What next ?

[MadDuck]

Ok some of you guys have met me now and seen my size (or lack of it)

I want to upgrade from the VTR 250 although it has served me well. But Damn I am having probs finding summit for the smaller person (humh) that I can handle without killing myself.

At the moment Cagiva Raptor is looking good ...but one can not have too many ideas

[Motu]

Full license?

[wkid_one]

Try the SV650 - it has one of the lower seat heights of the bikes out there. Also - try Lynda's Monsta - that fecken thing looks like a 250 with a great big engine shoe horned in to it.

Also - the CBR's are good value for the shorter people.....nice low seat heights.

You need to consider the width of the bike as well - as you can get away with a slightly taller bike if it isn't too wide.

SV is good value for money at the mo too.

[MadDuck]

Yes full licence 1980s ....just not as mad as I used to be

[MadDuck]

Ta Wikid ...me always keen for good advice

[SpankMe]

I rode the Raptor 650, and it was a good ride with a lower seat height than the SV650. But of cause I can't recommend the SV enough.

<table width="100%"><tr><td width="50%" align="center"><img src="http://www.colemans-suzuki.co.nz/images/Cagiva%20Suisse.jpg"></td><td width="50%" align="center"><img src="/images/sv650s_red.gif"></td></tr></table>

[laRIKin]

MadDuck what sort of bike are you after?
By that I mean, size and type.

[claire]

Hey MadDuck

Being 6 foot tall I didn't have to worry about height when I moved on from my 250 but when I was phoning around the bike shops lots of SalesMEN thought I should be buying a ZZR600 as lots of ladies like them due to a low seat height. I've never ridden or sat on one but it could be something to check out. I also have a friend in the UK who is trying to deciede between an SV650 and a Triumph (can't remember which one) and she isn't very tall and I think shes getting some sort of custom seat to help get her feet on the ground.

Claire

[LB]

Also - try Lynda's Monsta - that fecken thing looks like a 250 with a great big engine shoe horned in to it.

Wkid_one is right, try a Monster - new ones are 620, 800 and 1000cc. Old ones are 600, 750 and 900.

I've got the 800, seat height 770mm, but it's very narrow. I'm getting a 1000 as well, I think the seat height is still 770.

Well worth a try. I LOVE my Monster!!!!!

[Slim]

Don't forget that you can get the ride height lowered a bit and there's always the option of getting the seat customised too.

Good luck with the test rides. :D

[MadDuck]

Thanks for the advice ...oh and of course you would recommend SV Spankme

Amazing how limited the options are when one is short (5'2') and looking for something not to heavy but with enough power to go over a certain speed limit :bleh:

I will enjoy the test rides for sure Slim....ummmmm but will the bike shops me wonder.

I am also thinking of riding to Christchurch next summer for cousins wedding...250 is way out of the picture for a long ride like that me is thinking.

Thoughts? How long would you take to do such a long haul from north of auckland?

[RiderInBlack]

Did Whangarei, Haast, Duniden and return to Whangarei on a GSXR250 with a 80L backpack strapped to it and still managed the old 160KPM:whistle: Trip took less than 10days (about 400-500Km per day)and I would hessate to do it again on a simialar 250. Known someone who's done Christchurch to Whangarei in 2 days in a "can", but don't recommend it. 3-4days OK from Whangarei to Christchurch (3day if you start from Auckland). I'd do Whangarei-Toupo (you could go further starting from HCoast); Toupo-Wellington-Picton-Blenheim; then Blenheim to Christchurch. Check-out different Ferry prices and crossing times (I like late mornings-lunch departures as it gives me a spell between rides, with time to spend on the other side). There is an other company crossing the strait and friends have given good feeedback on how well they treat bikes and bikers.

Have done a simialar trip on the VFR750 (it made mince meat out of the trip) and look for to next year with the CBR.

Hope that helps:done:

[Posh Tourer :P]

Agree with RIB, 250 will be fine over that distance. It'd be like doing it in a 1.3litre corolla.... not a problem. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend travelling on a 250, I did Auckland to Hahei (about 250km) nonstop (apart from petrol) on an old (1980s) 250, quite comfortable. I would also take 3 days, sounds like a good plan RIB, maybe going further then Taupo the first day...

[vifferman]

I am also thinking of riding to Christchurch next summer for cousins wedding...250 is way out of the picture for a long ride like that me is thinking.

Thoughts? How long would you take to do such a long haul from north of auckland?

In '94, I rode from Hamilton to Christchurch on my VF500. I'd only had it a short time, and it was the first road ride of more than a couple of hundred km I'd ever done. I rode to Taupo, stopped for lunch, then carried on to Wellington, spent the night, then off to Chch the next day (took the 7:30 ferry, IIRC, and arrived about 3 or 4 pm). I was lucky in that it was September, and not too cold (no snow!)
Coming back a couple of years later (in December) I rode from Chch to Wellington (via the ferry, of course) in one day, then Wellington to Inglewood to Tauranga the next day.

Seeing you are north of D'Auckland, I'd allow 3 days at least, mebbe 4 if you want to make it less of a trial.

You could do it on the 250, but a bigger bike with more grunt if you strike any wind would be less tiring for sure. Also, something with at least a bikini fairing would help for making you less tired.

If you can make the trip with someone else, it will make it more interesting too. I picked up a VFR rider on the Desert Road, and we rode together for a while (including passing a cop at >>100 kph at Taihape). Then I met someone on the ferry, who was going to Oamaru, so we rode together till Christchurch. Coming back, I was following/leading my family who were in the car - not quite the same thing...

Here's another tip - take your own decent tie-downs for on the ferry, and work out beforehand how you're going to tie it up. Unless things have changed, they supply only pieces of rope, which are invariably manky, salty, and shitty, and not too easy to get your bike tied down with, esp. without marking the paint or damaging anything (even if you're an expert like me). :laugh:

[MadDuck]

hhmmmm..3 days, thats 3 days going and 3 days coming back with having a good snoop around in between.

Thanks for the comments but not sure about time off work blah blah blah. That ferry crossing now looks like not a good option unless I have BIG bungies.

I obviously have (just a few) months to sort myself out. May even fly done and hire once there so I can just cruise the Sth Island for a while.

[Hitcher]

The Moto Guzzi Breva 750 has a good low seat as well. However my "yardstick" struggles with anything other than cruisers (5'2" dripping wet). Despite popular opinion the SV650 has quite a high seat height.

Some bike shops claim there are suspension and seat mods they can do -- but you've got to buy the bike first and take your chances. It's nice to see that customer service is alive and well...

[MadDuck]

Hey Hitcher

oh well me 5'2 fully dry and no way in hell I buying a cruiser!

I take my chances I guess cos if customer services meet me ..they WILL give service believe you me :sneaky2:

I will look at breva though cos you just never know. You cant tell me all Jap riders are 6ft tall

[Jackrat]

They are a love em' or hate em' type thing but you might have a look at BMWs Rockster.There is a bit of a blerb about them in the latest BRM.
According to the write up they have an optional low seat.
I quite like the bike but then I like a lot of weird things, an they sure are weird looking.
Anyway have fun looking mate.

[moko]

At the moment Cagiva Raptor is looking good ...but one can not have too many ideas

Cagiva are notorious for spares supply problems,and even bike supply problems.I dont know their situation but the factory seems to be in a constant state of chaos.One of our bike mags had a Raptor and loved it,then it broke down and was off the road for weeks because even the importers couldn`t get any sense out of the facrory,shame as it puts a lot of people off,and that`s in Europe let alone N.Z.Monster`s another great bike but you need to keep on top of the serviceing and no Ducati is cheap,guy in a recent mag article paid £600 for a full service ($1800!!).SV`s a great bike,especially the new fuel-injected ones with the ally frame.I`ve got a mate with short legs and he could touch the ground on one.BMW F650 is worth considering if you want a European bike,you can get those with different seats,lowering kits e.t.c.,and dont let any dealer charge you any extra for those things if you buy from new,new Honda CBF600 has adjustable seat,bars and pegs too but I`m not sure whether you get that model or not.You can get just about any bike seat chopped,my Fazer had a good couple of inches taken out by the previous owner and you`d only know it`s a non-standard seat if you see it parked next to a standard bike.

[FROSTY]

Try the cb600 hornet.
The bike hire place in town has a few from their fleet for sale.

[moko]

Try the cb600 hornet.
The bike hire place in town has a few from their fleet for sale.

Good bikes,early ones had 16 inch front wheel and a lot of people cant get on with the quick steering.Also they`re very thirsty which with the older smaller tank is a pain in the arse.900 Hornet is a brilliant bike,very well balanced and dont let the fireblade motor put you off,it`s got a nice flat power curve,great to ride,feels more like a 500.They got cheap here because they`re nothing special to look at and not significantly better than the 600 to trade up,sales figures are low,my mate got something like 20% off list.I really like his bike but still prefer my Fazer and that`s the big Hornets problem,it`s good but not as good as it could have been.More important to you is that the seat height is lower than the 600,same as the 1200 Bandit has a lower seat than the 600.Oddly 900 hornet is one of the best bikes I`ve ever ridden in city traffic,so well balanced and plenty of low down grunt.

[magnum]

hi,from what ive seen and heard a sv650 would be a good buy.maybe you should try one out,best of luck.steve,go green!!!

[MadDuck]

Well Moko

Funny you should mention 900 Hornet cos I saw one in the big smoke on Saturday and fell in love :confused: I think it would suit me but I would need to test ride it.....but due to lack of any interest I walked out of said bike shop with credit card still in the red. But am now thinking I should go back.

In fact of the FEW shops actually open on Saturday the two I went too showed extreme disinterest. One had the a Monster just like Lyndas which looked pretty hot as well.

[Ms Piggy]

Well Moko

Funny you should mention 900 Hornet cos I saw one in the big smoke on Saturday and fell in love :confused: I think it would suit me but I would need to test ride it.....but due to lack of any interest I walked out of said bike shop with credit card still in the red. But am now thinking I should go back.

In fact of the FEW shops actually open on Saturday the two I went too showed extreme disinterest. One had the a Monster just like Lyndas which looked pretty hot as well.

Maybe you should just hop on & flick it off the stand an see how much interest you get then!

[moko]

Well Moko

Funny you should mention 900 Hornet cos I saw one in the big smoke on Saturday and fell in love :confused: I think it would suit me but I would need to test ride it.....but due to lack of any interest I walked out of said bike shop with credit card still in the red. But am now thinking I should go back.

I was suprised at how easy it was to ride,despite the Fireblade motor,admittedly de-tuned,it`s a big pussycat.They need a good couple of minutes to warm up,my Fazer is pretty much jump on and ride off 10 seconds later.I did the same thing on my mate`s Hornet,while the prat stood there watching and said nothing,stalled it straight away then it was snatchy and jerky for the first couple of minutes,me thinking "this thing`s a piece of junk"Once warmed up it was brilliant and I was carving through the traffic effortlessly,felt like a different bike.Give it some stick and the growl will have the hair standing up on the back of your neck.I`m used to a fairing and think I`d at least stick one of those nose-cones on it if it was mine.Brakes are really sweet as well,in fact it`s a pretty impressive machine all-round.One thing though is that for some reason known only to themselves Honda put too-long chains on them so check out somethings been done about that,sounds bizarre I know but there`s a good owners site (Hornets Nest)that has featured this and Honda`s efforts to wriggle out of it with several owners.Apparently the cure is simply to have a link taken out of the chain but as I say check it out before you buy,if you buy and take a look before going to any dealer to get your facts right see what they`ve got to say about it first,anything like our local dealer they`ll deny that there`s a problem.

[moko]

Just read a great review of a 750 Breva in the mag I write stuff for sometimes.Guy`s done 50,000 k`s since last May,long-distance commuter.He had a Guzzi before that was so bad he took them to court to get his money back.They made him an "out of court offer" of what he`d paid for the old one,and ridden for 6 months in between breakdowns,against a brand new one.He got the breva,by then Aprilia had taken Guzzi over and sorted out Guzzi,they`ve since poured serious money into a re-built factory.Bottom line is the bloke`s dead chuffed and he`s had no trouble at all with it.Mag`s only just out but they put some of their articles on-line after a wek or so if you`re interested, www.usedbikeguide.com give it a look in say a week or so and most of the article may well be up there.

[FROSTY]

Has anyone seen or ridden one of those 650 twins out of taiwan.
They seem to be light and narrow -Might be an option for you madduck
mind you with that driveway of yours maybee a 2 wheel drive would be better :D

[James Deuce]

hhmmmm..3 days, thats 3 days going and 3 days coming back with having a good snoop around in between.

Thanks for the comments but not sure about time off work blah blah blah. That ferry crossing now looks like not a good option unless I have BIG bungies.

I obviously have (just a few) months to sort myself out. May even fly done and hire once there so I can just cruise the Sth Island for a while.

Ratchet lock tie downs. You'll need two, maybe 3 and a couple of old rags to protect the paintwork. The Ferry lads will strap the bike down for you.

Ride down - it is huge fun - I have been all over the country on an RG250F, and a GSXR250.

[MadDuck]

hhhmmmm xjxjxj...how you know about my wicked driveway huh ? ;)

Yes I need rocket launcher to go up and very very very good brakes to go down. I saw a Breva on the weekend Moko but I think it is too much of a reach across the tank...boobs get in the damn way. Guess they didnt think of that when they designed the thing!

Maybe you should just hop on & flick it off the stand an see how much interest you get then!

Yep Celtic I might just do that as the bikes domino on top of each other I would get such a damn laugh !!! Put my "White" helmet on and skulk into the night......

Oh and thanks Jim2...I will post seperate for my run to CHCH. Cos it is a seperate subject me thinks. It is looking like I will do it and a great chance to catch up with some Kbers south of here later in the year :)

[FROSTY]

well now lil lady as I recall there was this evening with the worlds WORST fish and chips.
Baby bikie wanted to try an assault on ya driveway with my bike

[LB]

Has anyone seen or ridden one of those 650 twins out of taiwan.
They seem to be light and narrow -Might be an option for you madduck
mind you with that driveway of yours maybee a 2 wheel drive would be better :D
The latest Motorcycle Trader and News mag has a write up on the Hyosung. Came out a couple of days ago (the mag that is, not the bike)

MadDuck: do try the Monster before you finally decide.

[moko]

Hyosungs are Korean and they`ve got a tech tie-in with Suzuki which is why the 650 looks so much like the SV(not the same motor but very,very similar).Test here in RIDE this month(best-selling mag).They gave it a good write up,reckoned the motor`s sweeter than the Sv which is quite impressive for relative newcomers.Trouble is that in the U.K. Suzuki have slashed the prices of some of their models and the new SV is the same price as the Hyosung,which ironically looks and goes like the old carb-model SV.Dont know why you had a problem with the Breva MadDuck because the riding position is upright same as the Hornet,definately more than the faired SV.600.Dont you get the 600 Fazer in N.Z?The older one was europe`s best-selling bike and they`re a real blast.

[MadDuck]

MadDuck: do try the Monster before you finally decide.

I most definitely will try the Monster....it looked mighty fine to me. Have you put a screen on yours Lynda or have you left it as is?

[LB]

I most definitely will try the Monster....it looked mighty fine to me. Have you put a screen on yours Lynda or have you left it as is?
I've left it "as is", but mine's the "S" model which means it comes with a little screen - more a blade really, but it looks good and deflects a little bit of wind.

have a look at www.ducati.com and see the different models. (I'm not technological enough to post a photo here, but if you pm me your email address I can send you a couple of .jpgs so you can see what my screen is like)

[moko]

If you go for a Monster make sure it`s got full service history,they`re expensive to service and a lot more expensive if they go wrong,which they do if the service schedule`s not kept to.Good write up here of a guy who`s happy with his bike.He does his own servicing but this isn`t recommended unless you really know your stuff

http://www.usedbikeguide.com/reviews/ducati1.htm

[DEATH_INC.]

Dunno what your criteria is,but worth looking at is a CBR400,will easily crack 200+kph and are the lowest seat of anything ('cept cruisers) that we found.Draco's got one,she's bout 5'2" too,and can sit with feet fairly flat.

[Draco]

Dunno what your criteria is,but worth looking at is a CBR400,will easily crack 200+kph and are the lowest seat of anything ('cept cruisers) that we found.Draco's got one,she's bout 5'2" too,and can sit with feet fairly flat.

He's close :bleh: I'm 5'3" (just). I don't know if a 400 is too small for your taste, but i can get my feet flat on the ground with knees slightly bent on my CBR400. The reach to the handlebars is a slight stretch, but you just slide your butt forward, and being able to stand flat-footed far outweighs that. My CBR is the only bike i've ever sat on that i can manage that. I looked at several SV650's and some of the older models i could just get tip-toes down, the late model ones forget it, their way too tall. I also looked at a TRX 850, it was a little heavy but i could reach the ground no sweat. I'd be interested to know what you find to suit us vertically challenged chics. Happy hunting! :2thumbsup

[MadDuck]

lmao...ta Draco. I have looked at SVs and as I come in at a cool 5'2 (dry) it aint looking good. I even struggle on the VTR a wee bit. Damn how embarrassing to get to lights and drop the damn thing....hahahahaha

I will take your challenge and keep you posted :niceone:

[MadDuck]

Well took the plunge and bought a new bike today..... :2thumbsup

Pick her up tomorrow after the seat has been lowered as low as it can be :o . RIP my lil VTR - served me well.

[Ghost Lemur]

Well took the plunge and bought a new bike today..... :2thumbsup

Pick her up tomorrow after the seat has been lowered as low as it can be :o . RIP my lil VTR - served me well.

Don't leave us hanging...

Details please, with pics to follow when you take posession. :D

[LB]

Congrats on the (imminent) new arrival MadDuck - and I'm with Ghost Lemur on this one.....please don't leave us in suspense!!!!

[dangerous]

Don't leave us hanging...

Details please, with pics to follow when you take posession. :D

I know I know....... you trater you :niceone:

[MadDuck]

ok ...just dont tell SpankMe I listened to his advise will you !!!!!

Its a lil beauty

[FROSTY]

hmm now um er would you happen to concider loaning said unknown motorccycle on um er let me see --the 5th of june
Out of concideration I wont actually ride it on the road nor will I have the speedo working. -Ill ONly ride round in circles :banana: :banana:

[FROSTY]

now how long would it take to strip the road gear off and put race numbers on it?

[Ghost Lemur]

Nice. Very nice. Bet you can't wait to get it out there. :niceone:

[LB]

Nice bike!! You'll love it.

[Cajun]

how did you go about lowering it??

[White trash]

Suzuki do a factory lowering kit for those and DR650s.

Clever buggers, eh! :yes:

[Cajun]

its easy enough to lower the gixxer as well just replace the dog bones,

[MadDuck]

OMG I am in love :love2: The bike is just awesome.

I picked her up today and she fits like a glove although still just a tad tall but manageable. They have suggested getting the side stand shortened as it is quite upright when I park her.

Now all I need is matching helmet (cos thats what we do) and after market pipes. Cant wait for the weekend and a real ride ...going a bit slow until I get used to the extra power mind you.

Ohhh and xjxjxjxj if I catch you anywhere near her with a spanner I will bite your knee caps :crazy:

[FROSTY]

would i DREAM of it --no way --but remember you have to sleep sometime.
Keep in mind I will be over it as soon as my #$#$$ race bike is finished

[toads]

cool, enjoy

[Draco]

You Go Girl! I'm green with envy :rockon: I can't afford a new bike until i've finished uni :weep: You won't know yourself. I'd love to know what you've done to her (for future reference). Enjoy!!!!

[MadDuck]

uummmm yeah well. Bike is looking pretty good and I am itching to take her for a ride. :scooter:

Doc and physio are saying it could be another 3 weeks before my back is healed enuff to take the bike out now.... :angry2:

Give me heaps of time to check out mod options I guess :eek: