Just looking but......

[Silver Penguin]

Good for you, SP! I think you will LOVE that bike.
Oh, don't forget the red lipstick, k'?

LOL! What can you tell me about matching the lipstick to the bike? I had no idea that you were an expert on such things. My personal style is more chapstick than lipstick, but I'll certainly bear your advice in mind.

 

[madmike2]

Good for you, SP! I think you will LOVE that bike.
Oh, don't forget the red lipstick, k'?

LOL! What can you tell me about matching the lipstick to the bike? I had no idea that you were an expert on such things. My personal style is more chapstick than lipstick, but I'll certainly bear your advice in mind.

Wellll....advice from the "doll man": You might use the red lipstick APRES ride.

 

[krashdragon]

Way cool!

And I totally understand the "vertically challenged" part!

I still miss the FJR!

mary

 

[zorkler]

Wheellieeeeee monster . Good luck on the new ride

 

[Silver Penguin]

I promised pictures, and here they are. Just got back from our first trip to the desert with my new bike. I was delighted with the way it worked out for me. Only fell off once and I have lots of good excuses as to why.

Sunset behind the bike

One of the many trails we enjoyed

And I had to throw in just one photo of the puppies. Both are just over a year old and LOVE going camping.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Jill,

Thanks for sharing your first trip with the new bike...it looks wonderful.

 

[feejer222]

Looks great Jill, looking foreward to the action shots! Enjoy, you know I'm jealouse.

 

[Old Michael]

Only fell off once and I have lots of good excuses as to why.

Go ahead then, ...but it had better be good.

Very nice shots, Jill.

...but those doggies look pampered. They're not, are they?

---and good to see you posting feejer222. Howdy.

 

[dcarver]

Very cool Jill! How did the suspension work for you? Or is that what caused the get off? How does desert sand taste?

 

[Silver Penguin]

Only fell off once and I have lots of good excuses as to why.

Go ahead then, ...but it had better be good.

Very nice shots, Jill.

...but those doggies look pampered. They're not, are they?

I was tired. The sun was in my eyes. The sand suddenly got much deeper. The guy in front was going to slow. It was the wrong time of the month. I was tired. There is a part of the small print in the owner's manual that says the bike doesn't work in sand more than 12" deep. I was tired. Are those enough excuses? Basically, I let off the throttle too much because the violent slewing sideways in the sand was scaring me. I should have held the throttle or added more.

Don't think the doggies are TOO pampered but then they're the only dogs I've ever had so I have nothing to compare them to B)

The guy who read our gas meter this morning wasn't impressed with them. We met him, in the back yard on our way home from a walk. I've never seen a man get plastered to a wall so fast. He was spreadeagled, white-faced and almost shaking. Guess he's not a dog person.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Very cool Jill! How did the suspension work for you? Or is that what caused the get off? How does desert sand taste?

Suspension was awesome! What a difference it makes, to ride an adult-proportioned bike rather than a kiddie-bike. I went up a hill that I would have never dreamed of doing on the 125, but the rider in front went up and the guy behind looked like he was going up too, so I had to do it. The bike just sailed up there, solid as a rock.

Having built up the confidence to ride the slightly taller 230, I also took Andy's WR250 for a spin. I can't really reach the ground worth a darn on that, but I had a blast. The bike is a lot friskier than my chugalong sewing machine Honda.

I guess what counts is that we're out there, having fun.

Sorry we'll miss you guys playing in the rain this weekend - we had plans to bring both GS's but I have to work this weekend (nothing to do with the weather, but my CBA membership remains intact).

 

[Hudson]

Nice ride, Jill! I looked at the 230L at the recent Seattle show, but whereas it was just right for you, it was a wee bit small (and heavier) for me. I fell in love with the Husky TE series, and like you, took the boys up to the local dealer just to kick the tires. They had one last 09 TE 310 at a good price, and after I haggled a bit (with my better half, not with the dealer), I was the proud owner of a Husky. I pick it up this weekend!

The Husky differs from the rest of the enduro oriented dual sports in that it is really just a dirt bike with a headlight, speedo, brake and turn signals, and weighs a bit less. One gripe I have is the tank size: not quite 2 gallons, which yields at best a 70 mile range. It is not really intended for highway driving either, but since I live local distance to some great trails, no need to ever get on the highway.

The 230 and the Yammie version are nice, solid bikes. I hear you on the ride height: I was hoping to find one bike that could fit my wife and I, but everything we found was a compromise for me. I think she will end up getting either a CRF150F or something similar to your choice.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Nice bike, Hudson. One of my friends has a similar Husky and loves it. She is a bit taller than me and on the limit of her reach with it, but it's well worth it for her to enjoy the bike.

I'm envious that you're in close range for the local trails. We trail our bikes to the desert, which takes 3 1/2hrs on a good day but took almost 6hrs last time.

My Honda is pretty much the same seat height as the FJR, but of course, a lot lighter. If your wife can reach the ground on the FJR, she'll be fine with the CRF. Do note that the dual sport is a lot lower than the pure off road version. I tried to get onto one of those and couldn't even get my leg over the seat.

Have fun with the Husky, and do let us know what you get for your wife. Pictures are expected, of course.