Running Out of Time to Choose

[bbBap]

Gentlemen,
                  Looking for some advice. I have not ridden a motorcycle in 36 years. At that time, I was 23 years old and it was my first motorcycle which was a BMW900R. It was the premiere bike to have in its day. It could smoke the Kawasaki 900Z in a throttle roll-on from 80-100mph. Sure did love her. Rode it all over the U.S., as a disillusioned Nam vet. Very practical machine which brings me to this. I'm going back into motorcycling as my sole transportation. I always wanted a 4 wheel drive vehicle to go off-road but, they are not practical for everyday driving. I've got these dreams of taking my granddaughter with me in mountains to camp and hike as, it will offset her Mother's fast paced worldly ways. My granddaughter is amused at my resistance to change. I've never had a cell phone or computer. But, here using my son's computer, I sure have enjoyed this. I have narrowed down to one of two bikes that I want. It is the Super Tenere 1200, that is coming in November or the DR650. Please, and thankyou, if you will not suggest any other bikes. I'm going on sheer reading research for these bikes (by the forums, not magazines) to make this decision. The CEO of my corporation that I work for, says whatever I pick, I must ride for the next five years. In the 36 years I've been married to her, she has always made the right decisions so, I don't want to get fired. I am a has been boxer who still works at being physically strong so, please don't tell me that the heavy Yamaha will be too much bike for me to handle off-road. Sure is perplexing which bike to choose. Any advice? Thankyou. By the way, Yamaha is offering a chance to opt out of their PDP program by May 31, and, this is why I'm feeling a little antsy these days. Jimmy.

[cbsnbiker]

Jimmy, welcome to the forum. (BTW, I'm a man, but there are women as well as men on the forum and active riders.)

Please describe in a bit more detail the sorts of riding you want to do. For example how do you define off-road riding for your intended trips -- dirt roads, jeep trails, hard-core off-road riding? What kinds of street riding will you be doing? Will you be riding primarily with your granddaughter?

Here is some advice that you did not specifically ask for, but I think will be very helpful for you. I recommend that you take two motorcycle riding courses: one for street riding, and one for dirt bike riding.

The street one that I recommend: the MSF Basic RiderCourse. It's available in almost all of the 50 states. It will be a great refresher for you and your dormant riding skills. You can take the course on one of their trainer bikes, so you do not need to worry about buying your own first.

Info: http://online2.msf-usa.org/msf/Default.aspx

The MSF also offers a dirt bike course. Info: http://www.dirtbikeschool.com/

There are other dirt bike courses out there, but I know less about them.

I recommend that you take one or both courses before buying a bike. Once you've taken the course(s), you can self-assess how you feel about your riding skills and what bike will best serve you.

Make sure to put in your budget buying full riding gear for both yourself and your granddaughter.

Now, onto your specific question about motorcycle models.

Your message ties our hands. Your ground rules limit the sorts of input we can give you.

For example, you want us not to give you any advice on other motorcycles for you to consider buying. You want to ride off-road, with a beloved passenger, after not having ridden for 36 years. Frankly, my advice is for you to buy neither bike. Neither of them is probably right for what you want to do. Since you do not want advice about other bikes, I won't give any.

Furthermore, you want whatever bike you buy to be the bike for at least the next five years. I am an advocate of choosing your first bike -- or at least your first bike after an interim -- to be the bike on which you make your mistakes. Have your *next* bike be your keeper. But your ground rules preclude this advice.

I hope you find this info helpful. Let us know about further questions. Best wishes!

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I have narrowed down to one of two bikes that I want. It is the Super Tenere 1200, that is coming in November or the DR650. Please, and thankyou, if you will not suggest any other bikes.

Well then, since you're so sure you want one of these two bikes, then go ahead and pick one. As for which one, it would depend on how "off road" you intend to go, how much dirt experience you have and how big your granddaughter is.


Personally, my first thought was the Wee-strom, but obviously you don't want any additional choices  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Jimmy, welcome to the forum. (BTW, I'm a man, but there are women as well as men on the forum and active riders.)

  They let wimminfolk drive these contraptions nowadays??



 

[cbsnbiker]

 

  They let wimminfolk drive these contraptions nowadays??



 

"Women don't belong on motorcycles."
 -- An MSF Instructor with whom I used to teach. I'm glad he's now retired from teaching -- his viewpoint was very much in the minority.

 ...


I now return you to your thread topic, previously in progress.

[bluepoof]

  They let wimminfolk drive these contraptions nowadays??

Nope.

[stromgal]

"Women don't belong on motorcycles."
 

Ran into that a fair amount, back in the day.
Glad things have changed; now there's plenty folks who don't belong on motorcycles.  

(I too would suggest a used Wee Strom to start. Bad, bad stromgal.)

[bbBap]

Jimmy, welcome to the forum. (BTW, I'm a man, but there are women as well as men on the forum and active riders.)

Please describe in a bit more detail the sorts of riding you want to do. For example how do you define off-road riding for your intended trips -- dirt roads, jeep trails, hard-core off-road riding? What kinds of street riding will you be doing? Will you be riding primarily with your granddaughter?

Here is some advice that you did not specifically ask for, but I think will be very helpful for you. I recommend that you take two motorcycle riding courses: one for street riding, and one for dirt bike riding.

The street one that I recommend: the MSF Basic RiderCourse. It's available in almost all of the 50 states. It will be a great refresher for you and your dormant riding skills. You can take the course on one of their trainer bikes, so you do not need to worry about buying your own first.

Info: http://online2.msf-usa.org/msf/Default.aspx

The MSF also offers a dirt bike course. Info: http://www.dirtbikeschool.com/

There are other dirt bike courses out there, but I know less about them.

I recommend that you take one or both courses before buying a bike. Once you've taken the course(s), you can self-assess how you feel about your riding skills and what bike will best serve you.

Make sure to put in your budget buying full riding gear for both yourself and your granddaughter.

Now, onto your specific question about motorcycle models.

Your message ties our hands. Your ground rules limit the sorts of input we can give you.

For example, you want us not to give you any advice on other motorcycles for you to consider buying. You want to ride off-road, with a beloved passenger, after not having ridden for 36 years. Frankly, my advice is for you to buy neither bike. Neither of them is probably right for what you want to do. Since you do not want advice about other bikes, I won't give any.

Furthermore, you want whatever bike you buy to be the bike for at least the next five years. I am an advocate of choosing your first bike -- or at least your first bike after an interim -- to be the bike on which you make your mistakes. Have your *next* bike be your keeper. But your ground rules preclude this advice.

I hope you find this info helpful. Let us know about further questions. Best wishes!

Thankyou sincerely for the good advice. Damn. Won't be back here anymore. Talk about a man hater. The "super moderator" sure comes across that way. Hell, I was just looking for advice between the two bikes. I'm not what anybody would seem as a threat in life. I stake my life on it. Women in the past have hired me to right a wrong in justice that has been done that the courts dismissed. I did my job well in that regard. My Dad raised me that way. So, here we are lady, don't know what happened to you in the past but, if you knew me, I can be your best friend in a dark alley somewhere that you are not feeling so arrogant. It was my mark in Nam. It still is now after all these years. So, maybe, you should take a look at yourself as to why you are so judgemental. Hell, I post these things when I'm somewhat inebriated anyway. What's your excuse?

[cbsnbiker]

 Thankyou sincerely for the good advice. Damn. Won't be back here anymore. Talk about a man hater. The "super moderator" sure comes across that way. Hell, I was just looking for advice between the two bikes. I'm not what anybody would seem as a threat in life. I stake my life on it. Women in the past have hired me to right a wrong in justice that has been done that the courts dismissed. I did my job well in that regard. My Dad raised me that way. So, here we are lady, don't know what happened to you in the past but, if you knew me, I can be your best friend in a dark alley somewhere that you are not feeling so arrogant. It was my mark in Nam. It still is now after all these years. So, maybe, you should take a look at yourself as to why you are so judgemental. Hell, I post these things when I'm somewhat inebriated anyway. What's your excuse?

You're welcome. Happy to help.

Re "man hater:" I think you're off base here. If you read other threads on this forum, you'll see that there's a lot of banter around here, by the men and the women. A few of the women picked up on me catching your use of the word "gentleman," and ran with it. This was pretty tame by comparison with other threads. She's just one of the boys, so to speak.  

[Moto Morphin Power Ranger]

Welcome  



my vote is the Yamaha

Yamaha reviews
http://www.xtz750.com/index.php/super-tenere-owners-forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=4031

http://www.youtube.com/user/2wheelsweb#p/u/44/l8zsCBwnHZ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnY7HRPKykc&feature=related

good luck

[Mrs. DantesDame]

 Thankyou sincerely for the good advice. Damn. Won't be back here anymore. Talk about a man hater. The "super moderator" sure comes across that way.

   Man hater? Moi? Hardly!!!!  

cbsnbiker had it right: I was just messing with you with regard to your "gentleman" comment (and probably wouldn't have even done that if he hadn't called it out  

My tone might have sounded terse but there was no malice intended. You came here with you mind almost made up and that struck me for some reason. That and the lack of paragraphs

I commend you on your brave forray into the world of the internets. It can be a difficult place (no visual clues or vocal tones to judge what someone is really saying), but it can also be an incredibly welcoming and helpful place. Keep the former in mind and thicken the skin if you plan to stick around (which I hope you do). Oh, and case in point: while you yourself said that if I had  met you in person you would be my "best friend". And if you had ever met me in person, you'd probably think that I was a charming and delightful person. So the internet masks who were really talking to. Reading many posts over a bit of time can help to unmask that person (as cbsnbiker pointed out).

Sooooo - that said, Welcome!!!  


PS - just re-read that you won't be back here any more. Perhaps I typed that all out in vain??

[sprocket]

 It is the Super Tenere 1200, that is coming in November or the DR650.

Go with the Tenere, its not much heavier than the 650 and unless you are wanting to get radical in the dirt, which I dont think you do, neither one of those is a good choice!
The Yamaha will be a much better choice for all around riding, with some dirt roads are maybe a few fire break lanes.

If you have any past exp. at all, and you said you do...I would not waste my time on a MSF course, those are good for riders who know nothing!

[cbsnbiker]

Go with the Tenere, its not much heavier than the 650 and unless you are wanting to get radical in the dirt, which I dont think you do, neither one of those is a good choice!
The Yamaha will be a much better choice for all around riding, with some dirt roads are maybe a few fire break lanes.

If you have any past exp. at all, and you said you do...I would not waste my time on a MSF course, those are good for riders who know nothing!

I disagree with Sprocket's advice on the MSF. The courses are excellent for returning riders such as you, bbBap, both to help you brush up on your riding skills from long ago, and to learn things that you may not have learned back then.

[Papa Lazarou]

Better than Mielke, and not even a pic.  

[sprocket]

I disagree with Sprocket's advice on the MSF. The courses are excellent for returning riders such as you, bbBap, both to help you brush up on your riding skills from long ago, and to learn things that you may not have learned back then.

Let me guess....you used to/or still teach MSF courses.  Did you miss the part where he said he "rode it all over the US"

I'd still go with the Tenere!

Dont read too much into the post here or any other site for that matter. Theres always alot missing in conversations that arent face to face.
These chicks just got out of prison the other day...so there still used to causing alot of trouble!

[Mrs. DantesDame]

These chicks just got out of prison the other day...so there still used to causing alot of trouble!

You talking about me, mister???

           

[TriumphTiger1050]

If your going to do alot of tough off road then no doubt the DR!  Ridden them and they eat stuff up in capable hands.  If your looking for a "adventure" road bike to comfortably get you to maintained gravel and dirt roads and maybe the every so often moderate stuff to traverse then the Tenere is the ticket.

I use to do the western NC stuff here on the way back to no where roads that had roads made of boulders; logs; or what have you............the DR was it!  I then bought a DL650 or better known as the V-Strom......it was okay on the smooth stuff and small rocks but after that, you were trying to kill yourself with the street tires.  Great bike for maintained dirt and gravel.

I am purely road now; it is my comfort zone to hit twisties and heat tires and hit 130 mph with no issues!  I never really liked the tough stuff; mainly because fighting the bike all day made me sore the next day!

The Tenere can be too much to handle if the ergonomics of the bike are not right.  Top heavy = bad COG which means battling a bike all day!  Trust me, I have been there.  And I too stay as physically fit as possible.  I use to road cycle and to do 100 miles on the saddle was nothing......mtn. bike now and at 41 years old can still out ride most 20 somethings!  But I am here to tell you.........a bike not really for off road is a hassle.
Good luck.

[Moto Morphin Power Ranger]

My GOD... he's.. really not coming back.

[cbsnbiker]

Let me guess....you used to/or still teach MSF courses.  Did you miss the part where he said he "rode it all over the US"

Do you really have to guess? Can't you read my sig line?  

Many people can "r(i)de it all over the US," and still not have very good riding skills. Many people can have had excellent riding skills years ago, yet a refresher can be beneficial.

Why the hating on the suggestion that he take an MSF (or equivalent) course?

I'd still go with the Tenere!

Dont read too much into the post here or any other site for that matter. Theres always alot missing in conversations that arent face to face.
These chicks just got out of prison the other day...so there still used to causing alot of trouble!

That sound you hear is Sprocket being torn to shreds....    

[TriumphTiger1050]

I also endorse the MSF class as a refresher.  Not a instructor here so I have no personal gain.  You really do learn thngs from the course that you may not have known.