Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I am looking for a new (to me) bike that will get me to Colorado nicely, and be useful around the city as well. We have an '03 650 Vstar, which will primarily be my husband's ride this summer. I am interested in the standard bikes in the 650cc range, particularly the Suzuki V Strom and the Kawi Versys, also mulling over the BMW F 650 GS. Any of them will have to be lowered, maybe have the handlebars brought back a bit.

I am also wondering about what it is like for a cruiser and standard to ride together. I know that they are not comparable in terms of HP and torque. They take turns differently. When I see pairs or groups riding together, like nearly always rides with like. Are the styles so different that the bikes don't mesh well together on a ride?

My hubby rides a VTX 1300 cruiser while I ride a SV650 sport. I am a newby while my husband is very seasoned. I tend to ride behind him so he can keep an eye out for any knuckle heads on the road. I have noticed that my bike will take curves and turns much tighter than his and sometimes I will ride up on his butt because my bike's acceleration is different. We haven't gone on any long rides yet due to the weather so I will know more then. Because I am not a speed demon and I ride within my skill level, we ride together just fine.

P.S. We also have the same V-star!

I'm intruding a bit in the ladies forum here, but I own a V-Strom so...

How tall are you? I'm 6' and the V-Strom is towards the top of my comfort level height wise. There are lowering links available for the rear, and the forks can be slid up to lower the front, but the bike can only be lowered an inch or so total. If it works for you, great, but double check first.
The Versys is a bit lower to start with, I think, so you might have better luck.

As far as styles, I don't think it matters that much. Ride what suits you best. I ride with mixed groups all the time, some get there faster than others, but we all get there.

the bike can only be lowered an inch or so total

I wondered about that, and hadn't gotten a straight answer, even on the V Strom forums. Thanks for the info.

There is a Versys at a nearby dealer that the owner rode last summer--he's short to, so he added the gel seat option, which lowers the bike quite a bit. If the (?)springs/shocks/pre-load thingies can be reduced as well, it might fit me nicely. They'll even let me test-ride it, if ever the weather would cooperate. Otherwise, they have a very nice Vulcan 900 for a very nice price . . .

MZ33
I was going to send you a couple of websites for used bikes, but I don't have your email anymore...
My Dad is on a hunt for a Goldwing, so I have been helping him search for one of those.

I think that what is important for "road cruising compatability" is the gearing of the bikes.

Hubby's R1100RS doesn't have a 6th gear, on some roads, his 5th gear cruising speed is just a bit high for my 5th gear, and a bit slow for my 6th gear. On the highway we don't have any problems.

When I had my 650. I could "keep up" with the 1150s, it just took me a few seconds longer to get to the same cruising speed as the bigger bikes. Once I got there, it wasn't a big issue, really.

P

Once I got there, it wasn't a big issue, really.

Good!! ('cuz I went ahead and got the Versys!)

Congrats on the new Kawi!!

I have the Vulcan 900, am 5'3'' and love it. As far as your earlier post re: different bikes riding together, in the chapter I belong to, someone is always riding with someone else and at least once a week during the riding season, there are between 7 and 21 of us. All different shapes, sizes and capabilities. It doesn't have to do so much with the bike as it does the rider.

Now when I had my 600 Honda Shadow, I knew after just a couple of longer trips with my hubby (he has a Goldwing) that I would want something bigger just to stay up with him without straining my poor little bike. I used to joke and tell him that on the bigger hills, my bike was back there saying " I think I can, I think I can!"

Again, Happy Bike Day!!

Thanks! I just haven't been able to bring it home yet, because my schedule has been at odds with those rare moments of decent weather.

It would drive me crazy to live in Alaska and have a motorcycle. How much ride time do you get up there?

Uggh...not enough. Our riding season is from about mid-April to mid-September, sometimes October, but it would be pretty chilly. I have heated gear from head to toe and I'm not afraid to use it!!

Yes, she's down in the garage with the "big boy" all tucked away under their covers, waiting, anticipating the warm, spring days.....

It is hard. We went "outside" to Oregon and California in December and my husband (he was born here) realized all of the things we could be doing in the winter outside that we can't do up here. One of the guys we were talking with while we were down there was talking about how he would get outside and work but it was too cold to work on stuff. It was 50 some degrees ABOVE zero and my hubby thought that was pretty weird, but it's all relative to what you are used to. At that time in December it was -50 below in Fairbanks so you can see why he would think that. We were looking for a rental property to buy so when I retire, we can use it as a base to travel from.

Dang, girl...get that thing home and start enjoying the ride for me!!