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

JOG....Fixed it.

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

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

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!

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.

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

Attaboyyy Dave!

Serowbot wrote on 11/10/13 at 16:53:19:


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