Time to 'Fess Up [Archive]

kpinvt

10-01-2008, 08:57 AM

I have a confession to make. I have decided not to buy a K75. I am going to start looking for a F650 to fit changing circumstances. My son just passed the MSF Basic Riders Course a couple of weeks ago. For the last 5 months I have been taking him and his Yamaha TW200 to a gravel pit (Thanks, Cycle Conservation Club of Vermont) about 20 miles from home to teach him how to ride. He really likes dirt riding and after taking the BRC on a Suzuki DR200 he wants to sell the TW200 and buy a Suzuki. My plan was to ride with him when he starts riding on road next Spring. I have no doubt he will want to ride the many dirt town highways and the unimproved Class IV roads around here. I would like to be able to follow him wherever he goes and I need a bike like the F650 to do that. I have come full circle, two years ago I was thinking of buying an F650 so I could ride with a KLR owning friend and motorcycling mentor of mine. I had an accident, I crashed my last bike and screwed up my left ankle which pushed me in the direction of buying the Honda Silver Wing.

PGlaves

10-01-2008, 12:30 PM

Well, we have K75s and F650s and Oilheads too. You will like the F650, but that boy of yours will soon be going places you wish you hadn't followed.

kentuvman

10-01-2008, 07:56 PM

My wife takes our dogs to a dog park so our spring spaniel pup can run. I met her tonight and took my F650 - part of the destination is a dirt road - I got back into riding with a Honda SL 125 that I rode with my boys on dirt roads in SE MN and got used to slippin and sliding around - lots of fun! I have fun with my F650 and GPS by sometimes changing the route to shortest distance which often takes me thru dirt roads and passing farms with tall fields of corn and all the good and bad smells that go with it.

The F650 is a really light and nimble bike and so far incredibly reliable. I've never ridden a single cylinder bike that performs like this one - I even rode it from MN to the Gillette Rally. It's a very nice ride!!! Mine has throttlemeister, stebel air horn, driving lights, pelican bags, gps - really a fun bike!! You won't regret it.

kentuvman

10-01-2008, 08:04 PM

I love mine! Am very grateful that I have the privilege to own and ride her!

kpinvt

10-01-2008, 10:51 PM

... You will like the F650, but that boy of yours will soon be going places you wish you hadn't followed.

I'm afraid of that. Hopefully I'll be within walking distance when he gets into trouble. If I can walk.

swbell

10-01-2008, 11:12 PM

For a second cycle I've considered both. However, with no cash at the moment it is just doing some research and talking with others. A friend of mine just brought a brand new KLR this past summer and before that has had several R and K bikes. He is loving it. So I keep watching the classifieds for both and figure that at the right moment someone will be selling one or the other. For and enduro it seems that KLR would be the way to go, but I dunno. Just wondering out loud.

kentuvman

10-02-2008, 02:12 AM

The KLR 650 is a really nice bike - I rode along with a guy one one last year. They're Kawi's = real dependable, and green - they look cool and are affordable. I think there are a lot of similarities. between to the F650.

I just bought and am in the middle of accessorizing an '87 K75S for longer rides and hopefully more comfortable for taking my wife on regional rides / within 100 mile from home.

My fifteen year old turns sixreen next Halloween '09 and after he takes m/c safety I'd like him to ride to a rally with me. He currently rides a KX 125 m/cross. That is a young persons game for sure. I'm excited about ridng the K75 but we're almost at the end of the season in the frigid upper midwest so I'll have a lot to look foward to in the Spring.

:bikes

Ken in MN

SugarHillCTD

10-02-2008, 05:05 AM

Kevin,

Given where we live- northern New England- a "dual purpose" bike is a good choice for the unpaved and paved/potholed roads that we find ourselves on. I have been eyeing GS BMWs for a while now. Our K-RS is a handful on poor surface backroads.

Hey, that's what I have been saying when debating with SWMBO about buying a second BMW.

John

swbell

10-02-2008, 09:10 PM

I'm excited about ridng the K75 but we're almost at the end of the season in the frigid upper midwest so I'll have a lot to look foward to in the Spring.

:bikes

Ken in MN

Please don't say we're amost at the end.... After today WOW what a great day to ride!!! I had a 6am meeting this morning, had to grab something out of the Honda and I'm glad I was leaving on the LT, if I would of drove the cage, I would have had to scrape frost first ... i just road the LT had had a great fall ride :brad !!!

jbertarellis

10-02-2008, 10:05 PM

So why is this thread even in K-bikes. You started off with you would not buy a K75. Then why didn't you go to the F- thread or wherever.

SugarHillCTD

10-03-2008, 05:43 AM

Please don't say we're amost at the end.... After today WOW what a great day to ride!!! I had a 6am meeting this morning, had to grab something out of the Honda and I'm glad I was leaving on the LT, if I would of drove the cage, I would have had to scrape frost first ... i just road the LT had had a great fall ride :brad !!!

The season is over??? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! NOT YET.

If the ground isn't slippery, I "ain't" parking the bike. Shoot, cold temps, who cares. In January I won't be looking at the bike sleeping in the garage wishing I had stopped in September instead of late October or even November.
Winter is too long around here to surrender so easily!

Kevin, good luck with your search.

Ridealot

10-03-2008, 07:02 PM

I'm afraid of that. Hopefully I'll be within walking distance when he gets into trouble. If I can walk.

I think you misunderstood. In a short amount of time your kid will be riding places on the DR200 that your not gonna wanna take the F650. Hopefully he will look back once in awhile for when you get into trouble. Kids have a habit of surpassing the parents riding skill off road very quickly. :banghead

It has something to do with youth, NO FEAR, and no worries about getting hurt.

zoridog

10-03-2008, 07:20 PM

Be very careful when buying the F650 bikes. I have it on good advice that the factory shipped many of them without drive shafts or kevlar belts! Because of this, your drive train will need maintenance before the 25K mile interval.

BMW has taken the position that "they are all like that" and "no corrective action is needed". Typical.:whistle

kpinvt

10-04-2008, 03:09 PM