New member, experienced rider, buying new2me bike

[zapblam]

Hi, Vern here from Saskatoon Sask Canada.

40yr 5'11" 32"inseam 180lbs skinny guy looking for a new bike. Not a new rider though. However I am drawn to the marketed and always called starter bikes. s40/ls650, vstar 650, Vulcan500, vlx600

Replacing a 1982 GN125 due to last years move out of city. Rode the GN125 for 8 years and loved it around the city. Rain/shine daily commuter. The 125 was screaming at 60mph highway. Otherwise would not sell.

Light, nimble, no frills, dead easy to work on. Was comfortable enough for me, just a tad cramped but for $50 bike was not complaining. Sold the 125 for $1000. And learned a whole lot about bike repair maint and hunting rare bike parts.

New daily commute is 50km (30miles) highway at half 110km/h and half 100km/hr (68mph,62mph). Rest of commute city 55mph max mostly 30mph.

Sat on soo many bikes in showrooms. Simply put, the Vstar 650 is as bulky as I would ever want, almost too much.

The mentioned 500-650 cruisers fit rather good, the s40 fit quite well enough but will have to test ride to make sure. And I liked thumpers from the 125.

Strangely enough the Vstrom 650 is my ultimate dream bike and fit like a glove but cant be had for $4500 max. Hated the other sport bike feel. DR650 and KLR650 fit great but would never see anything more than a rare gravel flat road.

I like simple both in looks and mechanical. Looking for no frills daily commuter. Will own and drive till she is dead. May save up for the weestrom if wife were to take up riding the cruiser I get now. Not worried about manhood looking at a anything marketed as a beginner/lady bike.

Being as I was OK with the tiny 125, think the S40 would be sufficient? Or would the highway kill the s40 in short time. Also great knowing parts are readily available unlike the antique GN. Would get a windshield this time though to keep wind off chest Willing to customize eventually with pipes, carb tweaks, seat height, pega, etc.

DAMN always get way to freaking wordy, sorry.

[zapblam]

Rephrase:

For a no frills, light, nimble, easy to fix daily highway commuter for an experienced rider who hates sport bikes and the heavy bulky 750 and up cruisers. $4500 budget

Which would be better s40/ls650, Vstar 650, VXL 600, Vulcan 500, klr650 or dr650?

Anything more roomy and more power than a 1982 GN125 (ridden 8 years no complaints) which was only mildly cramped but far underpowered for any highway.

[agraebner]

The VLX is a very good bike would get you good mileage as well as very comfortable power and good handling. I have ridden the yamaha in the same class it seems like a pretty nice bike as well. If you are looking for a good reliable bike that will work for commuting and just a generally fun smooth ride The Honda or Yamaha are my recommendations. (opinion)

[Johnj]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Vern have you looked at a Hyosung GT650. A builder like you could make it a great bike.

[ceemes]

Look for an old Honda CB650 that is in good nick. Great bike, plenty of power for the highway, yet still fairly light and nimble. My last courier bike was a CB650 and it was arguably the best of the bunch....the Kawasaki KZ550 came a close second....actually come to think about it, a KZ550 could just be what you are looking for.

[jstark47]

Among the cruisers, VLX is a 4-speed and wants another gear for highway use. The V-star is heavy as you discovered. The Vulcan 500 is the "little engine that could" - detuned Ninja 500 engine, reliable as a stone ax, and get-up-and-go a bike that size shouldn't have, but it does. Only drawback is that it's small. As long as you fit on it, I'd vote Vulcan 500 first. Second place would be Savage/S40, because...... well...... thumpers are just plain cool.

[zapblam]

hmm only 2 kz550 one is a 1980LTD needs carbs sorted and possible CDI. 45k $2500. Other is 1981 38k no probs $3500. Just too old (been down the old bike part find route). And too many cyl/carbs.

Just so yall know $3000 is bottom of barrel for running bikes here no matter year, size or condition.

$4500 gives me pick of litter for anything under 750 AND newer than 1995. Thats where the 600s fit in, 1995-2005 various ,makes/models mostly $3k-$5k.

[zapblam]

09 Vulcan 500 1900km $4800. 02 Vulcan 500 5500km $4200. Is it really a PITA and necessary like I read to remove tank, speedo, rad, etc just to do basic stuff like check sparkplugs on these vulcans? Thats why I looked away away.

[High_Side]

Have you considered an older GS500E (the naked one)? They are stone cold simple air cooled, twin cylinder and standard riding position. They shouldn't be too hard to find as they sold them for many years.

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http ... 80&bih=620

[totalmotorcycle]

Welcome Vern to the community!

I'm happy to see so many great members have replied to you in just 1 day, it shows you how friendly the TMW community is.

Lots of great suggestions on the bikes above. I really can't add much more to those suggested. But I can add that I owned the V-strom 650, your dream bike and it was a really nice bike for commuting. You could sit up tall in it, it is VERY comfortable (more so with the Suzuki Gel Seat), and got amazing gas milage. If you are a tall rider (say 6' or more) you'll really like the bike.

Funny enough you reminded me way back before I got my motorcycle licence I used to really like the GN125. (they also had a GN250 if I remember right). Nice, naked, basic motorcycle, nothing wrong with that.

As suggested above the GS500E would fit into that catagory: http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... GS500E.htm

Even a Bandit 600 as well if you wanted to go with an in-line 4.: http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... Bandit.htm

I am a big fan of 1980's bikes, but they are getting on in age and unless you like working on a bike (sometimes a lot) then I'd go with as new as you can.

Mike