You guys know everything - modest classic handling bike?

[toaster404]

My wife (no makeup lumberjill cargo pants 5-9 early 30s) currently rides a Versys 650.  She keeps looking at pictures (this is so much better than a Victoria's Secret make up cucumber on eyes version) of things like the Royal Enfield and other small classics.  Now she's excited about the Honda Rebel 500.  I have some concern that I'll find her with a delightful project that will require me to tow a tool trailer behind me to support her motorcycle trips.  So I'm thinking of working towards a fun local trip bike.  Local trips from here include the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, and a good deal of 60 mph 4 lane.  She's also taken with the scrambler look.

On my end of things, I've never ridden anything like my Guzzi and suspect she'd like something with that cool kind of feel.

On the position, she's an ADV to standard position person. 

Any ideas?  I don't know the older Guzzi line and when I think of matching her to the bikes I know, I end up in the 1970s (probably dates me).  Something with decent torque, probably 40 HP more or less, 400 lbs or less, fairly reasonable CG, classic lines and handling.  Looks retro.  Relatively cheap.  That I can work on.  A single carb bike with rocker arm valve adjustments would be great. 

I would LOVE some suggestions, lest I find a project, an Enfield, or (heaven forbid) an expensive Bonneville sitting by the other bikes for me to take care of!!!

Thanks much

[swooshdave]

I'm going to go out on a limb here but a newer V7?

[Chuck in Indiana]

How about a V65?

[oldbike54]

 Some of the criteria are gonna be hard to meet . Single carburetor means a single cylinder or a Brit twin model with a branched manifold . 400 lbs and simple to maintain eliminates a whole bunch of other classic bikes .

 Seems like a newer V7 or a /5 BMW might be the logical choices . A nice '69-'73 /5 beemer can be had for $3K , a slightly used V7 for a bit more .

 Dusty

[rocker59]

http://rycamotors.com/RYCA-cs2-standard-&-scrambler-kit.html

[JJ]

I'm going to go out on a limb here but a newer V7?

Agreed...On the Guzzi side, Modern V7 or Stornello, or 500cc Monza or equivalent, V65 also, but find a clean one that has been sorted, ridden, and maintained! :1:

[huub]

what bike do you ride? basically you describe a V7 or a enfield,
 if you've got a powerfull bike the difference between the enfield and your bike  can get annoying.
recent bikes require hardly any maintenance, so adding one to the fleet shouldnt be a  problem , regardless of choice.

[malik]

Show her the RE Himalayan & have her test ride. Cheap enough. Not a lot of history out there yet, but so far impressed. Fits my niece who is a little shorter & who also likes the classic-looking bikes, the ones that don't look like insects. Get her to test ride anything she fancies - she'll fall for something appropriate.

[wavedog]

V-7.Ticks all the boxes. Done. See, that was easy. On a more realistic note, sounds like you have a fun challenge to help your wife find the right bike that she would be happy with. Good times,my friend.

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

Honda CX, not single carb but checks the other boxes. Search the cx500 forum for information, it includes the larger 650 CX, 500 and 650GL models. Japanese Moto Guzzi in some ways.

[Northern Bill]

One bike that might do it is a 500 Triumph.  The 500 single carb Triumph is a lot cheaper than the 650.  Once set up it can be quite reliable and for classic looks, it is hard to beat.  Here is a picture of my 500 Triumph. It is under 300 pounds but it is heavily modified.  It started out as a 1973 Adventurer.



Another consideration is the Honda GB500.  These tend to be expensive but they do come up at reasonable prices every once and a while. They are classic in their own right, but they also have the looks of an old AJS.

[Kev m]

I'm confused as to the purpose of the bike.

Is she looking for a project to wrench on or turn into something else, or is she like my wife and just WANTS SOMETHING THAT LOOKS A CERTAIN WAY but would prefer it to be turn key?

I.E. are you looking at old bikes for the price or for the look? Cause if it's the latter you can get the LOOK without the hassle (and that seems to appeal to many of the women riders I know).

A few come to mind immediately:

Street Twin
Triumph Bobber
V7
Scrambler

I'm just not sold on the RE's being uh, modernly reliable enough yet.

And if she's already used to the power and capability of a Versys 650, I dunno that she'd be happy with something like an RE.

But again that depends on her reasoning and wants.


EDIT - OOOOOHHHH, how about W650.... I might just know of one that is mechanically sound but a little cosmetically challenged....

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

http://www.bike-urious.com/1994-mz-silver-star-classic/

[toaster404]

I sent her the Himalayan.  That looks perfect, except for the obvious compromise on power.

W650 with cosmetic issues are OK.  I can do all the mechanicals and all the cosmestics ONCE.  While I have the skills to fabricate things and do major work, at my age I am not really interested in more than cleanup, paint, replace hoses & wear parts, and get the systems adjusted properly.  The W650 would make sense.  Looks right, not too much bike, EZ working machine.

I would prefer a less expensive more or less modern bike.  We're going to go have her ride a V-7.  And a Bonneville.  Will look for other things.  An excellent Nevada showed up cheap, but I can't see her really adapting to that position well. 

On the other hand, her first solo commute to work today, and she made it.  Figuring out some adjustments.  Maybe she'll adapt.  Might be the Versys high CG and the I-am-autistic-and-weird styling. Matches her, but don't tell her that!

[Moto]

If it's to be a modern, cheap bike with cafe styling for 60mph roads, I would buy (and may yet buy) an SSR Buccaneer 250i, designed by Italjet in Italy, and built in China. It's $3599. I've examined and test ridden one. 17 horsepower is the equivalent of having 17 horses at your disposal! At about 300 pounds, that's only 18 pounds for each horse to haul around. The top speed is 75 mph, if there is no wind and no hill to climb.



Here it is, second from the top, carefully reproduced (by me) at the same scale as two other bikes you might be considering:



It doesn't have a carburetor. Fuel injected, electronic ignition. The motor is a clone of the Yamaha 250 Virago, so you could get one of those with a carburetor and build her up a hot rod ( ) if you want to twirl wrenches. (The gas tank has been found to be about 3.5 gallons and the price has gone up by $100 since I made that comparison graphic.)

Moto

[jas67]

 :1: to Kev's comments above -- all the bikes he listed are good choices.    I'd likely skip the Genuine G400C.   While the motor is a copy of the 400cc Honda single from the XR400, it is still a Chinese-made product.    For the price of a G400C, you can buy a used V7.   While the G400C will have a resale value of half what you paid in short order, a pre-owned V7 will more-or-less hold it's value, as would a W650, or pre-owned Triumph.   The benefit being, aside from having a much higher-quality bike, if she changes her mind later, you can get your money back out of it.

Moto Guzzi are currently offering $2,000 off the V7II Special, and $1,500 off the V7II Stone.
Recently, I saw a lightly used (< 5,000 miles) V7 Stone on CL for $4,700.

I enjoy my vintage bikes, but, have a 2014 V7 Special that is turn key, and my preferred rider for putting any miles on than my vintage bikes -- partly to keep miles off the vintage bikes, and partly because I have better shocks on it than I do any of my vintage bikes.

It has the good looks and "feel" of a vintage bike with the benefits of modern engine management and good brakes.

Finally, the best advice I can offer is to make sure that SHE picks the bike, and that you don't pick it for her.   You can make suggestions, but, the final choice has to be hers for her to truly be happy (even then, there are no guarantees  ).

[Nic in Western NYS]

Agreed...On the Guzzi side, Modern V7 or Stornello

  :1: A modern V7 of some kind doesn't meet the OP's specs exactly but would seem to fit the bill. I was thinking Stornello.

[jas67]

  :1: A modern V7 of some kind doesn't meet the OP's specs exactly but would seem to fit the bill. I was thinking Stornello.

Oh yeah, forgot, she likes the Scrambler look.

Well, then add to the list both the Triumph and Ducati Scramblers too.

Skip the Royal Enfield.    They require as much fettling as a tru vintage bike.

[Kev m]

Finally, the best advice I can offer is to make sure that SHE picks the bike, and that you don't pick it for her.   You can make suggestions, but, the final choice has to be hers for her to truly be happy (even then, there are no guarantees  ).

Mic drop please!


Absofreakinglutely

[toaster404]

She's pretty much immune to my influences at this point, regardless.  Her first bike I just went and got her (VStar 250) because it was clear that she was clueless.  But the piles of motorcycle magazines and her search for her next bike demonstrate she has a mind of her own.  My role is to make sure the thing is safe and set for riding, and she's learning how to do a full check over.  In spite of her uncertainty (stated) on corners, she seems to have developed her skills well enough that there are negligible chicken strips on her Versys tires. 

I do have to get her on a V-7.  Seems an obvious choice, but she balked before.  We went to look at one and I rode home on a California.  Won't do that again!  I have to get her on an RE so she understands why she doesn't want the 500.  This new Himalayan looks great, if it ever gets here!

thanks all

[tazio]

Maybe 2017 SR400 Yamaha. ?
Brand new $5k.

[Kev m]

I'm still hearing shades of you trying to get her to look at something. I've BTDT, it just doesn't matter. In my experience, either the girl wants it or doesn't and I think most of em make their mind up in minutes just looking at a photo.

Now I'll admit I have occasionally seen one change their minds in person. Back when Jenn was looking for her second bike (more than a decade ago) she sat on an R1200C (that she'd previously liked in photos) and HATED it, so as fate would have it the next stop she sat on a Sportster (that she'd previously been ambivalent about in photos) and LOVED IT. Wound up with two of them over the next 6 years or so.

BUT, somewhere along the way she saw a Ducati, wanted a Ducati, and never got the thought of a Ducati out of her head and THAT WAS IT. The Sporty was doomed, which is fine.

I did TRY to get her to look at a V7 the day we BOUGHT a Ducati... she looked, and then turned and made a deal on the Ducati.     

[LowRyter]

I don't get it, what's wrong with the Kaw? 

None of the bikes listed represents an upgrade. 

[twowings]

I'd hold off on the Himalayan for now  (and I want one really bad myself)

From ADVRider.com:

"http://bikeadvice.in/re-himalayan-serious-engine-issues-other-severe-problems-reported/
https://www.motorbeam.com/2017/03/b...ld-himalayan-quality-issues-are-way-too-many/
https://www.rushlane.com/royal-enfield-himalayan-quality-reliability-12237993.html
http://riderzone.in/royal-enfield-himalayan-price-positives-negatives-adventure-motorcycle/

And lastly and most importantly, go through this 55 page ownership thread. Point out ONE bike which hasnt had a bulk of its parts swapped.
http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/motorcycle-ownership-experiences/34161-royal-enfield-himalayan.html"

How 'bout the new BMW 310? 

[ScepticalScotty]

Depends on the definition of upgrade. Or even if such a thing is desired or needed.

V7 sounds spot on to me.

[Dukedesmo]

Ducati Monster? available in many displacements & models both old & new so suit all budgets - good handling & strong V-twin torque or maybe a Ducati Scrambler if you want new?

[JJ]

Just another data point...

A friend of mine, (he is a little guy about 5'4" 115 lbs. - maybe), in Phoenix rode a SYM 150cc Wolf for a time. It was a great little bike, and nice looking as well.  However, he could not take it on the freeway because it to was too "anemic" (aka under powered) at highway speeds of 70-75 mph.

So he it and bought a new Yamaha R3 (300cc).  He is MUCH happier now with the overall performance and 150cc more motor. :1:

[jas67]

Maybe 2017 SR400 Yamaha. ?
Brand new $5k.

Kick start only.    Not that women can't kick start a bike, but, she may not want to.

[oldbike54]

Kick start only.    Not that women can't kick start a bike, but, she may not want to.

 After owning a string of kick start only bikes from 1968 until about 1990 , I can highly recommend electric starters 

 Dusty

[Kiwi_Roy]

On horsepower alone the V7 is streets ahead of all those other weird looking bikes.