Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

Dude you are so misinformed... I only had a klx400 for years that's all I had.. I rode it everywhere highway and city... But here is the thing low CC dual sports are not for the highway just because they can doesn't mean it's the best.... They shine off-road or around town on highway they just suck...

 

I mean there’s a difference between highways in Massachusetts and highways in Nevada and New Mexico, that much I can say. People are generally going 80+

I’m still learning about all the options on the market which is why I am hitting up this thread but Im thinking for Nevada the bike will need to be at home on the highway but able to handle some dirt. Someone in an earlier post brought up tire knobbies and contact patch, and as much as (i think we all as TW members) love knobby tires….I think i should stick with something a little more….sticky for Nevada/AZ.

Going to be moving there in the next couple months. Was going to move to Oregon and just putt around town and enjoy the curvy mountain roads (aka Svartpilen) but now that I’m going to the big dusty…I think I’ll need more power…even as a noob

 

You can run knobbies on the road and it's fine... They have ones designed to be more street able.

If you are wanting street and dirt prob get a adventure bike. Most dual sports are going to struggle at that kind of highway speeds unless you are getting a 500cc and up.

 

Id look at a yamaha t7

 

I agree with this!

 

This is a tough one.. 5'8" is doable for an ADV bike, but for a first bike it's hard for me to recommend something where you'll be struggling to come to a stand still, y'know..especially with how top heavy a lot of them can be.

Beginner friendly bike and 80+ MPH highways is a tough combo, too.

I'm kind of leaning towards one of two bikes:

1) a G650GS, you can get them used under $4,000 all day. They come in a low-suspension option, too. Or an older F800GS in a low suspension option.

2) a new Honda SCL500. Scrambler vibes, super reliable and beginner friendly engine, lower seat height. Downside is it'll be a bear going 80mph without a windshield on a 471cc powerplant. it'll be doable, but not enjoyable. Plus, with a new bike you get a warranty and a bike no one else has fucked with.

My $0.02.

 

Ok

 

Love the scl500 but it you want to do off-road stuff it has as much travel as the rebel lol

 

Nope, that's wrong. 5.9" front 5.7" rear, a little more front suspension and 2" more in the rear than a rebel. It has more travel than a CB500X, even.

 

Huh odd when I looked them up the front forks are the same and only got slightly taller. And the rear was only an inch more.

 

From Honda's own specs

SCL500:



Rebel 500:

 

The front really isn't much different at all. The rear is the main change.

 

@boston23 Looking through the las vegas craigslist, this is what caught my eyes with you in mind..

https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/las-vegas-2022-royal-enfield-int650/7785716113.html

Retro styling, semi-modern, low miles. If you like this aesthetic seems decent, throw a different set of tires on and let it eat.


https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/las-vegas-2007-suzuki-motorcycle-vstrom/7784835353.html
VSTROMMMMM
Older with a bunch of miles, but great candidate for ride it for a year until you figure out what you want next. Drop it a bunch and it doesnt matter because it's cheap and has crash bars learners bike. It'll do highways just fine, too.



https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/henderson-honda-rebel-500-abs-2021/7783285900.html

Low mileage honda rebel. Great bikes for beginners if you like the styling.



https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/henderson-2012-suzuki-vstrom-dl-650/7782921648.html

A different v-strom, on the completely other end of the odometer spectrum, under 2,000 miles.



https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/las-vegas-2011-bmw-f650gs/7781259089.html

BMW F650GS (not to be confused with the G650gs..) F650GS is a parallel twin, G650GS is a single thumper. Tons of miles, but another in the "abuse it for a year and sell it for as much as you paid for it without an issue". I have 48something thousand miles on my very similar engined F800GS, they're pretty bulletproof. Easily converts to low suspension for a few hundred bucks.




https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/las-vegas-2013-honda-nc700x-nc-700-nc700/7780378350.html
Honda NC700X.. this one is a bit of a wild card. Definitely enough power for the highway, right ergos to do some gravel roads if you put an 80/20 tire on it or something, BUT it's an automatic gearbox. No clutch, no gears. Definitely different but they're kind of legendary in the commuter world, they get like 70mpg all day.

 

Almost half an inch in the front is still a change though.. and 2" in the rear is a significant amount.

Moral of the story, SCL500 is a sweet beginners bike and would do fine on gravel or dirt roads. No one is taking it on single track or to a motocross track.

 

That sir sounds like a challenge lol

 

That nc700x you linked is NOT an automatic. It's a manual. Clutch clearly visible. They made it in both flavors until recently. It would be a stellar first bike as long as the size/weight isn't an issue.

 

Ope, you're right, my bad, didn't realize they ever came in a manual. Never really looked into them, frankly, as I always assumed they were autos across the board. All I know is it has a frunk that can hold a ton.

 

Yup. I was eyeing them before I got the CB500X, and I only was interested in the standard ones.

 

Seriously though, worth it for the frunk alone.. I mean, c'mon! Two six packs? A full helmet? Most top boxes don't have that much storage.