Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Looking for a second bike...Suggestions?

Ok, I am looking for a SECOND BIKE...not selling my baby.

I want a stable mate for my TBA which is the following:
1. Sportier but a bike I can run on for 200 miles (including gas stops)
2. I want a bike that's different...so that excludes the UJBs (universal Japanese bikes)
3. I want it to be quick to 75mph. Don't need to go 150mph but want to get to 75mph asap.
4. Comfortable for short rides two up would be nice but not necessary
5. Price IS a consideration.

Do you all have any ideas?

Royal Enfield.

Suzuki SV 650.

Suzuki GS 500E.

Triumph Bonneville Black (duh).

Ducati Monster 620.

Moto Guzzi Breva or the other 750.

Honda GB 500.

Yamaha SRX 600.

Kawasaki Ninja 500 and new 650 (very cool).

Old BSA?

Old Norton?

Running out of ideas here, man. Sorry most of the bikes listed above are Japanese, but... well, they make good bikes, they're affordable, and I think the ones I listed are at least interesting.

You really crunch it by saying "price" and "not Japanese." Pick one. :P

--Jaeger

Speed Triple?

Does it have to be new? With that 200 mile range, and some 2 up capacity, I'd look at bikes like the Ducati Multistrada, Aprilia Caponord, Suzuki V-Strom, or maybe something like a Bandit 1200 or a Kawasaki ZRX 1200.

Multistradas and Caponords are $12,000 on the showroom floor, but you can find used ones in excellent condition for $7-9000. A new V-Strom 1000 can be haggled down to $8,500 or so out the door. These are V-Twin, or are more appropiately named L-twin, adventure bikes with a street bias. None of them will win any beauty contests, but the torque they put out can be exhilirating. We're talking in the neighborhood of 75 ft/lbs of torque with close to 100 hp. Riding position and passenger comfort are well above average when compared to sport bikes or sport-touring models.

The Bandit 1200 and ZRX 1200 are inline 4 cyclinder models with good amounts of torque, and even more horsepower than the twins I mentioned. 2-3 year old low mileage examples can be found in the $5,000 range. These aren't your typical UJMs, especially the ZRX with it's retro styling ala Eddie Lawson Superbike circa early 1980's.

For something more on the touring side, look at a Kawasaki Concours. It's a model that's been around 20 years and hasn't changed much. Bulletproof engine at a cheap price with a huge gas tank. Although the 1000cc Ninja motor isn't high tech, it'll get you to 75 mph in a hurry. New they're about $9,000, with 2-3yr old used ones around $6,000 or less. It's the most bang for your buck sports-tourer out there, albeit a bit heavy.

FWIW, I'll be in the same boat as you a year or so from now. I'm seriously thinking about a V-Strom 1000, because I want something my wife and I can do some touring on, but still is semi-sporty without her. Those L twin motors have the kind of torque I want, and the V-Strom is around 500lbs or so. I don't want a 700lb land yacht to push around through the twisties. I also don't need a full fairing since I live in the desert. The more airflow the better for me. Only thing I need is a decent shield to keep the wind off my chest as I blow down the interstate at 80 mph in order to get to the mountains.

BMW F800

I'll tell you guys, I ran a SV650 for years, and they're great little bikes -- cheap to buy, easy to mod and customize, and fast enough to keep you really entertained. They're ok for 2-up as well, though I prefer the SM (lower CoG).

And yes, "L-twin" is more appropraite.

--Jaeger

What about a used Guzzi V11 LeMans, or Stone? Reasonably priced, good for two up and sporty without laying you across the tank.

Good ideas guys

I am liking the idea fo the Multistrada and the F800. I was just reading about both last night.

But I think from what you guys are saying I either have to give on price or on new. Isn't that always the way.

The 'Strad, Vstrom, F800, Tiger and maybe the Ulysees (sp?) sound like they may be what I am looking for.

Which on do you think is more comfortable for the long legged?

Check the seat height on the Buell, or Tiger. They have a tall saddle if I remember correctly. I have to go the other way being inseam challenged.

My vote is for the V-Strom. A guy at work gave up a R1150GS for a 650 V-Strom and loves it! He says it's the absolute most fun motorcycle he's ever ridden! Another friend tested the 650 and 1000 V-Ss and went with the extra horses in the 1000 since his work is 50 highway miles from home, and the V-Strom makes short work of the mile of mud driveway from the street to his house.

You didn't say anything about it having to be new, so I would suggest you look for a Triumph Legend, T-Bird or TBS.

You mentioned something differnt. How about a reborn Norton. Stays in the Brit family. Your Triumph couldn't be happier. Price I can't say but they look sweet.
http://www.coloradonortonworks.com/about/gallery.asp

FJR 1300....Great sport touring bike.....Angelis

How about a Sprint ST?

I swung my leg over a Tiger at last years Motorcycle Show. The first thing I noticed was that it sat high. I liked that cuz I'm long legged.

I'd really like to get a sport(ier) bike but I don't know if my old knees can take that flexed position for a long ride. I'm looking for a low mileage BMW R1100RT for a second bike.

Cody

i would get a speedmaster caus its used to comming in second to the America

Greybeard, to be honest my first infatuation with Triumphs was with the Thunderbird, a Green and Cream one.

I have been looking for one to ride to see if what my eyes like is the same as what my body wants to ride for a 100+ miles at a time.

I look at least once a week on cycle trader or ebay just to see if there is one for sale with in 250 miles of Wichita.

No luck in the last two years.

You all have given me a couple of bikes to consider that I really hadn't looked at before.

I think it's time to do the butt test and ride a couple to find which works.

Keep the ideas coming though, looks like others are thinking about a second bike as well.

Why not build a V-Twin kit bike? You could make it pretty much anyway you want,to your taste.Lots of choices to start with. About fourteen big ones plus paint for a kit or twenty plus for a ground up with all new parts.A built by rider bike will give you a large amount of owner pride! That is what I am looking to do. In England it is considered a rite of passage to build your own bike. Vegas

Johnny,

I've been thinking about this for a few days.

Have you possibly considered owning a classic bike.

If you search out and inspect a good half dozen or so examples of old Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs, Moto Guzzis, BMW Boxers, Sportsters, Honda CB750s, Kawasaki Z1s, Ducati bevel-drive models, Yamaha XS650s,...well the list is probably almost endless....you should be able to find a good reliable example for well under 10 grand.

Besides having a bike that you'll seldom see out there on the road, if you find one that someone else has already put the bucks into, it should be reasonably reliable and you'll never lose money and depending on the bike, it should actually rise in value the longer you own it.

There's nothing like walking out to the garage and appreciating the look, sound and feel of the history of our sport, first hand. And the older bikes are far less complicated to work on too. You can learn a lot by owning one.

Cheers,
Dwight

Darn it! Why didn't I think of that.

Dwight you may be on to something there. Maybe even get a restore bike like the first "good" one I had.

Have to think on that.

Good idea, thanx.

I KNOW!!!
Triumph makes a really cool bike called a Speedmaster, that would be a perfect stablemate for your America. The Speedmaster does everything you outlined above.
Beautiful lines, decent used price and quick as a hiccup!
Get one.

Royal Enfield 500cc thumper.

New Triumph Sprint ST.

This is an easy recommendation: Get a nice (possibly restored) late '60's/early-mid '70s 650-750 Triumph Bonneville.

1) It'll be lighter than your current ride
2) If it's a 750 Bonny, it'll be darned near as fast as your current Triumph
3) It'll have that "classic" Triumph look
4) Parts are still readily available
5) Later models take US wrenches
6) You can ride someone on the back very handily
7) You'll get the same stares and questions with it as you do with your current Triumph
8) You'll get your exercise just trying to (kick) start it
9) You can still smirk at the Jap cr*p going down the road
10) You'll be more popular with the girls and even Harley guys will talk with you

Baxter Cycle there in Marne, IA is a good place to start looking.

Naked Speed Triple! I would love to have one, but, being inseamed challanged, it would have to be lowered. How low could you go?