A depressing day after a long break.

[Jako999]

I love my 750GS Sport and today after not riding it due to illness for the last 16 months I thought I’d give it a go. I had a heart attack then an emergency quadruple heart bypass followed 2 weeks later by another heart attack. It all took a massive toll on me, I now weigh eight and a half stone and only at around 75% strength, I’ve been told with all the damage to my heart I’m probably not going to improve much more.
so I thought let’s give it a go and see how I get on, it’s always been a bit to big and to heavy for me but I could just about do it. Today wasn’t good and my chest is killing where it was opened up just from pushing it out and back in the garage as you can’t just ride it out. I’m going to try a few more times and I really hope I can get back using it again but I also have to look at realit.

So my question is what else could I go for? It has to be a low seat, lower weight and a twin or above. I only use it on road and for a ride out normally no more then 250 miles, I’ve done a bit of uk touring but that not essential.

I hope I won’t need your answer’s but I need to start looking. THANKS

 

[littleade]

Sorry to hear of your predicament, it must be a bit demoralising discovering you're having problems after your lay off. I know someone who has a Tiger 660 sport and he loves it. He's 70 and only about 5'6" tall so it could be worth a look?

 

[KMD]

Can’t really offer much bike advice other than to maybe take a look at some of the smaller capacity bikes, maybe half litre and DCT if such a thing exists, but I would like to say all the very best with your health mate.

 

[Schtum]

Due to number on health conditions, I hadn't ridden for 2 years until this summer. I started back on my X-Country and that went ok. After a while I got back on my GS for a few rides.

I'm still finding it very heavy to push around and I managed to drop it and fall off, going very slowly, turning into the MOT station last week.

In the meantime, I've also bought an MT-09 which is a relatively light, pocket-rocket and I've been modifying the suspension to make it ride even better. With more than twice the power and an extra 40 kg or so, it suits me much better than the X-Country.

You might want to consider one of those or an MT-07, if you don't want 100+ bhp.

In any event I hope it all goes well for you. Don't push yourself too much. A little is fine but take it gradually. I know how important riding is. I definitely feel better after I've been out on the bike.

 

[DING-DONG]

Something like this would be ideal for you, xsr700, comfy seat, bar risers, it weighs virtually nothing, cp2 engine sounds lovely when de-cat like mine and combined with the quickshifter it’s really great fun having less bhp but it doesn’t fail to keep up and sips fuel.

Mine has loads of extras and panniers, 2500 miles on the clock, totally immaculate, im off to Scotland on the 2nd for a week and will be up for sale on my return.

 

[Flintlock]

The Honda CB500X looks to be a good package.
Hope your strength improves & you find the right bike that brings the smile back on your face.

 

[Aidan1150]

Have you thought about a scooter? The 350ADV Honda appears, from what I have read here, to be very capable and might well tick your low weight, low seat height requirement.

All the best for your continuing recovery.

 

[steve hughes]

Have you thought about a scooter? The 350ADV Honda appears, from what I have read here, to be very capable and might well tick your low weight, low seat height requirement.

All the best for your continuing recovery.

I would suggest this ^^^^^ go significantly smaller , maybe even down to something like a Duke 390 or GS 310. You are rehabilitating, taking smaller steps makes most sense. A 500 may well be a compromise as your health improves you will find it too limiting. Whereas a 310/ 390 is ONLY a get you back into biking and confidence builder. When you are happy you can can revert to any “ full size” bike with no compromises eg 500/700/900 your choice.

 

[Old Den]

Went through a similar problems a few years ago. I bought a CB500X to get back into riding again . It was absolutely perfect /light /nimble/feet well planted / would do anything I wanted .
Very under rated . My advice is keep active and work at getting well it`s not easy .
Happy riding

 

[Davey B]

Sorry to hear of your medical issues. I'd not gt too hung up on sticking with a twin IF you would still struggle pushing one about. Perhaps start by going to a dealer (or maybe someone on here has one locally to you?) and seeing what its like manhandling a CB500 (190kg ish) z650RS or an MT07 (185kg) If either are OK, happy days, if not I'd be looking smaller and lighter still which would inevitably mean a single.

 

[Arsey]

Have you thought about a scooter? The 350ADV Honda appears, from what I have read here, to be very capable and might well tick your low weight, low seat height requirement.

All the best for your continuing recovery.

Was going to say just that .
Why do you (OP) need a twin or above ?
The ADV 350 is a brilliant bit of kit.It’ll do 95 flat out, cruise at 70 all day and return 75/80 mpg. Tank range is 200 miles and it has huge underseat storage.
Handles like a bike too.
Took mine to Peak District with mates on GSs and most the time I was waiting for them !

 

[brut33]

I'm currently in a rehab situation following surgery in May. I have three bikes, two of which
I'm finding it difficult to handle/manoeuvre because of their weight so they're not being used
until I'm 100% fit. I'm now using a lighter, lower retro classic 650.
The benefits of less weight, a lower seat and general ease of riding have kept me on two wheels
during this period. I'm now enjoying motorcycling probably better than I've known for a while and
have discovered less can be more regrading the size of the bike you ride.
There's some good suggestions on here from the collective re light weight bikes but if you can manage
little more weight at around the 200kg mark there's a great selection of retro classics to choose from.
I hope your recovery goes well.

 

[wessie]

A friend is 75 now. He has wonky joints and short height. He has bought a new Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen which he likes. 50kg lighter at 152kg than the ER6 he had after selling his bigger bikes.

He likes tinkering with bikes so has recently bought a Honda CB250RS (the good single cylinder one not a Superdream) which he has got running. He has a couple of small classics as well and is enjoying short trundles with owners clubs. These are a Moto Morini 2C/375 & Gilera 175 Sport. He's given up long rides and has bought a motorhome!

 

[Eastmidsbiker]

Good wishes for your continued recovery. Don't discount scooters as above, they are awesome. A SH125i got me back into bikes after a layoff and I LOVED it. I'd love a SH350 or ADV350 alongside my current bike.

Also, I had a new Triumph Trident as a loan bike (660) recently, small, light with a peach of an engine. So easy to push around.

The (bike) world is your oyster, but if I were in similar circumstances (and costs allowing) I would move on from the 750GS.

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Big Scooter is an excellent idea . Weight is low and they feel light . Try a T Max . The new 560 I have is the best of them all . you can use it for everything and you will !! Good luck with recovery

 

[Davey B]

Arsey, what are the 350 scoots like for actually manhandling about? I've had similarly weighing bikes that were poles apart at moving them about in the garage.

 

[Arsey]

Arsey, what are the 350 scoots like for actually manhandling about? I've had similarly weighing bikes that were poles apart at moving them about in the garage.

Very easy.Also a pice of piss to put on main stand

 

[Arsey]

Big Scooter is an excellent idea . Weight is low and they feel light . Try a T Max . The new 560 I have is the best of them all . you can use it for everything and you will !! Good luck with recovery

Tmax is a big old lump compared to a 350 or similar.

 

[Pootler]

You could try a Honda NC750 much lower ride height than the 750X and your 750GS, now discontinued but some good low mileage used ones out there. A really low choice would be a Kawasaki Vulcan 650, or if you want to wait into 2024 they are doing a 500cc Eliminator model again a low ride height.

 

[John RTW]

If you wanted a scooter with a bigger lump in it, without the hassle of humping it around, the latest Piaggio MP3 530 has a reverse gear.