Pondering a new tadpole

[Jim&MaryJo]

Great to have our own two-wheeler corner; Thanks to the admin/mods

Thought I'd kick off a discussion on 2 wheeled toads (tadpoles??)

I've been using a bike carrier for the past 4 years, piggy-backing either a Honda ST1300 or Vespa, depending on destination. ALso Carry my CBR for track days.

The Honda is comfy and capable, but it's big and heavy (750lbs wet) and more suitable for interstate travel.
The Vespa is fun and convenient, but limited to local scooting.

In my case (piggy-backed), desireable tadpole attributes would include:

weight -- 500lbs or less to ease loading and favor nimbleness
comfort -- upright and decent seating for two
power -- enough to travel highways and mountain roads
handling -- at least semi-sporty for twisty roads
seat height -- on the lower side, favoring 2up, stop'n'go
storage -- not a lot, but enough to stow riding gear.

Overall, something relatively compact/narrow and light, easy to load, comfortable and capable of --up to 200 mile--day trips from "base-camp" destinations at the beach and mountains.

I have no genre bias and favor function over form for my tadpole application. Been riding 40 years, covering every genre.

Sportbikes are out. Shying away from Maxi-Scooters due to small diameter wheels. Dual-sport interests me, but seat heights are commonly tall. Cruisers, maybe smaller displacement, but I want sporty handling. Sport Touring seems the obvious choice, but maybe not the only way to go.

Current candidates are:

BMW F800ST
Honda Interceptor (owned 2 in the past)
Honda DN-01 (definite genre-defying oddball, pricey, but interesting)
A low-seated Dual-sport (maybe BMW trending this way?)
A sporty, smaller, good handling cruiser?


Anyone have other ideas?

[Submustang]

Our Suzuki Boulevard is about 675lbs. They do make a S50, 805CC V twin cruiser. 475lbs dry. Meets the low seat criteria. Ours is quite comfortable 2 up. The fuel injected 805cc engine does well even with both of us. We have the touring version so it has bags and a windshield.

[Jim&MaryJo]

Thanks!
I'll visit a Suzuki dealer.

[motojavaphil]

Suzuki definitely has some bikes in the class you are looking at. The SV series easily meet that. Kawi has the Versay, (I think that what they call it) and even Buell has something, Ulysses(sp). Honda has several bikes in that weight category such as the 599. Ducati has the Monsters and Hypermotard, but I do not know your definition of sport. BMW is where I would go if money is not too big an issue. The selection of comfortable dual sport machines is greater than any other manufacturer and they do have lower seat heights on models.
Its when you get into the sub 400lb bikes that things get uncomfortable. Piaggio has a 250 scoooter with 15 inch wheels and is capable of 2 up at 70 to 80 mph. That scooter is under 400lbs and is comfortable. Suzuki sells a supermotard DR-Z400SM and its dual sport brother but a seat mod would be necessary and is primitive compared to the fine machinery you currently ride.
ope this helps.
Phil

[Jim&MaryJo]

Thanks Phil!
Was just loking thru Sportrider's buyers guide.

Suzuki's Vstrom looks pretty good
Curious about the Moto Guzzi Norge (has electric windshierd, which I love on my ST).
Ducati's Mulit-Strada looks like a lot of funm, but the pillion seat looks high and hard to mount.
A Vrod with bags and windshield might work and I understand they handle
pretty well. Probaly a little heavier than I want though?

I'd go 550lbs wet for the right bike. My ST is close to 750lbs wet.

The BMW f800st still looks the best for my parameters.

[Jim&MaryJo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by motojavaphil BMW is where I would go if money is not too big an issue. The selection of comfortable dual sport machines is greater than any other manufacturer and they do have lower seat heights on models. Phil

Thanks Phil, the new motorhome bike is a 09 F650GS (used trade-in) and I must say I'm very impressed; my first BMW.

It's comfortable for my pillion (has the clever 25l-35l vario-topcase and backrest pads), weighs ~ 440lbs wet, has a low seat height (standard suspension with a wider low seat) and handles really well.

It's an unusual bike as GS' seem to go. First, it has an 800cc Rotax co-design/build twin parrallel engine, slightly de-tuned to distinguish it from BMW's "real" 800GS, which is otherwise identical except for suspension and front wheel.

It's a chain drive with a 19" front wheel and wider tire (better street handling). The engine is rated at 71bhp, making about 64hp at the rear wheel. 6 speed transmission is very slick, although final gearing is a little tall (one tooth down on the primary looks attractive). Single front rotor works well. ABS is a nice.

The bike is very fun to ride and feels like a "super-moto" with light and stable steering. It has the added versatility to travel the occasional fireroad. Wind protection is decent mid-point and below and wanting for a better windshield for the torso (Cee Baily ordered).

As bikes and BMrs go, it's got a different look, but I really like it. Heated grips, ABS, centerstand and trip computer came as options. Lots of nice design features, but they should really bag the turn signal cancel design.

Staging an Autocom (intercom) and GPS install, with a few other farkles. Just when I thought I had eveything I needed in my toolbox, I'm off to Sears for star drive sockets and bits...

Price was reasonable, compared to other comparable bikes in this genre.

For what I wanted, this is looks like an ideal do-it-all lightwieght motorhome bike.

[motojavaphil]

Decided to develop a sport touring bike. Sold my Beemer and purchased a 2008 ZX10, new and have started the process of converting to a sport tourer. Helibars will raise the handlebars almost 2 inches and back half an inch. New Givi bags, soft luggage, have been purchased and a magnetic tankbag for the rest of the touring mess. "Eye hooks" have been used to secure the license plate and and thereby add another attachment point. Will be purchasing a double bubble windshield to raise the windscreen for more protection. I need to research if the alternator can handle heated handgrips and an outlet for the heated vest.
The appeal of this bike is power and weight. In the full time lifestyle I load it it in the back of the Dakota routinely so weight is important. Needless to say it is fast, just a matter of ergos and comfort.
Phil

[Jim&MaryJo]

Congrats Phil!

I assume this is pretty much a solo ride...

Found this on an 06 ZX10:
http://zx-10r.net/forum/showthread.php?t=49264
I think it will be close, probably short when idling. You could wire a headlight kill switch to save power during idle.

And, I've used FirstGear's heated jacket and gloves. Jacket can be ordered in 65 or 90W and gloves pull 15W each. I really like the jacket over a vest for warmth. Have used heated grips and gloves, prefer gloves in the cold as the tops of my hands get heated, which may be important on a ZX10 with no wind deflection in front of the hands.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...d-Gloves-.aspx (shop for the best price)

The dual controller allows separate adjustment of jacket vs gloves. Pretty sure the gloves draw less than heated grips too. In any case, adjustability will help power management.

Also, I think ZG makes a sport touring windshield, which is higher than the double bubbles.

[NeilV]

The Aprilia Scarabeo's look interesting and were designed as light motorcycles even though they are CVT drives in a scooter style configuration. Unfortunately the newer ones don't seem to be offered as full dressers any more. They prior models had removable hard side cases the easily snapped off once you unlocked them so you could use them as luggage.

All have 16" wheels and the 200cc and up I believe would be legal on the expressways.


The 200cc is only 339lbs so loading would not be too bad.
http://www.apriliausa.com/en-US/Mode...Technical.aspx


The 500cc is 417lbs and still doable but probably not a good match for a mid sized gas coach.

http://www.apriliausa.com/en-US/Mode...Technical.aspx


Most people who own them seem to really like them a lot. Besides they're Italian, what can I say when you are Itallian you gotta stick by La Famillia.

The 500 is claimed to be super smooth and a very quiet ride even when breaking 100 mph, so I am told.

There are some similar Chinese models like the 150cc Qlink Pegasus or or the 200cc BMS Pathfinder. Most of those who own these seem to be very happy also with the preference going to the 200cc bike for its expressway capabilities.

150cc Qlink Pegasus:
http://www.qlinkmotor.com/products/gallery.php?pid=87

200cc BMS Pathfinder:
http://www.nationalonlinescooters.co...OD&ProdID=1792

[Jim&MaryJo]

And for the ultimate in scootering, a Ducati "scoot-cati"

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/24july09_scoot_cati.htm

[NeilV]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim&MaryJo And for the ultimate in scootering, a Ducati "scoot-cati" http://www.motorcycledaily.com/24july09_scoot_cati.htm

If you want to get wild and crazy just get a Dodge Tomahawk and have it over with.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/d...hawk_81141.htm


Back to earth now - For my tadpole the 200cc or even the 500cc Aprilia's would be viable compromises.

[Jim&MaryJo]

I really like my Vespa, but the smaller diameter wheels and brakes make higher speeds a little risky.

Aprilia's Sportcity sports dual disks, but not the traditional sccoter style

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...iew-85087.html

If Ducati continues it trend of higher reliability and greater value, their scooter might be a winner for me.