What Bike For A Frail Ex-Racer?
Discussion
A year ago I delivered a TL1000S to an elderly guy who then admitted he probably couldn't get on it but if not he would just look at it in his garage (I offered to take it back at the time)
He's now contacted me to say could I take it back and supply something else as he can't get his leg over it
He's an ex bike racer who's late 70s and doesn't want a scooter or a cruiser but is struggling with seat height and bike weight
Has anyone got any suggestions ideally sub £3k the smaller and lighter the better
He's now contacted me to say could I take it back and supply something else as he can't get his leg over it
He's an ex bike racer who's late 70s and doesn't want a scooter or a cruiser but is struggling with seat height and bike weight
Has anyone got any suggestions ideally sub £3k the smaller and lighter the better
I am not big and not that strong and confident. I found the high bars on the RE Meteor 350 made it a piece of urine to move around the garage. It's not that light but the weight seems low down in the frame. But the feet forward pegs are a bit cruiser. The RE dealer said he had an elderly chap who bought one as he can handle it.
The 2017 Duke 390 have an 830mm seat height. They're light. To me the Duke 790 size wise felt like an RD250DX and the Duke 390, which comes in 125 size, felt like a 125.
The 2013 to 2016 has an 800mm seat height and weighs around 140kg. Also comes in a 200cc 25bhp format, there's one in Lancs. on MCN for just over £2K.
The 2017 Duke 390 have an 830mm seat height. They're light. To me the Duke 790 size wise felt like an RD250DX and the Duke 390, which comes in 125 size, felt like a 125.
The 2013 to 2016 has an 800mm seat height and weighs around 140kg. Also comes in a 200cc 25bhp format, there's one in Lancs. on MCN for just over £2K.
Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 10th April 17:43
I’ve got a little G310r BMW. Similar to the Duke. Lightweight, easy to manoeuvre and very neutral to ride. Again just enough oomph and a nice noise once you get up through the rev band (for its type)
I believe you can get a lowering kit that might make it easier to swing a leg over
Standard seat height is 785mm minus the 25mm this kit offers might make it work?
https://www.adventurebikestore.co.uk/height-loweri...
I believe you can get a lowering kit that might make it easier to swing a leg over
Standard seat height is 785mm minus the 25mm this kit offers might make it work?
https://www.adventurebikestore.co.uk/height-loweri...
I walked past a Triumph Street Twin the earlier 54bhp one and that didn't look big to me but they're not £3K.
CMX500 Rebels (Cruisery) start at £4K - The motorcyclist along the road with two litre plus lowrider cruiser type bikes and a 300cc super scooter reckons the Rebel 500 is a pleasant ride.
The Vulcan S (Cruisery) is half the budget again but I spoke to an elderly chap who'd got a lightly used one that had been adapted for an amputee. The elderly chapped previously had a Harley.
790mm and 183kg and budget of half again - Ducati Scrambler 400.
The image is questionable but 765mm seat height and you could probably get a new one for £3K:
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/enfi...
Monkey bike, not a Scooter:
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/hond...
You could help get past Scooter image by showing him videos of racers on scooters?
Italjet Dragsters look cool to me but £4K.
CMX500 Rebels (Cruisery) start at £4K - The motorcyclist along the road with two litre plus lowrider cruiser type bikes and a 300cc super scooter reckons the Rebel 500 is a pleasant ride.
The Vulcan S (Cruisery) is half the budget again but I spoke to an elderly chap who'd got a lightly used one that had been adapted for an amputee. The elderly chapped previously had a Harley.
790mm and 183kg and budget of half again - Ducati Scrambler 400.
The image is questionable but 765mm seat height and you could probably get a new one for £3K:
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/enfi...
Monkey bike, not a Scooter:
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/hond...
You could help get past Scooter image by showing him videos of racers on scooters?
Italjet Dragsters look cool to me but £4K.
Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 10th April 19:08
ked leg who rides one of those 650 Honda off road scootery things. I've never seen someone ride something with knobblies that fast on the road. OP: at least get the chap to test ride one....Chipchap said:
Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer has a 775mm seat height as std. No rear hump so easy to get onto.
Yes it could easily be more money than he wants to spend but its at least modern but in a nostalgic way and can pop along quite nicely.
Used ones seem to start at £5500 - Odd balloon tryes like a 1950s Sunbeam S7/S8 type thing. Or a VanVan.Yes it could easily be more money than he wants to spend but its at least modern but in a nostalgic way and can pop along quite nicely.
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