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Which one should I buy? |
Versys 650 |
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7% |
[ 1 ] |
V-Strom 650 |
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28% |
[ 4 ] |
Tracer 700 |
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64% |
[ 9 ] |
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Total Votes : 14 |
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Kayla_Silver |
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Kayla_Silver Derestricted Danger
Joined: 19 Jan 2019 Karma :
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Posted: 22:35 - 19 Jan 2019 Post subject: Which Adventure bike? |
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Hello all,
I’m new here so please go easy on me. I passed my Mod 2 yesterday and am super pleased to now have an A license! Also super pleased I passed both modules first time
So now I’m trying to figure out which bike to get. I’ve narrowed it down to Kawasaki Versys 650, Suzuki V-Strom 650, and Yamaha Tracer 700. Would love to hear people’s thoughts and feedbacks on these bikes.
Some info on me and my needs: I’m 5’7” and wear heeled boots so I don’t necessarily need a “lowered” bike; I intend to commute to work 3 days a week at around 70 miles/day including A roads and motorway; I also want to go touring with my husband once he completes his DAS (yup, I got HIM into biking, not the other way around ). |
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kgm |
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kgm World Chat Champion
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grr666 |
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grr666 Super Spammer
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Posted: 23:18 - 19 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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Think you might be a bit short for a Versys tbh. Why not the Z650. Its a bit lower slung but same engine.
This is a helpful tool.
https://cycle-ergo.com/ ____________________ Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off. |
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Kayla_Silver |
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Kayla_Silver Derestricted Danger
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Kayla_Silver |
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Kayla_Silver Derestricted Danger
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M.C |
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kgm |
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kgm World Chat Champion
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Kayla_Silver |
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Kayla_Silver Derestricted Danger
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Posted: 10:31 - 20 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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Thanks M.C and KGM. It sounds like the height might be ok with some practice. I’ll probably get some crash bars installed to avoid damaging the fairing if I accidentally lose my balance and drop the bike
Anyway, as my inseam is 800mm (31.5”) I’m always going to struggle to be flat-footed on an adventure bike unless I opt for BMW F800GT which I do love, but is more expensive to purchase and insure |
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M.C |
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kgm |
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kgm World Chat Champion
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M.C |
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Kentol750 |
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Kentol750 World Chat Champion
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Kayla_Silver |
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kgm |
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kgm World Chat Champion
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Travis Bickle |
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Travis Bickle Banned
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Posted: 04:55 - 21 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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Polarbear |
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Edinho |
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Edinho Derestricted Danger
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Kayla_Silver |
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Kayla_Silver Derestricted Danger
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Posted: 12:06 - 29 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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So I had my test rides on Saturday... I say test rides loosely because I could only get the VStrom up to 30mph (Central London!) and the Versys, I struggled to get out on the road! Interesting how that little bit of extra height has made it so intimidating.
I found the DL really smooth and felt very comfortable on it. But I still don’t love the looks of it though it is growing on me. I’ve been a little put off by the Versys because of the fact that I basically dropped it at the first stop, and I’ve only ever dropped a bike like that once in my training. The fact that I couldn’t get my leg under it properly was a slight issue because I could have at least lowered it slowly if I could.
The dealership have offered to lower it for me, which is great, but as a mod it affects insurance so I’m a bit torn. I prefer the Versys looks but the DL was such a nice ride...
Oh and a little twist, I’m kind of in love with the BMW F800GT! Had a look at it on Sunday and it’s the perfect height, easy maintenance belt drive, and the stylings remind me of the VFR800 which was actually the first bike I wanted but ruled out due to costs. I’ve found an F800GT second hand which saves me a bunch and I’m kind of tempted to get it because I know that when I come out of my house, that’s the bike I’d most want to jump on. That being said, I have no idea how it rides because I haven’t test ridden it.
Can anyone weigh in on this? Is it better to go for the sensible choice, or should you follow your gut?
Someone once told me that if you buy a bike you love, you can usually overlook some of the “issues” because it excites you, but if you buy a bike that is a sensible choice, you’ll get bored. Do you agree? |
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Travis Bickle |
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Travis Bickle Banned
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Posted: 21:13 - 29 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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Coming from someone who has mild Aspergers I would say go with the sensible choice as opposed to going with your gut/heart... But I suppose that's because I'm excessively logical (black and white) on most issues and I have no gut/heart, to the point that I find it impossible to make any decision unless I have a set of facts and figures in front of me that I can use to decide (preferably in spreadsheet form that I can sort in order of different attributes). But not everyone is like me (thank god) and can make a balanced decision considering all factors.
I'm in the same position as you though, a new rider still in contemplation as to what to go for with my first proper big bike, so I'm almost certainly not qualified to give a definitive answer but I'll give you my opinion anyway.
As a new rider I would have thought that the lighter the bike and the lower the seat height the better (especially given your stature), and I think I remember someone else on here mentioning that most BMW adventure bikes have boxer engines which because of the lateral direction of the pistons gives the bike a lower centre of gravity. I've just checked the F800GT though and it's not the case on this bike and I don't think it's considered an adventure bike anyway, more of a tourer, are you sure you didn't mean the F800GS? If that's the case, the seat height on the GS is massive so I wouldn't recommend it, and the F800GS doesn't have a boxer engine anyway, I think it's only the bigger engine BMW GS bikes that have the boxer layout (1100/1150/1200/1250).
Seat height aside, I would have thought an adventure style bike would be an ok choice for a beginner, although the height may be intimidating to start with I would hope we'd quickly get used to it and that extra height will soon give a boost to confidence having a bigger road presence, almost like the king of the road feeling you get when driving a Range Rover or a lorry etc. Plus I would have thought that the wide handlebars on adventure style bikes will make it easier to handle the twisties with their increased leverage compared to something like a sports tourer or a naked/commuter.
Looking at the stats of the V-Strom and the Versys they're almost identical. They weight exactly the same and they have the same power output. The Versys has slightly more torque, a higher top speed, better fuel economy, longer range because of the better mpg and larger fuel tank. The only thing the V-Strom has over the Versys is a 5mm lower seat height which is probably negligible. All said though they appear to be very similar bikes. I'd let your heart rule you on this one if you have a preference on one over the other due to aesthetics, or if you like the look of them both the same then let price/age/mileage come into play while also considering where they are in the country and how far you'd have to travel to pick it up. ____________________ Must Go Faster
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Kayla_Silver |
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Kayla_Silver Derestricted Danger
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Posted: 21:57 - 29 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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Travis Bickle wrote: |
I've just checked the F800GT though and it's not the case on this bike and I don't think it's considered an adventure bike anyway, more of a tourer, are you sure you didn't mean the F800GS?
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I do mean the GT and I’m aware it’s a sports tourer and not an adventure bike, hence my comment about it being a twist. Although it isn’t a boxer engine, the fuel tank is under the seat which is supposed to help with keeping the weight lower down. What attracts me about this bike, among other things, is also the lower (albeit more expensive) maintenance of the belt drive.
I agree with your comment about adventure bikes giving you better road presence, hence why I’ve been looking at them. But as I mentioned, I have always preferred the sportier look but wasn’t sure it would work for me having sat on a VFR800. In any case, you are absolutely right, the Versys and VStrom are almost identical bikes apart from the Versys being a parallel twin whilst the DL is a Vtwin. I guess between those two it is more about looks.
The hardest thing for me to shake is how in love I am with the GTs looks, which is probably strange for some as I’ve heard lots of people say it looks dated. |
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Travis Bickle |
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Travis Bickle Banned
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Posted: 22:04 - 29 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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Screw what anyone else says or thinks (with regards to aesthetics anyway). If you like it that's all that matters. If you're going for a sports tourer though I'd look into whether that model has bar risers available for it as I'm lead to believe most sports tourers will be harsh on the wrists for anything other than high speed motorway cruising. Bar risers will minimise this and also give you that bit more upright position with more road presence than before. ____________________ Must Go Faster
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M.C |
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Travis Bickle |
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Travis Bickle |
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Travis Bickle Banned
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Posted: 22:29 - 29 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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bhinso |
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bhinso World Chat Champion
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Posted: 14:46 - 30 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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You utter fucking spastic are you autisic? You fucking piece of shit piss troll motherfucker.
Thread might be long gone but the legacy lives on... |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 5 years, 80 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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