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30 Oct 2012
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I've sold the Sprint now, and got a F650GS instead. It was the same 955i engine as yours, although in a slightly different state of tune. It was an awesome motor, useable from city commuting to blasting the autobahns with equal ease. The only issue I had was oil consumption, which I believe is a problem with some of the 955 bikes (not sure about the 1050s). With high-speed use, it was drinking a litre every 1000 miles, less with more moderate use. Although Triumph argue that this is 'within acceptable limits', I would say it was unacceptably high for a modern bike. My XT (30k hard miles, 800 bodging owners before me) uses precisely zero litres between changes, so it can be done.
I would think twice about taking that bike on a RTW trip just on the oil issue, but if yours is a good one (luck of the draw, I think), then I would agree - brilliant motor and excellent overall build quality. Triumph have got it right, pretty much.
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30 Oct 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackDogZulu
I've sold the Sprint now, and got a F650GS instead. It was the same 955i engine as yours, although in a slightly different state of tune. It was an awesome motor, useable from city commuting to blasting the autobahns with equal ease. The only issue I had was oil consumption, which I believe is a problem with some of the 955 bikes (not sure about the 1050s). With high-speed use, it was drinking a litre every 1000 miles, less with more moderate use. Although Triumph argue that this is 'within acceptable limits', I would say it was unacceptably high for a modern bike. My XT (30k hard miles, 800 bodging owners before me) uses precisely zero litres between changes, so it can be done.
I would think twice about taking that bike on a RTW trip just on the oil issue, but if yours is a good one (luck of the draw, I think), then I would agree - brilliant motor and excellent overall build quality. Triumph have got it right, pretty much.
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Wow.. that is high.. I have read people experiencing this. It tends to be a lottery. The general consensus (aka forum talk), seems to suggest an over gentle running in period and/or the type of oil.
Mine hasn't burnt a drop since I've had it. And I ride it like it should be 
I wouldn't take mine RTW either. For a start it's too heavy and top heavy at that. As a road bike and a tourer though, I LOVE IT !!
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31 Oct 2012
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I think 'lottery' sums it up. Bike magazine had one on long-term test ( I think a 955 Tiger, but not certain) and thought that modern bikes didn't need the oil checking. They ran it dry and wrecked it, and Triumph weren't too pleased. Bike argued that a modern bike shouldn't use that much oil (and I agree). Triumph responded that a competent owner should check the oil in any case (and I agree with that too). But then Triumph tried to argue that one litre per 1000 miles was an acceptable (and even an 'industry standard') level of consumption. I call BS on that. I have owned a long string of old, knackered, neglected bikes in my time, but I have never had a bike that used oil at that rate.
To be fair, that rate of oil consumption was achieved 2-up on French and German motorways, moderately hot weather, and cruising for the most part between 90 and 110 mph. In normal use, it used about half as much. I posted a query on the Triumph RAT forum (mainly US-based) and got a variety of responses from 'mine uses none at all' to 'mine uses more than yours, but it's a Triumph and that's the price of character'.
If yours is a good one, it's a keeper, as it is possibly the best real-world road-bike motor I have ever had - with the possible exception of Ducati's awesome 992 cc Desmodue V-twin. But 1 cc of oil per mile travelled was a deal-breaker for me. I realised that for the next extended trip I would need to plan for oil supplies as well as everything else, and it would be easier to take the oiltight XT instead 
(Funnily enough, it seemed to use less oil, and run better, with semi-synth rather than full synth. Full synth ruined the gearchange.)
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30 Jan 2013
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Suzuki DRZ400
Thanks guys for so many replies! But I finally had my decision, I'm not going to take a BMW 800GS, or the Triumph 800XC, nether the Tenere XTZ660! I am gonna take the Suzuki DRZ400! It's much lighter, only 119kg (dry), almost no electronic apart the starter, easier to fix and find parts and finally, very reliable. That's the right machine!
By the way, any tips for it?
Cheers,
Joas
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30 Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joasphoto
!
By the way, any tips for it?
Cheers,
Joas
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Wade through the threads in here is one option for information:-
Suzuki Tech - Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB
There's been some recent discussion about the various models sold in different markets; the concensus was that you do not want to buy the enduro "E" model which is too specialised (for which I mean highly tuned with a weak subframe as the main points) for overlanding.
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30 Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joasphoto
Thanks guys for so many replies! But I finally had my decision, I'm not going to take a BMW 800GS, or the Triumph 800XC, nether the Tenere XTZ660! I am gonna take the Suzuki DRZ400! It's much lighter, only 119kg (dry), almost no electronic apart the starter, easier to fix and find parts and finally, very reliable. That's the right machine!
By the way, any tips for it?
Cheers,
Joas
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I rode one UK-South Africa in 10/11. I know it inside and out.
My website has most of the info on the prep I did.
Touring Ted - look for 'DRZ Prep' on the menu.
The ESSENTIAL things to do are..
Loctite the stator and pick-up bolts.
Fit 'case savers' to the engine cases (cases are cheese)
Change oil every 2-3000 miles and check it OFTEN. It only takes 1900cc.
larger tank. Clark 15L gets you about 200-220 miles. There is a HUGE 28L Safari tank available too but it's expensive.
Apart from that it's a VERY reliable bike. Don't expect anything more than 60-65mph though.
And PACK VERY LIGHT - I can't stress that enough. It's not a touring bike and the suspension and engine won't thank you for dragging the kitchen sink along.
There is a lot of stuff you can do for "uncorking".
Removing the PAIR valve, removing the carb solenoid.
You can also jet and fit a Scorpion exhaust for more BHP.
If you have anymore questions, feel free to PM me 
HOWEVER........... If I was doing the trip again, I'd of gone with the XT660Z Tenere. 20,000 miles was just too much on a DRZ400 for my ass. lol
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23 Feb 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joasphoto
I am gonna take the Suzuki DRZ400! It's much lighter, only 119kg (dry),
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First tip is dont kid yourself about the weight. Thats the E model, which you would not really want to take adventuring as it has no subframe, no instruments, lumpier cam, only runs on high octane fuel and is not street legal.
The normal S version of the DRZ is 133 - 134 kgs dry.
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23 Feb 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch
First tip is dont kid yourself about the weight.
The normal S version of the DRZ is 133 - 134 kgs dry.
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Da ! Emphatically.
And it's weight is HIGH. Rides with less graceful balance than my considerably heavier KTM 950 in the tight, slow stuff.
The FCR carb and the slightly higher compression are a drag for RTW and crap fuel. Especially the FCR in colder times or higher elevations.
The S/SM are much better & easier for your goals, IMHO. And the suspension components on the SM, at least the front forks, are much better.
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23 Feb 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch
First tip is dont kid yourself about the weight. Thats the E model, which you would not really want to take adventuring as it has no subframe, no instruments, lumpier cam, only runs on high octane fuel and is not street legal.
The normal S version of the DRZ is 133 - 134 kgs dry.
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And that's before you larger tank, radiator guards, screen etc.
But you might end up doing that to any bike.
Still, it's pretty lightweight compared to most.
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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24 Feb 2013
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I ragged the arse off a drz 400 sm round France in 2007,to world enduro round at noiretable,around some of the course on the Thursday..which you wouldn't entertain on the panzer BMW gs or ktm 990 etc.then on to Spain where it went most places in the dry that I've taken a proper dirtbike in the hills surrounding where some friends live.
It's not got the longest of legs on the motorways but it can do them,but with bubble wrap on the seat and a 15 litre Clarke tank it done from figueres back up to dieppe in a day..silencer melted the number plate and right hand throw over pannier was incinerated after...if I was going longer distance would just ride it a bit more gently..
It's a very capable bike..if your not in too much of a hurry.
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16 Apr 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappybiker
Ok you can do 45,000km in Australia but that certainly isn't using crap fuel in third world countries, The Tenere is low compression and can handle a lot lower quality of fuel than the highly strung F800GS, my friend who also rode the Americas with me had exactly the same issues which are actually quite common with these bikes, I am not commenting on the 1200GS because I dont have experince on this bike but I know for a fact the the F800GS is a lemon for riding around the world, wait to your fan jams from dust in TDF, water pump fails (4 times) back wheel explodes at 35,000km in Chile and BMW blames the roads and wants to charge US$2500 for a new back wheel, magneto fails in the middle of the Atacama desert and you miss following the Dakar with your mates, bike stops for no reason in the US (Software update according to BMW Denver) countless fuel breakdowns in Boliva and Peru, as for quality please explain why BMW charges 25 Euros for crap Tawianese wheel bearings? bad quality Czech Republic chains that snap...etc etc.
As for sales of bikes, european built bike sales have been in decline for the last four years, Honda for example has sold 60 million cub's, Yamaha last year sold 157,731 units that's almost as much as all the European manufacturers combined in 2011, BMW sell around 4000-5000 units in a good month so the number argument doesn't stack up, BMW come up with problems in Google searches because they have a high amount of problems, did you see any European cars in the top 15 of reliabilty surveys for example?...No because its mostly Japanese who have got the engineering down to a fine art, I know people are sensitive about the bikes they own but sorry the F800GS is no "Around the world" bike and never will be!...I also bought into the BMW hype and it cost me a huge amount of cash and plenty of stress, so unless you buy into the whole "You meet the nicest people when you breakdown" thing, I however prefer to enjoy the trip and not worry about when my bike will break down next and keep my money for (In no particular order) fuel, Ladies and 
Update: I checked out the new 2013 F800GS and I see they now have a New water pump and Rear hub, funny how they keep these changes very secret and when I tried to claim on warranty they told me they had never heard of a rear hub bearing breaking apart....still wouldnt trust it! |
I just want to add in reference to the Japanese reliability, I have a 2009 Honda CBR600RR, my choice of touring bike, sorry guys i love it. The bike has been ridden 50,000 kms since its first day all in PAKISTAN. I've taken it to the KKH many times and Kashmir, Gawadar. Quetta on the list to do.
The only thing I have done as yet is change oil, oil filter and wash the K&N filter, change chain kit due to wear over 40000kms. The only thing that I have changed out of the regular maintenance is the chain tensioner, only recently.
Knowing that the petrol here is not that good and I have never put hi-octane, never changed spark plugs as yet, the Japanese have definitely perfected these machines as compared to BMW. (owned a F650GS before this).
I have a sports bike but knowing the kind of problems I may experience with a beemer, I would rather go around the world on my honda CBR
Regards,
Zoeed "Madman" Arshad
Check out: Zoeed Arshad
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16 Apr 2013
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Your original question was a choice of 3 bikes for the long trip. BMW. I have had my eye on the same bikes. I came away with the conclusion that the BMW would be the most durable of the three in an off road beat down.
old man on a kid's bike,
klxsquirrel
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
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