Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
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Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
So.....I have a 2005 ZRX1200R. Great bike. I really do love it.
I don't really have any motorcycle friends, and it's not all that comfortable to ride 2up with my wife.
So I'm thinking about selling it and getting more of a cruiser or touring bike.
What do you think? any experience in a similar situation?
or
any bike suggestions for a 6'-2" 250lb guy that wants to ride long distances with the wife on the back?
I don't really have any motorcycle friends, and it's not all that comfortable to ride 2up with my wife.
So I'm thinking about selling it and getting more of a cruiser or touring bike.
What do you think? any experience in a similar situation?
or
any bike suggestions for a 6'-2" 250lb guy that wants to ride long distances with the wife on the back?
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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
how fat is the wife?
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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
rear naked wrote:how fat is the wife?

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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
rear naked wrote:how fat is the wife?
She's around 5'10" - 5'11" and I would guess 140lb?
I don't want a Goldwing style bike. A bit too big of a bike (hard bags and all that), as the bike will also be a commuter.....fun daily ride bike too.
Don't need a Harley.
I don't really want anything overly expensive either. I'm okay with buying used.
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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
You want cheap cruisers? Suzuki. Cheap even new, run like a tank, can't be stopped short of actual abusive riding/wore out tires. My C90T was bought new in 2008 for under $10,000 (dealer dealt me down from standard list) with several extras added. My wife and I ride 2 up all day long on the thing without problems. Literally, we've done eight hour trips on it and been comfortable. If you don't want the bags stock you can get them to clock in around $8k new.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
nightflameauto wrote:You want cheap cruisers? Suzuki. Cheap even new, run like a tank, can't be stopped short of actual abusive riding/wore out tires. My C90T was bought new in 2008 for under $10,000 (dealer dealt me down from standard list) with several extras added. My wife and I ride 2 up all day long on the thing without problems. Literally, we've done eight hour trips on it and been comfortable. If you don't want the bags stock you can get them to clock in around $8k new.
Thanks, I had been looking at those too, since they're in my price range (I don't really want to go over $8k in the end).
Cool to hear that they're reliable and actually sweet. That's very important.
I was a bit hesitant tho......I have some sort of aversion to Suzuki for unknown reasons.

How are they to work on? Do you work on your own?
I have a hard time with being required to take the bike in if anything goes wrong.
I'm no mechanic, but I've worked on the 3 bikes I've owned up until now with good results (and massive swear sessions

Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
rear naked wrote:how fat is the wife?

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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
Semi-simple to work on if you have a stand to put it on. Though the 90 is set up a bit weird with a fake fairing based "gas tank" up top hiding filters and such. Some of their others are set up a bit more traditionally. Not a huge deal, but it's a few extra minutes pulling panels to work on the engine sometimes. I've never done more than replace sparkplugs, filters, and oil. Most of the time I just don't have time to work on it when it needs something though.
The shaft drive is great as far as no maintenance needed. Horrible if you have to pull the rear for anything, like tire changes. You're stuck essentially having the entire back half of the bike disassembled. Doing that yourself would be a nightmare, paying someone to do is isn't super cheap. That's the only real complaint I've got about it at all. I still think I'd rather have the shaft drive than belt or chain in the end. Absolutely ZERO maintenance outside of some extra oil to change a couple times a year outside of tire replacements.
Mine turned five years old last week and I haven't had any real trouble with it outside of shit caused by an unreliable douche brigade in the dealer's maintenance shop. Even so, it made it 1,000 miles or so missing a bunch of parts and other than some rattles wasn't any the worse for it.
I pretty much love that bike.
Suzuki also makes their full maintenance manuals available, unlike certain other bike manufacturers. That's another positive.
The shaft drive is great as far as no maintenance needed. Horrible if you have to pull the rear for anything, like tire changes. You're stuck essentially having the entire back half of the bike disassembled. Doing that yourself would be a nightmare, paying someone to do is isn't super cheap. That's the only real complaint I've got about it at all. I still think I'd rather have the shaft drive than belt or chain in the end. Absolutely ZERO maintenance outside of some extra oil to change a couple times a year outside of tire replacements.
Mine turned five years old last week and I haven't had any real trouble with it outside of shit caused by an unreliable douche brigade in the dealer's maintenance shop. Even so, it made it 1,000 miles or so missing a bunch of parts and other than some rattles wasn't any the worse for it.
I pretty much love that bike.
Suzuki also makes their full maintenance manuals available, unlike certain other bike manufacturers. That's another positive.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
Ducati Multistrada.
Great bike 2-up and absolutely a blast to ride solo.
Edited to add: Cruisers will get you killed.
Great bike 2-up and absolutely a blast to ride solo.
Edited to add: Cruisers will get you killed.

Last edited by madryan on Wed Aug 07, 2013 3:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
post #2 = flawless victory
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
nightflameauto wrote:Semi-simple to work on if you have a stand to put it on. Though the 90 is set up a bit weird with a fake fairing based "gas tank" up top hiding filters and such. Some of their others are set up a bit more traditionally. Not a huge deal, but it's a few extra minutes pulling panels to work on the engine sometimes. I've never done more than replace sparkplugs, filters, and oil. Most of the time I just don't have time to work on it when it needs something though.
The shaft drive is great as far as no maintenance needed. Horrible if you have to pull the rear for anything, like tire changes. You're stuck essentially having the entire back half of the bike disassembled. Doing that yourself would be a nightmare, paying someone to do is isn't super cheap. That's the only real complaint I've got about it at all. I still think I'd rather have the shaft drive than belt or chain in the end. Absolutely ZERO maintenance outside of some extra oil to change a couple times a year outside of tire replacements.
Mine turned five years old last week and I haven't had any real trouble with it outside of shit caused by an unreliable douche brigade in the dealer's maintenance shop. Even so, it made it 1,000 miles or so missing a bunch of parts and other than some rattles wasn't any the worse for it.
I pretty much love that bike.
Suzuki also makes their full maintenance manuals available, unlike certain other bike manufacturers. That's another positive.
Who doesn't make their shop manuals available? I've owned just about everything and always just ordered the manual from the dealer.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
nightflameauto wrote:Semi-simple to work on if you have a stand to put it on. Though the 90 is set up a bit weird with a fake fairing based "gas tank" up top hiding filters and such. Some of their others are set up a bit more traditionally. Not a huge deal, but it's a few extra minutes pulling panels to work on the engine sometimes. I've never done more than replace sparkplugs, filters, and oil. Most of the time I just don't have time to work on it when it needs something though.
The shaft drive is great as far as no maintenance needed. Horrible if you have to pull the rear for anything, like tire changes. You're stuck essentially having the entire back half of the bike disassembled. Doing that yourself would be a nightmare, paying someone to do is isn't super cheap. That's the only real complaint I've got about it at all. I still think I'd rather have the shaft drive than belt or chain in the end. Absolutely ZERO maintenance outside of some extra oil to change a couple times a year outside of tire replacements.
Mine turned five years old last week and I haven't had any real trouble with it outside of shit caused by an unreliable douche brigade in the dealer's maintenance shop. Even so, it made it 1,000 miles or so missing a bunch of parts and other than some rattles wasn't any the worse for it.
I pretty much love that bike.
Suzuki also makes their full maintenance manuals available, unlike certain other bike manufacturers. That's another positive.
Awesome. I'm definitely going to look into those now.

Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
madryan wrote:Ducati Multistrada.
Great bike 2-up and absolutely a blast to ride solo.
Edited to add: Cruisers will get you killed.
That Ducati looks like a Transformer.
What do you mean get me killed?

Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
GAS KING wrote:madryan wrote:Ducati Multistrada.
Great bike 2-up and absolutely a blast to ride solo.
Edited to add: Cruisers will get you killed.
That Ducati looks like a Transformer.
What do you mean get me killed?
Meh, years of riding bikes, tracks, back roads, etc. Cruisers are pretty much pigs. Heavy, wallowy, no ground clearance, etc. Most people reply with "well I'm not gonna ride fast" but that's all great unless you hit a decreasing radius turn and need to lay it over a bit more or there's a deer mid corner or some such and you need a bit more ground clearance.
Fuck that noise. Buy bikes that handle and are fun to ride. Plus they're uncomfortable as fuck after about 15 min.
All IMO of course. Hundreds of thousands of miles on bikes like your ZRX (I owned a 2000 myself) and sportbikes and whatnot. The only bikes I ever felt unsafe riding were cruisers.
My old ZRX...

Last edited by madryan on Wed Aug 07, 2013 3:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
madryan wrote:Ducati Multistrada.
Great bike 2-up and absolutely a blast to ride solo.
Edited to add: Cruisers will get you killed.
This, if you can afford it.
Or if you're leaning more towards the tourer category you could also look at an FJR1300 or Concours. A little on the portly side at just shy of 700 lbs, but you'd never notice above a walking pace. My old man has had one of each in the last few years, and the resale on them is depressingly low if you're unlucky enough to have bought one new.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
^ that has crossed my mind.
My boss let me ride his fancy big ass harley......not sure which model, but it's big.
It was a great ride, but it definitely felt clunky overall.
The ZRX is great, but not the best 2up.
A lot of things are important to me when it comes to bikes, but right now comfort for 2 is really up there.
My boss let me ride his fancy big ass harley......not sure which model, but it's big.
It was a great ride, but it definitely felt clunky overall.
The ZRX is great, but not the best 2up.
A lot of things are important to me when it comes to bikes, but right now comfort for 2 is really up there.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
What would you consider high mileage on a used bike?
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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
Cruisers will get you killed? WTF kinda shit is that?
And they're uncomfortable? WTF?
FWIW, the Suzuki cruisers use a modified version of their racing bike fuel injection system. I've yet to be in a situation where there wasn't just a little more throttle available than I needed. And in an emergency (truck trying to run me off the road) situation, I managed to exit a 35 MPH corner at nearly 70 and just barely touched a floorboard (spring mounted and made to flex off the road in just such situations) before coming back to the straight.
If you're unsafe on a cruiser maybe it's because you're a fucking pussy and scared to death of cornering or throttling up? I've seen some really dumb shit posted around here, but this one takes the fucking cake.
Fuck it. Out.
And they're uncomfortable? WTF?
FWIW, the Suzuki cruisers use a modified version of their racing bike fuel injection system. I've yet to be in a situation where there wasn't just a little more throttle available than I needed. And in an emergency (truck trying to run me off the road) situation, I managed to exit a 35 MPH corner at nearly 70 and just barely touched a floorboard (spring mounted and made to flex off the road in just such situations) before coming back to the straight.
If you're unsafe on a cruiser maybe it's because you're a fucking pussy and scared to death of cornering or throttling up? I've seen some really dumb shit posted around here, but this one takes the fucking cake.
Fuck it. Out.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
I talked to a guy in Idaho a few years back that had 260000 miles on his goldwing!
I personally would care less about the miles and more about who's been riding it. I'd take a tourer that's been well maintained and taken care of with 100K on it before I'd take a garage queen that's never been more than 15 miles from home and then left in the corner for weeks or months at a time.
I personally would care less about the miles and more about who's been riding it. I'd take a tourer that's been well maintained and taken care of with 100K on it before I'd take a garage queen that's never been more than 15 miles from home and then left in the corner for weeks or months at a time.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
With the ZRX, I'm an aggressive rider when no one is around. Otherwise, it might as well be a grocery getter 250cc in town.
I can easily turn it off and on..........I ride very conservatively 80% of the time. Shit happens and I want to be ready.......luckily, I've never once had a close call. yet.
Which is part of the reason I want to sell the ZRX. It's really more than I need or want.
Do I grin when I hit the throttle? every time. Do I enjoy hitting high speeds once in a while? yep.
Do I need that? not really.
I'd rather have a great day traveling safely with my wife on day tours of WI.
I can easily turn it off and on..........I ride very conservatively 80% of the time. Shit happens and I want to be ready.......luckily, I've never once had a close call. yet.
Which is part of the reason I want to sell the ZRX. It's really more than I need or want.
Do I grin when I hit the throttle? every time. Do I enjoy hitting high speeds once in a while? yep.
Do I need that? not really.
I'd rather have a great day traveling safely with my wife on day tours of WI.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
nightflameauto wrote:Cruisers will get you killed? WTF kinda shit is that?
And they're uncomfortable? WTF?
FWIW, the Suzuki cruisers use a modified version of their racing bike fuel injection system. I've yet to be in a situation where there wasn't just a little more throttle available than I needed. And in an emergency (truck trying to run me off the road) situation, I managed to exit a 35 MPH corner at nearly 70 and just barely touched a floorboard (spring mounted and made to flex off the road in just such situations) before coming back to the straight.
If you're unsafe on a cruiser maybe it's because you're a fucking pussy and scared to death of cornering or throttling up? I've seen some really dumb shit posted around here, but this one takes the fucking cake.
Fuck it. Out.
Uh oh. ButtHZ! Fight fire with fire!

I get the uncomfortable part, I can't ride one for long either. And if you step off of a ZX-10r and onto a C90 you can guaran-damn-tee it's gonna feel slow, wobbly and vague - because it is, relatively. Different worlds... fuel injection is not going to make a whole lotta difference on a chassis that isn't designed for maximum feel and performance.
No need to resort to name calling because of someone else's opinion, mang.

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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
Yamaha V-Stars are nice. Another "non Harley" rusier I dig is the Honda Shadow.
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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
Oh good, the butthertz brigade starts.
Look, I knew it was a blackhole of failure the second I responded, but come the fuck on. An RX-9 feels different than a Cadillac too, doesn't mean either one will get you killed. It's just a fucking stupid statement to make. Absolutes in a situation like this are ridiculous.
Dude asks for advice on an LP and gets told to buy a Strat because LPs will electrocute him I'd call that dude a stupid pussy too.
Look, I knew it was a blackhole of failure the second I responded, but come the fuck on. An RX-9 feels different than a Cadillac too, doesn't mean either one will get you killed. It's just a fucking stupid statement to make. Absolutes in a situation like this are ridiculous.
Dude asks for advice on an LP and gets told to buy a Strat because LPs will electrocute him I'd call that dude a stupid pussy too.
Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
Guess you skipped the "All IMO, of course" part.
Just had to chuckle at you completely flying off the handle over it
carry on...
Just had to chuckle at you completely flying off the handle over it

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Re: Motorcycle guys - selling my bike - buying different one
There was no "IMO" statement in the cruisers will get you killed comment. And what can I say, such blatant stupidity pisses me off.