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As an early retirement present to myself I've decided to buy a motorbike. I've not ridden for 30+ years so I'm having a few lessons to get me started.
I'm completely out of touch with what I should be looking for so thought I would turn to STW for guidance, I know there are several bikers on here.
So, I'm 57, 5ft 10, 75kg and I want it mostly for 1 hr journeys around rural SW France. I definitely don't want something that is going to throw all my weight forward on to my wrists. I'd prefer something which has a more "classic" look to it rather than fairing and plastic everywhere.
Budget of about 2.5K but could go a bit higher for the right bike.
Triumph Bonnevile. Will struggle at that price though I'd expect.
If its just for fun make sure you get one you like!
Depending on engine size I can't think of too many "classic" styled bikes for £2.5k, at least any in decent condition.
Sounds like you want something comfy, anyway.
How about a Yamaha Virago 535:
or a Yamaha XVS650?
You'll definitely get a Virago within budget, an older XVS - or maybe a modified/bobber - is possible too.
It's worth noting that the classic bikes tend to be quite a bit heavier than sports bikes, and at 75kg it should certainly be a consideration. I had a HUGE 1500cc Kawasaki Drifter and while it was my favourite bike so far it was pretty unwieldy for me at 6'1" and 90kg. Currently on a KTM Duke 390 and it's a great bike: light, comfy, 70mpg, very maneouvrable, and within your budget. Maybe a bit too much garish plastic for your tastes though.
Thank you for the input everyone. Some interesting ideas.
Maybe a bit too much garish plastic for your tastes though.
I didn't mean to offend. What I meant really was that I don't want a Moto GP race replica. I've just Googled your Duke and it looks fantastic, though I suspect it is probably out of my price range!
You should be able to find a Duke 390 for less than £3k now, 2014/2015 models should be down to that price in private sales now if you look around.
No offense taken 😀
But yeah, definitely within your budget. Mine was £2400, 2015 model with various KTM bits and bobs "upgrades" added on. A cruiser/bobber would be more comfortable though, and better on the wrists.
Dans Le Francaise, vous et requires in moped pour qua 👌😜👍👍👍
Is this that KTM Duke you lot are talking about ??
If it is it’s really rather a good looking thing innit...
I actually had one of those Puch 50cc mopeds back in the 80's. Awful thing.
Not a great fan of the cruiser style. I want something that is going to put a smile on my face whether I am riding it or just looking at it. The cruisers just don't do it for me.
I do really like the Duke 390 styling, I shall go look on Gumtree etc.
Ian
Is this that KTM Duke you lot are talking about ??
Sure is. This is mine:
It's not particularly quick, but as a commuter bike I couldn't find much else that ticked the economy/styling/usability boxes as well as this.
They look great IMO, I imagine that the handling is pretty good too.
I’m a big fan of trials and enduro bikes from the 70’s and up to the early 80’s, and as you’ve seen above I’ve had my eye on a Bultaco Trails for sometime now..
But for a mix of road/gravel (I suspect there’s plenty where you live) you can go far wrong with a classic enduro.. PE250T.. the ringdings will echo forever in your heart.. 👌
Upright style bikes are not always as comfortable as you might think. On a racier bike the wind on your front helps keep weight off your wrists. On an upright bike you are having to hang on all the time as they tend not to have fairings to shield you.
I’ve had many bikes over the years and wrist or arm discomfort has never been an issue. Backside discomfort has been however 😀
Royal Enfield Bullet could be an option. Cheap and cheerful, classic looks and tinkerable. Available in 350 or 500.
could go a bit higher for the right bike
How much higher? ; ) Don't know where you are in SW France, but there's a Royal Enfield dealer in St Jean de Luz...
Buy my BMW 650 Dakar.
£2300 will get you it complete with panniers.
Not mint but a very well documented history with the previous lady owner being a well known rider.
That one.
Or a nice Yamaha XT600/660.
I had a friend with a PE250T, he took it back to the dealers as he said the front wheel was pattering, the mechanic took it out, tried it and returned reporting no issues. He asked my mate at what speed it was pattering, my mate grinned and replied, "about 90"!
😜👏
I had a go on a IT400 BITD, beast of a bike to hold upright when not moving and I swear when it was ticking over you could feel gravity altering around it.
I did a quick search and it seems you can still buy them 🤠💪💪💪
Thank you for all the suggestions. I do like the trials/enduro bikes and it may be something to consider but for now the winner is the Duke 390! We have a dealer fairly close by so I am off this afternoon to take a look. If I like it I will start to look for a secondhand one in the UK.
The Flying Ox, any top tips on what to look out for when buying secondhand?
Ian
Buy my BMW 650 Dakar.
£2300 will get you it complete with panniers.
Seems a good deal, I used to have the 650 funduro which is pretty much the same bike but with less boing. Great bike to ride.
As an additonal option to the op £2500 would get a nice honda crf 250l. Ideal for rural lanes.
The Flying Ox, any top tips on what to look out for when buying secondhand?
Other than usual stuff, I'd definitely go for FSH. I think every other service is a major one with valve clearance checks etc. Not that a major service is expensive though. I had one done at Perth KTM as soon as I got mine, it came to £280 and that included purchase and fitting of some handguard/wind deflector things, which I think were about £60 on their own.
If you're looking at newer ones, they have a fancy LCD dash screen which can fog up inside, fix is to undo it and hide one of those silica gel packs in there somewhere.
They tend to run quite hot, maybe 3/4 of temp gauge, but that's normal. However a lot of folk change the standard fan for a SPAL model a) to lower the running temp, and b) some of the OEM fans have apparently failed quite early on, the SPAL fan is a much more robust thing.
There was a factory recall for the ECU to sort out a lumpy idle & acceleration from standing. You can also get a K&N air filter that needs an ECU remap to go with it, all done officially via the dealer.
There are stories of wheels breaking over in India, but their roads are considerably worse than ours and having looked on YouTube I think the styling of the bike convinces many of them that they're competing in whatever the Indian version of the Paris-Dakar rally is. Worth having a check of the rims though just for peace of mind.
Have you looked at a versys? An adventure styled torquey 650. Very nice bike for lots of stuff.
I love STW. This afternoon I went to the local KTM dealer in Norwich (I'm back for my mother's funeral) and had a good look at a brand new Duke 390. It is indeed a thing of great beauty and I am in love. So now the search for a S/H one starts. Then it is on the trailer and back to Limousin.
Thanks everyone.
Ian
Honda CB 650 .
I’ve just got a new (to me) bike after a 7 year layoff. A 2007 KTM 950 SMR, what a hoot. I love a KTM.
I was on hols in limousin national park, epic roads there. Missed not having a motorbike there. Does France still have the 100bhp limit?
Erm, avoid the virago like the plague ...
What do you want to do with said bike?
Does France still have the 100bhp limit?
What 100bhp limit? Never heard of this. Plenty of people owning BMW GSs there which are 130bhp so I guess not!
rachel
As I’m reading this on the loo, I found this an interesting document about riding in France on a motorbike.
Speed limits brought down to 50mph on “a road” type roads and if you can’t pay fines they crush your bike/car and also riding in cities running the “smog/pollution” initiative means vehicles reg before 2001 are banned and before 2004 get the second highest rated category (1-5) so are banned during the days the initiative is running.
Thats all vehicles, not just French registered ones..
The document is worth reading, I didn’t know about the speed limit reduction.
I'd not heard of any limit either. That said I'm only looking at 370cc.
Limousin is a lovely area to ride a bike, and I'm sure it will be a great area to have a motorbike too.
Ian
Forgot to post the link 🤦♂️
Yes the national limit has just been dropped from 90km/hr to 80 on some roads. I've not heard of anyone that has had there car crushed though!
The air pollution is only in a few cities at the moment (none near me) but is undoubtedly going to spread in the next few years.
Ian
Just be warned/aware of the matriculation costs depending on the age of the bike.
You pay tax according to the age of the vehicle and it can be eye watering.
Friends have all waited to swap theirs over until they’ve reached a certain age as it’s around 50% of the the amount that way.
A quick update for anyone who is interested.
Tomorrow I take delivery of a 2018 390 Duke. I was offered a cracking deal on a demo/pre reg bike at my local dealer that I just could not refuse. Happy days.
Thanks everybody,
Ian
Welcome to the Duke 390 club loads of info here: https://www.ktmduke390forum.com/index.php?page=active_topics
I just got my new bike today, I love it!
