Robert Schenker wrote:

> In article <(E-Mail Removed) .com>,
> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>
>>Hey all,
>>
>>I've been doing more research than I thought possible on getting
>>started for motorcycles. I've already taken my written test, I have
>>the course coming up in mid July, and I've been researching bikes for a
>>while. The problem is that I'm a little worried the bikes will be too
>>small for me. I am 6"2 (sometimes 6"3) and weight about 215. I was
>>going to go with the Ninja ex500 or the Virago 535 (probably the Virag
>>as I've been told that Cruisers are safer). I sat on a friend's ex500
>>and it seems like it's a little small. I'm worried that the Virago
>>will also be small.
>>
>>Does anyone have any suggestions as to a bike that might work for me?
>>And going further, if anyone's quite experienced, would they be willing
>>to (for a fee, of course) come with to check out some bikes from
>>Craigslist?
>>
>>thanks in advance. And if anyone has any gear they want to pawn off
>>for a guy who fits my description, that would also be great.
>>
>>be well.
>>d
>
>
> My two cents: BMWs are quite tall and more than that, place the feet a
> bit more forward than many other brands, so your knees aren't so
> cramped. They have good all around qualities and mostly place far less
> emphasis on power--in the scary acceleration sense--than most other
> brands. The GS bikes are dual sport, the R bikes are horizontally
> opposed twins and the K bikes are in-line three or four cylinder. All
> are shaft drive except the single cylinder F650s, which have chain
> drive. These last models are the shortest. Most BMWs for at least a
> dozen years have seats that adjust up and down. A good all around bike.
> You can zoom the local roads one day and ride to the east coast the next
> and that goes for just about any model they've ever made.

Ah, small correction...F650 uses belt drive, not chain. Nice machine though.

--
PC Paul

Trip pics at: http://photos.yahoo.com/paul1cart

"To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to
society" - Theodore Roosevelt

Robert Schenker handed down these > lines in ba.motorcycles:

> In article <(E-Mail Removed) .com>,
> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>> Hey all,
>>
>> I've been doing more research than I thought possible on getting
>> started for motorcycles. I've already taken my written test, I have
>> the course coming up in mid July, and I've been researching bikes for a
>> while. The problem is that I'm a little worried the bikes will be too
>> small for me. I am 6"2 (sometimes 6"3) and weight about 215. I was
>> going to go with the Ninja ex500 or the Virago 535 (probably the Virag
>> as I've been told that Cruisers are safer). I sat on a friend's ex500
>> and it seems like it's a little small. I'm worried that the Virago
>> will also be small.
>>
>> Does anyone have any suggestions as to a bike that might work for me?
>> And going further, if anyone's quite experienced, would they be willing
>> to (for a fee, of course) come with to check out some bikes from
>> Craigslist?
>>
>> thanks in advance. And if anyone has any gear they want to pawn off
>> for a guy who fits my description, that would also be great.
>>
>> be well.
>> d
>
> My two cents: BMWs are quite tall and more than that, place the feet a
> bit more forward than many other brands, so your knees aren't so
> cramped. They have good all around qualities and mostly place far less
> emphasis on power--in the scary acceleration sense--than most other
> brands. The GS bikes are dual sport, the R bikes are horizontally
> opposed twins and the K bikes are in-line three or four cylinder. All
> are shaft drive except the single cylinder F650s, which have chain
> drive. These last models are the shortest. Most BMWs for at least a
> dozen years have seats that adjust up and down. A good all around bike.
> You can zoom the local roads one day and ride to the east coast the next
> and that goes for just about any model they've ever made.
>

As a long-time BMW rider I would agree most of the models are 'tall', that
meaning the reach to the ground is long, HOWEVER, the 'leg room' is
typically NOT consistent with that tall reach

... on all the BMW bikes I have had/ridden my knees are against the fairing
even with the seat in the raised position and there is this funny
inconsistency where if you sit next to the tank the reach to the bars is
still a little long and thus the need for 'bar backs' which compromise
turning (bar hits tank in full turn position) while at the same time your
knees are bumping the fairing. If you sit back the bar reach is then long
and the knees are a little better .. I am 6' with a 37" sleeve length just
to give you an idea (the KRS I have is worse than most, but this general
situation was true even on the LT tourers) ... but as with all things
YMMV.--

Tim ...
Evo FLSTF
BMW K1200RS
(remove what you dont know to mail)

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
Marco S Hyman <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I think I'd second the suggestion of something like a V-strom. The
>650 should be plenty powerful for a beginner, tall enough, and not
>too expensive.

A third on the weestrom 650: It's got a friendly amount of power (as
much as you ever need but not as much as you ever want), it handles
well, its very comfortable, etc etc tec.
--
Nicholas C. Weaver. to reply email to "nweaver" at the domain
icsi.berkeley.edu

Marco S Hyman wrote:

>"Tim"<(E-Mail Removed) m> writes:
>
>
>
>>As a long-time BMW rider I would agree most of the models are 'tall', that
>>meaning the reach to the ground is long, HOWEVER, the 'leg room' is
>>typically NOT consistent with that tall reach
>>
>>
>
>The Rockster isn't even 'tall' as a model. When riding one I feel as
>if I'm squatting on my heels. My GS, on the other hand, is quite
>comfortable. If you're used to a cruiser with feet-rar-forward on
>highway pegs, though, all the Beemers will seem cramped.
>
>
My R1100GS has heated foot pegs... rather, highway pegs.

Marco S Hyman wrote:

>JB <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
>
>
>
>>My R1100GS has heated foot pegs... rather, highway pegs.
>>
>>
>
>Heh... I'm always afraid of melting the heels of my boots or the calf
>of my 'stitch.
>
>// marc
>
>
I've never had a problem - even when resting blue jean clad calves on
the cylinder heads
(so only a layer of denim comes between me and the metal - does this
sound like a Brooke
Shields commercial from the 70's?) - on a cold day it is pleasantly warm.

Hey d,

I would agree with the person (people?) who suggested dual sport. Tall
suspensions, and they need long legs. I would recommend the Kawi
KLR650. I haven't owned one of those but have owned another dual sport,
a BMW R1100GS. Since you're looking for an entry-level bike, I'd
recommend the KLR650.

Don't get intimidated by starting with a 650. I started with a 650 20
years ago, a 1983 Yamaha XS650 Special, and it had plenty of power so
that as I got more comfortable on a bike I didn't "outgrow" it so
quickly.

If you don't plan on doing any off-road riding, then fitting street
tires on a dual sport is also an option. From what I've read through
the years, the KLR650 is a very flexible and capable bike.

I love Beemers (R bikes rule!), so after you get some miles under your
belt, check out the GS bikes from BMW!

Good luck to you,
Roy


(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> I've been doing more research than I thought possible on getting
> started for motorcycles. I've already taken my written test, I have
> the course coming up in mid July, and I've been researching bikes for a
> while. The problem is that I'm a little worried the bikes will be too
> small for me. I am 6"2 (sometimes 6"3) and weight about 215. I was
> going to go with the Ninja ex500 or the Virago 535 (probably the Virag
> as I've been told that Cruisers are safer). I sat on a friend's ex500
> and it seems like it's a little small. I'm worried that the Virago
> will also be small.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions as to a bike that might work for me?
> And going further, if anyone's quite experienced, would they be willing
> to (for a fee, of course) come with to check out some bikes from
> Craigslist?
>
> thanks in advance. And if anyone has any gear they want to pawn off
> for a guy who fits my description, that would also be great.
>
> be well.
> d