Your advice please

[firsttimer]

Hey guys n gals
I'm new to buying/owning bikes so am after some advice please......I know my way around cars no problems but very green when it comes to bikes. I'm looking at a V-Strom on trade me, listing number 1216088606

https://preview.trademe.co.nz/motors/trade-me-motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/1216088606

Has anyone had experience with this model? Is 55k high milage for this type of bike? What sort of servicing or repair costs should I expect in the near future.
This will be my first bike purchase. I am wanting something to commute from Hamilton to Tauranga at least 3 times a week for most of next year, so will be going over the Kaimai's a fair bit. I've been looking at and keen on either a V-Strom 650 or 1000, Versey 650 or 1000, or a vfr800x Cross Runner.
I'm 6'3, 90 odd kilos so taller bikes aren't an issue for me. If you have any recommendations or advice that would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers in advance.

[onearmedbandit]

Soooo....what experience do you have with motorcycles?

[caspernz]

And apart from lack of experience, what is the licence situation?

[Ifsn8u]

And apart from lack of experience, what is the licence situation?


Soooo....what experience do you have with motorcycles?

whose mummy and whose daddy???:confused:

[onearmedbandit]

whose mummy and whose daddy???:confused:

Very witty. However I'm not so keen on recommending a bike to someone who it appears doesn't have much experience on bikes, or at least has made it look that way.

[firsttimer]

Haha my apologies. I have a full licence. I'm early forties paying for my own bike. No mummy or daddys not paying for it 😂😂😂😂😂😂.
Only real riding I've done is town riding but that was years ago and only on 250cc road bike with a couple a rides out of town with said bike with mates.

[pritch]

I will assume you have a sense of caution commensurate with your age. The bike you are interested in is a sensible choice, assuming experience and ability are appropriate. That's a lot of assumptions. Make haste slowly.

[Big Dog]

Haha my apologies. I have a full licence. I'm early forties paying for my own bike. No mummy or daddys not paying for it 😂😂😂😂😂😂.
Only real riding I've done is town riding but that was years ago and only on 250cc road bike with a couple a rides out of town with said bike with mates.
First thing your going to want to do with that type of bike is get some lessons. Only ridden a 250 and not ridden for years is a recipe for disaster if you try to much too soon.


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[Big Dog]

Stroms of either capacity have good reputations for reliability and 55 isn't massive kms, just keep in mind if you plan to put 30,000 pa on it you will pass 100,000 well under 2 years ownership.

Google is your friend, look up a service manual for the bike you are looking at, what needs doing when?
Some models you'll find lots of examples of about the same kms just before a big service where everything is due.

Get the bike inspected.
X2 if you don't know much about bikes.



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[Ifsn8u]

Very witty. However I'm not so keen on recommending a bike to someone who it appears doesn't have much experience on bikes, or at least has made it look that way.

Sorry couldn't resist.

But you both raise valid points

[WristTwister]

Very witty. However I'm not so keen on recommending a bike to someone who it appears doesn't have much experience on bikes, or at least has made it look that way.

:niceone:

They should totally get a BMW S1000RR

hahaha

No seriously, Versys 650 is an economical commuter, unless you're into more serious adventure biking then in that case I'd say look at a Triumph Tiger *800* or KTM 690.

[firsttimer]

Thanks for all your recommendation. There ideas is to be sensible and that's why I've gone with the up right riding style bikes. My old back wouldn't be up to a sports bike anyway so yeah just trying to be sensible. Just forked out $1600 at the local dealership for some half decent riding gear etc so looking forward to getting out on some different bikes and see what I like. Unfortunately I'm out of the country for 3 weeks on Friday so will go shopping for a bike on my return the 2nd week of Jan

[firsttimer]

First thing your going to want to do with that type of bike is get some lessons. Only ridden a 250 and not ridden for years is a recipe for disaster if you try to much too soon.


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So you think I should stick with the 650 then??

[firsttimer]

First thing your going to want to do with that type of bike is get some lessons. Only ridden a 250 and not ridden for years is a recipe for disaster if you try to much too soon.


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No seriously, Versys 650 is an economical commuter,.[/FONT][/SIZE]

I'm only gonna ride on the road at this stage. Maybe down the track I might do some bumpy stuff but that's a maybe at this stage

[firsttimer]

I will assume you have a sense of caution commensurate with your age. 😂😂😂😂😂 I hope so??

The bike you are interested in is a sensible choice, assuming experience and ability are appropriate.

"I will take that into consideration"

That's a lot of assumptions. 😳☺️☺️😳

Make haste slowly.

Thanks again for your words

[WristTwister]

So you think I should stick with the 650 then??

The highest risk groups of bikers are new riders and returning riders. A 650 will have all the power you need for the road.

[Big Dog]

So you think I should stick with the 650 then??
No.
Depending on your nature you may be better off with the 1000 or you may not.
I don't know you so I am recommending lessons.
I went from a 250 and a 6 year gap to an 1100. As a fairly restrained guy I think that the fear of the 1100 stopped me from trying too much too soon.
I also had some pretty big near misses because I didn't get training.

I know from test riding them that a 600 would have just had me acting the goat... but I probably would have learned more...

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[firsttimer]

Cheers all. I finally found me a bike I like and I'm off to pick up it up today. I decided on a 650 vstrom. I'll let you all know how it goes later on in the week. First I have an 8 hour cruise home to look forward to and getting to know my new ride [emoji15][emoji12][emoji849][emoji15]


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[Big Dog]

Cheers all. I finally found me a bike I like and I'm off to pick up it up today. I decided on a 650 vstrom. I'll let you all know how it goes later on in the week. First I have an 8 hour cruise home to look forward to and getting to know my new ride [emoji15][emoji12][emoji849][emoji15]


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8 hour introduction... not exactly speed dating!

Congratulations on choosing something.

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[caseye]

Have demoed the Vstrom myself and found it an easy bike to ride. A lot of motorcycle hire companies have Vstroms which is a good indication they are a good reliable bike.

Ah another post packer from the original packer aye?
firsttimer.
Please be very careful about who tells you what here in KB land.The last post while not advice, is simply more BS from someone who knows absolutely nothing about how to ride a motorcycle, where to ride a motorcycle and whom to ride motorcycles with.
Welcome along to KB, don't hesitiate to ask questions here and certainly take any nasty or unhelpful posts with a grain of salt.
I'm pretty sure you will quickly come to know who to listen to and who to ignore, around here.

[pritch]

Cheers all. I finally found me a bike I like and I'm off to pick up it up today. I decided on a 650 vstrom. I'll let you all know how it goes later on in the week. First I have an 8 hour cruise home to look forward to and getting to know my new ride [emoji15][emoji12][emoji849][emoji15]


Congratulations. Enjoy the ride. Oh, and watch out for idiot car drivers.

[rastuscat]

Congratulations. Enjoy the ride. Oh, and watch out for idiot car drivers.

And watch out for idiot bike riders too. It's easy to learn bad habits from idiot bike riders.