Wife is getting a new Bike

[Defekticon]

We sold her DR200 during the spring of this year. She seemed to lose interest and wasn't really up for riding on her own. Well after riding two up all summer she really enjoys riding and wants to get another bike.

Requirements:
32 inch or lower seat height
Capable highway/touring machine
Dualsport capable, but really nothing more complicated then fire roads.
500-650cc
Not a thumper

Right now I'm looking at:
CB500X
Versys
Wee-strom

Found a great deal on the CB500x and am very much considering it for her as it's the lightest of the 3 at 430lbs. Might make a trip down to the Honda dealer to have her sit on it this week. Anything else we should be looking at? I don't think she's ready for an Africa Twin, and I'm not really ready to wait for the next Tenere but I have definitely thought about it.

 

[limey]

The wife is only 5ft and we picked up a nice f650 GS and had it lowered to around 30inch seat hight.

 

[RIDEMYST]

I decided to start riding again 25 years ago. My wife said "If you ride I'm riding too!"
We have now traveled most of the States and part of Europe and more is planned. -JEP-


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[FrontRangeRider]

Interesting that your wife is looking at non-thumper options. Jan has logged about 15,000 miles on her BMW G650GS but on our last trip let me know that she is ready to move on from the thumper.

I don't know anything about the Honda or the Kawasaki but had very good luck with a V-Strom. It can be easily lowered; the link below is one of the suppliers of parts to lower the DL650.

http://soupysperformance.com/suzuki/dr650.html

Jan is considering the V-Strom and the BMW F700. The F700 has a couple of options for lower seat height (lower seat and factory lowered suspension).

 

[BadNews]

I had a 2009 WeeStrom, it was a very nice bike, the motor was like the proverbial sewing machine, very smooth! I used it for commuting mostly.

 

[Defekticon]

Interesting that your wife is looking at non-thumper options. Jan has logged about 15,000 miles on her BMW G650GS but on our last trip let me know that she is ready to move on from the thumper.

I don't know anything about the Honda or the Kawasaki but had very good luck with a V-Strom. It can be easily lowered; the link below is one of the suppliers of parts to lower the DL650.

http://soupysperformance.com/suzuki/dr650.html

Jan is considering the V-Strom and the BMW F700. The F700 has a couple of options for lower seat height (lower seat and factory lowered suspension).

I'm guessing it's that her dr200 was a thumper and she felt it lacked enough power to be a touring bike, and now associates that with all thumpers. I tend to agree with her as I felt my KLR650 was unstable and lacked power on the highway (Sorry KLR Guys!). I've never been on an F650GS though.

 

[tomatocity]

I'm guessing it's that her dr200 was a thumper and she felt it lacked enough power to be a touring bike, and now associates that with all thumpers. I tend to agree with her as I felt my KLR650 was unstable and lacked power on the highway (Sorry KLR Guys!). I've never been on an F650GS though.

A KLR685 w/Head work would easily cure the power issue but you would still have a KLR. I still have my 2005 KLR650 > 685 > 705 > 685 and enjoy riding it on day rides though I did take it on a three day KLR Adventure with a friend. When I got home I was ready for my Tenere and its windshield, power, chainless, and lighting.

Make sure what motorcycle you purchase can handle travel weight, travel fuel distance, night lighting, extended maintenance, extended travel comfort, and last but not least you like it.

 

[Defekticon]

A KLR685 w/Head work would easily cure the power issue but you would still have a KLR. I still have my 2005 KLR650 > 685 > 705 > 685 and enjoy riding it on day rides though I did take it on a three day KLR Adventure with a friend. When I got home I was ready for my Tenere and its windshield, power, chainless, and lighting.

Make sure what motorcycle you purchase can handle travel weight, travel fuel distance, night lighting, extended maintenance, extended travel comfort, and last but not least you like it.

I hear ya. I did love my KLR, but I felt if I was going to have the S10 + a more dirt oriented enduro, it should be a WR250 or a DRZ400. I did the MC mod, carb mods, doohicky, intake and it sure did run like a top, was comfy and easy to ride, unless it was on I-95.

 

[Stridey]

I think you guys over the pond can access SWM motorcycles now. They've been making them again for about 18 month in Italy at the old Husquvarna factory KTM didn't want before they moved the husky production to Austria.
By early next year the new SWM 650 SuperDual dual sport adventure bike is out and has screen comfier touring seat etc. with basically a copy of the 610 husky engine. It's a thumper of course though so may not be what she is looking for. Here is the link to the uk dealer site but they have US importer I think.
www.swmmotorcycles.co.uk

The engine is the same as the true dual sport RS650R or super Moto version. Plenty of press road tests on these two.



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[VPS1]

My wife is 5'2" and she rides a factory low F700gs with the standard comfort seat. She almost flat foots and feels good on it. The bike has been trouble free other than a few recalls. It's a 2013.


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[craigd]

My girlfriend recently sold her CB500F and replaced it with a Versys 650. The primary reason was lack of power. She had difficulty maintaining speed on uphill stretches at highway speeds. She is much happier with the Versys.

 

[EricV]

With 103k on my wife's recently sold F650VS twin, (same bike as the current F700GS), I can unequivocally say, buy the Honda!

It will have a much lower cost of ownership. The friends that have the Honda are very happy with it. Short inseam riders too.