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RTW on a R1200gsa or Africa Twin RTW on a R1200gsa or Africa Twin
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #16  
Old 8 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heavens angel View Post
............ until I could afford the vehicle I wanted, with the full options.

regards
No disrespect intended, but I don't think you understand.

Hammer #1 is proven, its faults all known, can be repaired by most shops, parts can be rigged...and it continues to pound nails.

Hammer #2 is not proven, all its faults are not known, many known faults can not be repaired by most shops...and needed parts could leave this hammer not pounding nails for several weeks, and even longer.

Do you want to pound nails or look at a pretty bike?

Some people believe that a new fancy bike impresses others, and it may to some degree, but not experienced travelers.

Go with your dreams, live life. Blinders have a habit of falling off as you learn.
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  #17  
Old 9 Jan 2008
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Originally Posted by heavens angel View Post

I agree with you Warthog, my mind says AT but my heart says GSA.

The trip is going to be a once in a lifetime trip, and I'd love to have a beautiful looking machine alongside,
The AT is a beautiful looking machine (well to me anyway....)

Seriously both bikes are worthy bikes, maybe write down all the pros and cons in a list and see what one has the most cons.

...or draw out from the bank the difference in cost between an AT and a GS and say to yourself I can have this GS or I can have this AT AND this big lump of cash!
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  #18  
Old 9 Jan 2008
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Originally Posted by heavens angel View Post
The other side to this is that I thought I was old enough to be past that stage when you long for a vehicle, but settle for something else cause it's cheaper, then you spend the next few years tarting it to up to look like the bike you wanted in the first place.
Stop hankering after bikes?!?

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't think we ever grow out of that!!

Then again, thats what biking is partly about: really being passionate about it all.

Which ever bike you get, I bet you'll still want to tart it up a bit. One thing I do admire is a bike, perhaps an older model, that has really been worked on to make it THE tool for the job: always looks like the rider has been tweeking with the benefit of experience so that every accessory, bracket and bolt-on is exactly placed and chosen for a reason.

Ironically, my old 1150 GS was almost there, although my mods had not been very adventurous, or particularly technical.
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  #19  
Old 9 Jan 2008
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I'll be honest I was in the sameboat, and I went with my heart not my head! I am the one riding it, and I have never looked back and yes you will want to keep adding parts.
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  #20  
Old 6 Feb 2008
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GS versus AT
Yesterday I bought a R1100GS (that is still in Sweden) as my wife wants to join me on my trips. Riding two on a AT is not very nice .The AT is a great bike, I know as I have a RD07 in my garage at the moment. The AT needs very little maintenance to run but adjusting the valves is a real task. Fortunately you don´t need to do that very often after they have settled.
The things I would look out for is the wheel bearings and seals. The seals often makes grooves in the spacers that has to be replaced or machined. I changed the whole set of bearings on my AT last summer with about 50K on the meter and most of the bearings were nearly shot. What was earlier mentioned about the fuel pump has not happened to me(yet) and I think corroded couplings are to blame for the destroyed regulators. Once a year I would strip off all plastic and treat all electric connectors with cleaner fluid. Hope that I will have as little problems with my Beemer as I had with my AT.
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  #21  
Old 6 Feb 2008
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it seems
Quote:
Originally Posted by heavens angel View Post
Hi,

Thanks Stephano for the infos on bike 4 sale in Dubai. I shall look into that.

I agree with you Warthog, my mind says AT but my heart says GSA.

The trip is going to be a once in a lifetime trip, and I'd love to have a beautiful looking machine alongside, but then again don't want nightmarish flashbacks of breakdowns to haunt me for years to come.

The other side to this is that I thought I was old enough to be past that stage when you long for a vehicle, but settle for something else cause it's cheaper, then you spend the next few years tarting it to up to look like the bike you wanted in the first place. Some years ago I decided to stop doing that, and work a little harder, for a little longer, until I could afford the vehicle I wanted, with the full options.

regards
Well, it seems you have your heart set on the BMW... go for it then! and enjoy your trip.... get in some practise at dismounting the luggage, and remounting it. they are far easier to pick up unloaded! Remember Charlie n Ewan?

Martyn
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  #22  
Old 7 Feb 2008
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Hi all,

I guess the decision has been made for me.
I went out to buy the AT, but it got sold.
Anyway I'm waiting on the new '08 GS adv to arrive in about a month coz here in Q8 they are still selling an unused 06 GS adv for full price.
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