Best "Stop and smell the roses bike"?

[sagerat]

Not to do the "buy what I ride" thing, but if you aren't riding with other folks, a Ural makes a fine putter-abouter.  If they are on two whees, though, forget it.  I'd agree the V-7 Classic would fit the bill.

Riding buddy had a standard Valk and I asked him how he like it.  He said he loved it, but did mention the Valk could pass anything but a gas station.  28-32 mpg.  

[atadaskew]

Riding buddy had a standard Valk and I asked him how he like it.  He said he loved it, but did mention the Valk could pass anything but a gas station.  28-32 mpg.  

I did the trigger wheel mod on my Valk, and not only did the throttle response improve but mileage went from 30mpg to 42 mpg.

[coho]

Not to do the "buy what I ride" thing, but if you aren't riding with other folks, a Ural makes a fine putter-abouter.  If they are on two whees, though, forget it.  I'd agree the V-7 Classic would fit the bill.

Riding buddy had a standard Valk and I asked him how he like it.  He said he loved it, but did mention the Valk could pass anything but a gas station.  28-32 mpg.  

Not for long.
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/positions/initialreport/uralST-lyt.html

Prototype flogged in the Cascades by HFL:

Film: Ural ST Prototype, Jumbo Mtn. from Hell For Leather on Vimeo.

PS. My naked '81 1100 Goldwing was the bike the Valkyrie should have been.  Lighter, high 30s mpg, etc.

[Orson]

I've ridden a V7 on a 4 hour test ride.

Far from "smelling the roses", I wuz late braking into corners and pinning the throttle to the stop after the apex  

any sniffing you will be doing will be sniffing for the red line on the tach  

[Rabidsnipe]

look again. one part (text) was some ways to have fun on your current bike. the other part (graphic) was the bike that would be appropriate for those rides.

I'm guessing I can't see the graphic on my iPhone   Guess I'll have to look again at home.

Something else I've noticed when cruising on the DR is the Supertrapp exhaust the PO installed is a serious liability. That thing gets so frickin annoying when cruising at 55 (which amounts to about 5.5k rpm). So maybe a swap to stock is in order.

I love the suggestions for a Guzzi but I'm afraid the nearest dealer is in Dallas. I'm not quite sure I'd feel comfortable with that.

[atadaskew]

I love the suggestions for a Guzzi but I'm afraid the nearest dealer is in Dallas. I'm not quite sure I'd feel comfortable with that.

Are you sayin' you hate Texans?
 






 

[sagerat]

Not for long.
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/positions/initialreport/uralST-lyt.html

I  know, I know.  I keep waiting for IMZ to release the Ural ST as I'd by one in a minute.  Talked to a Ural dealer earlier this week but even he didn't now the exact date production would begin as it's slipped once already.

[kevrider]

someone suggested a versys.    that's not the play, it really wants to tilt.  maybe patience is in order:

[turtle]

No more kickstand when "stopping to smell the roses"

[Rabidsnipe]

What about one of these?

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcy/1656151128.html

[Counter Steer]

My take your time and smell the forest bike is this. It doubles as a time machine and if I had the time off, I'd ride it across country and back.

[atadaskew]

Did someone already mention Royal Enfield?
They are back in the US market, selling fuel injected bikes. $6500, but looks (in a good way) seriously vintage.

Has anyone ridden one of these?

[Mr.Black]

If you're looking for a forced "stop" to smell the rosses, an AMF Harley is best.  But any Harley will do.    

I had one of those. I smelled many a rose.

[sammyseaman]

Did someone already mention Royal Enfield?
They are back in the US market, selling fuel injected bikes. $6500, but looks (in a good way) seriously vintage.

Has anyone ridden one of these?

Step brother has one. I'm not sure which model but he has had a lot of problems with it. Many oil leaks, faulty electronics, various parts breaking, etc.... It's a sharp bike though and sounds nice.

[Orson]

Has anyone ridden one of these?

I rented an older one in India.

charismatic, but seriously underpowered.

I'm all about riding a slow bike fast, but there are limits to that arguement  

The Triumph Bonneville is just as charismatic with twice the power  

[Bounce]

I did the trigger wheel mod on my Valk, and not only did the throttle response improve but mileage went from 30mpg to 42 mpg.

i did the 7° trigger wheel on my 98se too. better throttle response but i don't remember if there was a change in MPG. the most improvement was swapping the wires in the connector that let the cruise control know if it was in 4th or 5th. after that cruise would lock in at an indicated 100+ instead of the normal 78.

[Zerosum]

Find yourself a nice, used one of these;



Kawasaki W650

I was going to suggest that one as well.  My Dad has two identical '01s.  One w/ like 25K miles on it for daily riding, and one with 2K miles under a sheet in the garage.  I think his plan is to switch to that one when the daily rider is all used up.     His daily rider used to be an old GL1100,  but he "stepped down" to the W and never looked back.  

But yeah, the W is a great bike.  Very smooth, and pretty peppy for an air-cooled twin.   I'm usually working to keep up with him on my "faster" bikes.

Good luck finding one, though... they're quite hard to find!

[atadaskew]

i did the 7° trigger wheel on my 98se too. better throttle response but i don't remember if there was a change in MPG. the most improvement was swapping the wires in the connector that let the cruise control know if it was in 4th or 5th. after that cruise would lock in at an indicated 100+ instead of the normal 78.

Man, it's been a while but I think the one I used was a 3 degree.  Does that make sense?  I think a 3 and a 7 were offered.