Sports tourer for a new rider

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mgdavis · #11 Unread post by **mgdavis** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 5:53 pm

I was going to plug the Wee as well, but I see several beat me to it.

Plenty of power, decent seat, big gas tank. I primarily use mine as a commuter and sport tourer. As a bonus, it gets 50-55mpg, which is better than any of the large displacement bikes can get.

Mason · #12 Unread post by **Mason** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:34 pm

jstark 47...I am in basically the same boat 6'2 250lbs having a hard time finding a 650 vstrom used but lots of 1000's out there. I sat a 1000 flat footed at the dealer and he said the 1000 wouldn't be a problem with my size as a new rider....What do you think?

jstark47 · #13 Unread post by **jstark47** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:46 am

Mason wrote:jstark 47...I am in basically the same boat 6'2 250lbs having a hard time finding a 650 vstrom used but lots of 1000's out there. I sat a 1000 flat footed at the dealer and he said the 1000 wouldn't be a problem with my size as a new rider....What do you think?

Mason- Vstrom 1000 makes 98 horsepower at the shaft. Too much for a beginner, IMO. I came to that bike after two+ years on less powerful bikes (Suzuki Marauder 800, Triumph Bonneville). It's not twitchy in the same way a race replica sportbike is, but if you peg the throttle up above 5K RPM's (very easy to do, BTW) the bike will give you a rude surprise. The throttle is very responsive - going off throttle means moving it about a millimeter - you have to know how to be very "soft" with the clutch (lots of feathering) and very subtle with the throttle to ride that bike smoothly. Not for beginners.

Have you sat on bikes? It's hard to tell much from just your height and weight. Three people the same height and weight can find three very different bikes comfortable. Also, what's your budget?

BTW, salespeople at dealerships are capable of telling you **anything** to make a sale.......

Shorts · #14 Unread post by **Shorts** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:23 am

Mason wrote:jstark 47...I am in basically the same boat 6'2 250lbs having a hard time finding a 650 vstrom used but lots of 1000's out there. I sat a 1000 flat footed at the dealer and he said the 1000 wouldn't be a problem with my size as a new rider....What do you think?

Fitting on the bike is just one part of the equation. The other is to consider the engine size. 1000 for a first bike is not the way to go.

And don't listen to the sales guy as your advice. As jstark said, they're just trying to make a sale. The more expensive bike they sell, the larger the commission.