Dirt_Mom's next bike - F 750 GS, 790, or 950 ??

Dirt_Dad

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Let's call it safety features/electronic doodads. She wants everything that is on the market.

Its consistent with how she views cars as well.
 

Eville Rich

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My wife has a 2018 Triumph Tiger XRT. Likes it. Has the features plus after market support for stuff. Not tons of miles but been solid. Good local dealer. The XRT is compatible with the S10 in terms for how we ride these bikes - mostly road touring with easy going off-road. I think the heated seat sold it. She keeps it on the low seat setting with the standard suspension and can just about flat foot it at 5'9" in her boots. I think a low suspension is offered if needed. The XCA was a tad tall for her comfort and we weren't thrilled with the tubed wheels.

For off-road the wife likes her CRF250L, especially after adding racetech parts to the front and rear suspension. Pairs nicely with my WR250R.

Point being, I can't speak to the Tiger 800 for much off-road. But it's been good so far and suits a road emphasis on adventure touring. Worth checking out.

Eville Rich
 

Dirt_Dad

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Spent all of today going to 4 dealers across 2 states. Saw all 4 bikes of interest.

The Triumph Tiger is top HEAVY. She liked the looks of this one the best, but when she sat on the low version of the Tiger it's a top heavy beast. Out of the question.

The lovely Ducati Multistrada 950 was very nice, and too tall. Height plus high cost to get setup as she wants rules that one out.

KTM was the one that that most interested me, since it was low weight and the tank meant it had to be a low COG. DM thought all the pictures/videos she saw of the bike made it too ugly for her taste, but she was willing to look. Much to my shock, the local KTM dealer had one on the floor. She took one look and said, it's not all that ugly. I got a bit hopeful. Then she tried to mount the bike. It was the tallest of everthing we looked at today. She was on tip toes. A talk with salesman and he informed us there is no link in the suspension, so lowering it would be a couple thousand dollars. I was bummed.

The BMW F 750 GS was the clear winner today. They had one with the regular frame (not lower) and short seat on it. It fit her perfectly. Much better reach to the ground, not top heavy, all the electronic toys she could ever want (for the moment). I think when the time comes, it's clearly going to be the GS.

No way to get the bike setup in time for out trip out west this summer, but I suspect after we get back there will be a GS squeezing into the garage while I set her Tenere back to factory setup and get it sold.
 

TNWalker

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Just a quick follow up to a post earlier in the thread. I received the new V85 TT yesterday. Although it seems Dirt_Mom has made a decision, I thought I would post a pic of the new bike. IMG_1852.JPG

Sounds like the BMW is going to be a great fit for her. I looked hard at the BMW 850 before pulling the trigger on this one. Someone will be getting a really good Tenere' when y'all do get it ready for sale. I hope you both have safe and happy travels on your summer trip.

Steve
 

Dirt_Dad

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Thanks and congrats on the new ride. That does look like a fun old school ride, with modern tech thrown in.. I came very close to doing a local test ride on that bike yesterday. But it was in a city downtown area and I just couldn't see it being worthwhile to ride from red light to red light.

Hope you enjoy the new bike. Keep us posted on your thoughts. Have a safe summer.
 

EricV

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Kudos on a productive bike tasting day. I hope the change over goes smoothly. Feel free to PM me about aftermarket warranties.
 
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RonH

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Good luck whatever motorcycle she goes for. I like that Moto Guzzi though. That is one nice motorcycle.
 

eemsreno

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Just a quick follow up to a post earlier in the thread. I received the new V85 TT yesterday. Although it seems Dirt_Mom has made a decision, I thought I would post a pic of the new bike. View attachment 56761

Sounds like the BMW is going to be a great fit for her. I looked hard at the BMW 850 before pulling the trigger on this one. Someone will be getting a really good Tenere' when y'all do get it ready for sale. I hope you both have safe and happy travels on your summer trip.

Steve
So Steve, don't keep us in suspense, How is it? They sure look good!
 

EricV

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Oh well, so much for the August plans.
LOL, I hope she bonds with it and loves it. Do look at the aftermarket warranty!! It will pay for itself. We had Zenith on the F650Twin and have a different brand now for the GSA. Not home or I'd check on what it is.
 

Dirt_Dad

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LOL, I hope she bonds with it and loves it. Do look at the aftermarket warranty!! It will pay for itself. We had Zenith on the F650Twin and have a different brand now for the GSA. Not home or I'd check on what it is.
She did a 300 mile ride with it today. Even without the windscreen it appears she is bonding nicely. Kept hearing statements like, 'that turn used to bother me on the Tenere,' and 'I would have have likely dropped the Tenere there in that situation,' and 'this is as easy to ride as my dirt bike.' All ride long.

She had been nervous about giving up the Tenere since she knew she could comfortably ride it very long distance. Even without a windscreen today she came off it at the end of the ride and said, 'love it.'

There's a lot of tweaking to do, but we're off to a good start.
 

EricV

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So glad she is enjoying the change. :)
 

Checkswrecks

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I'm taking delivery this week on a new Moto Guzzi V 85TT. While still not a lightweight it is lighter than the S10 and still maintains a shaft drive, an important feature to me. I have read mostly positive reviews so far from people that are in her height range as easy to manage. This will be the second time I purchase a PDP bike unseen, the first one being my first gen Tenere'. I plan to keep my 2014 S10 in the mix as that has been the best bike I have ever owned. The V 85TT just somehow speaks to me in the same way that the Tenere' did when I first laid eyes on it. I am hopeful that it will be as good as it looks. I'll let you know my impressions after receiving later this week.

Steve :cool:
You are no won my official "I Hate You Because I'm Jealous" list. I hope you do a big post in the Other Bikes section.
:p

DD -

I'm just back from a week away so am just seeing your post. Congrats on her new baby.
:)
 
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blitz11

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Just a quick follow up to a post earlier in the thread. I received the new V85 TT yesterday. Although it seems Dirt_Mom has made a decision, I thought I would post a pic of the new bike. View attachment 56761

Sounds like the BMW is going to be a great fit for her. I looked hard at the BMW 850 before pulling the trigger on this one. Someone will be getting a really good Tenere' when y'all do get it ready for sale. I hope you both have safe and happy travels on your summer trip.

Steve
Wow. I had a Quota 1100 ES in the early 2000's. It was a good deal ($5K out the door), but it was a weird bike w/o a factory service manual (i was told one was coming, but i never saw it.) It was quirky, fun to ride, sort of ugly, and coveted by a co-worker. I sold the Guzzi to that co-worker, and bought my daughters and me dirt bikes (they were 5 and 7 at the time). The new Guzzi owner was happy, and my kids were happy. I sort of missed that bike, but not THAT much.

This V85 i would have NOT sold. This is a thing of beauty. Congratulations. That looks to be a very nice bike.
 
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ballisticexchris

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That's a nice looking BMW Dirt Dad!! I wish your wife some real enjoyment out of it. A 750 parallel twin no less!!
 
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Congratulations to Dirt Mom for her new bike. That's a beauty. My wife has a 2017 F700GS and the Madstad adjustable windscreen made a huge improvement in the wind noise and helmet buffeting she experienced with the stock windshield.

On the topic of BMW reliability. I just finished a 17 day, 2900+ mile ride in Alaska with Compass Expeditions. Our route included the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe and a number of other dirt routes. There were 13 BMW GS bikes (a mix of R1200, F700 and F800 bikes) and three V-Stroms in our group. Other than five flat tires on the Dalton Highway, none of the bikes missed a beat. After doing the Dalton Highway and the 70 miles of dirt into Kennecott from Chitina, I can tell you that those rental bikes take a beating. My rental bike ended the trip with over 30,000 miles on the clock so it definitely has had a hard life. The bikes were procured from Motoquest in Anchorage. At the end of the trip, I asked the shop manager at Motoquest which bikes in their rental fleet were the most reliable. The answer was, "hands down, the R1200GS and the 650 V-Strom." Obviously not a huge sample set but if a BMW is what I had my heart set on, I be less concerned about buying one than I might have been before.
 

TNWalker

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You are no won my official "I Hate You Because I'm Jealous" list. I hope you do a big post in the Other Bikes section.
:p

DD -

I'm just back from a week away so am just seeing your post. Congrats on her new baby.
:)
I put a review up in other bikes. :)
 
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