May still pick up a lighter bike and finish out the season on it .... but ....

[ohiorider]

Today was glorious!  After aortic valve replacement in May followed by 6 weeks on intravenous antibiotic, I jumped on the 1200S waay too soon after that ordeal, apparently.  The old girl was just too heavy for my condition. But today, after walking a mile or so every day for the past month, things went better, and she felt like the big old sport tourer of past times.  Still a bit heavy for me (and the GS is still slightly too tall at the moment), but it was a good feeling to enjoy hearing and feeling the big V twin do its thing.  The Beemer ran nicely, too.  It was threatening rain, so my rides were short.

Think I may be back to the land of the living!  Still have cardio rehab to do.

Bob

[oldbike54]

 Side airbahs Bob 

 Fusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Attaboy, Bob! I stayed with the small blocks for a couple of months. The Mighty Scura still feels a little heavy, but I'm starting to work out again. Baby steps..

[bigbikerrick]

Congratulations Bob, that is awesome news!  There is nothing like a long anticipated Guzzi ride as far as "therapy" is concerned. There is just something special about feeling/hearing the cadence of our favorite V twin rumbling away under us.It will take a while to get your strength back to where you were, but give it time, you will get there.
It makes me happy to hear that your "ticker" is fixed, and all the rough part is behind you. Follow all the Doctors, and therapist's advice, and keep us informed of how things progress for you.
Rick,

[Markcarovilli]

Bob,

Indeed good news and knew that with some time you would get there....

Happy for you

Mark

[cookiemech]

Glad to hear good news from you, sir!

Want to continue to hear the same . . .

[pyoungbl]

Hi Bob, there's nothing wrong with riding a lighter bike.  As least you are still riding.  That's why I bought a 250!

[guzzisteve]

Wow, stay on course Bob, doing very well.  A Griso would be about right I suppose. You can get used Nevada's pretty reasonable these days.


Here's one close to me cheap, don't know the bike
http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2004-Moto-Guzzi-Breva-750-119066579

[fotoguzzi]

may I suggest a DR650? 324# dry.. not as tall as a KLR and more durable.. mine had 3900 miles and was like new.. paid under half of new.. lot's of used low mile bikes out there but they can do a lot of miles trouble free..
might be just my perception but I think it's the most reliable bike I ever had.

[ohiorider]

I've got this Japanese thing going ....... looked at and sat on the new 2107 Suzuki SV 650, and thought, "well, this would work."  I've still got my 25 year old R100GS, the 2008 Guzzi 1200S.  Maybe this little 70hp 650cc would expose another side of biking to me.  I'll always remember how my buddy's VStrom 650 traveled out West.  I was on the 1200S .... Tom was on his WeeStrom, and I don't recall a time that I thought his bike was too slow or underpowered for the trip. 

Bob

PS - thanks for all your good wishes!

[toma nova]

Glad to hear you're back on the bikes.

I've had two Wee Stroms, really nice motors and the usual Japanese reliability and (lack of) maintenance.  Gas and chain lube will be all you need for a long time.  The SV would make a great lightweight ST - small screen and a bit of luggage and you'll be all set.

You'll never confuse an SV650 with the 12S though.

Tom

[ohiorider]

No doubt!  I absolutely love my 1200 Sport.  I'm thinking .... wow .... I wish the 1200 was 50-75 pounds lighter.  Small block would suit me fine if the V9 was a 70hp machine.  And that's probably a foolish thing to say, since I've had so many great rides on:
R100GS:  58hp
W650:     50hp
So, do I need 70-80hp?  Answer is no.  Would I like that hp on a 450 pound bike?  Yes!

[twhitaker]

After getting my valve replaced 12 days ago I'm ready to swing a leg over. I wonder if my smallest bike, the Centauro, is small enough.

[ohiorider]

After getting my valve replaced 12 days ago I'm ready to swing a leg over. I wonder if my smallest bike, the Centauro, is small enough.

Terry ... good on ya!  Can't recommend what is right for you.  I had heart surgery first time when I was 58 years old.  At that time I had 6 (count 'em ... 6) bypasses.  My recovery was really quick.  And I never noticed bike weight being a factor.

This time, well, it's a bit different.  On top of being 73 instead of 58, and getting hit with a bad infection that kept me in hospital and rehab for  6 weeks, things have been different.  For some reason, I lost leg and arm strength, and found both my current rides to be too big and heavy (for the moment.)

I'd say if the Centauro feels right, do it!  You'll know whether it is right as soon as you roll down the  driveway.  In my case, the steering felt heavy, and holding the bike up at stops was an effort.  As soon as I rolled out of my driveway, I know it was time to turn around and go home.  I wasn't ready.

Bob

[OlderSlower]

Slow and steady wins the race, glad that you are being prudent.  Suzuki SV 650 and Yamaha FZ 07 are both great bikes.  I love my Triumph Bonneville too, although it isn' on the sub 400 pound list.  There is also the KTM 1290...  Glad you are back on the road again.

[Chuck in Indiana]

So, do I need 70-80hp?  Answer is no.  Would I like that hp on a 450 pound bike?  Yes!

Like airplanes, you won't hear any one say, "That would be a really nice motorcycle if it only had a little less power."  That said, in everyday riding, the AeroLario and even the 500cc Monza are *plenty* fast enough to have a good time on. Another thing. You can cane the tits off of the Monza and nobody notices, including the po po. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

After getting my valve replaced 12 days ago I'm ready to swing a leg over. I wonder if my smallest bike, the Centauro, is small enough.

If everything went well, you'd probably be ok.
But.
I have a friend that had open heart surgery who's wife tripped and started to fall. He grabbed her and tore a lot of stuff loose. Just sayin..

[twhitaker]

I slipped on a wet floor last night and took a pretty good fall. Showed  me how weak and fragile I still am.

[ohiorider]

If everything went well, you'd probably be ok.
But.
I have a friend that had open heart surgery who's wife tripped and started to fall. He grabbed her and tore a lot of stuff loose. Just sayin..

I had open heart in 2001 also (6 bypasses.)  I owned the little Kaw W650 at the time and after being home for about 4 weeks, I decided to go for a little run.  The first hump in the road just about launched the bike, and it felt like my sternum was coming unwired (it didn't.)  But the bike went back in the garage for at least 2-3 more weeks. 

So to Terry, give it (the bike) and yourself a rest.  There'll still be plenty of good weather in the fall after you mend. 

[twhitaker]

Agreed. Good advice that I'll take.    

[PeteS]

After getting my valve replaced 12 days ago I'm ready to swing a leg over. I wonder if my smallest bike, the Centauro, is small enough.

Its good you are feeling good enough to want to ride, but they recommend 2 months for your sternum to heal. If you injure that wound it may never heal right.
The first bike I got on after my bypass was my Goldwing. It might be heavy but the low seat height and center of gravity made it easy to flatfoot it. The cushy ride didn't hurt either.

Pete

[twowings]

There's a nice little V65 in the for sale section that might be a perfect smaller rehab bike...hate to see anyone 'turn Japanese'...

[Chuck in Indiana]

There's a nice little V65 in the for sale section that might be a perfect smaller rehab bike...hate to see anyone 'turn Japanese'...

True, true.. 

Edit: Just looked. Bad Chad's dad's V65SP? That's a nice bike. I'd have been all over that when I was looking for something to graft the Aero engine to. It's a great little touring bike with that SP fairing. Rare as RHS.

[twowings]

That's the one...want one for my youngest son when he turns 18 soon...

[Chuck in Indiana]

Better get it if you want it. I've not seen another as nice. Oh, I rode it a bit at the Illi noise rally a few years back. Felt like it would go anywhere.

[swooshdave]

Good chance I'll infuriate a few but the Ducati Scrambler is very light (370ibs) and powerful (70hp).

[NC Steve]

Good chance I'll infuriate a few but the Ducati Scrambler is very light (370ibs) and powerful (70hp).

Doesn't infuriate me at all. If I was looking for a light/middle weight "standard", with very good power and a low seat height, that's the bike I would go to first, with the SV650 as a close second. Both great bikes, and excellent values. 

And https://youtu.be/qojRk1uuGsw, Triumph vs. Ducati Scramblers.
The Ducati has 20 more hp, 100 pounds less weight  , and is $600 cheaper; hard to argue with those figures.

[Cam3512]

STOP getting hung up on HP!  Pick up a leftover GUZZI V7 Special/Stone and don't look back.  At the young age of 73, how fast do you want to go?

Get well!

[ponti_33609]

STOP getting hung up on HP!  Pick up a leftover GUZZI V7 Special/Stone and don't look back.  At the young age of 73, how fast do you want to go?

Get well!

 

I am 56 and appreciated the 100 pounds saved going from a v11 to a v7.  a year or so back.  I honestly don't recognize the horsepower diff either.  The bike is so light, at least around town, seem like similar acceleration to me. 

[Sheepdog]

You're an inspiration, Bob. I have a knee replacement in a week or two...no fishing, cycling, hunting, or riding for 3 months. Thank God I'll have the football season.