tall bike for a tall guy

[yankeedoodle]

I'm 6"3 and I'm looking for bikes for when I pass my test. I've been looking at the SV and the bandit 600 and they're very definite possibilities, but I thought I'd research other possibilities too.

Criteria:

reasonably sized obviously
capable of taking a pillion (and reasonably comfy)
suitable for a restricted license (33bhp)

Thanks

[carlmalibu]

well I'm 6'4 and fairly comfortable on a CB500. Takes restriction well, cheap, bulletproof, not too slow, pillions of varying shapes and sizes (from about 5' to 6'2) have never made any complaints, oh, and unlike any suzuki bike it doesn't rot if you use it everyday.

maybe take a look at reasonable sized trailies (transalp 600/650 spring to mind), if you have the cash/don't mind the image take a look at BMW F650GS/dakar, they're very comfy but expensive.

Hornets may also be a good choice to look at.
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Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[Hairy Ben]

Suzuki DR650 Vstrom.

SV650 motor in a nice big trailbike package.


https://www.motorcycleconnect.com/Suzuki/2007/Standard/V_Strom_650/V_Strom_650_1.jpg
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...and thus true enlightenment is achieved.

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[yankeedoodle]

[carlmalibu]

GS-500s suffer from the finish of suzukis, but on the flipside they're cheap and there are plenty of them. I think the engines are ancient designs, as well. Generally budget bikes in every respect, and not nippy

ER-5s I don't know much about but from what I hear the brakes aren't too good, and again they're fairly slow

I saw the CB-500 as a trade off between a GPZ-500 (lovely, sporty, too small for me) and an ER-5 (slow and wobbly)

Brembo brakes, honda reliability, I've done 4000 miles in 4 months and generally love every minute. Bought new shocks but not fitted them yet, when I do I bet I'll have a big grin on my face though.

The only real downside I see to the CB is the shocking colour schemes available!!
____________________
Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[yankeedoodle]

thanks Carl I'll keep that in mind.

I have looked at the V strom although its a newish bike and out of my price range. Also, hornets are a bit steep for insurance

[carlmalibu]

I'm just tryin to think of things that would help you.you need to decide what you want out of the bike, because I'm sure you'd fit on one of most sizes without too much trouble.

The only ones you'll have really is with the sports 400s. You wil have NO CHANCE.

Don't listen to other people, go to a dealer and pretend to be really interested in buying a bike, and ask to sit on a few to get a feel of them.

Job done.
____________________
Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[yankeedoodle]

yeah theres a local dealer with a GS and an SV. Although I do realise that the GS is a budget bike so I'll try and avoid it. If im honest, I dont expect alot from a bike. I'm currently on a yamaha SR125 so anything taller and faster would please me. In a dream world, I'd have an SV but I'm keeping my options open just incase. I've looked at off roaders such as the XR 250 and 400 but they wouldnt be much fun for the pillion. And I just prefer road bikes all round. Yeah I did briefly looks at 400s but dismissed them quite quickly after I realised the Bandit 400 had a seat height of something like 720mm (10 cm lower than the 600)

Any suggestions appreciated

[Hairy Ben]

[carlmalibu]

haha, I bummed SV-650s before I realised that my budget (1k-1.5k) would only get me a curvy SV (carbed, not too successfully), that was in fairly bad nick. And I needed it every day. i urge you to check out CB-500s :P
____________________
Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[yankeedoodle]

lol I also bum SVs although I havent ridden one
my budget is £1000 - £1500 max and I've decided that for that I can get a 99 curvy in decent condition. I'll look out for the CB500s. Can you get longer shocks for it to raise the seat height? ( I assume it isnt a monoshock)

[carlmalibu]

hmm I've not needed to mate and like I said I'm 6'4. It is twin shocks. You havent really specified if you are gonna need it 365 days as well
____________________
Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[yankeedoodle]

cool, its just the seat height is a lower than the bandits and SVs and I feel like I need all the height I can get. If I find one I'll have a sit. Yeah I would need it 365 days a week for travelling to college. So it needs to be reliable but as low maintenance as possible (cos im lazy )

[hmmmnz]

apprillia pegasos can be had for around a grand
nice and high, proven rotax or yamaha engines.
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[yankeedoodle]

just looking at those pegasos. the 2007 model is bloody nice. Not as nice around 2000 though. But yeah flippin tall bikes. Cheers Any other bikes similar to that?

[Visitor Q]

CBR 600 94-98 (possibly later but defo them years)

Im 6'4, 15-16 stone and i abuse mine merrily. Long distance hasnt bothered me and its quite a sit up sportsbike.

Pillions have loved it.

You can get mint CBR's about 98 for 12-1300 off ebay happily.

do it, it makes sense.
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[yankeedoodle]

blimey, didnt realise the CBRs were that cheap. Is this a wise idea? and how do they handle restricton? Nad I'm guessing insurance is gonna be a fair bit more..?

[yankeedoodle]

cool, its just the seat height is a lower than the bandits and SVs and I feel like I need all the height I can get. If I find one I'll have a sit. Yeah I would need it 365 days a week for travelling to college. So it needs to be reliable but as low maintenance as possible (cos im lazy )

[Visitor Q]

Handled restriction pretty happily actually. Much better then my goose was standard anyway.

Cbr parts are cheap, they crash well, they are pretty damn fast but happily go slowly if needed.

In hindsight i wish id gone straight for a cbr rather then got a goose.

Have a look on fleabay for an idea of the price.

None too shabby wheelies either once you get the hang of it (check my sig for a link, and they were the first few... now ive perfected it )

And insurance was only about 700 tpft and that was with a ban at 18. You sound older so you should be fine.
My insurance now at 20 is only 270.

They have a reputation as an old mans bike. But ive upset more then enough big bike owners. And they are pretty much unflappable. They slap the bars and slide as normal, but they always come out of it happily.
____________________
China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[JakeyR]

[Visitor Q]

[JakeyR]

[Visitor Q]

[Giffer2]

I'm 6'5" and 16 stone and find that my restricted SV does everything I need it to.
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17/05/07 - A2 Test Passed