Guys, I remember in the 80s selling bikes, some riders would be talking about riding the "big bikes" years back, they were talking the Honda Dream, Hawk, and Scrambler 250s and 305s. Then later big was 750. Now those are starter bikes and some 1000-1100s considered starters too. Riders rode what they could.

But I do go along with the fart thing these days.

Still, who's the biggest fool, the guy touring on a 250 dual sport or the guy riding off road around the world on a sport bike?

Personally I'd take a 250 with a comfortable seat any day.

 

I agree. I love the klx go and do anything versatility.

 

No-one except maybe a gorilla would consider 1000's starter bikes

 

A friend of mine was convinced by a salesman that a 1000cc sport bike was a starter bike. He spent 6 months in the hospital and had to relearn to walk.

 

It'll be slow going. Gotta get the other KLX running right, and prepped for this years woods riding!

 

As a former motorcycle salesperson I, along with the owner/dealer and the other sales people, took very seriously how possibly skilled the customer might be. More often than not we were recommending less powerful rides to the newer rider. We cared, we figured the best way to get repeat customers was to keep them healthy and riding. A bit different than some. I had riders start with 450 Nighthawks that eventually stepped up to bigger sport bikes or other Nighthawks. They also bought off roaders and ATVs, amazing what can happen when you show concern and try to get riders on the right machine.

Wild part is I don't know if I ever had any customer that was severely injured or killed. Out of over 400 customers I don't think so. In 1983 when the V65 Magna came out people were being killed left and right crashing them. One dealership in Ohio had 7 fatalities on bikes they sold. No one who bought one from us was killed on the V65, only one crashed out that we knew of. He got distracted and ended up going off the road at about 35 to avoid rear ending a truck. He hit a curb, the bike cartwheeled and destroyed itself, he rolled on the ground and came out fine.

We were motorcyclists who made a living in the industry. We figured we'd make out fine selling what we should. Money was actually secondary in the sale, a safe ride for the customer was primary... then came the money negotiation.

 

You were one of the good people!

 

I remember rding a curvy asphalt section on my KLR650, then swapping to my buddy's Magna and going back through the same section. Had a relatively hard time keeping a good line going back through those curves. Was that the problem with the Magna, or was it something else?

 

Long forks, laid back geometry, laid back ergonomics, heavy, poor weight distribution... it was a power cruiser, not much of a corner burner.

 

The Gas Gas 400 450 frames looks like ours.

And safari tanks makes a model for that bike, I love the sharp modern design of the tank, too bad its basically the same size as the 3.7gal that we currently have available..

Gas Gas 400/450 Pamperas Safari Fuel Tank