I tried a Motard last week
 

Well, my buds talked me into riding one of their Motard bikes last week (really it was one of the wives bike). I haven't ridden many dirt or DP bikes and I'd never been on one with street tires, wheels and brakes.

We rode about 50 miles in Western NC around Fontana and the Gap thru gnarly little back roads and then rung them out on 129 from Yellow Creek back to the DG motel. I really enjoyed the ride, it reminded me of the way it was when I first started riding. Good fun, decent power, pretty good handling and brakes, but mostly just fun, because you can ride any type road. The front felt a bit skittish after riding sport bikes, but I figured out pretty quick that the fix is sit on the tank and screw on the throttle. It also made my CBR feel as smooth as a Cadillac after thumping around on a single. I had a good time riding the thing.

havent had the chance to ride one yet, but am seriously considering one for my next bike

Did you inhale? :lol:

After riding one for the last year, I'm moving back to an SV. After owning 6 bikes of various engine configs, I'm really understanding the draw of the 90 degree Twin. The motard is fun to ride but the thumper just isn't an engine I enjoy.

I wanna ride one. They certainly look like a blast to ride.

Too cool, you gonna pick one up?

I agree, having the DRZ is nice, but without the option of full on dirt like mine has, it wouldn't be a bike I would keep. It's highly uncomfortable, get on any road at about 55 mph speed limit or above and you are now battling cars instead of easily passing them like on a sport bike because these things just don't perform above 65. Add to that fact that they are beat the living shit out of you, it's just not a good all around bike. It's a fun toy if you got cash to spare on a bike you won't use a lot, but I wouldn't make it my only bike. One thing I noticed is I have seen a lot of people drawn to these bikes because of the hooliganism aspect of it, just to see these same bikes on craigslist/local forums not a few months after they bought them once they realized it wasn't a good only bike option.

yeah, i have to buddies that just bought aprilias, and they dont like them already, had them for less than a month,

don't know why but I would like to have one too as an aditional bike. I don't like the 250's though. not enough power.

The one I rode was 650 Suzuki. Not a power house, but strong enough to get around on. It would cruise along at 75 just fine. If I had the money to have an additional fun bike I would think about getting one, but not ever as my only ride.