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seraph
05-10-2009, 10:24 PM
Problem: housemate wants to ride up here in qld. LAMS has come in, but all the >250cc bikes are guff, hence solutions to be limited to 250cc rides.

Being a 6ft4inch 140kg type, most 250's will be miniscule, and the suspension won't be up to fanging it in the hills on bumpy qld roads. He's likely to be doing a LOT of riding (everyday commuting and 2-3 day rides a week) and he really wants to LEARN how to ride properly. Therefore, he WILL be doing suspension work on it. Is there anything else one needs to consider? I think he just wants it to work to the limit of his riding abilities.

So... what bike do y'all recommend? What worked/didn't work for you kids when you were learning on a quarterbike?

Muchos gracias, folks :) J.
drukenhard
05-10-2009, 10:42 PM
GS500F didn't work for me but I'm a bit smaller than your mate (about 1/2 size.....well if he was 160kg!)
Looooove my CBR250RR but don't think it'd deal with the extra weight too well.....so I'd have to recommend the GS (or the other Suzuki that looks like a GSX-R from the front)
SIX36
05-10-2009, 10:43 PM
Dzr supermoto...
stetto
05-10-2009, 10:58 PM
If he has the money, theres an er-6nL and ninja 650RL both lams approved
jace
05-10-2009, 11:02 PM
Hyosung 650 ?

They're cheap too.....:ayyy:



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*Oggy*
05-10-2009, 11:09 PM
Luckily Queensland do similar to NSW where its a set amount of bikes that are lager capacity then 250cc (within certain power to weight) limits..

Link below show the full list....

If I was that tall / heavy, then I'd have to go for an off road type bike and beef up suspension.... The DR650 is a fun bike that you can modify pretty cheaply...

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/eb232b06ef08a71/Pdf_lam_scheme_list_090831.pdf
*Oggy*
05-10-2009, 11:11 PM
Just saw they list the RD400 as learner legal..... WTF.... now if I he was smaller then thats a fun bike !!!!
jace
05-10-2009, 11:16 PM
Just saw they list the RD400 as learner legal..... WTF.... now if I he was smaller then thats a fun bike !!!!

RD's, great wheely machines too....

G, that brings back memories...



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hoffy
05-10-2009, 11:33 PM
id go down the 650 chookie route, DR650, KLR650 and the like. Will give him leg room and a bit of grunt over a 250.
seraph
05-10-2009, 11:33 PM
all these bloody numbers and letters are doing my head in!!!! (then again maybe it's the 6-pack doing my head in) I'll look these suggestions up at work tomorrow and see whether I can come up with a good plan for him. Thanks lads! J.
seraph
05-10-2009, 11:46 PM
7-pack :D beerbeerbeer woooo!!!! J.
seraph
08-10-2009, 02:41 PM
anyone got anything to say about the GS500? It's currently a contender, but I'm not familiar with them. Thanks! J.
*Oggy*
08-10-2009, 02:55 PM
anyone got anything to say about the GS500? It's currently a contender, but I'm not familiar with them. Thanks! J.

Not a bad bike, but pogo stick standard suspension... What you/he needs to do is talk with a suspension guy (someone who will do the work for him)...say were thinking of buying a XXX for a guy of superior weigh and height !!!!!.. Whats the $$$$ to mod the suspension..

I'm sure some bikes will cost more than others, but a GS500 in standard trim wouldnt like this guy !!!!

Google "gs500" you'll get an idea on what the bike looks like....
clarkey
08-10-2009, 03:00 PM
Hyosung 650 ?

They're cheap too.....:ayyy:



.

One of the ducati 620 monters was lams approved .....a wee bit better than the hyosung :confused1:
seraph
08-10-2009, 07:48 PM
One of the ducati 620 monters was lams approved .....a wee bit better than the hyosung :confused1:

a wee bit more expensive too, purchase price, servicing, insurance...
Devilish
08-10-2009, 08:28 PM
GS500 are great for huge guys... I am massive, much bigger than the guy your describing and I am comfortable on them...

two of my mates both over 6'4'' had GS500F's as their learner bikes and I had to be different and buy the Hyodung POS... wish I had bought a GS500....

I sell Suzuki and we sell truck loads of them, very popular bike!! So that is always good for the resale!

We used to chase 600's and 1000's through the national park and never used to be far behind... you can do the same speeds on the GS500's.... just takes a little longer to get to them! haha
seraph
08-10-2009, 11:01 PM
were you riding on stock suspension? if so, how'd you find that? and if not, what did you (or your friends) do to it? I'd get Zeno to look at it but Chris and I live in brisbane and Jim never gets up here to visit *scowl*
wombbat
09-10-2009, 12:32 AM
go for an off road type bike and beef up suspension.... The DR650 is a fun bike that you can modify pretty cheaply...
DR650 is a top suggestion for the corporeally over-advantaged:popcorn:
Devilish
09-10-2009, 12:28 PM
were you riding on stock suspension? if so, how'd you find that? and if not, what did you (or your friends) do to it? I'd get Zeno to look at it but Chris and I live in brisbane and Jim never gets up here to visit *scowl*

They turned the suspension right up to stiffen it up and still bounced their way through corners. Standard the suspension is soft, but I am sure you can ship the bikes to Zeno and he can fix it up for you!!

As I said, we caned through national parks, one mate even scraped a knee quite often on his GS500F on standard suspension... ocassionally they would still bottom out the lower fairing when really cranked over and bounced on bumps.... not the ideal situation, but the fairing always took the brunt :)