 at 04:26:16

I sold my Trials bike last week.....I sure do miss it now that it is gone - but the reality is that I haven't ridden it much all summer as I have been riding my Cafe' bike whenever I get an urge to ride. It is a bit sad to realize I will most likely never own another trials or dirt bike.

I am looking for a bike that I can ride "comfortably" with my wife on the back. The Kawasaki Super Sherpa I owned was a dual sport and had too little seat for the both of us, I sold it to get my Savage. I then bought the Savage. and the stock seat was great for me, but still not comfortable for her to ride for more than 1/2 hour. Our heads were about the same height and she did not have much of a view, and we banged helmets when I shifted gears or slowed down quickly. If I want her to go riding with me and enjoy it......I need something with a "Big Comfy Couch" on the back.

A new bike is just too expensive and I must find a used bike that is affordable. This is what I am looking at:

Honda ST1100 - A used one can be bought for about the same price as a used Savage. Nice examples in the 1994 to 2000 year models generally have about 60,000 miles and sell for about $ 3,500. I am going to look at a used one today. The lady owner just can't reach the ground and she has tipped over twice. She bought a BMW which has a lower set height. The bike may be a bit tall for me as well.

Honda ST1300 -This bike is an improved version of the ST1100. The engine was lowered and the seat has a height adjustment, and the windshield can be lowered or raised electrically with the push of a button. The price of these is a bit too much.......they seem to go for about $ 6,000 and up....although I hve seen a couple for $ 2,800 that have 120,000 miles on them. I rode a 2009 model at a dealer yesterday that was very nice - but $ 9,000 is just not in my budget. I had not planned on riding it and only went to the dealer to check the seat height and see how I fit. If I really scootch around on the seat I can get flat footed - but normal seating places my toes firmly on the ground and my heals up about 1/2 inch. They were putting a tag on it when I got there as another fellow wanted to ride it - so I took a long lap after he was done. It is very smooth and really quiet at riding speeds - at idle the engine made a whirring sound that was louder than I expected. The bike rode very nicely and did not feel monstrous - although it sure looks big. The electric windshield sure was nice - but when lowered it pushed the air in a way that made my full face helmet noisey.

Suzuki 1000 VStrom - Last night on the way home from the dealer I stopped by a friends house to help him bleed the brakes on his car. He has a VStrom and he and his wife love riding double up on it. They went on a 5,000 mile trip and she says it is the most comfortable bike she has ever ridden on the back of. I took it for a ride....and it really is tall. I can touch "tippy toe"....nothing else. The bike engine was really quiet and and a ton of power and really pulled strong when you added throttle. I grabbed a hand full of throttle leaving a STOP sign, and the bike launched forward and raised the front wheel about a foot before I could let off the throttle......that was a real surprise! It accelerated so fast it even made me a bit dizzy......I can't remember the last time I rode something that quick. The bike can be fitted with lots of baggage and racks - but my initial reaction is that I want something with a lower seat and more wind protection.

Kawaski Concours - I have looked at a few of these but not ridden one. The new ones are too expensive, the older ones just look too old and are not my style. The luggage just looks like you stuck some black suitcases on the bike. These are supposed to be pretty fast....not something I need.

Honda Pacific Coast - Deb and I sat on one of these when we were at the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground, and it sits really nice and used one are really cheap. There is luggage space - but not enough and it looks hard to add any. You could not add a rack as the entire back of the bike and seat hinges up to provide access to the stock storage compartment. The bike looks like a motorcycle up front - but it looks like a motor scooter on the back. They are supposed to be reliable.

BMW K series - My friend thinks I should look at these. They are affordable and the seat height is supposed to be good for shorter riders. I am not horribly anxious to get a bike with so limited of dealers in case I go somewhere and something brakes.....however even my Suzuki dealer takes a week to get me any parts.

So I am still looking to see what might be a possible bike. I have not seen any "cruiser" bikes that are affordable and meet our riding position or baggage needs.

Dave

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/10/13 at 05:13:12

There is luggage space - but not enough and it looks hard to any any.

One thing is sure in life, when its time for a little "any any" no one wants to be cramped..

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Dave on 11/10/13 at 05:16:03

JOG....Fixed it.

Maybe that was a Freudian slip......cause it is twice as hard to get "any" if the little woman aint happy!

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by irondad01 on 11/10/13 at 05:35:24

Maybe not your style but have you looked at the super scooters? I never rode one but the people I talked to who own them seem to love them. I was looking at a Suzuki 650 Burgman and really liked what it had to offer. Lots of storage and wind protection and a huge seat. I guess they have plenty of power for long rides two up. The prices for used ones don't seem bad. Carl

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/10/13 at 05:44:24

A Burgman will Eat the Savage alive from a standing start, On Up..Theyze some bad Mo Dees..

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by WD on 11/10/13 at 06:37:40

Kawasaki Nomad. Used ones are finally starting to come down in price. Very low seat height, huge by ginormous windshield. 1500/1600/1700cc versions. The 1500 is more than sufficient, the 1600 has hideous wheels and the 1700 is a 2 wheeled monster. The current version is the Vaquero, a bit pricey.

If I needed hard bags, that's the bike I'd be looking at.

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by runwyrlph aka limpaway on 11/10/13 at 13:48:46

I have never seen a Pacific Coast in person, or seen one for sale on Craigslist in my area. If I could get a used one for cheap, that would really interest me!

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Serowbot on 11/10/13 at 15:01:53

If passenger comfort is primary,.. an old GL500 Honda is pretty good...
Fugly thing though... :-?...
http://cdn2.armslist.com/sites/armslist/uploads/posts/2013/01/22/903587_01_82_honda_silverwing_gl500_inte_640.jpg

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Steve H on 11/10/13 at 15:24:58

An old Goldwing is a great ride. They are very reliable, plenty of room, like riding a couch down the highway, and quite heavy. The six cylinder Kaw Voyager is a great ride too.

The prices I've seen on GL500's around here, you'd think they were made out of gold. I've looked at a couple but they just wouldn't get real with the asking price.

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by 12Bravo on 11/10/13 at 16:06:05

I've owned a Burgman 650 and yes it will put the Savage to shame (along with a lot of cruiser type bikes) ;D One of the problems I had with the super scooter was that passengers kept falling asleep on me LOL.
Any flavor of the Gold Wing would be good.

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Dave on 11/10/13 at 16:46:30

The wife and I went and test rode a 2000 ST1100 this afternoon, and we bought it. It has about 34,000 miles on it and is in good shape. Just a few scratches on the luggage as the owner has had "tip overs" twice. The owner is not very long legged and can't reach the ground well, and she is just not strong enough to muscle it up once it started over. It was $ 3,500, and I figure we can ride it for a year or two and still get that for it in case we decide it is not the right bike or my wife doesn't like riding on the back of it.

I just have too many meetings to pick it up this week, and Dang.....the winter weather is bound to be here by the time I get the bike. I have a feeling this winter is going to pass very slowly......I can spend some of the time taking off the pink Dragon and Motor Maids decals!
Dave

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Serowbot on 11/10/13 at 16:53:19

Put some stickers on it... :-?...

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3564/3567061825_cdcb8cd571_b.jpg

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/10/13 at 17:09:20

Attaboyyy Dave!

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by pgambr on 11/10/13 at 17:48:42

Looks really clean, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Dave on 11/10/13 at 17:57:59

7167706D75606D76020 wrote:

Put some stickers on it... :-?...

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3564/3567061825_cdcb8cd571_b.jpg

Aaaaack! Gmmmph!....eck,eck,eck.......Pooey. That sure is ugly, but I guess that is not the undercover Police bike.

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by MMRanch on 11/10/13 at 20:22:21

Congrats! Dave

Thats a nice color too . I'll bet it runs down the interestate at any speed the trafic wants to go ;) ridding single or double !

My sister-in-law had a Car with that same size engine on it and she loved it . ;D

You get an itch to go to pike peak or something like that give me a holler. I've put LONG-LEGS on my sportster and comfee seat too :)

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by mpescatori on 11/11/13 at 01:51:08

063D3027363A21273C343926550 wrote:

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS ! :D That is one sweeet bike !
34,000 miles is like... 50,000 Km, let's say she just finished her running in ! 8-)

No, really, those bikes are designed and built with a half-million Km target in mind. 340,000 miles... so she IS just barely run in !

As for the winter and winter riding, I just bought a set of Dunlops D616 for my Beemer, rain tires built for the track and then redesigned with harder rubber compound for the road.

http://d136nqpz68vrmx.cloudfront.net/product_images/du/450/dunlop-d616-motorcycle-tire.jpg

Available for roughly $250-260 for the set (front+rear) from BikeBandit. Dunlop strongly recommend they be fitted as a pair for best results.

They're not quite snow tires, but they're THE choice for trouble free, hassle free two-up holiday cruising all year round !

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Pine on 11/11/13 at 10:21:34

Congratz.. very nice looking bike.. wish I could talk my wife into something like that.

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Blinky-FSO on 11/12/13 at 17:51:37

Dave,
Very nice choice, enjoy.

Good hunting

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by old_rider on 11/12/13 at 18:12:54

I actually looked at an ST1100 a couple years back, was a tad too tall for me and the missus. We went instead with the VTX series low rider style cruiser. Only bad thing about the VTX was it only had 5 speeds, I was always reaching for the sixth one when on the interslab.

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Ragnar444 on 11/13/13 at 19:51:11

This would be my recommendation. They plan on starting production during Dec. of next year. I already have my order in. :)

Title: Re: Looking for a "Double-Up" bike
Post by Dave on 11/14/13 at 04:10:03

Ragner444...........I could not spend more than about $ 4,000. My wife is getting ready to retire, and we need to pay our house off ASAP.

If I had lived closer to the south.....I would have bought this bike. A little bit of electrical troubleshooting and a few parts....and I think it would be fine.

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?133183-94-ST1100-Black-NON-ABS

Dave