One Bike to Rule Them All?
I started riding this Summer and got a 2003 Suzuki SV 1000, which has been a fantastic bike. Zippy through the twisties, fantastic acceleration, great as a commuter to work. It looks great, sounds great (Twin Brothers exhaust) and runs great.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuut.....Here's the thing. Or rather, the things.
While I was riding, I started noticing these other roads. They're dirt. And, I'm curious about what might be up there. I live in Central PA and there are a lot of dirt trails and fire roads and the like. The thing about the SV is that it's really not up to the task.
Annnnnnnnnnd...
I gave my 14 year-old daughter a ride on the back. And she loved it. And then I gave my wife a ride on the back and she loved it. Except for the bent-over riding position. Even with risers, they are leaning over onto me, which is uncomfortable for them and also puts a lot of pressure on the wrists, especially downhill and when stopping.
Sooooooooooooo...
I've started lurking on this forum and reading a lot, which has led me to wonder, as I think about my next bike, is there one bike that would meet all of my needs? Here is what I am thinking:
- reliable: I am a newbie and I don't want to spend time/money in the shop. I like the SV because the engine is largely bulletproof. That having been said, I am getting handy with a wrench and know my way around a bit.
- offroad capable: I'm not going over rock gardens, but it really would be nice to explore those trails, rather than driving past them
- two-up power: the wife and I combined are about 360 pounds and she is 5' 10 (I am 6'). I don't think I will be two-up more than a day or two at a time (though Mrs. Fish continues to surprise me) and more B&b/hotel than camping...
- soul: I'm not sure how you measure it, but if you've been on a bike that has one. Never really felt that way about the Strom until I saw the 2012 Wee.
- Price: trying to keep it around $8K so my CFO doesn't divorce me....
So I am looking at different bikes and wondering about your thoughts. Clearly, on this forum, I would expect the leaning to be toward a Strom. I am also looking at the Buell Ulysses and, possibly, the Tiger 800 XC. I was on a Ducati Multistrada and it was a great bike but felt far too narrow and oddly insubstantial.
So, is there one bike to rule them all? Thoughts? Ideas?
I started riding this Summer and got a 2003 Suzuki SV 1000, which has been a fantastic bike. Zippy through the twisties, fantastic acceleration, great as a commuter to work. It looks great, sounds great (Twin Brothers exhaust) and runs great.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuut.....Here's the thing. Or rather, the things.
While I was riding, I started noticing these other roads. They're dirt. And, I'm curious about what might be up there. I live in Central PA and there are a lot of dirt trails and fire roads and the like. The thing about the SV is that it's really not up to the task.
Annnnnnnnnnd...
I gave my 14 year-old daughter a ride on the back. And she loved it. And then I gave my wife a ride on the back and she loved it. Except for the bent-over riding position. Even with risers, they are leaning over onto me, which is uncomfortable for them and also puts a lot of pressure on the wrists, especially downhill and when stopping.
Sooooooooooooo...
I've started lurking on this forum and reading a lot, which has led me to wonder, as I think about my next bike, is there one bike that would meet all of my needs? Here is what I am thinking:
- reliable: I am a newbie and I don't want to spend time/money in the shop. I like the SV because the engine is largely bulletproof. That having been said, I am getting handy with a wrench and know my way around a bit.
- offroad capable: I'm not going over rock gardens, but it really would be nice to explore those trails, rather than driving past them
- two-up power: the wife and I combined are about 360 pounds and she is 5' 10 (I am 6'). I don't think I will be two-up more than a day or two at a time (though Mrs. Fish continues to surprise me) and more B&b/hotel than camping...
- soul: I'm not sure how you measure it, but if you've been on a bike that has one. Never really felt that way about the Strom until I saw the 2012 Wee.
- Price: trying to keep it around $8K so my CFO doesn't divorce me....
So I am looking at different bikes and wondering about your thoughts. Clearly, on this forum, I would expect the leaning to be toward a Strom. I am also looking at the Buell Ulysses and, possibly, the Tiger 800 XC. I was on a Ducati Multistrada and it was a great bike but felt far too narrow and oddly insubstantial.
So, is there one bike to rule them all? Thoughts? Ideas?