Second bike suggestions?
 

Think I'll be picking up a second bike next season.

I want something that is comfortable 2up. i'll be commuting with it, and I'd like the gf to be able to learn on it.. Any ideas? I'm not looking new, preferably something relatively cheap.

dual sport or SM.

victory.

Reading is key. ;)

What are you leaning toward?

I remember you mention you may be outgrowing your "need" for a Buell.

Are you think cruiser-ish? UJM? Tourer?

How tall is the girl?

I wouldn't mind a cruiser, but I think that it would be too heavy for her. A decent standard wouldn't hurt. I'd likely use it mostly for highway and a tiny bit of slightly above the speed limit corners.

She's about 5'4" ish. Not a tiny girl.

Wee Strom/GS/990 ADV or some other adventure tourer.

not a good two up ride, at all, hell it's not a comfortable ride for one person. I still can't feel my butt from the miles I rode my DRZ from bring GM around the area.

You cant ride 2 up on a dual sport? :gofurslf:

How are the fz1,z1000,fz6,919 for passenger comfort?

Can you? Yes.

Is it "comfortable"? No.

Same with commuting.

Even less so with a SM.

id say any honda ujm in the 600 up range. You can get em cheap to free they run forever and are fairly cheap to operate. Craigslist your area for cb750s

Vstroms, BMW GS's and alike are lot more comfortable than his Buell.

My wife has been on the back of a Z1000 and a 919 with me as well as an XB12s.

The seats are better and bigger on the Jap bikes. Other than that they are pretty similar from the back seat. The Honda has undertails which can get a bit warm.

Have you thought about a Triumph Bonneville or Thruxton?

Those aren't dual sports, they are adventure tourers. Dual sport is a KLR/DRZ/DR type bikes

stay away from FZ6, suspension is junk. FZ1s are nice.

So are Goldwings, Visions and Electra Glides.

What's your point?

Z1000 are very comfortable. I had a Z750 before my GSXR and it was fun and easy to commute on. The suspension isn't that great especially for 2 up but You can fit a 636 shock on it an improve it greatly.

I totally didn't read all of that either. You want your girl to learn to ride on this bike? Hell, a good two up bike will by definition not be a good beginner bike. You can have "ok" in both categories, but what I would classify as "good" would be conflicting in both categories.

more expensive than my pick but a good used bonnie would happily fill all the roles hes looking for

Shit. Even I forgot about the learning her to ride..

How about this, what's a good beginner bike I can teach her on, ride to work, and cart her around on if she decides its not for her?

The Kawi Z750 is a great bike to learn on. The power is very tractable. Peak torque is at a relatively low RPM (about 6800) so you don't need to wind the engine up to get it to go. It has enough power on top to have fun on it though.
They are heavier than a 600SS but the HP is about the same approx 110HP and torque is around 55ftlbs. A slip-on, air filter, and PCIII help tremendously with power on top.

I still like the Triumph Bonnie.

Yamaha Virago or V-Star (or similar from another brand).

Harley Sportster

GS500

CB750 (flame suit for the OMGurgonnadieitsover250cc! crowd)

Why not pick up a used Honda 599 or something? They're pretty comfortable and fairly peppy.

If I had the cash and storage for a 2nd bike it'd be cruiser all day. Probly a 1200 Sportster.

SV650. End of story.

To all those who recommend BMW GS and KTM Adventures, which part of "cheap" do you not understand?

I didn't recommend the SV because he already has an unreliable v-twin with an uncomfortable seat.

Why would he want another?

really? I have yet to have issues with the motor in my "S" model and the gel seat I got for it was relatively inexpensive and is pretty comfortable. The naked model has a decent riding position and the passenger position ain't all that bad according to anyone who's ever ridden on the back of mine, even for semi-long (150+ miles) distances.

Where is this information about unreliability coming from?

i understand those are terrible at 2up with stock suspenders

depends on how much they weigh and what kind of riding you're doing.

Is it primarily a 2-up bike, or do you really want her to learn on it? If you seriously want her to have the best chance of sticking with riding, get something small and used that's gonna suck for 2-up riding. Worst-case, if she decides riding isn't for her, sell it for what you paid, and get something better for 2-up.

If cruisers aren't out of the question, check out the Suzuki S40/Savage. It's a 650 thumper, and only weighs a little more than the 250 cruisers. It's also super-low, which is reassuring for a newbie.

The first gen sitting in my garage.

I actually really like the SV but having had both bikes, it is not different enough from the Buell to warrant having both at the same time, imo.

crap, there goes my idea of getting a first gen for a track bike.

Was it really that bad?

I was gonna vote FZ6 but wanted to know her height, they sit a bit on the tall side but is a nice upright riding position.

Ninja 500

This is the best fit for what you want.
It is a decent, inexpensive, reliable bike that has a low seat height, and is beginner friendly while still being able to entertain experienced riders.

Although the busa has a nice low seat, and according to the guys who stretch, chrome and lower theirs, they are fine beginner bikes, as long as you don't twist it too much. haha

Hey there's a red SV for sale...

Agreed on the SV or the Kawi clone

I missed the whole her learning to ride it, what makes you think I made it to the cheap part. :lol:

Unless this chick is paying for the bike, fuck her. I'd get something U like, not what she can ride, unless she is ponying up some coin.

Get a VFR Interceptor. Very easy to ride and good for 2 up.

I think he'll be doing that anyway...

'

Yeah..but he can do it and not have to buy a bike...remember Canadian taxes? LOL

I had a 599 and it was a great bike if you like an inline 4.

I know there are a lot of girls who ride SV's but they seem really tall to me. I could just flat foot the 599 and I'm 5'9 and all leg so I am not sure if she would be comfortable at 5'4. But like I said, there are a lot of short girls that ride SV's and don't seem to have a problem. :shrug: I never rode on the back, so I can't speak for it's comfort.

Cheap :dthumb:

Next year? Buy one of mine.

The VF would be good for her and the Bandit would do just about everything you're looking for and then some.

Tmall

Check out this thread. Maybe you can make him an offer.

http://www.twowheelfix.com/showthread.php?t=9280

If you are okay with a cruiser... Yamaha V-Star 650, they sit low (for her to learn), very comfortable.
If I could have two bikes, def would get another one to cruise around on. :yes:

Honda Shadow 600 is similar to V-Star 650.

SV650 period. Great commuter bike, much better than the POS flexi-flyer EX500. Can't think of another more versatile bike than the SV650, it satisfies both experienced and beginners. And as far as beginners go I would not give my gf anything bigger than that to learn on.

Comonboys and I are both 5'9", and neither of us have a prob flatfooting the SV, in fact, knees still bent.
As for comfort, it is 100X better than my 1125/his Firebolt.

Either SV would be a good commuter too, but the naked one has a better seating position, the faired one better wind protection.

A Yamaha XJ600 (Seca II). You can pick them up cheap, they have decent power but not too much, their seats are super comfortable, 70mpg highways high 40s street, and overall a very good all around beginner bike

If not then a Honda 599, FZ6, or some other small cc standard.

A lot of good suggestions.

Thanks a lot guys. Just keep in mind this is for next season/summer..

+1

Although the SV still shits on all of them :lol

You can get an early SV for as little as $2K with light damage. This is because all the young bucks eschew them for "cooler" full-fairing bikes.

I know where I could get a Seca cheap...