Joined
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21 Posts
Hello folks,
I have been a lurker for awhile here, but I guess now I have something to post about. After a many year hiatus from motorcycling I got back into it in 2007 with a '96 Honda Shadow 1100. I really thought that thing was sweet looking. After a year I hated it. It was bullet proof, but for any distance it was uncomfortable, it had loud aftermarket pipes, acceleration and handling were pretty sad.
So after some research I bought a 2004 BMW R1150GSA. I thought I was in heaven. This thing was so much more fun to ride, especially in the twisties. Lots more acceleration. And even though it's kind of goofy looking I loved that everything about it had a purpose. No bits of chrome just for show. And in fact I still love the bike. 96% of my riding is with friends that ride Harleys, so it is on road. The problem is I am not particularly mechanically inclined. Sure I can change oil and do basics, but I don't synch throttle bodies or adjust valves. I could probably learn but I don't really want to wrench on my bike. But after my latest bill for service I was so upset that I started investigating other bikes. Yesterday I purchased a 2012 DL650 adventure model. So far I have only sat on the thing, I don't take delivery until Saturday. Based on stuff I have read around here, I should probably like it. This would be my first new bike. I have my bike up for sale now.
I am nervous about going down to a 650, but everything else appeals to my thrifty nature. Good mileage, regular gas, low maintenance costs, cheaper to insure, etc all sound great, and if it truly is a fun bike to ride, it really doesn't sound like a compromise.
I can tell you that the guys I ride with are really going to have some fun with me when I pull up on the 650, while they are sitting on their 100 cubic inch
HD's. Looking at the specs thugh, it doesn't sound like they will have to wait for me to catch up.
Thanks for all the info on this site. Guess I'll know more on Saturday.
I have been a lurker for awhile here, but I guess now I have something to post about. After a many year hiatus from motorcycling I got back into it in 2007 with a '96 Honda Shadow 1100. I really thought that thing was sweet looking. After a year I hated it. It was bullet proof, but for any distance it was uncomfortable, it had loud aftermarket pipes, acceleration and handling were pretty sad.
So after some research I bought a 2004 BMW R1150GSA. I thought I was in heaven. This thing was so much more fun to ride, especially in the twisties. Lots more acceleration. And even though it's kind of goofy looking I loved that everything about it had a purpose. No bits of chrome just for show. And in fact I still love the bike. 96% of my riding is with friends that ride Harleys, so it is on road. The problem is I am not particularly mechanically inclined. Sure I can change oil and do basics, but I don't synch throttle bodies or adjust valves. I could probably learn but I don't really want to wrench on my bike. But after my latest bill for service I was so upset that I started investigating other bikes. Yesterday I purchased a 2012 DL650 adventure model. So far I have only sat on the thing, I don't take delivery until Saturday. Based on stuff I have read around here, I should probably like it. This would be my first new bike. I have my bike up for sale now.
I am nervous about going down to a 650, but everything else appeals to my thrifty nature. Good mileage, regular gas, low maintenance costs, cheaper to insure, etc all sound great, and if it truly is a fun bike to ride, it really doesn't sound like a compromise.
I can tell you that the guys I ride with are really going to have some fun with me when I pull up on the 650, while they are sitting on their 100 cubic inch
HD's. Looking at the specs thugh, it doesn't sound like they will have to wait for me to catch up.
Thanks for all the info on this site. Guess I'll know more on Saturday.
