I believe they have a kit that reduces the seat height of the 650.  There is a  dealer in my home town that sells BMW and many other brands and I go there fairly frequently.  They had a used 650 (I can't remember what specific model, just that is was a 650) on the floor a year or so ago and it had the shorter option and it was a good height.  The salesman explained that the original owner had ordered it that way.  I don't know if it is something that can be added or if it has to be ordered that way from the factory.  If there is a dealer nearby they might be able to help you.  The regular version, like most BMWs, is fairly tall but I like to put both feet flat on the pavement.

it may not be fair, but once the clock reads over 20k, resale becomes a problem. Here it's 20k kilometers, and buyers become hard-nosed. Modern engines can do much more, but try telling that to buyers!

Thanks for the comments. I must admit that for the most part you are scaring me away from this bike. I like that it is a single, that it has about 50HP and supposedly can cruise all day at 80mph and still return around 50mpg. The price also is attractive at under $3K. Well, I might not go check it out. Thanks.

I have seen at least one Vulcan S on the road and I must admit it looked very nice. Very doubtful though that I could get one for the money I am willing to spend at the moment.

My last bike ! Great to ride very comfortable. Horrible sound ! Definitely no thumper more like a lawnmower! However yes pretty bomb proof motor capable of long tours. Off road it's fine if it is not too technical. Really too heavy for tricky stuff. I had pair of Dakar 09 tyres and it was great on or off road. Nice position up on the pegs, there is a "low" seat which I had and I found it fine at 5'8".

springman wrote on 03/06/17 at 13:27:35:


Go ride the BMW - can't hurt to go ride a motorcycle!

And go ride a Vulcan S - the price of them will drop in a year or two.  You will then know if it is something you want to start saving and watching for a used one.

I am wrestling a bit trying to think of affordable (and reliable) used bikes that match your inseam and are a better bike than the Savage.  (I have a 30" inseam and I can't flatfoot most dual sport or adventure touring bikes or large sport touring bikes).

What exactly are you looking for in a new bike....that the Savage doesn't do well?



And yes.....I heard a KTM 390 going slowly across a parking lot, and it sounded like a weedwacker!  

You can do engine and gearing mods and your bike will do 75-80mph much better.  I am sure that my bike, Verslagen's, old_indian and Superthumpers bikes will all do 80 without problem (I don't even use 5th until I am over 60mph).  

You need to a Wiseco, a cam, do some head porting, and change the gearing (Kawasaki pulleys if you want to keep the belt - or a chain and sprockets), a 140/90-15 rear tire.  You are most likely going to spend $ 1,000 - $ 1,500 getting it all done - but the results are very good.

Or.....maybe you just need to look around a bit.  There are lots of bike models out there that I have overlooked.  A parallel twin will most likely be the best bike for getting down the highway at speed - my little Ninja 250 can do 75-80 all day long...and the parallel twin bikes tend to be smaller and lighter than the V-Twin bikes.

I didn't realize that the Kawasaki Vulcan S had an earlier bike that is very similar, and can probably be found for a lot less money.  Some of the early models were belt drive, later a chain.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kawasaki-Vulcan-500-LTD-/142300285159?hash=item2121c2...

https://www.cycletrader.com/search-results?sort=featured%3Aasc&radius=150&lay...;


The Suzuki SV650 is supposed to be a wonderful bike.......the early ones (pre-Gladius) are better in some ways than the later bikes.

PG:

How tall is the seat on the V-Strom?

I am an inch taller than Springman (5'-8", 30" inseam), and I rode a friends 1000 V-Strom.  I could just barely touch my toes on the ground....the bike is way too tall for me to own.