Agree entirely. My 15YO DL650 cross over is a gift from heaven. Upright stance, long travel suspension, powerful, light. Easily the best motorbike I have ever owned. However, at 78 after 55 years motorcycling I have had to give it away due to a weakness that has developed in my right hand (due brachial neuritis). This makes it hard to brake the front wheel precisely. Its sad to contemplate but no regrets.
Hi, I recently spoke to a gentleman who was selling an 8 year old DL650 and had just finished a trip to the Arctic Circle with it. He had the same praise for the MC as you do. I'm sorry that you can't ride any more. In 55 years of riding you have more experience and time on the bike than I will ever be able to get. If I can reach 78 and have gotten 28 years out of motorcycling I will be happy. Thanks for reaching out and telling me your story.
I thinks it’s natural to second-guess your first bike purchase. When we start riding we aren’t sure what we want or need. It’s only as we gain experience that we get a real idea of our style and needs. I think that also applies to riding gear. Even researching products can be confusing since there are so many different opinions and reviews available. I wear glasses and I love my Shoei RF 1400 (a full face helmet). Granted you want an ADV helmet, but my point is you don’t need a modular helmet for glasses. Like you, I really enjoy riding alone. It’s fun to ride with other people from time to time, but I’m perfectly happy riding alone and losing track of time. I’m glad I came across your channel. This is actually the second of your videos that I’ve watched after they showed up in my feed. I’m now subbed to see future videos. Hopefully you’re able to ride year-round where you live.
Thanks very much for your comment and for subscribing. I'm glad you left a comment because now I get to check out your videos. Of which I'm watching your first one at the moment. More about that, I will leave a comment on your site. I'm crossing my fingers I will be able to ride all year.
I live in the tropics where heat exhaustion is a real & constant threat. Wearing waterproof gear in anticipation of downpours just exacerbates the problem, so I go for gear that offers a shit ton of ventilation. When it rains, the key is not to avoid getting wet, but to let the constant airstream while riding do its work to get you dry again. During peak temps (past noon), me and my wife, who tours with me on her bike, would drench ourselves with water until dripping wet at the petrol station to keep cool while riding -- air conditioning for bikers!
I've never experienced a climate like that. I do have a Rev'it Eclipse mesh jacket for the hot weather. Thanks for the tip on drenching with water to keep cool. I'm going to remember that. I'm curious, what part of the world are you from?
At 53 I started with the Suzuki m50. Great starter bike that I use primarily for commuting but for 6 years I always was looking for that 6th gear on that 800cc bike. My plan was to move up to a mid tier bike then to a muscle cruiser to Road Glide type bike. Well at 59 I was diagnosed with Parkinsons stage 1 (Some restful tremors in right hand). I told my wife Im expediting my plan and moving to stage 3 in my bike purchase and bought my dream bike which is the Suzuki M109R BOSS. Now this bike a is bit big in both size (750lb) and power (1800cc) for me but it is the main reason I maintain my workouts and consumes all my attention when riding it. In essence, I love my bike and am in awe just looking at it. I guess where I'm going with this is sometimes you get the bike that you need before you get the bike that you want. Funny, I wear my $90 ILM helmet as my Sena $600 just sits there (both modular). Being in Arizona I am a seasonal rider as it get hot and cold here in the desert and so I have 5 jackets for the mood/weather. I am not a hard core rider, but a guy that likes to ride. I meet up with others at various stops, restaurants and bars but prefer to ride alone where I want. Buddy/group riding is just different. Anyway, happy riding and keep the rubber side down!
@@louieavi Thanks for sharing. I’m sorry to hear you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s but I’m glad to hear it’s not stopping you from getting your dream bike. Both those bikes are nice. I had heard of the BOSS , but I had to google the M50. I was really surprised that, like my bike, only has 5 speeds. I think you nailed it with your comment “sometimes you get the bike you need, before getting the bike you want”. I’ve been to Arizona many times in the winter so I know the temp variations well. Cold in the morning and comfortable in the afternoon. I’ve also been to Williams at Christmas time, and was taken aback by how much snow and how cold it was. That’s just me as a Canadian being naive to the climate down there. On that note, we don’t travel to Arizona anymore and I certainly miss it. Ride safe!
Thanks! I appreciate you leaving a comment. It helped me discover your channel. I'm hoping we have a mild winter with some dry days for riding. I'm enjoying it so much I don't want to put the MC to bed. I've never been to Missouri. Closest I've been to there is Nashville TN.
@ I think that would be awesome. Though if I ever head there I may have to fly and rent a bike. Just getting there from here is a road trip in itself. 2175 Miles!
Thanks for sharing your video. I think It's ok to adjust your gear as u go. As u try gear u get a good idea of what u don't want. I don't think u have to spend big bucks to get what u want. I also have found i like riding by myself. It is nice to have someone that can come and get u if needed so I try to let people know when I go and when i will be back. I did have a flat tire earlier this year and that was a bother. I have an iphone and share my location with others and i bring a battery case along that will allow the phone to function with maps and trackers for 3 times the duration of my usual ride.
I ended up having to purchase a satellite messenger that connects with my phone for the reason you mentioned. Some of the areas I have nearby are out of cell phone coverage. It's always in the back of my mind that I might get into trouble and need to let someone know. At least to let someone know that I"m going to be much later than expected if I have a flat tire which is likely to take me hours to fix. What kind of MC do you ride?
I have a gen 1 KLR and would recommend 2 things to improve highway riding - a 16 tooth front sprocket and a more street oriented tire. I run Shinko 705’s since I don’t do any off roading other than gravel and the odd fire road - they are much better on the highway than knobbies but still have plenty of traction for mild off road. I also have a Harley touring bike but thinking of trading both for a new gen 3 KLR. I love my KLR and it’s much better on the highway than the Harley is in the dirt.
@@waynemccurdy3899 I’m half way there I guess. I switched to Shinko 705 after discovering a recall on my front TKC80. Even with the limited experience I noticed how much nicer they are on the road.
I think it's ok to have not done a ton of research into your first bike purchase. I'm only finishing up my second season of riding; last year I bought a Rebel 500 after my friend (who was trying to get me into riding) send me a link to the Honda website and said "what about this bike?" It obviously has a reputation as a great beginner bike. We went to the dealer, I sat on one, found sitting on it agreeable, and left a few thousand dollars poorer. About five months later I ended up buying a second bike, partially because my aforementioned friend was buying a new bike and I started to get the itch. Second bike is a Tiger 900. Fairly different than the Rebel. But I wanted something better suited to do long distance rides on and be able to carry stuff. Not that the Rebel can't do it, but I also thought to myself "why not get a big-boy bike." I don't regret the Rebel, it was perfect for what I was looking for--just an entry into motorcycling. Something forgiving, and would let me figure out exactly what kind of rider I am. Or even if I would like motorcycling in the first place. I don't think you really know until you do it; no amount of research can replace real world experience. I'm still figuring it out (I ended up buying a Speed Twin this year as well) and I don't know if there is a Goldilocks bike for me (I'm trying to simplify my life), but I wouldn't change anything about that first purchase. Cheers and ride safe.
Well said. Thanks for sharing your experience as a new rider buying motorcycles. I think I'm lucky I had a friend tell me what "not" to buy (some old classic bike that would need tons of work). And you really nailed it by telling me, "You don't really know until you do it". That is such a true statement. It's hard to say what would have happened if I got a nice bike like the Honda Rebel. Maybe I would be headed in a different riding direction and not doing some FSR like I am now. I guess the good news for me is I didn't spend a lot on the bike I have now, which was mainly because I was worried I might not like motorcycling. I really like all those bikes you have. Though I'm probably never going to go the cruiser route. That 900 and Speed Twin are really nice looking bikes. I sat on a Tiger 850 and 900 at a couple of dealerships, but haven't tried one yet.
@@SpokedInTheEyeMoto I do think the 900 is a good all-arounder, but for frequent off-roading there are better options. I look forward to seeing what you might end up getting for your second bike!
Helmets , I have 3 . For different seasons and conditions . They are each reasonably priced , but meet dot and Euro stds . Bell has been my helmet choice for over 50 years . ( :
Hey! Are you talking about the Columbia River Highway in Oregon? I've never been there. This ride is in Canada, and ironically the road is called Columbia Valley Road. From what I can see online it looks like the Columbia River Highway would be a really nice ride.
Adventure rider radio is the best thing for new riders as they have rider instructors that come on and give riding tips.ive been riding my klr since 19 and dont see a need to move on from it yet. It does all i need and still is more capable then i am on many different terrians (other then the street lol).i use hjc modular helmet, the adv helmets are more a fad in my opinion. Just wear what ya can afford and thats comfortable, if its not comfortable your not gonna wear it .
Thank you for pointing me to Adventure Radio. It looks like I will have a lot of commuting podcasts to listen to (in my car). I'm seeing some really great topics there. What year is your KLR? Have you ever taken it on a freeway? I'm curious as to what KLR riders feel about that kind of riding. I looked at an HJC modular helmet and ended up going with the LS2 only because I thought it would be great having the chin bar go all the way to the back of the helmet. And of course the only riding I did with it in that position was in the parking lot when I was learning to ride. Mine seems a bit loud, but of course...and I keep saying this a lot...I don't know any better. I wear ear plugs and it's a bit tight on my ears otherwise it seems comfy.
@SpokedInTheEyeMoto if ya watch some of my klr videos I get it up to 95 mph, it will run 80 all day loaded with no issue along as the tire pressures are good and preload is properly adjusted.mine is a 2018 camo.i listen to music in the dirt and podcasts on the slab so that's my hearing protection. The noise your hearing is the wind buffering around your head, you don't have that on naked bikes or ones with proper wind protection. I have the klr upper and lower dash with a visor clip on and it helps substantially with the wind noise.
@MontanaDirtRoads 95??? I can barely do 75. I’ll check that out. Maybe there is a problem with my bike. It doesn’t feel unstable at 75, just feels like it hates going faster. Plus the buffeting doesn’t help.
@SpokedInTheEyeMoto ya unless I'm in a head wind or pulling long hills at high elevation at high speed it will run 75-85 mph without much complaint.im at about 3200 ft elevation here in yellowstone county and I've had it up to 80 @ 10k ft on the beartooth pass.how many miles do you have in that and how clean is your air filter? Is it needing a valve adjustment? What is your sprocket tooth count? I have factory size sprockets on mine.
I've got under 7000 miles on the bike so on paper it shouldn't need a valve adjustment for a while. It's factory sprocket as far as I know. Now that fall is here and winter is coming, it will give me a chance to figure out maintenance on it. I'm going to be changing the spark plug, so depending on how hard a valve check is maybe I should do it when I remove the tank to change the spark plug? Filter is cleaned and oiled. I wonder if my carb needs a service.
Be careful of that HWK gear. I bought their mesh jacket and regular pants when I started and the mesh jacket zipper started coming apart, right after the return window closed on amazon, and the pants had a strap where the anchor point came off. I reached out to their support and they didn't even respond. Some good insights in your video, I wish I had done more research on my motorcycle and gear as well. I didn't understand the difference between cruising, touring and sport touring, so I bought a nice cruiser when I needed a sport tourer. For me I have to ride at least an hour to even get to the places where I want to ride, which are the twisty mountain roads. I don't want to go crazy fast, I just like to enjoy the scenery and have a bit of fun leaning into turns. I wound up buying a second bike (Honda ST1300) which is just perfect for what I like to ride. I still ride my Honda Fury cruiser, but just on shorter rides where I'm not really hitting the highway. Be safe out there!
Thanks for the info on the HWK gear. Being new and seeing not much of selection nearby at the time, I bought all my gear online without seeing it in store...other than my helmet. Since then I've been looking and noticing quite a difference in between other brands and my HWK. jacket. I've really noticed how thin the shell is compared to others. Not to mention the armor. I would not have been happy about the zipper coming apart like yours. I should probably find something sooner than later to replace it before a zipper blows out on me. Like you, I don't want to go crazy fast but I want to be able to ride on the freeway more comfortably. My KLR is only a 5 speed and even being new, I keep wanting to shift into 6th. That ST1300 (I had to look it up) looks like a nice bike! The Fury is a really good looking cruiser as well. The first one that popped up online just now was nice green color. Is your Fury a direct shaft drive? I have no idea if they were always shaft drive or if that's something new.
@@SpokedInTheEyeMoto I've definitely learned some things about gear. When I bought my helmet I got a ScorpionExo R1 Air Carbon due to some reddit posts I'd seen about it and it seems very safe. I still like it, but wind noise is really loud, especially on the Fury, even after I installed a fairing. The Fury started production in 2009 and has always been shaft drive. Some have ABS, and some do not. It's very easy to find one under $6,000 with low miles. It's not a very popular model, but it's an attention getter. So I started working out what's really important to me and how I like to ride, and I know I like quiet bikes and also I like windshields. My 1300 has a wonderful electric powered windshield and when I put it up, it creates a wonderful cocoon of quiet and I don't hear all the wind noise. That's another bike you can get cheap. You can find one likely for under $4000. These are highly reliable and regularly can go to 250,000 miles with good maintenance. Also a shaft drive bike.
Cheap, reliable, easy to maintain and can have high mileage. I like the sounds of that. I just recently happened to check out a few older shaft drive bikes. A Super Tenere and Triumph 1200 explorer. I called my insurance company to find out how much more it would be to insure a 1200 compared to my 650. It was in the neighbourhood of $600-$700 extra per year for insurance. Anything over 1050cc gets expensive here. I'm still learning so not going to rush into anything. I've now learned my lesson to do as much research as I can into getting a motorcycle for me that is the right all around fit. Though I'm really curious about your 1300. I would like to see one in person.
Great video, thx for posting it. Super Tenere rider here, also an '06 Triumph Rocket 3. Both are amazing bikes. Never a reliability issue with either but I'm 56 and never ride my bikes hard or to redline. I also much prefer riding alone as you do. The great thing about the two bikes you listed and the two I ride is each can be had inexpensively and they are somewhat rare and unique, definitely won't get lost in the crowd of GS's or Harley whatever-Glides. I hear you with the gear issue, that's why I now have a closet full of it. I have four helmets and laugh at the first one I bought without doing much research, but have since added the pieces I should have bought in the first place. As you get more bikes in your garage, you'll get even more stuff and can justify adding the pieces you've wanted.
Thanks for the compliment on the video. I had a good laugh at "Harley whatever-Glides". I'm working to get better at making videos with decent information. I've got some bad videos and I'm sure I will have some more. If I can improve at least one thing each time I will be happy. Thanks for sharing about your motorcycles. That Triumph Rocket 3 is a super nice bike and 2249cc!!!! Wow! What year is your Super Tenere? I've looked at a 2012 and 2014, but not likely to purchase anything soon. I need to get used to this bike and riding first. Like you I'm likely going to redline any bike I own. For me it's really due to both my age and inexperience.
Since you begin to enjoy forest roads you might progress to enjoy dirt roads which present môre technical challenges. So I advise that you do not go for a bigger bike hastily. I discovered my first biggest mistake as a late biker.... I started far to big. So I down sized after three years of riding. And for me it is a wow wow. I cannot understand why the KLR 650 is not sufficient for highway travelling.
Hi, thanks for the advice. I agree and though I might want more, I'm not ready change motorcycles too quickly. I certainly don't want to buy anything to big and then decide that I love riding off road so much that I want to start doing single track and have to switch motorcycles again. Maybe next year I will have a clearer picture of what I want to do and maybe buy a smaller dual sport that's more appropriate to the back country. The KLR650 is sufficient for highway travelling, but I've already determined sufficient isn't good enough. I'm already finding that I"m trying to find parallel routes to the freeway when I'm headed out of town, just so I don't have to suffer at freeway speeds on the KLR. I'm not afraid of the speeds, it just doesn't do them well. I'm looking into changing the front sprocket to see if that helps with Freeway riding.
@@SpokedInTheEyeMoto Changing your sprocketvration will do the 'trick'. I am happy not to complete with even smallish modern cats. The latter are way to fast for my liking. And as stated by someone 'riding a small bike fast is more fun than riding a bike bike slow. I settled for a Suzuki DR650 (touring trips) and a Yamaha WR450F (practicing technique and riding 'rougher'). Bearing in mind that I am 'staring down the barrel of 70. 😂
The back roads are always better. Try to put "bigger" and "faster" out of your mind, and instead find a little more time to go slow - I see more when I bicycle, or even walk. But on a motorcycle, my best days are on the 200 mile side of ideally 200 - 400 mile days. When you get to gravel and dirt 100 miles is plenty for a day. Save time to set up camp, make some dinner by a fire and enjoy the isolation. After riding 50 years I still get a rush from the speed, but none of my favorite rides are at interstate speeds. Low and slow, that is the tempo 🐢
@ Well said. I remember when I used to have a travel trailer. I would take my time and not speed. I ended up discovering views and things I had never seen before on routes I had traveled many times in the past, but had never really noticed because I was in a hurry to go from point A to B.
@@waynepantry7023 Sorry, that's a weak argument, they're both quality helmets, one would think if a company makes RACING helmets, they would be solid. Look up Arai's process, they don't BS, as I'm sure Shoei doesn't either.
Thanks, I was looking at a number of helmets including Arai, the person at the store recommended the 4 over the 5 because the 5 was smaller at the chin bar. I don't know if that's true or not, I never tired any of them on.
I'm 52 and LOVE riding. The idea of seasons really irks me. You guys really need to get this "season" crap out of your heads. If there's no snow or ice on the road, YOU CAN RIDE. I will ride unless it's wet and 32 degrees or less(freezing point). Layers are all you need, and maybe heated gloves. (end of rant)
If you get a chance to see my latest videos, please check them out. You will see that since I filmed "5 Things I've Discovered after learning Ride" I've been riding in cold weather conditions, and have decided to keep riding and not put the bike away. I've slowly been accumulating gear to make cold weather riding more comfortable. Totally agree with your comment. I love riding so much I can't stop unless I have those conditions you mention. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment,
''The only bad thing about a bike ride is when it ends''.
I enjoyed this video thank you. I'll keep watching.
@@GregMacDougall-m3n That is so true! And thank you for the compliment.
Agree entirely. My 15YO DL650 cross over is a gift from heaven. Upright stance, long travel suspension, powerful, light. Easily the best motorbike I have ever owned.
However, at 78 after 55 years motorcycling I have had to give it away due to a weakness that has developed in my right hand (due brachial neuritis). This makes it hard to brake the front wheel precisely. Its sad to contemplate but no regrets.
Hi, I recently spoke to a gentleman who was selling an 8 year old DL650 and had just finished a trip to the Arctic Circle with it. He had the same praise for the MC as you do. I'm sorry that you can't ride any more. In 55 years of riding you have more experience and time on the bike than I will ever be able to get. If I can reach 78 and have gotten 28 years out of motorcycling I will be happy. Thanks for reaching out and telling me your story.
Continue with your efforts; it only keeps improving more and more!
I thinks it’s natural to second-guess your first bike purchase. When we start riding we aren’t sure what we want or need. It’s only as we gain experience that we get a real idea of our style and needs. I think that also applies to riding gear. Even researching products can be confusing since there are so many different opinions and reviews available.
I wear glasses and I love my Shoei RF 1400 (a full face helmet). Granted you want an ADV helmet, but my point is you don’t need a modular helmet for glasses.
Like you, I really enjoy riding alone. It’s fun to ride with other people from time to time, but I’m perfectly happy riding alone and losing track of time.
I’m glad I came across your channel. This is actually the second of your videos that I’ve watched after they showed up in my feed. I’m now subbed to see future videos. Hopefully you’re able to ride year-round where you live.
Thanks very much for your comment and for subscribing. I'm glad you left a comment because now I get to check out your videos. Of which I'm watching your first one at the moment. More about that, I will leave a comment on your site. I'm crossing my fingers I will be able to ride all year.
I live in the tropics where heat exhaustion is a real & constant threat. Wearing waterproof gear in anticipation of downpours just exacerbates the problem, so I go for gear that offers a shit ton of ventilation. When it rains, the key is not to avoid getting wet, but to let the constant airstream while riding do its work to get you dry again. During peak temps (past noon), me and my wife, who tours with me on her bike, would drench ourselves with water until dripping wet at the petrol station to keep cool while riding -- air conditioning for bikers!
I've never experienced a climate like that. I do have a Rev'it Eclipse mesh jacket for the hot weather. Thanks for the tip on drenching with water to keep cool. I'm going to remember that. I'm curious, what part of the world are you from?
At 53 I started with the Suzuki m50. Great starter bike that I use primarily for commuting but for 6 years I always was looking for that 6th gear on that 800cc bike. My plan was to move up to a mid tier bike then to a muscle cruiser to Road Glide type bike. Well at 59 I was diagnosed with Parkinsons stage 1 (Some restful tremors in right hand). I told my wife Im expediting my plan and moving to stage 3 in my bike purchase and bought my dream bike which is the Suzuki M109R BOSS. Now this bike a is bit big in both size (750lb) and power (1800cc) for me but it is the main reason I maintain my workouts and consumes all my attention when riding it. In essence, I love my bike and am in awe just looking at it. I guess where I'm going with this is sometimes you get the bike that you need before you get the bike that you want. Funny, I wear my $90 ILM helmet as my Sena $600 just sits there (both modular). Being in Arizona I am a seasonal rider as it get hot and cold here in the desert and so I have 5 jackets for the mood/weather. I am not a hard core rider, but a guy that likes to ride. I meet up with others at various stops, restaurants and bars but prefer to ride alone where I want. Buddy/group riding is just different. Anyway, happy riding and keep the rubber side down!
@@louieavi Thanks for sharing. I’m sorry to hear you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s but I’m glad to hear it’s not stopping you from getting your dream bike. Both those bikes are nice. I had heard of the BOSS , but I had to google the M50. I was really surprised that, like my bike, only has 5 speeds. I think you nailed it with your comment “sometimes you get the bike you need, before getting the bike you want”. I’ve been to Arizona many times in the winter so I know the temp variations well. Cold in the morning and comfortable in the afternoon. I’ve also been to Williams at Christmas time, and was taken aback by how much snow and how cold it was. That’s just me as a Canadian being naive to the climate down there. On that note, we don’t travel to Arizona anymore and I certainly miss it. Ride safe!
Too bad winter is almost here. In SW Missouri riding is all seasons. Liked and subscribed.
Thanks! I appreciate you leaving a comment. It helped me discover your channel. I'm hoping we have a mild winter with some dry days for riding. I'm enjoying it so much I don't want to put the MC to bed. I've never been to Missouri. Closest I've been to there is Nashville TN.
You are welcome; come riding in the Ozarks if that is of interest. Fall is the best. I like the content You are posting.
@ I think that would be awesome. Though if I ever head there I may have to fly and rent a bike. Just getting there from here is a road trip in itself. 2175 Miles!
Thanks for sharing your video. I think It's ok to adjust your gear as u go. As u try gear u get a good idea of what u don't want. I don't think u have to spend big bucks to get what u want. I also have found i like riding by myself. It is nice to have someone that can come and get u if needed so I try to let people know when I go and when i will be back. I did have a flat tire earlier this year and that was a bother. I have an iphone and share my location with others and i bring a battery case along that will allow the phone to function with maps and trackers for 3 times the duration of my usual ride.
I ended up having to purchase a satellite messenger that connects with my phone for the reason you mentioned. Some of the areas I have nearby are out of cell phone coverage. It's always in the back of my mind that I might get into trouble and need to let someone know. At least to let someone know that I"m going to be much later than expected if I have a flat tire which is likely to take me hours to fix. What kind of MC do you ride?
I have a gen 1 KLR and would recommend 2 things to improve highway riding - a 16 tooth front sprocket and a more street oriented tire. I run Shinko 705’s since I don’t do any off roading other than gravel and the odd fire road - they are much better on the highway than knobbies but still have plenty of traction for mild off road. I also have a Harley touring bike but thinking of trading both for a new gen 3 KLR. I love my KLR and it’s much better on the highway than the Harley is in the dirt.
@@waynemccurdy3899 I’m half way there I guess. I switched to Shinko 705 after discovering a recall on my front TKC80. Even with the limited experience I noticed how much nicer they are on the road.
I think it's ok to have not done a ton of research into your first bike purchase. I'm only finishing up my second season of riding; last year I bought a Rebel 500 after my friend (who was trying to get me into riding) send me a link to the Honda website and said "what about this bike?" It obviously has a reputation as a great beginner bike. We went to the dealer, I sat on one, found sitting on it agreeable, and left a few thousand dollars poorer. About five months later I ended up buying a second bike, partially because my aforementioned friend was buying a new bike and I started to get the itch. Second bike is a Tiger 900. Fairly different than the Rebel. But I wanted something better suited to do long distance rides on and be able to carry stuff. Not that the Rebel can't do it, but I also thought to myself "why not get a big-boy bike." I don't regret the Rebel, it was perfect for what I was looking for--just an entry into motorcycling. Something forgiving, and would let me figure out exactly what kind of rider I am. Or even if I would like motorcycling in the first place. I don't think you really know until you do it; no amount of research can replace real world experience. I'm still figuring it out (I ended up buying a Speed Twin this year as well) and I don't know if there is a Goldilocks bike for me (I'm trying to simplify my life), but I wouldn't change anything about that first purchase. Cheers and ride safe.
Well said. Thanks for sharing your experience as a new rider buying motorcycles. I think I'm lucky I had a friend tell me what "not" to buy (some old classic bike that would need tons of work). And you really nailed it by telling me, "You don't really know until you do it". That is such a true statement. It's hard to say what would have happened if I got a nice bike like the Honda Rebel. Maybe I would be headed in a different riding direction and not doing some FSR like I am now. I guess the good news for me is I didn't spend a lot on the bike I have now, which was mainly because I was worried I might not like motorcycling. I really like all those bikes you have. Though I'm probably never going to go the cruiser route. That 900 and Speed Twin are really nice looking bikes. I sat on a Tiger 850 and 900 at a couple of dealerships, but haven't tried one yet.
@@SpokedInTheEyeMoto I do think the 900 is a good all-arounder, but for frequent off-roading there are better options. I look forward to seeing what you might end up getting for your second bike!
Helmets , I have 3 . For different seasons and conditions . They are each reasonably priced , but meet dot and Euro stds . Bell has been my helmet choice for over 50 years . ( :
Oh and get some cottonblend skull caps , adds comfort , and keeps helmet from getting funky odors. Their washable.
Thats a great idea...that's the first I had heard of that. Thanks very much!
What road were you riding on? Kind of reminds me of the Columbia River Highway
Hey! Are you talking about the Columbia River Highway in Oregon? I've never been there. This ride is in Canada, and ironically the road is called Columbia Valley Road. From what I can see online it looks like the Columbia River Highway would be a really nice ride.
Adventure rider radio is the best thing for new riders as they have rider instructors that come on and give riding tips.ive been riding my klr since 19 and dont see a need to move on from it yet. It does all i need and still is more capable then i am on many different terrians (other then the street lol).i use hjc modular helmet, the adv helmets are more a fad in my opinion. Just wear what ya can afford and thats comfortable, if its not comfortable your not gonna wear it .
Thank you for pointing me to Adventure Radio. It looks like I will have a lot of commuting podcasts to listen to (in my car). I'm seeing some really great topics there. What year is your KLR? Have you ever taken it on a freeway? I'm curious as to what KLR riders feel about that kind of riding. I looked at an HJC modular helmet and ended up going with the LS2 only because I thought it would be great having the chin bar go all the way to the back of the helmet. And of course the only riding I did with it in that position was in the parking lot when I was learning to ride. Mine seems a bit loud, but of course...and I keep saying this a lot...I don't know any better. I wear ear plugs and it's a bit tight on my ears otherwise it seems comfy.
@SpokedInTheEyeMoto if ya watch some of my klr videos I get it up to 95 mph, it will run 80 all day loaded with no issue along as the tire pressures are good and preload is properly adjusted.mine is a 2018 camo.i listen to music in the dirt and podcasts on the slab so that's my hearing protection. The noise your hearing is the wind buffering around your head, you don't have that on naked bikes or ones with proper wind protection. I have the klr upper and lower dash with a visor clip on and it helps substantially with the wind noise.
@MontanaDirtRoads 95??? I can barely do 75. I’ll check that out. Maybe there is a problem with my bike. It doesn’t feel unstable at 75, just feels like it hates going faster. Plus the buffeting doesn’t help.
@SpokedInTheEyeMoto ya unless I'm in a head wind or pulling long hills at high elevation at high speed it will run 75-85 mph without much complaint.im at about 3200 ft elevation here in yellowstone county and I've had it up to 80 @ 10k ft on the beartooth pass.how many miles do you have in that and how clean is your air filter? Is it needing a valve adjustment? What is your sprocket tooth count? I have factory size sprockets on mine.
I've got under 7000 miles on the bike so on paper it shouldn't need a valve adjustment for a while. It's factory sprocket as far as I know. Now that fall is here and winter is coming, it will give me a chance to figure out maintenance on it. I'm going to be changing the spark plug, so depending on how hard a valve check is maybe I should do it when I remove the tank to change the spark plug? Filter is cleaned and oiled. I wonder if my carb needs a service.
Be careful of that HWK gear. I bought their mesh jacket and regular pants when I started and the mesh jacket zipper started coming apart, right after the return window closed on amazon, and the pants had a strap where the anchor point came off. I reached out to their support and they didn't even respond. Some good insights in your video, I wish I had done more research on my motorcycle and gear as well. I didn't understand the difference between cruising, touring and sport touring, so I bought a nice cruiser when I needed a sport tourer. For me I have to ride at least an hour to even get to the places where I want to ride, which are the twisty mountain roads. I don't want to go crazy fast, I just like to enjoy the scenery and have a bit of fun leaning into turns. I wound up buying a second bike (Honda ST1300) which is just perfect for what I like to ride. I still ride my Honda Fury cruiser, but just on shorter rides where I'm not really hitting the highway. Be safe out there!
Thanks for the info on the HWK gear. Being new and seeing not much of selection nearby at the time, I bought all my gear online without seeing it in store...other than my helmet. Since then I've been looking and noticing quite a difference in between other brands and my HWK. jacket. I've really noticed how thin the shell is compared to others. Not to mention the armor. I would not have been happy about the zipper coming apart like yours. I should probably find something sooner than later to replace it before a zipper blows out on me. Like you, I don't want to go crazy fast but I want to be able to ride on the freeway more comfortably. My KLR is only a 5 speed and even being new, I keep wanting to shift into 6th. That ST1300 (I had to look it up) looks like a nice bike! The Fury is a really good looking cruiser as well. The first one that popped up online just now was nice green color. Is your Fury a direct shaft drive? I have no idea if they were always shaft drive or if that's something new.
@@SpokedInTheEyeMoto I've definitely learned some things about gear. When I bought my helmet I got a ScorpionExo R1 Air Carbon due to some reddit posts I'd seen about it and it seems very safe. I still like it, but wind noise is really loud, especially on the Fury, even after I installed a fairing. The Fury started production in 2009 and has always been shaft drive. Some have ABS, and some do not. It's very easy to find one under $6,000 with low miles. It's not a very popular model, but it's an attention getter. So I started working out what's really important to me and how I like to ride, and I know I like quiet bikes and also I like windshields. My 1300 has a wonderful electric powered windshield and when I put it up, it creates a wonderful cocoon of quiet and I don't hear all the wind noise. That's another bike you can get cheap. You can find one likely for under $4000. These are highly reliable and regularly can go to 250,000 miles with good maintenance. Also a shaft drive bike.
Cheap, reliable, easy to maintain and can have high mileage. I like the sounds of that. I just recently happened to check out a few older shaft drive bikes. A Super Tenere and Triumph 1200 explorer. I called my insurance company to find out how much more it would be to insure a 1200 compared to my 650. It was in the neighbourhood of $600-$700 extra per year for insurance. Anything over 1050cc gets expensive here. I'm still learning so not going to rush into anything. I've now learned my lesson to do as much research as I can into getting a motorcycle for me that is the right all around fit. Though I'm really curious about your 1300. I would like to see one in person.
Great video, thx for posting it. Super Tenere rider here, also an '06 Triumph Rocket 3. Both are amazing bikes. Never a reliability issue with either but I'm 56 and never ride my bikes hard or to redline. I also much prefer riding alone as you do. The great thing about the two bikes you listed and the two I ride is each can be had inexpensively and they are somewhat rare and unique, definitely won't get lost in the crowd of GS's or Harley whatever-Glides. I hear you with the gear issue, that's why I now have a closet full of it. I have four helmets and laugh at the first one I bought without doing much research, but have since added the pieces I should have bought in the first place. As you get more bikes in your garage, you'll get even more stuff and can justify adding the pieces you've wanted.
Thanks for the compliment on the video. I had a good laugh at "Harley whatever-Glides". I'm working to get better at making videos with decent information. I've got some bad videos and I'm sure I will have some more. If I can improve at least one thing each time I will be happy. Thanks for sharing about your motorcycles. That Triumph Rocket 3 is a super nice bike and 2249cc!!!! Wow! What year is your Super Tenere? I've looked at a 2012 and 2014, but not likely to purchase anything soon. I need to get used to this bike and riding first. Like you I'm likely going to redline any bike I own. For me it's really due to both my age and inexperience.
Since you begin to enjoy forest roads you might progress to enjoy dirt roads which present môre technical challenges. So I advise that you do not go for a bigger bike hastily. I discovered my first biggest mistake as a late biker.... I started far to big. So I down sized after three years of riding. And for me it is a wow wow. I cannot understand why the KLR 650 is not sufficient for highway travelling.
Hi, thanks for the advice. I agree and though I might want more, I'm not ready change motorcycles too quickly. I certainly don't want to buy anything to big and then decide that I love riding off road so much that I want to start doing single track and have to switch motorcycles again. Maybe next year I will have a clearer picture of what I want to do and maybe buy a smaller dual sport that's more appropriate to the back country. The KLR650 is sufficient for highway travelling, but I've already determined sufficient isn't good enough. I'm already finding that I"m trying to find parallel routes to the freeway when I'm headed out of town, just so I don't have to suffer at freeway speeds on the KLR. I'm not afraid of the speeds, it just doesn't do them well. I'm looking into changing the front sprocket to see if that helps with Freeway riding.
@@SpokedInTheEyeMoto Changing your sprocketvration will do the 'trick'. I am happy not to complete with even smallish modern cats. The latter are way to fast for my liking. And as stated by someone 'riding a small bike fast is more fun than riding a bike bike slow. I settled for a Suzuki DR650 (touring trips) and a Yamaha WR450F (practicing technique and riding 'rougher'). Bearing in mind that I am 'staring down the barrel of 70. 😂
The back roads are always better. Try to put "bigger" and "faster" out of your mind, and instead find a little more time to go slow - I see more when I bicycle, or even walk. But on a motorcycle, my best days are on the 200 mile side of ideally 200 - 400 mile days.
When you get to gravel and dirt 100 miles is plenty for a day. Save time to set up camp, make some dinner by a fire and enjoy the isolation.
After riding 50 years I still get a rush from the speed, but none of my favorite rides are at interstate speeds. Low and slow, that is the tempo 🐢
@ Well said. I remember when I used to have a travel trailer. I would take my time and not speed. I ended up discovering views and things I had never seen before on routes I had traveled many times in the past, but had never really noticed because I was in a hurry to go from point A to B.
I would recommend Arai helmets, they are pricey but worth it.
Solo riding in the back roads rule!! Welcome to the madness.
@@waynepantry7023 Sorry, that's a weak argument, they're both quality helmets, one would think if a company makes RACING helmets, they would be solid. Look up Arai's process, they don't BS, as I'm sure Shoei doesn't either.
Thanks, I was looking at a number of helmets including Arai, the person at the store recommended the 4 over the 5 because the 5 was smaller at the chin bar. I don't know if that's true or not, I never tired any of them on.
Thanks for the recommendation. I was looking at a bunch of helmets and saw the Hornet which I thought was a good looking helmet.
I'm 52 and LOVE riding. The idea of seasons really irks me. You guys really need to get this "season" crap out of your heads. If there's no snow or ice on the road, YOU CAN RIDE. I will ride unless it's wet and 32 degrees or less(freezing point). Layers are all you need, and maybe heated gloves. (end of rant)
If you get a chance to see my latest videos, please check them out. You will see that since I filmed "5 Things I've Discovered after learning Ride" I've been riding in cold weather conditions, and have decided to keep riding and not put the bike away. I've slowly been accumulating gear to make cold weather riding more comfortable. Totally agree with your comment. I love riding so much I can't stop unless I have those conditions you mention. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment,
@ Nice! I lose myself when I get on my bike and before I know it an hour or two are just gone. It’s that much fun. Ride on! Stay safe ✌🏻