Stopped by the metric dealer today in AsheVegas to kill some time and saw one of these. I've NEVER been a guy who liked the white walls and big fenders, and I've found almost all of Kawi's cruisers over the last 20 years to be like a Japanese guy telling what an American bike is like to a bunch of other Japanese guys. But, this bike is really nice in person. The checkerboard stripe where the paint colors meet on the tank is a nice touch. It's no Harley 72, but it looks like Kawi is trying harder. Vulcan 900 SE Seriously, I don't like whitewall cruisers with big fenders, but I could put some miles on this thing.
+1 Nice bike and I think they did a lot right but, it just left me flat, and I HATED the engine sounds. Nope, my 1150GS has nothing to fear....
Buells are pretty cool. They are collectors items now though. There won't be many around down the road....
I have dreamed of this in my garage since it came out, I might be 60 before i get one, but I'm hopeful (oh, 60- only 4 to go :eek1 )
Yamaha super tenere, dealer got me to test ride one, now I'm pissed at him! All I want is one! Currently own 04 fxdwg and 09 klr650
if I lived in a perfect world, I would be saying the 660 tenere however, I live in the U.S.... My EX500 should be selling tomorrow - debating getting the new CBR250R for an economical commuter and then throwing money at my truck (4x4 Tacoma) or else looking for a used SV650/1000. My sensible side is stuck on the 250 but I cant get my heart away from my love of V-Twin sportbikes. decisions, decisions....
Yesterday it was a Drz400, today I've moved onto a Moto Guzzi V7(booked a test ride for saturday). Next week I'll be back to Triumph where my heart belongs.
Then follow your heart, get an SV650. You'll likely get 50-55 MPG with it. The CBR250R will only get 70 MPG if you ride it easy. That is hard to do. The CBR250R is a fun bike that likes to be ridden hard. You'll may only get 60 MPG on it if you ride it hard, maybe even less (I have a 1990 VTR250 that I average 55 MPG on, despite others getting 65 MPG). Even comparing 50 MPG to 70 MPG, while that sounds like a huge difference, look at it in terms of consumption. Say you get 20 MPG (probably less) with your Tacoma. That is 5 gallons ($20) of fuel every 100 miles. 50 MPG on an SV650 would be 2 gallons ($8) every 100, and 70 MPG on the CBR250R would be 1.42 gal/100 mi ($5.68). So, going from the truck to the SV650 saves you 3 gallons (or about $12) every 100 miles. Going from the SV650 to the CBR250R saves you .58 gallons (or about $2.32). Obviously, this savings is only fuel cost, other things like tires and maintenance need to be figured in as well. So, aside from the fact that riding any motorcycle is way more fun than driving a truck, riding even the lessor efficient of the bikes you list will save a lot of fuel. Going from that to the more efficient bike will save only a little more. Now, I like small & light bikes, and have a complete blast riding my VTR250 (which is a 90 degree V-twin sport bike, BTW), but if I could only have one, I'd choose the SV650 over the CBR250R, and both are on my list of bikes I'd like to own.
It's the engine from the cruiser Dragstar 1100 (v-star there?) 60hp or so, in a proper chassis. Replaced (more or less) by the MT01 years ago.
Is it within the scope of this thread to say, "The one I bought yesterday"? I did post about it a while back, and finally succumbed to my passion yesterday. Headed to its new home:
For me it has to be a 91-95 BMW R1000GS and a GS/PD would be even better. It will be my go anywhere bike, still reliable enough to do miles on the pavement, and do backwood roads when it has to. No ABS, or other electronic BS to worry about. But that is just my opinion