Which next bike?
A question that confounds most of us “bike guys and girls”. Personally, I’m all over the place. When there is no money, it’s all about the dream. KTM, Ducati, Guzzi, BMW anyone? Then I start to feel preemptive buyers’ remorse. This is a secondary means of transportation, especially here in Canada. I wouldn’t even try Dec/Jan/Feb on a bike in Toronto, way too skinny for that foolishness. Very few of us can afford multiple motorcycles, so which bike will I enjoy the most, use the most, and actually have enough money for?
Just the other day, I was back in dreaming mode, thinking about the new KTM 990SMT. Bare with me as i take you through the thought process. Amazing bike! Sixteen thousand Canadian on the sticker. Ouch! Logic then leads me back to the Kawasaki Versys, at half the price. A friend comments on the styling, and I immediately decide that maybe it’s a little cramped if your six foot. Where does this lead me? Straight back to the Suzuki DR650SE. Enduro motorcycles are the bikes, in my humble opinion, that you really can’t take anything away from.
Style strictly follows function. Stick with Japanese, and price is amazing, cheap insurance, great riding position for commuting, and lots of aftermarket equipment to take you around the world if the touring bug grabs you. I have never ridden off-road, aside from riding on really bad roads while living in Thailand, but I am in the middle of the city. The idea of getting away from the traffic, and the pollution, and the cops, and the old people falling asleep at the wheel, seems pretty sweet.
Why haven’t I taken the plunge then? To be honest, the whole off-road thing is a little intimidating. Not necessarily the riding but the community Tones of guys that have been doing it since they were kids, they have loads of technical knowledge and many race experience. So if I want in, I need to resign myself to being a newbie. If I don’t, I’ll never get over it, or see what I’ve been missing. There are a few months left to make a decision on the next bike and I just last weekend got down to the Toronto Motorcycle Show. The DR650SE was fitting “pretty damn good”. For now, I will use this blog to celebrate the world of enduro motorcycles. Just go on your motorcycle and enjoy your life best ride.
