Ladies - 2nd bike help?

[Artemisia]

I hate to be a bother but I need a ladys help baddly.


I need a every day bike.



I have been shopping for a bike and doing my home work
but I found there is no bike that seems to do every thing very well.
So I figured that I have to compromise and decide what is most
important to me.


NUMBER 1)
Extreme reliability, very low repair costs, very low running/matainance cost.


NUMBER 2)
The ability to handle well in year round weather
(rain, snow mixed with salt, and sun shine). At lest a little wind protection would be a must
in a Chicago winter.


NUMBER 3)
Needs to be nibble enough to handle pot holes and
light urban traffic every day. Yet I still need it to be capable of doing 8hr trips two-up now and again
with out a undersized engine begging for mercy (see reliability) or the wind blowing the
bike off the highway do to low weight.


NUMBER 3 & a 1/2)
Available (large) hard luggage to make it a more practical every day bike.


NUMBER 4)
Room for the now and then pillion.


NOTE)
I am a five foot nine 140LBS girl so wile a tall bike
(like a v-strom or Multistrada) is not a put off and would be extra comfy for my long legs on
long miles a heavy bike might be a bit much for me to handle (the Yamaha FJR 1300, concourse and
Honda ST 1100). I am not strong or heavy enough to man handal a big bike around the city.
I am not new to riding but it has been awile.

THOUGHTS)
My thoughts are on the V-strom 650...KLR 650...VFR 800...and Multistrada right now.
But I am thinking the KLR might be a bit strained for two-up and long miles with it's singal
and the VFR might be hi matainance with it's VTECH motor. I am allso thinking that
Ducati and BMW motorcycles have hi matainance and repair costs.

ANY thoughts AT ALL on these or other bikes would be welcomed.

Thank you.

[Lion_Lady]

No single bike is going to accomodate ALL those 'needs' equally well.

It seems that you've got two separate needs categories:
1) Commuter (light, reliable, all weather).
2) Tourer (comfy for long hauls).

Your thread title says, "second bike help" - What do you have now?

You are not going to find any one motorcycle that does all that very well. You gotta break things down and figure out which are your greatest needs, MOST of the time and focus on those features.

I'm going to suggest you look at the commuter features first. Oh, and there is nothing but a dual sport that is going to be able to deal with snow, and that is extremely iffy.

>>> I own a BMW, and the maintenance costs are NOT terribly high, because I can do most of it myself. New BMW parts are pricey, but there are many many sources so you can shop around for the best deals. I have an excellent and reputable dealer not too far away for 'serious' help if I need it.

P

[Artemisia]

Commuter (light-tish, reliable, all weather).
That's the sort of bike I need above all. A friend said the same thing to me about
dual sport bikes and snow.

This is the 2nd bike I am going to own.
My 1st is a honda night hawk 250 commuter .
It was I could afford back then.

Extreme reliability, very low repair costs, very low running/matainance cost.
That is the most important to me.

The ability to handle well in year round weather
(rain, snow mixed with salt, and sun shine). At lest a little wind protection would be a must in a Chicago winter.
That's the 2nd most important.

Needs to be nibble enough to handle pot holes and
light urban traffic every day. Yet I still need it to be capable of doing 8hr trips two-up now and again
with out a undersized engine begging for mercy (see reliability) or the wind blowing the bike off the highway do to low weight.
3rd

Available (large) hard luggage to make it a more practical every day bike.
4th

Room for the now and then pillion.
5th

[Sev]

Honda 599

But the seat is really hard, though you can get one made that is nicer. You can get hard luggage.

It's a honda so great reliability.

Great to handle, and I've done 10 hour days in the saddle before. Highly recomended.

[Lion_Lady]

Hmmm, the BMW boxer is still an excellent choice. I've put 16,000 miles on mine in 16 months. Two 1600 + mile trips.

No cost to check out your nearby dealer.

All I have to do is start it up and go. Check the oil occasionally. It is a workhorse. ABS brakes are a LIFESAVER!

The ONE problem I see, is that at around 500 pounds it is a big step up from the Nighthawk.

Do you have a car? I don't think that in Chicago you'll be able to do the year round commute on a motorcycle.

P

[Artemisia]

I have done a winter on the night hawk.

I do like the BMW K bikes. With the motor being so low
the weight dose not matter for me.

I jsut worry about the running cost
of BMW's. And even the used BMW are $$$.

I don't have a car just now.
I am looking for a bike to cut down my cost of living.
I am still in school right now.

Yes I could get a used car...but
I had a bad and expecive experance with a used car.
I rather buy a new or near new bike.