Posted on 09/03/2023 2:24:23 PM PDT by Tacrolimus1mg
I've been looking for a bike for a while, and seeking a dual-sport to mostly ride around town and on a family friend's forested property. Cars I speak pretty well, but motorcycles are a foreign language to me. I'm seeking advice.
Used or new doesn't really matter, but the budget is $5k, and I previously had a 2023 KTM Duke recommended to me. I liked it, and it was small enough for me, which I think is the biggest issue next to some chronic pain in my left arm that might make a clutch and engine vibration painful.
I'm 5'2", and of an overall small frame. I want to make sure that I can handle whatever it is and that my feet reach the ground when at a standstill. I'm expecting it to be torquey given its purpose, but the lesser end of that is ideal.
Any and all help is very much appreciated - thanks!
Having owned many.... I never liked my KTM. Adventurer. And I am a full foot taller and couldn’t reach the ground comfortable. I can rebuild a Honda in my sleep and have always loved the ones I owned. I vote for a Honda crf300 and you can have it lowered for your legs. If you aren’t going to be doing highway and heavy hauling a 300 will be fine and they are pretty low. Current bikes for me.., KLR650, Ducati SS1100. I have ridden dozens of bikes and all the Japanese brands will do anyone well. Again I will not recommend a KTM.
Kawasaki KLR 650.
Bull sh*t..
Same problem here. They no longer make bikes for full grown people. Or chairs either. Same people. Midgets, cretins, dwarfs, runts, etc. Even the bigger dirt bikes are just awkward. You pretty much have to build it. Start with something close, power wise, and make the changes to get it to fit.
For a casual newbie find one with the right length for legs. Then find one of those that doesn’t make you hold your neck back so you can see down the road. No crotch rockets. Visit a shop and try a few on to get in the ball park-——
Sister’s motorcycle? Decades ago friends insisted I looked like King Farouk on a barstool——made my Harley look like a dinky toy.
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Everybody's got something to hide, 'cept for me and my Monkey.
Gave up 2 wheelers long ago after a sudden case of road rash.
Isn’t it just amazing to glide down wooded trails or 2 tracks with the bike idling in 1st gear, just a bit faster than walking.
I had a ‘72 Honda 350 Scrambler with aggressive tires. Loved that bike.
Choose the bike that comes with a low deductible health insurance policy and funeral insurance.
Everyone I know who has a bike has wiped out or been hit at least once.
Good friend was just hit and killed.
You better go hide under your bed.
—> You better go hide under your bed.
No threat to me. I have 4 wheel drive, a/c, drink holders, and dog section.
Honda CRF300LS
Or
Yamaha TW200
I highly recommend taking a basic motorcycle class if you have little to no background with bikes. It’ll teach you a bunch, and get a good start on learning to ride. Also, many (all?) States require it to get the motorcycle endorsement on your license.
As to bike model, I like the older Yamaha VStars, but they’re not off-roaders at all. Can’t help you much there.
I second the Duke. I have a friend on the shorter side, like 5’3”-4” and he has one. It has a pretty close fender profile so you won’t be able to get knobby tires, but you can go on the highway. He kept up with us cruisers going 65-70 on tue highway no problem. It’s a light bike and you can do some minor off-roading with it if you choose.
You’re safe in your car...And if ya believe that, you’ll believe anything.
—> You’re safe in your car...
Only a matter of degree
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