It really does. Well, let me rephrase that: the OR weather sucks. The scenery is beautiful and there are some amazing rides. However, I just don't dig riding the GS in the rain or butt-cold temps. Which is at least 50% of the year (6 months, if you couldn't do that math). So I have been thinking...maybe a dual-sport would be a nice pick up.
Of course I long for a modern sportbike. A GSX-R 750 would make all my dreams come true. And after putting 8K or so miles on the GS in the past 3 years and riding whenever I get a chance, I think that I could stand to own that bike. However, then I remember that I am not living in Florida, nor am I on an athlete's salary, so I need one bike only, and make that a bike that I can get some real usage out of.
So here I am. I have been debating selling the GS in order to get my new toy for over a year, but I have never settled on what to get. Now I have this crazy idea that maybe, just maybe, a dual-sport would be a good addition to my garage. They seem durable, they are apparently a blast, and I could start finding new places to ride if I had a bike with those capabilities. And OR is packed with those places. I just can't ride them. Yet...
So the KLR first popped into my mind. Probably because I see a guy ride up to my gym on one every night. I asked him, and he loves it. Says it's indestructible and is a blast. But I am not sold on that specific one, especially because of all my Suzuki tattoos. OK, not really, but I am a Suzuki guy after how well the GS has treated me.
After some research tonight on the forum and through various magazine articles, the V-Strom has piqued my interest. I'll be honest, that is not a beautiful bike. But I have slept with women before just because they are practical, despite their looks. So why not at least CONSIDER the Strom? In addition to my commute in the piss-poor weather, I LOVE riding to the OR coast, it is honestly one of my favorite things in the world. Besides practical women, of course. And I'll be honest again, the GS leaves me a little sore in the back and the butt when I ride her for 2 hours. Note that I am 6'2", 180 lbs, and in good shape. So I wouldn't expect to be completely fatigued after a ride like that. The GS is a baby, we all know that. A lovely one though, do not get me wrong.
So let me specifically say what I would like to use this machine for:
1) Riding to/from work. I am a high school teacher, so the ability to carry something on the bike would be nice. At this point I have a backpack. Not practical. And as cool as it would be to pull up to class on a Gixxer, I really don't give a shaZam! what the kids think of my bike. Now this is going to include riding in the rain, and I mean rain like a lof of you don't know. The GS isn't comforting to me in the wind or the rain. I'm just sayin.
2) Pleasure rides. Just going for a ride on some twisties, to the store, nowhere, in particular. You know, what we do for fun.
3) Full-on, balls-out beach rallies. When I have nothing better to do, I like to saddle up and jet to the coast. Sometimes I have a few buddies tag along in their cars (suckers) and we make it a day or even weekend thing. A little slice of heaven, ladies and gentlemen. And I would like a bike that can handle the mountain passes, possible rainstorms, and everything in between.
4) Not paying out of my ass. Yeah, relatively cheap insurance and maintenance are the holy grails of the GS. And I would like to keep it that way on the new ride. Have you ever met a wealthy teacher? Neither have I. So I cannot afford to blow all my dough on the bike. Yeah, a sportbike really IS sounding like a bad idea now, isn't it?
See, I would love to own a GSX-R or R6 or whatever else I see on Craigslist as I'm perusing after work, but that is not realistic. I need something that is going to...hell, I think you get the point.
I will be working with the money I get from selling the GS, plus I will save up to cover the rest. I am looking at under $5000. I hope that does not piss on this parade, because I know the weather already has that in store for me.
So please, hit me with your ideas, comments, questions, etc. I am ready to start looking towards the future here, and it seems that the beautiful girlfriend who doesn't let me get on top of her very often and takes all my money is a thing of the past; I'm ready for the homely lady who treats me like a king.
Dave :cheers:
Ha. As if written by yours truly, I just read this in a MotorcycleUSA.com article about the 2004:
"At $6599 in blue or black, the new V-Strom is sure to attract the type of guys who prefer smart and loving – if a bit homely – women over more attractive but temperamental ones.
You can't tell what the DL looks like from on top, and perhaps John felt the same about Yoko."
Anyway, I look forward to what you guys think.
Dave
I think the dl650 is a perfect bike to suit everything you just posted above. It is a jack of all trades, master of none kind of situation. Its obviously not going to hang with the gixxers in the twisties, but you're gonna ride right past them in the rain anyway. I have a buddy here in Eureka, CA (where we get as much or more rain than you guys!!!) that rides his vstrom 650 everyday because of the lack of a car, and he is totally content with it. It isn't the prettiest bike out there, but rain or shine it will do everything you throw at it. It really isn't that bad in the canyons either. :cheers:
Oh yea, The perfect Motorcycle for Oregon - A 1965 VW Bus.
Blend right in with the loosey goosey canucks and tree huggers.
Cool.
Srinath.
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on January 30, 2008, 09:02:14 AM
Oh yea, The perfect Motorcycle for Oregon - A 1965 VW Bus.
Blend right in with the loosey goosey canucks and tree huggers.
Cool.
Srinath.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: did you not spend time up here?
Not orgy-eon per say, but NW, yes. 1993 May through Oct 1994, the looooooongest decade of my life.
The thing is, I was in Spokane WA and that is the exact opposite of poland.
Anyway, I had this friend who had a VW that once broke its throttle cable. So he tied a string to it and through the outside of the thing to its rear view mirror. So he'd accelerate by putting his hand out the window.
Cool.
Srinath.
stop bitching try living in canada ;)
FrankieG been there, done that, 1998 Aug to 1999 sept. The longest century of my life.
BTW, its pitiful that you tell people in canadioa that you dont like canadioa, they promptly conclude you are talking about the weather. I tell them, I love the weather, but dont like canada. That suddenly sounds to them like you're talking greek.
Cool.
Srinath.
Alright, so the DL is a good bike and srinath hates Oregon. Thanks for the output.
Dave
heh srinath in houston whodathunkit
Sounds like you need to get some weather appropriate gear. I frequently commute in temperatures down to the lower teens. Below that, I just can't keep my shield from fogging up, and it's too cold to keep it cracked open sufficiently :o Rain isn't a big deal either (not that we get much on the east side). Ice, snow, and flooding should be the only weather that keeps your bike in the garage.
Quote from: The Buddha on January 30, 2008, 09:02:14 AM
Oh yea, The perfect Motorcycle for Oregon - A 1965 VW Bus.
Blend right in with the loosey goosey canucks and tree huggers.
Cool.
Srinath.
You got that right Buddha!!
I got a DR650 sitting next to my GS to take advantage of the motorcycle paradise which is Oregon.
My buddy bought a new '08 KLR and it is a good choice too. Most of the left-winger he-she tree huggin' weirdos around here prefer the KLR. It's a little too bulky for my taste tho.
a vstrom would prolly fit your bill. if you gotta go suzuki, i jsut wonder tho. many of these bikes are TALL at teh saddle. will that be a factor?.
I rode year round in Portland Dave, I know the rain sucks. For me the gear is a bigger issue; a dual sport isn't going to make the hugest diff in city riding anyway.
I kind of imagine something like a
(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1532/bikerainroof1bu2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
I think I might have even seen better ones in Japan. I remember seeing scooters with this type of thing, Asia definitely. I honestly would have used this sort of thing.
Even when u grow up there, it still sucks. I don't like being cold, wet, and eventually stinky.
wow. that thing actually looks practical. :laugh: i couldn't imagine riding in the rain all the time. i'd think that would suck. rainy weather usaully dampens my mood so i think it would kinda spoil a ride for me. :dunno_white:
omg. it was so hot in LA today and i sweated all night at work. it was a sauna. then i went out with some of the sushi chefs and one of the girls to a karaoke thai food place.
then at 3:30 am
i was still sweaty and its hot so I put in my earphones and took off around the block to cool off. that turned into a killer ride as the streets are wide open, curvy, fast, dark, and deserted. truly amazing and hard to describe. whole city, all mine.
i just started going and going. ended up somewhere in industrial area SE of downtown. headed toward the skyscrapers in the distance... ripped through the empty downtown canyons. LA is epic. the city just goes on and on.