What Bike For A Frail Ex-Racer?

[KTMsm]

A year ago I delivered a TL1000S to an elderly guy who then admitted he probably couldn't get on it but if not he would just look at it in his garage (I offered to take it back at the time)

He's now contacted me to say could I take it back and supply something else as he can't get his leg over it

He's an ex bike racer who's late 70s and doesn't want a scooter or a cruiser but is struggling with seat height and bike weight

Has anyone got any suggestions ideally sub £3k the smaller and lighter the better

[roca1976]

Duke 390

[Jazoli]

One of the recent Honda 500’s would fit the bill, CB500x sort of thing maybe.

Light, easy to manage, enough oomph

[carinaman]

I am not big and not that strong and confident. I found the high bars on the RE Meteor 350 made it a piece of urine to move around the garage. It's not that light but the weight seems low down in the frame. But the feet forward pegs are a bit cruiser. The RE dealer said he had an elderly chap who bought one as he can handle it.

The 2017 Duke 390 have an 830mm seat height. They're light. To me the Duke 790 size wise felt like an RD250DX and the Duke 390, which comes in 125 size, felt like a 125.

The 2013 to 2016 has an 800mm seat height and weighs around 140kg. Also comes in a 200cc 25bhp format, there's one in Lancs. on MCN for just over £2K.

Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 10th April 17:43

[KTMsm]

Just checked and the TL is only slightly higher at 820mm so I don't think a 800mm will be low enough to get his leg over

Shame because I think a 390 Duke would be ideal

He's a lovely guy so I'd like to get him back on a bike if I can

[stepaway]

I’ve got a little G310r BMW. Similar to the Duke. Lightweight, easy to manoeuvre and very neutral to ride. Again just enough oomph and a nice noise once you get up through the rev band (for its type)

I believe you can get a lowering kit that might make it easier to swing a leg over

Standard seat height is 785mm minus the 25mm this kit offers might make it work?

https://www.adventurebikestore.co.uk/height-loweri...

[Chipchap]

Triumph 1200 Bobber isn’t exactly a cruiser but has a really low seat and a mountain of grunt.

[carinaman]

I walked past a Triumph Street Twin the earlier 54bhp one and that didn't look big to me but they're not £3K.

CMX500 Rebels (Cruisery) start at £4K - The motorcyclist along the road with two litre plus lowrider cruiser type bikes and a 300cc super scooter reckons the Rebel 500 is a pleasant ride.

The Vulcan S (Cruisery) is half the budget again but I spoke to an elderly chap who'd got a lightly used one that had been adapted for an amputee. The elderly chapped previously had a Harley.

790mm and 183kg and budget of half again - Ducati Scrambler 400.

The image is questionable but 765mm seat height and you could probably get a new one for £3K:

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/enfi...

Monkey bike, not a Scooter:

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/hond...


You could help get past Scooter image by showing him videos of racers on scooters?

Italjet Dragsters look cool to me but £4K.

Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 10th April 19:08

[J6542]

Ducati scrambler would be perfect. The cheapest are about 4K though.

[srob]

Something like a Suzuki RG125? Seems seat height a bit lower than TL but would be way narrower and lighter and a proper blast to ride.

Wouldn’t lose any money either.

[BlackG7R]

Honda CL500 (check out Mr. Fish on Youtube)

.....or maybe a bit extreme, but small, light, fun a Honda Grom

[mudnomad]

Honda grom. Doesn't get smaller and lighter 🙃and it's a lot of fun

[Biker 1]

I know someone with a fked leg who rides one of those 650 Honda off road scootery things. I've never seen someone ride something with knobblies that fast on the road. OP: at least get the chap to test ride one....

[roboxm3]

Ducati Monster!?

£3k will get you a decent older 600 which should tick the 90's retro and v-twin boxes that the TL did...

Edited by roboxm3 on Thursday 11th April 08:49

[KTMsm]

Looking at the suggestions shows how few options there are

Lots of the low seat suggestions have a raised passenger seat so it's still awkward to get on

The Ducati scrambler is an option but over his budget

He wants to ride with his mates on big bikes so a Grom etc isn't going to work

[Chipchap]

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer has a 775mm seat height as std. No rear hump so easy to get onto.

Yes it could easily be more money than he wants to spend but its at least modern but in a nostalgic way and can pop along quite nicely.

[garylythgoe]

900 Street Twin is low, and no big hump, and not heavy.
I'd be shoveling him in that direction.

[carinaman]

Chipchap said:

Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer has a 775mm seat height as std. No rear hump so easy to get onto.

Yes it could easily be more money than he wants to spend but its at least modern but in a nostalgic way and can pop along quite nicely.

Used ones seem to start at £5500 - Odd balloon tryes like a 1950s Sunbeam S7/S8 type thing. Or a VanVan.

[javavodka]

I recommend a honda cb350r 30hp 140kg. brilliant fun bike, I chopped mine in last year for a new hornet , I miss the little cb .

[carinaman]

I am not sure we get a CB350R in the UK. We get the CB300R but that has a 800mm seat height that the OP thinks may be too high for the customer.

A new CBF300 is half the budget again and has a higher pillion that the customer may struggle to swing a leg over.