"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/16/2020 at 00:08 • Filed to: None
1
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"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/16/2020 at 00:08 • Filed to: None | 1
| 30 |
As I d rink my adult beverage and look through photos of the last moto adventure, I’ve got about twenty tabs open on the local Craigslist.
Yep. More motorcycles. I’ve caught the disease.
A particularly nasty case too, as I came much to o close to buying my exact same bike yesterday, but in yellow. Honestly... I still can’t help but think that I should go back and make an offer ?! Okay fine, I admit. That would be rediculous. So how about I grab a 4th Gen and a 6th Gen VFR to compliment my 5th Gen???
Ugh... Terminally ill .
Letting reason take hold, it’s clear that if I get another bike it has to be different enough from the SPORT tourer that is my VFR800.
My first thought was an adventure bike, but there are a few problems with that.
1. Price. These are insanely popular in my area, and it’s hard to find deals when they sell in seconds. Add that to the usually-quite-high msrp and it’s hard to make the money math work, new or used.
2. I already have a 500lb bike that eats up miles with relative ease, handles a passenger without complaint, and can carry oodles of gear wwhen necessary. While I would love something that can handle trails and potentially snowy winter riding better... At this point I don’t want anything heavier than the Honda.
Which leads me to...
A dual sport!
Something cheap enough to buy new, reliable as a top, capable of taking a thrashing, and good for learning off-road riding techniques. I... Tried taking the Honda off road. Believe me, I did! But it did not feel like a willing companion, what with the clip-ons, delicate fairings, and heavy weight. Sigh. It's certainly no Miata.
I would also like being able to toss a passenger and a few nights of gear on the back. Like a cross between a dirt bike and one of the newer mid-size ADVs.
DRZ400s jump out at me, along with the Japanese crop of 250s (wr250r and the like). KLR650s are also kiiiiind of a consideration, but honestly I’d rather go with something smaller and lighter. Any thoughts? Advice? If I go this route, I’d likely buy in October hopefully scoring a killer deal on a new bike. This would mean no truck, and I would likely commute on it throughout the winter on the days w hen working from home isn’t an option.
The alternative is ride the Honda year round, and create more and more CL bike browsing posts until OPPO is forced to enact an emergency 2-wheels-bad shutdown on any and all moto content.
(option 3: T urbo Busa and replace all my riding gear with tank tops and flip flops )
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 00:13 |
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Before I read this.i have to say
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AestheticsInMotion
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/16/2020 at 00:17 |
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I feel like we’re both succumbing to the two- wheeled disease. I'm quite curious to hear more about your new bike!
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 00:19 |
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I haven’t actually ridden on but I think your describing an XR650L
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 00:30 |
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Not much to report yet. I still haven’t gotten used to the heavier steering. The rake, and the weight of the bike are both so different than I’m used to.
The torque of the V twin is awesome. Even being a small business one it’s still nearly 60ft/lbs at 4,000 rpm. Definitely not what I’m accustomed to.
I failed to mention in my previous post that it does have an aftermarket exhaust and not does it make noise! Good noise
Beefchips
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 00:37 |
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K! L! R!!!
themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 00:55 |
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Two things.
1) The ideal number of motorcycles can be best summed up by the formula N = N+1, where N= the number of motorcycles you currently own. It is only natural to wish to own an additional motorcycle as this is fitting with the ideal motorcycle law
2) KLR 650 is a “dual sport” in the sense that it it way better than something like a GSXR off road. But it, like most 650s, is a bit too heavy and road/distance focused to be a good second motorcycle to a VFR. Get a WR250R/CRF250l
for a good dual sport or get a grom/Z125 for city bombing. If you have a bigger motorcycle, I assure you that the little city bikes begin to make a ton of sense and be a ton of fun.
cmill189 - sans Volvo
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 00:55 |
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WR250 or CR250L or the 450 varients if you want more power. Those are not pillion friendly but great dirt focused dual sports. KTM makes some dirt bikes that can be plated out of the box but I shit you not, they are dirt bikes with blinkers. Not street friendly for anything other than connecting forest roads.
KLR is too heavy if you're keeping the VFR. It's also terrible at speed by comparison.
MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 01:16 |
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Turbo busa and thongs has my vote for 2020
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AestheticsInMotion
> MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
08/16/2020 at 01:17 |
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That does feel like the proper 2020 choice, doesn't it
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AestheticsInMotion
> cmill189 - sans Volvo
08/16/2020 at 01:18 |
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I was hoping you’d chime in.
I’m leaning heavily towards the little Yamaha.
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MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 01:40 |
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It’s not a good choice, but it’s a choice
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cmill189 - sans Volvo
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 01:46 |
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That’s a solid choice.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 01:53 |
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How about very capable at 2 up, extremely capable with dirt, competent on road, and not painfully slow like a KLR, all while being 450lbs?
Plenty of tigers under 6k, 390 adventure is about 6k new, vstroms for 4-5k, pre-2010 multistradas for about 6k or a newer multi 950 enduro under 10k, bmw f650gs’s can be found under 6 and even down to like 3k, and don’t forget about the ktm 950/ 990 adventure, kawi versys, Honda cb500x...
https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/mcy/d/vancouver-2016-honda-cb500x-abs/7172706214.html
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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/16/2020 at 01:53 |
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I’m aware I’m a KLR rider, but to me the XR650L has always struck me as the worst of both worlds - tiny fuel tank, no real luggage rack, but still heavy and pondorous when compared to the 250s and 400s. It’s not bad, if it was your only bike, but ofr a secondary bike it gives up too much compromise. I’d only recommend it as a second bike if your main bike was a starter bike and you wanted to dip your toes into adventuring.
Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 01:57 |
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If you’re serious about loading up with a pillion for a camping trip, you’ll want something bigger than a Dual Sport 250. They are slow with little cargo for US and Canada . It’s just going to be too much weight for that frame and geometry.
I think it’s an ask for a CB500X TBH, though I’ve googled a few brave souls that have done it with maxed tire pressure and rear preload...
I would buy fall - winter . But people still buy off-road moto in that time.
Decay buys too many beaters
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 01:59 |
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Had a DRZ for a few years, ask anything. That’s probably the route I’d take for a second bike. I was sure that my SV and DRZ400 were the perfect garage until I found out I was mistaken
I would tell you to just sell the H onda and get on this ADV bike game, but you aren’t going o do that :p
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Decay buys too many beaters
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/16/2020 at 02:03 |
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That CB500 prob fits the bill better than anything else. I know the guys who run MC warehouse too, they generally do all the right work to fix up salvage bikes correctly.
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Decay buys too many beaters
08/16/2020 at 02:06 |
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I somehow forgot these existed despite really wanting one a few years ago. Otherwise it would've been much higher up that list. I would have zero issues buying that exact one, especially since it's already got some very nice upgrade parts.
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Decay buys too many beaters
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/16/2020 at 02:15 |
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I honestly, totally forgot they existed. I never see them on the road.
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Decay buys too many beaters
08/16/2020 at 02:26 |
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I’ve seen a few, but they're tough to spot. Most of them are plain black and just look like another generic bike. I'm starting to see 390 adventures though, which are much more obvious.
Dead_Elvis, Inc.
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 02:27 |
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Put some Conti TKC70s (or some cheap, chunky Shinkos) on that bitch & hit the dirt !
Some years back, a friend of mine was headed out of town for a few months & asked if he could stash his VFR 700 (thanks, weaksauce Harley tariff! ) in my garage while he was gone. “Of course, but it’s gonna have some extra miles on it when you get back”. Not a problem.
Actually, problem - I hit the Mountain Loop Highway a few times that summer, & a bunch of dirt roads out on the Oly Peninsula with it right before he got back, but didn’t manage to clean it before he came over to pick it up . He wondered why the hell there was that much dust & mud in ... places . Sorry bud, that’s what happens when you learn to ride in the dirt - even overweight pigs can be an awful lot of fun out there!
So anyway, once you dump it on gravel & trash the fairing, you’re all clear to grab a yellow Viffer while you turn this one into a ridiculous safari build !
This ramble was brought to you by Rainier.
atfsgeoff
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 09:28 |
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my vote is the WR250R, if it’s not too tall for ya.
onlytwowheels
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 14:31 |
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https://www.ktm.com/en-us/models/travel/ktm-390-adventure2020.html
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AestheticsInMotion
> Decay buys too many beaters
08/16/2020 at 22:13 |
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I’m going to go ride a wr250 later this week and see how it feels.
I’m afraid the more bikes I buy, the higher the chances will be of them multiplying. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for deals over the winter...
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AestheticsInMotion
> Dead_Elvis, Inc.
08/16/2020 at 22:15 |
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So what you’re saying is I need another Interceptor... I like your advice!
Whatever happens, I'll probably be riding the Honda fairly often during the winter. Any tires you'd recommend for our rainy season?
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AestheticsInMotion
> onlytwowheels
08/16/2020 at 22:16 |
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I forgot about this. I should definitely go ride one this weekend
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onlytwowheels
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 22:34 |
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They’re selling well, from what I un derstand. Seems like it is leaps ahead of the small displacement J apanese bikes and priced very competiti vely too. Let me know what you think after you take one out.
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Dead_Elvis, Inc.
> AestheticsInMotion
08/16/2020 at 22:58 |
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I don’t know what size your VFR wears, but I’ve been very happy with Continental RoadAttacks on my Kawi ZRX, which is very much a porky pig. They’r e been great in the rain, and handled a heavily loaded solo trip around the US beautifully. They’re absolute shite on gravel, though.
I wasn’t being facetious about the TKC70 suggestion, if they come in the right size - they’re pretty popular with the heavyweight ADV bike crowd. A lot of the ZRX guys used to run Dunlop D616 meats for gnarly pavement & gravel, but I’m not sure if those are still made. I’d be wary if I found any, you’d definitely want to check the manufacture date.
A buddy of mine in Vermont just put tires on his Moto Guzzi 1200 Breva Sport, which is also a big beefy scoot (95 HP, 500+ lbs). He spends an awful lot of time on dirt roads, and said the new shoes are fantastic on dirt/gravel. I’ll ask him what he went with.
Are there any decent VFR forums? The ZRX Owners Association was an amazing resource when I picked up mine (a ‘99, bought it in 2008; I think I’ve hit 36 states with it so far), not just for tips & tricks, but for parts - there are a bunch of people who engineered & produced improved parts, performance add-ons, and figured out how to adapt shit from other makes & models to address issues Kawasaki should have but didn’t.
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Decay buys too many beaters
> AestheticsInMotion
08/17/2020 at 00:46 |
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I like the WR a lot, it’s a great chassis, I just wish it had like an extra 10hp
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Dead_Elvis, Inc.
> Dead_Elvis, Inc.
08/17/2020 at 12:22 |
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A buddy of mine in Vermont just put tires on his Moto Guzzi 1200 Breva Sport
Avon Trail Riders, 180/55-17 & 120/70-17.
