Which Bike?

none | today | me

[Grizzled Bear]

I've been looking at motorcycles. I need something a bit more fuel efficient than my 1-ton pickup! There are two that I really like. One is an 09 Yamaha V-Star touring bike (not used, been sitting at the dealer) and the other is a Harley Fat Boy. Any recommendations?

[BCR #226]

If you’re a new rider, avoid the fat boy due to the solid front wheel. It looks cool but every cross breeze catches it and if you aren’t experienced riding, it can be unsettling as you end up fighting the bike to stay in your lane.

I picked up a KLR 650 for near the same reasons you describe. I picked a dual sport because I like to trail ride as well. The KLR is a great bike but it’s not the easiest to ride. You sit high on the bike and if you’re short at all, you may have problems.

It sounds like you are more interested in a street bike than anything so I’d probably recommend either a Harley 1200 sportster or a soft tail.

Best of luck!

[Grizzled Bear]

I’m pretty sure I’m getting a bike, so please add me to your ping list!

[martin_fierro]

I rode motorcycles in my early teens. That was about 30 years ago. I took a motorcycle safety course offered on a military base a few years ago with the intention of buying a bike. Had other things come up. This was a northern tier base.
I retired and moved to a warmer climate with a longer riding season and I'm looking for something primarily for a ten mile commute.

I'd recommend something like this. Seriesly.

2011 Honda Silver Wing with ABS.

[Grizzled Bear]

Something tells me this is about to get uglier than a “Maryanne vs Ginger” thread!

;-)

[suijuris]

(p)I will certainly get flamed by the Harley riders out there, but if reliability matters I would go with the Yamaha. I have been riding for 35 years and have seen, and still see, a lot more problems with the Harleys than with the Jap bikes. My current bike is an 09 Kawasaki Concours 1400. Not the most economical, but I sure have a lot of fun getting there.

Suithe

[Eye of Unk]

Mine is the 2009 in Galaxy Blue, I installed the Star engine bars, a chrome radiator grill, HID headlight, LED tailights, a specially made tricked out ball milled Rox Riser and replaced the cables and lines with plastic coated braided stainless ones.I did some mods to the fuel system as well.

I went from not rising for 30 years to a 1980 Honda CX 500, rode it for two months and then immediately went to the Star 1300.

I also look at commuting the same distance, but with my gas at $4.15 right now my Silverado with its 496 cubic inche gasser engine it just bleads my wallet dry and I have to do a tradeoff of other weekly items just to keep it on the road.

And buying another vehicle is absolutely out of the question, I want to be debt free, not in over my head on some worthless hybrid.

[BillGunn]

yamaha

[SERE_DOC]

BMW!

[blackdog]

Beemer Airhead here. 1978 R100. I'm quite partial to the BMW motorcycle since it's really just an aircraft engine sliced down to two cylinders. No chains, no belts, no noise, and enough low end torque to save on the RPM's.

Riding a bike is way more expensive than driving a car or truck. But if you need to sell that idea to a certain higher authority I understand............

[Grizzled Bear]

My truck gets about 12 - 16 on a gallon of diesel. We’ve just gone up to about $4 to the gallon. Even if I’m only getting 40 to the gallon of gasoline (cheaper than diesel) I think I’m doing a bit better.

[Riley]

I had a pre-08 Connie. Wonderful machine.

[Grizzled Bear]

Those are nice; but my back can’t deal with a crotch rocket.

[Eye of Unk]

I have never seen any bike animosity here at FR, unless its disgruntled poser-trolls from DU.

I do suggest whatever you get is whats comfortable to you, otherwise I would say look for fuel injection first, shaft or belt, I have both, each has its attributes.

Windshields I cannot live without in my older years, and I am partial to a water cooled engine.

[blackdog]

My R100 is like a dream. A little pricey to maintain, but sure is sweet. I’m currently looking for some hard case bags and brackets but have not been able to find any of that vintage. Any suggestions?

[mainevet]

Are you gonna wear a helmet?

[Eye of Unk]

I hear you on the back thing, a good sized cruiser is what you need. Not a full dressed touring bike unless you have that in mind, I never ride two up or havn’t yet but the 1300 can do it effortlessly, another hot selling Star bike is the 950, and then there are the older 1100 models.

[blackie]

I wouldn’t own either one!!

[al baby]

or a RUB

[blackdog]

A BMW sure ain’t a crotch rocket. They are the best touring bike in the world IMHO. My R100 weighs in at 750 pounds. It’s more like a truck.

[Grizzled Bear]

I thought about a scooter and if I lived in the town, I’d get one. Unfortunately, part of my commute is through a very rural area and over some dirt roads. I think that would tear up a scooter.

When I get near the town, there’s a lot of traffic, including semis. I want to be sure I’m fast and maneuverable.

Once inside the city, a scooter would be perfect.