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Rob Kaiser
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2005 11:17 am

questions about a first bike

Post by Rob Kaiser » Thu Sep 01, 2005 12:17 pm

Hi everybody, I'm a newbie here and am very interested in the whole dual-sport bike thing. I first considered a motorcycle a few months ago as I'm moving to the Western North Carolina mountains and my commute will increase significantly. I learned about dualsports and was fascinated. I thought that the BMW GS 650 was what I wanted, but I think that the price, style and type of people that own the Kawasakis are making me change my mind. I plan on taking the MSF RiderCourse before even beginning my true search to purchase a bike, but I'm trying to narrow down what I should be looking at. I'm almost 28 years old, 6'2" and weigh about 215 pounds. I plan on using the bike mainly to commute to work and also to gain better access to the backcountry so I can access more remote backpacking and hiking areas faster than I would with a car. I don't plan on doing any serious trail riding (I don't think I am, at least, but you never know). I've been reading some articles about first time motorcycle buyers, and I just want to make sure that if I get the 650, that it's not too much bike for me. I want to have fun, but I don't want to kill myself, either. And on the flip side, if I buy the 250, will I "outgrow" the bike in a matter of months and wish I had bought the 650? I guess I don't want to be stuck climbing a mountain highway going 50 mph. I'd like to have some "oomph." Will the 250 provide that for a guy my size? Any ideas on new bikes vs. used bikes? I'd prefer to buy new. The bikes are relatively inexpensive and that way I'd know what I'm getting, but if I were to find a good deal on a used bike, I'd have more money to better accessorize myself and the bike to my liking. I like what I've read here so far, and I look forward to your responses. Thanks! Rob
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Chris
Posts: 1250
Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:57 am

questions about a first bike

Post by Chris » Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:06 pm

A writeup I did as a re-entry rider a couple years ago. I basically considered myself a new rider at that point and had taken the MSF before I even got on the road again with the KLR http://www.kingsqueak.org/archives/index.php?loc=klr A 250 will be a lot easier to learn dirt riding on and getting into tight spots on trails. The 650 will give you more comfort margin at highway speeds IMO. You *can* do the highway on a 250, but at your size it will be even more marginal. I'm only just barely comfortable with the 650's power at highway speeds, I'd like more at this point. On roads On 9/1/05, Rob Kaiser wrote: > > Hi everybody, > > I'm a newbie here and am very interested in the whole dual-sport > bike thing. I first considered a motorcycle a few months ago as I'm > moving to the Western North Carolina mountains and my commute will > increase significantly. > > I learned about dualsports and was fascinated. I thought that the > BMW GS 650 was what I wanted, but I think that the price, style and > type of people that own the Kawasakis are making me change my mind. > > I plan on taking the MSF RiderCourse before even beginning my true > search to purchase a bike, but I'm trying to narrow down what I > should be looking at. > > I'm almost 28 years old, 6'2" and weigh about 215 pounds. I plan > on using the bike mainly to commute to work and also to gain better > access to the backcountry so I can access more remote backpacking > and hiking areas faster than I would with a car. I don't plan on > doing any serious trail riding (I don't think I am, at least, but > you never know). > > I've been reading some articles about first time motorcycle buyers, > and I just want to make sure that if I get the 650, that it's not > too much bike for me. I want to have fun, but I don't want to kill > myself, either. And on the flip side, if I buy the 250, will > I "outgrow" the bike in a matter of months and wish I had bought the > 650? I guess I don't want to be stuck climbing a mountain highway > going 50 mph. I'd like to have some "oomph." Will the 250 provide > that for a guy my size? > > Any ideas on new bikes vs. used bikes? I'd prefer to buy new. The > bikes are relatively inexpensive and that way I'd know what I'm > getting, but if I were to find a good deal on a used bike, I'd have > more money to better accessorize myself and the bike to my liking. > > I like what I've read here so far, and I look forward to your > responses. Thanks! > > Rob > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.comhttp://www.dualsportnews.com> > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.htmlhttp://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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