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Offline pastorp

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Old age bike
« on: July 20, 2011, 05:48:43 AM »
I'm 65 now and not as strong as I was a few years ago..About 4 years ago I bought a Kawasiki, Vulkan, Mean streak. I really liked the style and could not afford a Harley at the time.  :o  Problem is it weighs 800# and has a rather high center of gravity. I'm thinking about a lighter bike. I would like to take a few extended trips when I retire and want something that's reliable, lighter, & easy to ride. My wife dosen't ride anymore so a solo seat is ok as long as it's comfortable..
 
Anyone have any experience with the BMW's? All sugestions appreciated.
 
Regards,
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Byron

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Offline torpedoman

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2011, 07:53:11 PM »
Quote from: pastorp on July 20, 2011, 05:48:43 AM
I'm 65 now and not as strong as I was a few years ago..About 4 years ago I bought a Kawasiki, Vulkan, Mean streak. I really liked the style and could not afford a Harley at the time.  :o  Problem is it weighs 800# and has a rather high center of gravity. I'm thinking about a lighter bike. I would like to take a few extended trips when I retire and want something that's reliable, lighter, & easy to ride. My wife dosen't ride anymore so a solo seat is ok as long as it's comfortable..
 
Anyone have any experience with the BMW's? All sugestions appreciated.
 
Regards,


 go with he harley, low cog and balance i have seen an 85 year old woman put one back on its wheels. twist the bars tip it up and push it comes right up.
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Offline gr8ful

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2011, 08:21:35 PM »
For long range riding you can't beat a Harley Road Glide, The Beamers are nice but the seat height is a little high, I also liked the triumph Thunderbird
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Offline Bigeasy

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2011, 08:57:46 PM »
The HD Low Rider is nice.  I believe the weight is 500 and some odd pounds, low center of gravity, and low seat height.  Rubber mount engine, and plenty of low end & mid range power.  Just add saddle bags.  Rode the snot out of my new 2002 Low Rider, and found it more comfortable then bikes on the soft tail frame.  Sold it last year and bought a Road King.  Yea, the RK is nice and comfortable, but now you are back into a heavy , bulky bike..
 
Larry
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Offline Ditchdigger

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2011, 05:45:58 AM »
I vote for the Roadglide also,If its a 08 are later with the  96" motor.I really liked mine until I could'nt get the thought of a rock getting in the belt and breaking it. So I traded it for a new Goldwing and hav'nt looked back. If your going to make some longer trips (2000 miles or more) The roadglide or the Wing will do just fine as will the BMW. Dealer's are more abundant with the Harley and Honda. The Wing is heavier than the Roadglide,but is just as easy to get up off the ground and once you start moving,the Wing feels alot lighter than the glide.
In the power and handling department the Wing wins very easily with the BMW coming in 2nd,and the wing use's regular gas,the Harley use's premium.
Comfort,the Wing wins hands down again,with he Glide a fairly close second.The BMW and the Glide will burn you up in slow traffic,and the Wing will get you warm.
The BMW will do 150K miles without any problems and the Wing will do 200 K easily with proper maintnance. The Harley will do 50 to 100 K.
Maintenance on the Wing is 4 quarts and a filter at 8000 miles,the Harley is 6 quarts and a filter every 5 K. Both can be changed by yourself.
Prices, All used one's are about the same for a 02 around 10 to 12 K It will be harder to find a low milage Wing or BMW because they tend to be rode more than the Glide.
If you're looking for something in the 6 to 10 K range in price,The 1500 Wing and BMW would be a good choice.
If you like passing power,consider the 96" Glide only in the Harley,the 88's and 80's don't have enough for me.
Pulling trailer,The wing is No.1 with Harley No. 2
Gas milage,Wing no.1 will use reg.gas and 42 mpg,Glide 44mpg and premium,and the BMW at 45 mpg and premium ( I'm not sure about the BMW)
The Wing works for me,but the Harley has more character,and the Beemer is somewhere in between.  The Wings (1800's) have a reverse,and some 1500 wing also have one.
Hope this helps and maybe we'll see each other on the road sometimes. Digger
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Offline myronman3

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2011, 02:43:23 AM »
bmw makes nice bikes.  i ride a buell, but for an extended ride, it wears on ya.  maybe a buell ulyisis might be a bit better, and they can be had for very reasonable.    i saw one in my area for 5200 here last week.  they are powerful, reliable, and low maintance.
   bmw would definately be worth looking at as i know they make some very interesting bikes that are supposed to be reliable, fun and low maintance.    keep us posted. 
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2011, 04:43:22 AM »
  All you need out on that island is a 4 wheeler!!   ;)
 
  DM
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Offline pastorp

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2011, 05:41:51 AM »
Thats true, DM. But I've always rode 2 wheels. Never owned a 4wheeler.  :o  In NM I did ride 4leggers (horses)  ;)   :D
 
Regards,
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Byron

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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2011, 04:17:01 AM »
  Don't buy a 4 wheeler, you will fall in love with it!  I find mine VERY handy for all kinds of chores!
 
  DM
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Offline pastorp

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2011, 07:17:40 AM »
If I ever retire,  I may retire on my friends ranch in centeral florida. If that happens I'll buy a 4 wheeler. I've used several for hunting here in alaska, just never owned one.  ;)  We put them on the deck of our boat and offloaded them on different islands to use hunting. They are a lot of fun.
 
Say DM, I think I remember you talking about riding the ALCAN on a bike once. Would you mind sharing a little about that experience? That one of the trips I would like to make...I've driven the ALCAN but always in a car or truck. I think it would be a great adventure on a bike.  :)
 
Regards,
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Byron

Christian by choice, American by the grace of God.

NRA LIFE

Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2011, 04:32:36 PM »
  Byron,
 
  I drove it twice on a motorcycle...in the old days when it had a lot of clay on it!  It wouldn't be a big deal at all today, with it mostly paved!  I drove a total of 15,000 miles on one of the trips by the time i got back home, 12,300 on the other.  I don't even THINK about traveling on a bike any longer!
 
  DM
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Offline pastorp

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2011, 06:06:28 PM »
We drove it once in a small car in 1991. Stopped in Tok to eat and two big Norweign or possibably Germman guys pulled up on BMWs. Large gas tanks and pannards made out of sheet metal. They were both covered with mud & clay. I often wished I could a heard their story about that trip.  ;)  At that point in my life I looked on that type of thing as a survival exercise. The worse it got the more I enjoyed it.
 
Regards,
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Byron

Christian by choice, American by the grace of God.

NRA LIFE

Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Old age bike
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2011, 04:13:23 AM »
  One time i was with a group of riders in Colorado.  We were headed up over the cont divive, and we came to a place in the road where the pavement was rewmoved....you could see to the other end of the gravel.  All the front riders slammed on the brakes!!! AND pretty soon a pow-wow ensused.  Then, at least 1/3 of the riders turned around and went back.....  Not being part of the pow-wow, i asked "where they going?"  Someone said, "they won't drive on gravel".
 
  Then i understood why some of them would point at my  dirty bike, pointing and whispering among their selves.  My bikes were always for rideing, not for shineing!  Those guys would never make it on the ALCAN, OR in Alaska!  lol
 
  DM
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