R 850r

[Wrinkly]

Dear Mods;
Please feel free to remove this thread if it is inaproppriate.
To everyone else,my wife Jo is about to embark on the road to motorcycle ownership and will be doing her direct access in the coming month's.
After looking at several bikes she likes the low version of the F650gs twin unfortunately they are still a little above budget.
So we started to look at other stuff that was low enough in it's standard guise.
It then dawned on me that an R850r with lowered seat would be the perfect height at 770mm.
Jo's only concern is that it maybe to heavy for her.
She is 5' 2" slim and has a 28" inside leg.
Has anyone out there owned one as their first bike, any thoughts and comments much appreciated.

Steve

 

[ianboydsnr]

dont rule out the old f650 single, they are cracking bikes and there was a lowering kit for them

 

[nick.ct]

I was out on mine yesterday. On the move I think you'll find the weight is not an issue. With that in mind maybe a visit to a dealer to see what they are like in reality as far as pushing them around, using the centre stand, getting on and off on an adverse camber etc.

Just my 2p, cracking bikes BTW

Nick

 

[jimbogs1200]

I have had a F650 sinlge and a R850R.. The 850 is quite heavy IMO...but a fantastic bike.. I regret selling mine... A low F650 single would be the way to go.. You can get a nice 650 single for a little over a grand and as a starter bike it is ideal...
I think Jo might struggle with the size of a 850...

 

[Gipsy]

What's the point of starting off with a bike that is heavier or taller than it needs to be. The lowered F650 Gs single is a great bike. It can be looked at as a ' learner ' bike, but Elvie and I had one each and toured Spain twice on them before deciding we had the confidence and skills to move on to taller and heavier machines. IMHO it would be a retrograde step to pass the direct access and then possibly lose confidence on a machine heavier than the test bike.

 

[elevensies]

dont rule out the old f650 single, they are cracking bikes and there was a lowering kit for them

+1
exactly what he and others say about the f650

 

[Wrinkly]

F650 single is looking good,we have a budget of around 3.5k so should get a really nice one for that,the only down side is that to get Jo through her test and fund a bike it looks like my 1100s will have to go.
Having said that i've done about 200mls on it since having the 1150gs,the gs just seems to be the one i naturally go for and i've never been a believer in a bike sat doing nothing.
If it does come down to me selling the 1100s then i may consider getting a new or nearly new 650 twin and use it myself as well

Steve

 

[(RIP) ugg]

The fundy 650 will run rings around the big GS , a confident easy bike to ride , plenty of poke for a single , and reliable too

I went around the lake district on a XL600 PD and my mate on his fundy was always one step better than the Honda..

If i had the money id have a fundy 650 as a back up to my 1100


ugg

 

[jonothan]

The R850R was my first big bike, bought the day after I passed my Direct Access Test.

Nice low seat, and the peachiest boxer engine ever. The 850 is sewing machine smooth, much much better than the R1150R and it gives little away in terms of performance to the bigger engined roadster. Very forgiving in novice hands too, with the paralever/telelever set up.

The only drawback is the weight. At 238kg it's a heavy bike and weighs as much as the R1200GSA. But the weight is low down and if she can push it around on the drive, she'll be just fine.

I wish I'd never sold mine, I really loved that bike.

J

 

[Littledumptruck]

What's the point of starting off with a bike that is heavier or taller than it needs to be. The lowered F650 Gs single is a great bike. It can be looked at as a ' learner ' bike, but Elvie and I had one each and toured Spain twice on them before deciding we had the confidence and skills to move on to taller and heavier machines. IMHO it would be a retrograde step to pass the direct access and then possibly lose confidence on a machine heavier than the test bike.

Have to agree with this. As an IAM observer Ive seen so many newbie riders, including girlies, turn up on unsuitable bikes like SV650's, race rep 400's and even a 748 ducati, only to see them drop them repeatedly and loose all their confidence. This can then take years to regain even after swapping to more suitable bikes.

For me they need to be able to get the balls of both feet firmly planted on the ground, be sitting upright and be able to look over their shoulders comfortably. The weight will then be less of an issue, but I will say I'd be worried by the weight of any R.

IMHO the best newbie bike is a CB500 if the rider is tall enough, if not the Virago 535 is so underrated and yet such a good bike.
I'd then have to put a plug in for a local IAM group, but find a good one that aims to teach members advanced riding rather than just to pass the IAM test, there can be a huge diference.

 

[Boon]

Wifey moved form a cb 400 superfour to a R850R classic last year.

She is 5' 4.5" and needed the seat sculpted.

she isnt the biggest build......size ten.........and manages ok with the weight ...(buy engine bars )

forward planning is the order of the day .........learning to use the kerb if the road camber is too steep................planning ahead when parking etc