Hi everyone (WanderBird)

[Rosie]

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

[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!

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!

[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 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.