Might need a bike, fast... Your thoughts

[Twisties]

Well, there is a good chance Bullett's (my wife) "Carmen Caliente" is not going to make it the Whitehorse Super Tenere Gathering...

Carmen is looking a bit out of sorts:

Carmen has been admitted to infirmary for evaluation, and a prognosis is expected early next week. It is doubtful that she will be feeling good enough to go in time. Bullett (Sharon) is fine, and ready to ride. But what?

1. "Babe The Blue Ox?":

is pining to go. She has new shoes and a fresh service. She says 6 or 7 k miles would just be a nice light stretch. But Babe refuses to leave paved roads, and has trouble getting in to campsites.

2. Another dual sport? What? Sharon is 5'2" and 120 lbs on a bad day. She prefers lighter and shorter bikes. Carmen sports a standard frame/suspension and factory low seat, for a stated 31.1" seat height. I don't think Sharon will ride anything taller than that, and has yet to try the SupaT.

Your thoughts?

 

[jajpko]

Sorry to hear about your wife's get off, and glad she is not hurt. How bad is Red? It looks like some duck tape might work.. just kidding..

How about another Tenere? You could lower it and the seat. I have a 30" inseam and can flat foot mine after doing that..

 

[Twisties]

Sorry to hear about your wife's get off, and glad she is not hurt. How bad is Red? It looks like some duck tape might work.. just kidding..

How about another Tenere? You could lower it and the seat. I have a 30" inseam and can flat foot mine after doing that..

We should have an estimate by Monday. It is clear that most of the plastics need to be replaced, the rear subframe is plainly bent, windshield is gone, instrument cluster moay or may not be gone. Exhaust is usable but damaged. Fuel tank may need to be replaced. Jesse Safaris are in bad shape. Oh, and the main reason it spent a week of shame in the bed of our pick-up, the handle bars are just plain pretzeled. They are going to check the front suspension, steering head, wheels, and rear shock mounts, but all of that and the frame looked ok. I would guess to put it completely right we are looking at $4-5k. Haven't told the ins co yet. But it wouldn't surprise me if they totaled it. In any event, we'll have the complete report on it around Monday. Right now we are just trying to figure out how we are going to do Whitehorse/AK.

 

[Twisties]

Sorry to hear about your wife's get off, and glad she is not hurt. How bad is Red? It looks like some duck tape might work.. just kidding..

How about another Tenere? You could lower it and the seat. I have a 30" inseam and can flat foot mine after doing that..

I'll try to get her on the SupaT one more time, but I don't think it is happening. It is probably too heavy a bike for her. She really has to work to move the RT around. I think at her weight she does better with a lighter machine. Yeah, we could lower it, and it would be nice to be able to share a tool kit, etc. But I don't think she has any interest in it. For some reason that escapes me she still likes BMW. ???

 

[dcstrom]

I'd say you can't go wrong with a Wee if you're looking for a cheap, reliable, easy-to-find-used replacement - except it's probably not low enough. Maybe with some lowering links? Fine if you don't need the ground clearance, which is already lacking a bit.

If you're looking for new, it might be worth her sitting on a '12 Wee - maybe they are a bit lower than the previous models?

Other than that, you're probably looking at another GS - 650 twin or one of the newer singles? They all have a low seat/frame option.

Hope she's well soon!

Trevor

 

[Checkswrecks]

+1 on the Wee or Vee. Both can be had for cheap and are legendary.


If you're looking for something that fits HER though and can afford it, get her to test a 800 Tiger in either version. They really ARE nice bikes and all the accessories are easily available. Of course, if you can NOT afford it right now, don't let her near one. ::025::

 

[Twisties]

+1 on the Wee or Vee. Both can be had for cheap and are legendary.


If you're looking for something that fits HER though and can afford it, get her to test a 800 Tiger in either version. They really ARE nice bikes and all the accessories are easily available. Of course, if you can NOT afford it right now, don't let her near one. ::025::

I am assuming that she would have an ins settlement at some point that would make it reasonable. Alternatively, if they don't total it, she could sell one or the other after the trip. She can afford to add some to the deal out of pocket, or lose a bit on a low mileage bike after Whitehorse. She follows Cheryl and Leslie, the Adventure Girls and has been interested in the Triumph. Only one Triumph dealer in UT though... We may have a handle on someone that would let her take her's out for an hour or so.

Lots of cheap used klr's around....

Not seeing used wee's. Wee and Triumph would likely need to be new purchases. I know a lot of folk came to the Tenere from the wee. If anyone is still looking to sell a wee, particularly one that is outfitted, please pm me. She would be willing to fly out and pick one up I think.

 

[GrahamD]

Try a KLR OR DR650. Maybe not a long term solution but you should be able to buy cheap and sell again without much depreciation.

They are far easier on dirt than a strom but not as good on the black stuff. Unless you have the time to spend to get just what you want.

 

[jajpko]

I am assuming that she would have an ins settlement at some point that would make it reasonable. Alternatively, if they don't total it, she could sell one or the other after the trip. She can afford to add some to the deal out of pocket, or lose a bit on a low mileage bike after Whitehorse. She follows Cheryl and Leslie, the Adventure Girls and has been interested in the Triumph. Only one Triumph dealer in UT though... We may have a handle on someone that would let her take her's out for an hour or so.

Lots of cheap used klr's around....

Not seeing used wee's. Wee and Triumph would likely need to be new purchases. I know a lot of folk came to the Tenere from the wee. If anyone is still looking to sell a wee, particularly one that is outfitted, please pm me. She would be willing to fly out and pick one up I think.

The thing that is a killer, is you don't have a lot of time to outfit a new or used bike.. I agree with the Wee, it is a great bike, and you may find one that is ready to go. This time of year is not the best time to be looking. If I see something I'll give you a shout..
Good Luck..

 

[Twisties]

I suggest trying again with the S10. My wife had a lowered DL650 (Wee) and now a lowered Tenere. She praises the Tenere constantly when comparing it to the lowered Wee. She feels so much more in control with the S10. She says it feels so much lighter than the top heavy wee. With the Wee she always fought me when I wanted to go to a parking lot to work on emergency stops. Always felt like she was going to drop it and more or less refused to do it. With the Tenere, no problem when I suggest a parking lot workout. She is completely confident on it. Even with the 1" lowering links and lower OEM seat she can't flat foot it, but she is much more sure-footed at stops now than ever on the Wee.

She also wanted all the safety features packed into the S10. It has worked out to be a fantastic bike for her.

Can you share her height and weight? In a pm if it is sensitive info. Thanks! What I like about the Tenere is the control, myself. Where did you get lowering links? Sharon doesn't flat foot anything. She usually feels comfy if she can get the balls of both feet down with a hint of knee bend left over.

 

[rem]

Sure sorry to hear that, old son. I've never ridden one, but that Suzuki V-Strom 650 A Expedition is sure a nice looking motorsickel. All outfitted with panniers and adjustable windshield and such. Price isn't too bad, either, as motorsickels go. There's lot to choose from. Main thing is just get her on one and head north. She'd never fit on a KLR. Tall suckers. Good luck with it. R ::008::

 

[merchant]

Look a Kawa Versys. With a lowering kit, should be just right. They are relatively cheap and bulletproof. I had one prior to the Tenere and found it fun to commute on. Just wanted a bigger ride for my upcoming trip to Alaska.

http://www.shop.motowerk.com/Versys_c2.htm

 

[spklbuk]

::008:: +1 on the lowered Versys. She would never go back.

 

[jajpko]

Here is a 2008. Don't know what it is worth, but looks nice and has some gear. In my area..

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73417

 

[Twisties]

Here is a 2008. Don't know what it is worth, but looks nice and has some gear. In my area..

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73417

Thanks Jim!

 

[merchant]

Here is a 2008. Don't know what it is worth, but looks nice and has some gear. In my area..

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73417

Not a bad price. I sold mine a couple of months ago for $4000, but I had stripped the Givi bags off and sold them separately. Still, I bet there's a little wiggle room in that price. You tend not to get too much value for farkles (unless you sell them separately). ::024::

 

[markjenn]

That bike is almost certainly totalled.

Assuming you want ABS brakes (I would), I think your reasonable choices are a Wee or a BMW F650GS twin. The Wee is the value choice obviously and there are some lowering link kits. But it still remains a big/rangy bike that smaller folks tend to be intimidated by. I have a vertically challenged friend and with the factory mods has gotten his F650GS twin pretty darn low and he loves the bike. The only big drawback is ground clearance.

- Mark

 

[Twisties]

The bike in the pic is an F 650 GS Twin... Standard frame/suspension w/ factory low seat. Not finding many used, not a new one near here, and in any event, a love/hate relationship with it. As well, only available new in the DeWalt color scheme. She doesn't seem to be leaning towards it.

For about the same price there is a nice, more powerful Tiger 800 Roadie sitting right there waiting to follow someone home. As well, the dealer claims it to be an act from above :, there is a factory low frame factory low seat R 1200 GS which seems to draw her greedy little eyes. Then again... she could get a Ural, with a side car, and a really big jerry can for fuel...

The new model Wee's are vaporware. She might could get a KLR low enough... but it would need to lose 4"... seems a lot. 2" from the seat and a 2" lowering link might do it. The Versys doesn't seem to attract her...

The G650 GS might still be in the running. Those are around.

 

[jajpko]

At least you have something to look at. The Tiger 800 sounds nice.

 

[Twisties]

She rode the Super Tenere today.... and we have a very favorable quote from a local dealer.... Now thinking through lowering.... seat, links, forks...