Hi everyone (WanderBird)

[WanderBird]

Nice to meet you all :)

I'm just about to buy a bike after a 25 yr gap - very excited!! Not sure what it will be yet, but something up to 650cc. Suggestions welcome on this, - something I can cruise on comfortably and do things like the Nevis, Danseys Pass, pootling around the back roads exploring. I haven't been entirely out of touch all these years - I usually hire a bike in Bali, and own a DiBlasi scooter from my motorhome days. (not quite the same as a real bike, but it has to some extent kept my skills up:)
Feeling both confident and cautious about riding again - things have changed considerably in terms of the road traffic. I will do the next skills day that comes up in Otago - I believe they are excellent.
This forum is great, so much excellent information and advice.

[NighthawkNZ]

Welcome, The dunedin crew ride your way regularly, more than welcome to join in... I am assuming you are wanting an adventure dual purpose style bike, which I know nothing about, but suggest just taking a couple for a ride to see which is the most comfortable, and the one that will meet your needs, riding style, height, and reach etc

The Ride Right Course is good, my other half just finshed one yesterday and learnt heaps)

[Warr]

Welcome to KB WanderBird. sO u'r out there looking for a suitable bike. good luck on that one, theres a huge varity. Riding position and your height will dictate your comfort level and if its been a few years I'm guessing you wont be standing in line to be taking out too many sports bikes. They will traditionally have the bars lower meaning you have more weight on your hands at slow speeds. Whereas a tourer will have you in a more up-right position and a cruiser laying back even more.
Sports-tourer or cruiser just need to shop around, perhaps some on the Dunedin guys can recommend a friendly dealer down your way. Best idea is to not make up your mind too quickly :)

[WanderBird]

Your are correct about the sports bike - :)
It is about what fits for me, and there is an overwhelming amount of possibilities!
Great fun narrowing it down though, - anyone in the Dn bike shops today keep an eye out for a confused woman scratching her head. There is no hurry, it has to be right, no matter how impatient I am to be back on a bike - and I have to buy all the gear as well

[NZsarge]

Welcome, try a new 600cc Honda Hornet, being a Yamaha man it sticks in my throat a bit but they are supposed to be quite a sweet ride, I don't know if the new model has hit NZ yet but you can but ask.

[NighthawkNZ]

Great fun narrowing it down though, - anyone in the Dn bike shops today keep an eye out for a confused woman scratching her head. There is no hurry, it has to be right, no matter how impatient I am to be back on a bike - and I have to buy all the gear as well

Don't take this wrong, but how tall are you and also the length of your legs, also depends on how comfortable you are when sit on the bike with feet on ground do you mind the tippy toe thing or you must have feet flat.

Cruiser seats tend to be wider, so the larger ones even though the seat height maybe with in your region, the widness of it can make a difference.

[sels1]

Welcome aboard the site Wanderbird.
The BMW F650 could be a good bike for you if it fits your height - a comfortable road/touring bike that is quite competent on gravel. New ones are expensive but there has been several older models (the "Funduro") on Trade Me lately.
Also check out the Kawasaki range - they have a 500 twin adventure/tourer that could be to your liking.
Or you could go retro on a Triumph Scrambler or Bonneville (the new ones)

[WanderBird]

Re feet on the ground, - I checked out a Trans alp - it felt like it was too much as I was on real tippy toes. It just wasn't a good feeling at this stage. A pity, as it was a really nice bike. I will check out the other suggestions, thanks. I will know it when i find it I think, it will just be 'right'

Please, keep the suggestions/questions/advice coming
Re gear, leather or fabric? I know leather offers best protection, but it feels like a bit of a $ stretch on top of everything else. I hear good things about Cordura?

[Warr]

Riding gear, Send a PM to Quasi, his gear is value 4 $.
And yes you need to try out the BMW 650, good all rounder and opens up adventure reail options options of which there are heaps down your way :)

[H00dz]

Welcome, try a new 600cc Honda Hornet, being a Yamaha man it sticks in my throat a bit but they are supposed to be quite a sweet ride, I don't know if the new model has hit NZ yet but you can but ask.

I'm with SARGE If ya Gonna Buy.....Make sure its a Yammy!!!!

Norfland WELCOMES you:headbang:

[Zukin]

Hi there and welcome back to riding

Well I agree with what the others have said.
Take your time and have a good look at all the bikes

I would consider the following bikes - (there are lots to choose, these are just 2 that I have used/owned)

BMW F650GS (I own one of these now)
They are great on the road, and good on the gravel roads, but not much good anywhere else where the going gets rough.
Very cheap to run, I can get 350+kms out of a tank of gas (17 litres)
They are comfortable bikes, but heavy, so if it falls over they are a challenge to pick up, so technique is important here.
Also has accessories such as heated grips etc

Suzuki DR650
A good dual purpose bike, plenty of modifications that can be done (and cheap to do)
These include lowering it too if need be
Good on the road (the seat is perhaps not as comfy as the BMW), good on gravel and can also tackle harder trails too with relative ease.
Reliable too :2thumbsup
Lots of guys on here have them so they can comment more on the pros and cons

In regards to gear
If you are thinking of gravel and adventure riding, then I would go with Codura gear.
This is only my personal experience

They often have liners that can be added or removed depending on the weather conditions
I have a Dririder Rallycross Jacket and pants.
Whilst they are pretty waterproof, it is very hard to find gear that is 100% waterproof, but the thermal linings keep you warm
On the other side is the heat and dust, I love the gear I have because I can take out the liners and feel the breeze going straight through, but not compromising the safety features.
Get something with elbow and knee pads if you can.
I cant comment on leather, but I understand that they offer more protection to the skin in the event of a skid onto the tarseal.:(

Get a good helmet, it is a life saving device, spend the $$ and get a good one. Many have cosmetic features (like mine has a flip lid which is great).
Think about sun visors and fog in wet weather, anything with a Pinlock system stops fogging in cold or wet weather, and anything with air vents helps keep the head cool in hot weather.
Also check you can open the visor and the vents with gloves on :)
My helmet is a Nolan N102, it is great, but there are others out there that are equally good :2thumbsup

Equally important is gloves and boots, get good ones to start with and they should last a while :)

I hope this helps

Cheers Scott

Links
Helmet topic here on KB - Here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=49582&highlight=n102)
Dririder Website - here (http://www.dririder.com.au/CA2571B700170C18/page/Products-Our+Brands-DRIRIDER?OpenDocument&1=20-Products~&2=10-Our+Brands~&3=05-DRIRIDER~)

BMW F650GS - an example of one Here (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-127594911.htm)

Suzuki DR650 - here (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-127421049.htm)

[WanderBird]

Thanks heaps for the suggestions & advice - I really appreciate it.
Of the bikes I checked out yesterday, the BMW F650 is the only one that really did it for me. It just felt great!

MCR have it, it's in mint condition - comfortable, my feet are (mostly) on the ground, handle bars, - everything is a great fit.

I don't want my first ride to be out of the shop & into the traffic, so I have a biker friend checking it out for me today. I'm sure it won't take long to get a feel for riding again:)
It's quite heavy, don't know what I will do if I drop it - I imagine anything of that size will be heavy enough to see me struggle.

I will most likely go with Cordura gear, this stuff didn't exist when I was riding, I was amazed at the protection that is built into them. This is a good thing! I will get a good helmet, it could be the best investment I ever make.
Scott, great tips, thank you, the reminder on the fogging thing - I wouldn't have thought about it. Thanks too for the links

NightHawk - I will be up for some cruising as soon as I get myself together - it would be great to have people to ride with. I am also looking at some of the upcoming Rides - esp the Sth Island passes:) A friend of mine did the Ride Right Course on Sunday, she also said it was great, so I will do the next one.

Dang this is exciting!!! Thanks again to all of you - I will certainly keep you updated - I'm pretty sure I am going to buy the BMW. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-127594910.htm?key=25649

No offense to the Yamaha people:)

Cheers
Lynda

[NighthawkNZ]

No offense to the Yamaha people:)

Thats okay... I use to the Honda jokes... it doesn't matter what you ride, as long as if you enjoy it

[NZsarge]

:crybaby::oi-grr::baby:........It's all good, at least you're not gonna buy one of those icky GSXR Suzuki thingies....:laugh::shifty:

[WanderBird]

Scott you have sold me on the Nolan! A different seller has a Nolan 102 pivot chin street helmet for $143.95USD - they ship internationally, but I don't know the difference between this and what you have...whats a pivot chin?

[Rosie]

Hey Lynda!
Always great to see more ladies on the site :wavey:
I'm sure you'll have heaps of fun on the BMW, now summer is on it's way :clap:

[NZsarge]

I think you a refereing to a flip open face to the helmet meaning you can open the front of the helmet without removing it,

[Blueskies]

Hi WanderBird,

A great big WELCOME back to biking. In my opinion it's the very best thing you could do for yourself.
Lovely to read you may have found your bike and I wish you many, many happy years enjoyment of it.
You will soon be back to the sheer joy of just watching that road unwinding ahead of you and knowing the whole Universe is yours . . . .

Congratulations. Ride safe and keep those wheels turning.

[NZsarge]

Scott you have sold me on the Nolan! A different seller has a Nolan 102 pivot chin street helmet for $143.95USD - they ship internationally, but I don't know the difference between this and what you have...whats a pivot chin?

You should be aware that the Nolan N102 is quite a heavy helmet, do not buy a helmet without trying it on first, the fit is so very important.

[vifferman]

Hi Everyone
Hi, Wanderbird! :wavey:

Welcome to Kiwi Biker.:spudwave:

[WanderBird]

Thanks for the welcome all - many warm fuzzies here!

Can't WAIT to get the bike sorted - how could this lust/love have slipped over me for so many years?? I love my DiBlasi scooter for it's novelty value, but you can hardly call it a REAL bike:)

Sarge: Will check size & suitability before I buy a helmet - too important not too - thanks for the reminder

[NZsarge]

Thanks for the welcome all - many warm fuzzies here!

Can't WAIT to get the bike sorted - how could this lust/love have slipped over me for so many years?? I love my DiBlasi scooter for it's novelty value, but you can hardly call it a REAL bike:)

Sarge: Will check size & suitability before I buy a helmet - too important not too - thanks for the reminder
Yeah, said that just to be sure.

[Ocean1]

Hi wanderbird.

We expect progress reports eh?

[owner]

Helllo Wanderbird welcome

[SDU]

Welcome to KB. Great you are getting out there again for some serious fun.
The F650 looks good.
Before you get it check out the BMW Daker / GS versions if you are going to do more trails as they are even better on gravel & still great on road. A couple of the boys here have the 650 dakers & take them anywhere. It's just that you mentioned doing some tracks. The F650 can still do them, but is more road orientated from what others have said that have had them.

[WanderBird]

....was lovely but I couldn't reach the ground comfortably
Bit of a price difference between the F650 as well on the ones around Dunedin shops

[Mint Sauce]

Hi WanderBird

Welcome back to riding. I did the return to motorcycling after a 25 year gap a few months ago. Takes a little to get the confidence back but now I'm loving it.

I bought the BMW Dakar and yes I have to lean a little to get a foot flat down, otherwise it is the half foot job. They are heavy and if you lose the balance when stanidng it takes some grunt to keep it held up. Nice and easy to ride though and very forgiving when getting the skills back. The 650GS other than the front wheel size and clearance should feel pretty much the same and with a light rider should be good for the gravel stretches. Neither bike is for really serious off road but more for exploring any road with any surface.

All the very best for your return to biking. Keep safe.

[gijoe1313]

Welcome to the madness that is KB, looks like lots of good advice here and good on ya for getting back onto two wheels again! :niceone:

[WanderBird]

Crikey, happy to keep you posted, in fact I would love to and as it stands right now, either tomorrow or the day after I will get opportunity to actually RIDE the BMW before I purchase, - on my own turf!

Trepidation/nervousness/anxiety....of course (but it won't keep me awake tonight)

Excitement......Mega!!!
I will come forth with a blow-by-blow, possibly boring account of my first ride in sooo long
Thanks all for you encouragement, advice and support - it is so cool to have like-minded folk who understand, to share it all with!
WooooHooo - cant wait to join some Southern Folks on some rides.

eeek...what if I don't like it anymore???? (just kidding)

[Transalper]

Hi, both my partner and I ride the mighty DR650s now.
It's a pity you live so far away, I really think you'd be best to be able to ride a few different bikes in shingle if that's where you want to ride before buying.
I am sure that on the seal you will love the BMW, heck, I liked mine (had an F650GS 2 bikes ago) when I tested it on seal too, but in dirt and especially when the shingle roads actually had stones on them, it left something to be desired with its 19inch wishy washy roady front wheel.
Then there's that fat tank area which makes standing more difficult than it needs to be when you try applying actual adventure riding techniques. It still is a great bike for sitting on and for easy stuff, but it doesn't do a novice adventurer any favours.
Asking price is $7300 on that BMW you linked to, you know you can get a brand new DR650 for $8000+ on road costs (http://motorcycletrader.co.nz/NewItemDetails.aspx?sid=116A6FBE5040&Ntt=dr650&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&item=6386&N=0&Ntk=All) in Dunedin at the moment and they are a world apart in the shingle but not so different on the road. Of course I've spent a little over another $1000 toughening mine up with a proper engine guard, and hand guards for leaver protection, giving it a windscreen, big tank, hotgrips and a topbox. Oh yeah, DRs still have hard seats, had a little padding added to mine and I've done a fair few 1000km and 18 hour days on mine and am happy as.

I just hate to see you jump in and buy something you like on the road with out test riding other options. If you are riding up here sometime or we find ourselves adventuring south then remind me to let you try my DR for a bit so you can feel the difference yourself.

If your riding focus is indeed mostly sealed road then i'm sure you'll be mostly satisfied with the F650.
Mine is of course much harder to break.

[Swoop]

eeek...what if I don't like it anymore????
So, they have Tui billboards down your way as well then...:whistle:

:niceone:


Also, welcome to the madhouse!