What’s next

What’s next

Now that I’ve been to every continental state and Hawaii, Alaska is the only thing left for me in the United States.  For the last few months I’ve been studying roads and ways to get to Alaska, COVID restrictions, potential roads in Alaska, camping areas, places to see, so much information!  While I’ve yet to finalize, or even come close to making decisions on this, I first have to decide what to ride.  Lucille is awesome, but she isn’t built for the dirt, and there are a lot of dirt roads in Alaska that I’d like to explore.  I’ve been doing a bunch of research.

So many options

There are a LOT of them, and they all have pluses and minuses.  BMW makes a R1250GS, which is the same bike as Lucille, just an adventure version.  This was the first bike I looked at for the Alaska adventure.  The problem with this bike is the height and weight of it.  I did not grow up riding motorcycles and the only dirt experience I have is when I have accidentally taken Lucille in the dirt.  I have struggled with Lucille’s height and weight and the adventure version is significantly taller.  I, knowing myself, did not think this would be the bike for me.

BMW R1250GS

There are a couple other adventure options by BMW, the F850GS, the F750GS, and the G310GS in new bikes, and other, older models of various engine size.  Triumph makes the Tiger 900 and now, the stripped down 850 model, along with the older Tiger 800.  Royal Enfield makes the Himalayan, which is tough, but with no luxuries added in like cruise control or heated grips (necessities in my world).  So I had a lot of research to do.

           

BMW G310GS                                                      Triumph Tiger 900                                             Honda CB500X

I drug my trusty BFG to motorcycle shops and private parties to try different bikes on for size.  Given how big Lucille is, and how intimidated I had been by her, and needing to learn a new way of riding, I definitely wanted something smaller.  But, I am old and I like my comfort.  I wanted cruise control and heated grips, at a minimum, and whatever other extras I could afford.  I also needed something that could ride at highway speed for extended time periods, and I wanted it to be comfortable.

A decision

After scouring the internet for whatever information it would provide, and driving different places to try different motorcycles on for size, mostly at the “local” BMW dealer, A&S Motorcycles, I thought I settled on a F750GS with a lowered suspension.  This is a bike I can flat foot, which isn’t important for some, but it is for me, on this bike.  As most of you know, I cannot put both feet flat on the ground on Lucille and can only just get the balls of my feet down.  However, I felt learning to ride off-road, I would have more confidence and be more successful on a lower bike.  Lucille is about luxury, the 750 is about fun.

BMW F750GS

Test ride

My BFG and I went down on a weekend to try it on for size.  The fit was great.  We tried on the Triumph Tiger 900 as well.  It was a bit higher and a bit more expensive, with additional features.  While I would feel comfortable enough on that one, it was taller, and I worried it may be too tall.  We discussed a lot over the next week.  I decided the F750GS would be better suited to me as a new off-road rider.  We went back the following weekend to test ride it.  The F750GS was so different from Lucille, I couldn’t believe it!  Light and quick, I enjoyed the bike a lot.  My BFG suggested we leave after the test ride, so we did. 

           

Gearing up for the test ride                                Fits me pretty well                             Test riding into the sunset

There is a feature you can’t get on a lowered suspension, the ESA, which is electronically controlled suspension.  With the ESA, you select on the dash if you’re a single rider, single rider with gear, riding double, or riding double with gear, and the bike makes the decision on how soft or hard the suspension should be.  I have this feature on Lucille and really like it.  When the suspension is lowered, a manual adjustment is necessary.  Most people set their suspension and promptly forget about it, and I’m likely to be one of those.  So, the ESA wasn’t a deal breaker for me.  However, if I got a regular suspension, with a low seat, the height difference would only be about an inch.  It might be doable.  I found a regular suspension and I took my BFB to try it on for size.  It was significantly taller, and it didn’t feel like losing an inch would be enough to make it as comfortable as possible for me.  I also tried on the F850GS, which actually has the same engine as the 750.  I liked the 850 a lot, but it also, even with a low suspension, was taller than I would feel comfortable learning on.

There was much discussion with my family about if it were a good idea, and of course, much shopping. I finally settled on a blue one from the dealer. I have had many motorcycles in my life but have only purchased a brand new one once before. It was both exciting and scary, but in the end, my experience with A&S Motorcycles was great and Mo was wonderful to work with. Elaine in parts was also a wonder, and everyone I met there was super pleasant. Not to make this sound like an advertisement or anything, but I believe you should share your good experiences and bad, so there it is.

Bust out the checkbook

We went back to the dealer and I bought the bike.  It took a lot longer than I thought it would have to buy it, what with all the paperwork and such.  Though I got to the dealer around 1:30 in the afternoon, I didn’t end up being all finished and read to go until about 6:30 that night.  My first ride was going to be in the dark and cold!  At least I would be riding!

                       

The new, as yet unnamed bike!  Isn’t she pretty?

And, let me tell you, that first ride was FUN!  This new bike was a completely a different ride from Lucille.  I compared it to driving your Bentley, then driving your Subaru Impreza!  I had a great time zipping around on her.  I didn’t really open her up, as she had only 5 miles on her and you need to be gentle on those engines during the break-in period, but I could definitely see how much fun I’d be having on her.  Unfortunately, since the day I bought her, the weather has been truly atrocious for riding and I’ve not been able to take her out.

Stand by for more to come on our adventures.  I can’t wait to see where Lucille and my new girl take me!