It's not a big trip, but it is to me......
 

Hi folks!
I'm new to this forum and new to biking too.....
I passed my bike test in November last year and I was unsure about what bike to get. I knew that I wanted to get something which would see me and my weary bones alright on a longish journey, a CBR 600F or something like that....then, for my Christmas, I got both of Ewan McGregor's and Charlie Boorman's DVDs (Long Way Round and Long Way Down) and now I have the bug and a have been branded "obsessed" by my girlfriend!! Is this normal??? :helpsmilie:

Anyway, I have now booked a test ride on a BMW 1200GS Adventure and I am looking for somewhere to go to really get a feel for what it will be like to go on an adventure. I plan to leave Rochester in Kent (England) at 10am on Saturday 17th January and I have the bike overnight until I have to be back in Rochester at 2pm the following day.
Can anyone suggest a route which will have a bit of off road that I can go on for my first journey? I have a tent and sleeping bag but there will be no panniers on the bike, a cheap B&B might be an idea en route.

This, to me, is a really exciting trip and I would love to hear from anyone about their first time adventures and suggestions on where i could go.

It feels great to have a purpose and a goal and I now know why i wanted my bike licence so much.

Speak soon,

Scottie

Good Luck!
 

Hi Scottie :mchappy:

I'm new to HU too and glad to hear you're so enthusiastic about your first trip and welcome to the motorcycling fraternity!

I and many others on here will agree with your girlfriend that it all is a bit of an obsession and once the bug bites, your girlfriend may become a lonely lady, unless she mounts up and joins you on the forthcoming advetures you have in store.

For a real pannier packing insight into what you may get into, buy a great read, "Uneasy Rider by Mike Carter" as a non biking 42 year old, entering his (first?) mid life crisis stage, he passes his test and a month later wobbles off towards Europe on an R1200GS and writes a hilarious account of his brilliant first attempt that covers 20,000 miles in 6 months, that sees him ride to Mount Arafat and back!

However, although Mike Carter got away with it, the only reservation I have about your first journey is that you are doing it on an R1200GS, a great all rounder, but just about the biggest bike out there, apart from Wings and things!

As for taking it off road, I would say you'd need a few hundred miles under your belt before contemplating that ambitious undertaking, as you may find out the hard way how much BMW's test ride insurance excess is!

Mind you, I'm only 5'10" and about 14 stone and find them a little intimidating, but fantastic once on the move. However, if you are a big bloke, say 6' plus, with relative weight and long legs, then you should find the bike easier to handle then us shorties.

Perhaps you should switch your first ride to a F800 GS, as that's what I would be looking at if I was buying a new BM to tour on, a lightweight twin, that can cope with all that a tour has to offer, plus has the badly needed extra horses compared to the F650GS. Did your BM dealer offer this as an alternative?

http://search.aol.co.uk/aol/redir?sr...=Image Details

Just some friendly advice from a life long biker and if you are plotting a route that takes you through the Cotswolds, you are welcome to call in for a cuppa and a sarnie.

We are between Chipping Norton and Banbury, Oxon and if I were you, I'd leave the camping for later on in the year, as I can book you in at the Ellie, one of our local pubs for about £25 B&B for one night, one person or a bit more if the other half decideds to join you.

Good luck with your trip and look forward to reading about it when you return.

Cheers


Chris
01295 722272

Bikes definitely are a great way to travel, if you dont mind being a little uncomfortable sometimes!

But you dont really need a very big and heavy bike, like 1200GS, to be able to do that. I´m not saying you should not get it - just saying that there are plenty of other good options around, and people do big trips on much smaller bikes. Its very important that the bike feels right for you, and that you´re comfortable with your travel bike.

When people recommend something, or say they dislike this and that, it´s their own opinion or experience, and these may or may not be true with you. For example, how good is the wind protection, whether you´re 5 cm taller or shorter, can make a big difference, which only becomes bigger, when spending long days on the saddle.

So I´d advice to test as many bikes as possible, before making any decision.

A smaller bike can use less fuel, can be easier&cheaper to maintain, can be sent a bit cheaper by sea or by air (very hard to avoid having to freight sometimes, if you plan to travel around the world) and can be more easily managed, when doing some river crossings by small boats, for example. Whether or not you need big power from your bike, is once again fully up to you (and also depend a lot on where you plan to go)... but I know many places, where you most certainly would be able to do the trip just as well on a smaller bike.

I couldnt find any place to insure my bike, when heading to Asia, so I would´ve lost all money invested in it, had it been stolen, or otherwise completely lost. For me, that´s another good reason not to get a very expensive bike, when planning trips to faraway places. New and shiny bike probably wont look new and shiny after coming back, and its resale value will plummet, so another reason to get one, that´s already seen some traveling.

To echo what everyone else is saying, and I'll say it stronger, forget the actor and his friend and whatever staged photo's BMW's marketing put in your head. The Insurance on a new R1200GS is going to be a total killer unless you are loaded and even after you've been on the BMW off road course and bought half the Touratech catalogue, the only thing it'll do much better than a three year old generic large trailie is exceed the speed limit on the motorway. As your first off roader, I will guarantee you will drop it and break something. This is less hassle if it doesn't involve the Uber dealer wanting to respray it, or being unable to get hold of some electronic bit. If you want new, I'd seriously suggest the Yam Tenere and BMW F's for comparison.

BMW dealers BTW ALWAYS try and sell the R1200GS to anyone who asks about any bike, it's part of their strategy to keep a bike in the top ten sellers.

Back to the point. On your test ride, head up the A-roads and get round London inside the M-25. Then hit the Motorway and head for Cardiff. Before you get there, turn off and head into the hills towards/past Hereford. There is a decent (basic) campsite at Llanthoney Abbey that should be open. My idea would be to get the feel of the beast then get onto smaller and smaller roads until the bike feels too big for them. The South Wales routes IMHO give the option to get back onto the bigger stuff if it all gets too much. Likewise, if it's a pig in traffic round London you know you might as take it home before you waste a load of petrol.

Sorry to rain on your parade. If you really want the big BM, go for it. In terms of advice, I've had litre plus bikes (R1100's) and all they seem to do is cost money and get me points. I went "back" to 650's then "up" to the 790 and am much happier as a result.

Andy

Here Here!
 

Trust a Yorkshire man to say it as it is! Not like us soft shandy drinking Southerners, pussyfooting round the subject that has to be said!

Also a really good point about trying the bike through traffic, coz if the mirrors don't get the cars on each side of you, the pots will!!!

Chris

Hi Scottie

You never mentioned your age cause if your young then the ins is going to kill you (unless your stinking rich lol)

I passed my test 5 years ago at the age of 42, for years I had wanted to get back into biking.

My first bike was a yamaha virgo 535 but within a year i had grown out of it. my next bike was a suzuki intruder 1500 which i did a couple of european tours and then I found the love of my life

My 4 year old Suzuki Wee strom (DL650) Within a couple of weeks my Intruder was sold as I could never go back to riding a big ol heavy bike

The Wee is a delight to ride and even though Im only 5'6 I have got used to riding it and it doesnt seem so big now. Im using the winter break to fit it out with all my little luxuries like cruise control etc.

I now have 5 years riding experiance and I think thats why I find the wee easy to ride.

So take the GS on the test ride but open your eyes to other good bikes out there.

Have fun

Cheers
Geordie

:rofl: Remind me to buy you a pint of Shandy if we ever meet :rofl:

Andy

Not another Ewan/Charley Boring Man wannabe!!!
 

Why does everyone think you need a GS to go touring???

I agree with all the great advice given here. The image of Ewan McGregor repeatedly dropping the GS always sticks in my mind. New rider + expensive new bike = huge insurance premium too.

Enjoy your test ride but don't sign on the dotted line until you've ridden something to compare it to. Try the previously mentioned Suzuki V-Strom and BMW F800GS or even a Kawasaki Versys. After that, if you're still dead set on a GS, there's a couple of 1100GS's on Autotrader going for around the £2.5k mark. At least that way, it's not going to be too expensive when (not if) you drop it

CBR-F's are a great first big bike and very reasonably priced now everyone wants the more focused RR version. If you're still after something like that, also look at the Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat which is a very similar kind of bike. The Kawasaki ZZR600 is more upright and focused towards long distance touring than the other two which are more sporty but the ZZR is still a great bike. My pick would be a 2002 model, 636cc version of the Kawasaki ZX6-R before the whole 600cc class went all race track focused.

Come on guys
 

Let's not start the Ewan & Charleyy wars again. If they've attracted someone to something we love we should rejoice, and take the time to welcome them.
I say welcome in mate, and ignore the grumpies (feel free to search for Ewan & Charlie though).

Like you they pulled me into the thought of motorbike touring, but unlike you I didn't opt for a BMW Panzer-tourer and until yesterday I'd never ridden one. God, they're heavy, I've only been riding for about 6 months and the thing is a pig, or maybe two pigs, on roller skates. I'm sure it's lovely, but God is it heavy, I can't imagine trying to ride one fully loaded, let alone off-road. Made me laugh though parking it next to my 125cc Derbi.

Anyway, just wanted to say, welcome, and hello, and good luck, but don't be fixated on the need for cubes, while my 125 might be a bit small, having ten times that might be a bit much (and a bit expensive too).

Wow!
 

Hey folks......well, I've just logged on in the anticipation that there may be a reply or maybe even two and i'm blown away with passion, criticism (constructive of course) with a little sarcasm and wit thrown in for good measure......love it, thanks :thumbup1:

To cover a few points given to me....(i'd quote you but i dunno how)


Thanks for the welcome and the advice Welolvebikes. My girlfriend has confirmed that I am obsessed with books, articles, websites and anything to do with taking off around the world on two wheels and I know from past experience that this will only get worse. With foresite, and to get her involved, I have committed to taking her to Athens this summer, she'll either love it or hate and this will shape many future trips i'm sure.
Being 5'11, 13 stone and physically fit I like the look of the 1200GS but as you say, once I get on it might feel over the top and I will have fun i'm sure testing the other models in the BM range not to mention any other maufacturer I am guided towards. The F800GS may be a good option if it is able to carry my GF (she is only about 8stone, but she does like to carry lots of shoes :stupid:)
Will the 800 cope well with a pillion?
The BM dealer didn't really offer anything else and I'd not planned to look at anything either. I thought that the 1200GS was the tool for the job but I now realise that I have plenty of time to look around and that there are many options......
I will gve you a shout if I am heading across your way so that we can meet up for a cuppa and a chat, the chances are I will be going to Wales as recommended by Threewheelbonnie. It is like Scotland and I am feeling a little homesick anyway.....no, i'm not missing the sheep!!
I will try to get "Uneasy Rider by Mike Carter" as soon as I can but at the moment I am eating my way through Chris Scott's Motorcycle Adventure Handbook and The Wrong Way Round, yes, even after watching the DVD's religously all Christmas....

Yes Craig76 "another Ewan/Charley Boring Man wannabe!!!" and loving it! I'll not be signing any dotted line until nearer the summer and I'm not sure if I would be buying a new bike anyway. It would be good to have the money to buy really expensive toys but the insurance may kill the idea as well as the heart ache (and wallet ache) when it is dropped. The other thing about new expensive stuff, I have read, is the cost of getting Carnets and the risk of theft, especially when there is no insurance in some countries. My next trip after Greece will be RTW or to Capetown in 2010 and I have to make sure that I can afford to get through Egypt and other countrires with out having to mortgage someone elses house to do it! It has really opened my eyes to the ways of other countries and their dodgy border crossing rituals and I have felt a bit like a total novice on a planet I thought I was so familiar with, so naive having only travelled on package tours or back packing in relatively civilised safe zones.
Funny you should mention the Thundercat as this is the other bike I have been looking at and more in the price range if I want to buy something sooner and without finance. I've always liked this bike and it has been the driving force to get my licence up until wanting to be just like Ewan and Charlie, aren't they wonderful.....I know you love em deep down, you just have to admit it to yourself, you're so sweet! :innocent: LOL

I like the bike testing idea pecha72 especially as I have not been out on many different makes and models yet. I was at the Bike show in Birmingham last year but I was not sure of what I wanted so I probably didnt get as much out of it as I could have. I will be going to the London show at the end of the month and with a more focused attitude I will be arranging more play-time on different machines. I had not thought about river boat crossings or transport either and it has made me realise that it is not all about jumping on and just going, there is much more to consider everytime I read something. This is only adding to the excitment of the whole thing!!

I am 36 geordie_e and I will have to get an insurance quote before commiting to any bike. I am not (stinking rich) not even close but I do have a clean licence and one insurance claim for a company car bump I have in 2005, not sure if this counts in Bike insurance land?? I had a scooter for about 9months about 5 years ago and I paid the insurance for a yearhoping to get a real bike and use the no claims bonus sometime, i'll have to check to see if it is still valid.

Unless someone comes up with something better I will be heading to Wales as suggested by Threewheelbonnie. It was high on the list anyway andI like the idea of the contrast between city and rural as this is what I need to feel like i am on a real adventure. :funmeteryes:

Anytime
 

Hi Andy

Anytime mate and now I'm half way to Yorkshire, having moved from West London 10 years ago, I've converted from lager and now have half a bitter in it!

Cheers


Chris

Cheers mate :) Did you go for a test ride or use a mates 1200?

No, they kind of sneer at me in the local BMW place, I don't know why, is it the lack of wallet bulge or the fact I turn up on one of these?


So I had a go on a mates new Christmas present to himself.

:welcome: Scottie, to the dark side. You're sure to fall in love with the Behemoth but i'd just crank up a few miles (tour the Weald to, say, Hants?) and find a bit of soft waste ground to fall over on...will the bike be on road tyres or semi-knobblies? Are you also getting the loan of some warm clothing as it looks like it'll be pretty Baltic :funmeterno:. You'll likely need to enlighten the Significant Other or any future adventures may be somewhat foreshortened :rofl:. If the test is a success then i'd look to doing the BMW off-road course (as per the DVD's) or having the summer holiday doing a novice off-road tour with an operator in Morocco/Crete/Spain/wherever, or hiring a bike for a spot of tarmac-touring somewhere nice. Don't lose track that E+C's trips are self-financing and flash destinations really cost to the rest of us in the real world, Bugger. Keep the faith.

Glad to help
 

Hi Scottie

Glad to throw my tupenneth in and perhaps the F800 would be better suited to a solo trip, as 20 stone plus shoes may be a little to much for that bike.

I suppose I was thinking within the BMW range, when really it was along the lines of the other contributers who have suggested that you look at all the other bikes available.

I use a fully loaded 04 Triumph Tiger 955i at the moment, but I love Pan Europeans and Varaderos and if I had the money, I'd have a hybrid built for me combining the two, a Honda 1300 V4 Varadreo. Now that is what Honda should have made!

Sorry if I'm ramblin on a bit, but that may make sense to some of the others.

You are only a couple of hours from my place via the M25 and M40, (which will give you the motorway test and enable you to get used to the bike) and then I'll send you on a route along the A40 into Wales, which is the route we often take and have been in the West End Cafe, Llandovery,


via Ross on Wye and the Brecons within two and a half hours (mind you, that was a quick one, as we were all on R1's and Blades!)

The other thought, as we love Betws y Coed is via Worcester, Kidderminster, Bridgnorth, with a stop for a cuppa at the bikers cafe at Quatford and then through Shrewsbury, where you pick up the A5 to Betws y Coed.

Have a night there, up early and then stop for second breakfast at the Ponderosa Cafe at Llangolen on the Horseshoe Pass, on the way back. Or you can stay there for the night for £35.

Welcome to the Horshoe Pass & The Ponderosa cafe Complex.

Now you know why bikers are fat! Okay, I'll speak for myself!

Hope this helps and the second trip may be a bit tight on time, but if you get back late and upset BMW, it may be a blessing as they'll take you off there bladdy mailing list! I test rode an 1100 GS over 12 years ago and I still get mailings from Heatrow BMW, even though I moved 10 years ago!

Good luck and if you do take this route, you can take the Tiger out for a spin, as I'll ride with you for part of the way. Also have a 1300 Pan, which is different yet again!

Cheers


Chris

Nice.......Santa is good to some! :scooter:

Oh it's so tempting to join in the "you don't need a big bike debate" but I see it's been comprehensively covered here already... (the only thing I would say is after the BMW test ride, go to a Yamaha dealer and try the new Tenere - then you'll enjoy having £7000 left in your pocket!).

As for a test route - welovebikes has some great suggestions - lovely riding that far west, but I notice you only have about 28 hours with the bike, and some of that you'll need to sleep! (if only, perchance, to dream x)

From Kent it is a lovely ride through east and west Sussex, then thorough Hampshire and into Wiltshire - plenty to see and do, and the best? of what the south east of England has to offer? Lots of B&Bs too.

Personally I'd forget trying to camp before you actually buy a bike (the dealer isn't going to take kindly to you lashing all your gear to a brand new demo bike), and just get a feel for the machine and for tour/adventure riding in general.

if you are brave (or foolish!) enough to take a dealer demo bike off road, there are a number of easy-going unpaved roads in Wiltshire (around Salisbury Plain for example) - although you really do need to do your research as to which are open to vehicles... I can just see the headlines in the Wiltshire Gazette now - "biker found flailing under huge bike after being trapped for 12 hours and spending night out on the plain"...

Enjoy the BMW (then buy something more sensible x)

xxx

Nothing wrong with that as long as you make sure you get it dirty. Why buy one only to have it sparkly clean with low mileage, summer use only, never seen rain, etc, etc, a bit like this 5 year old example. What's the point in owning one?

Autotrader - BMW R1150 GS 1150cc

Look for the "all the gear, no idea" crowd at any bike meet across the UK. You'll pick them out easily from the real bike travellers, probably parked up next to the Rossi k**b jockey's with FIAT liveried R1's and matching leathers which is even more amusing. What's that all about??? :confused1:

OK, so we're talking about a £2k to 2.5k budget which I think is sensible for a first bike. T'Cats are a cracking bike even if they're getting on a bit. Slow steering but more stable than an R6. Also look at the Suzuki GSXR600 up to K3. They're dead comfy, not quite as racey as the reputation suggests, will take a pillion, magnetic tankbag, soft luggage, etc. My pick in that category and budget would still be the ZX6-R (J1, J2, A1P) as it's got the power of the GSXR or R6 but the practicality of the CBR-F and YZF. You'll have to check with your insurer though.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bi...02/?&R=EPI-292

Auto Trader UK - KAWASAKI ZX ZX600-A1P ZX636R NINJA 636cc

Or if you're still keen on a GS...
Auto Trader UK - BMW R1100 GS ( THE LONG WAY DOWN BIKE AT <zprice>£2489</zprice> WOW ) 1100cc

The Suzuki SV650 (same engine as the V-Strom) is also worth a look if insurance is a problem. I really wouldn't buy a first bike on finance anyway.

Again, no-one has got anything against E&C or the GS. My uncle's mate has a GS with 150,000 miles on it. That's what they're made for, not pub car park posing. If E&C bring more people to spend more money on the UK bike scene, then thats great for the motorcycle trade and customers alike.

:rofl: Careful! :nono:

Terri, my girlfriend, is at her most miserable when she is cold and her role in the test ride will be to look forward to my return. I realise that the first time that she gets cold then our touring days are over unless we are in a lovely sunny climate. As for me, I am looking on eBay for some warm stuff, i've got a leatherjacket but i'm hoping that the weather is not too bad or I'll have to layer up.
The bike is on road tyres which is fine for me as it is probably easier to manage on the road and I am looking forward to doing the BMW off road course which I will be doing this prior to going on a real trek, a firm believer in getting the ride equipment for the job and being shown how to use it properly.

I can see the cost of this obsession escalating as timegoes on and I the time away can't be good either. I have a telecoms company and I am setting my business to run when I'm away, I am planning that by 2010 I will be in a postition to leave for 4-6months with a small income to finance the trip along the way. Hopefully the Worlds finances' will hold out till then.....:clap:

I must admit I liked Ewan and Charlies programmes and I have the books...I even have the t-shirt...honestly. But anyone can do what they did if they can ride a bike. Hotels, handlers what a doss.

I have friends riding up from OZ on a BMW 1200GS, 2 up all the way to Oslo and doing it all off their own back. They are in Thailand now.

You do not need a Bmw 1200 to tour. I have a Yamaha FZ6, 600cc, 98HP. Hard panniers and top box, passenger peg extentions GPS. I have been all over Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Germany and France all 2 up with camping gear without any problems.

I have no interest in getting a bigger bike because the FZ6 is fast if I want it to be, light to manoevre. I can ride on roads or tracks and it it cheap to run and maintain.

Make sure you get the bike you need, rather than the one you want.

Steve

I'll admit that I've got the LWD book and LWR DVD, special edition with previously unseen footage :mchappy:. I don't dislike them, I just fail to see why everyone thinks they have to be like them.

They're a cracking bike too. Passed up a '98 600 Fazer for £700 a few months ago. Kicking myself now as my Aprilia's not really suited for long distance.

:thumbup1: Cheers for the links, it's knowing the options that creates the difficulty in choosing but also the excitement in getting a bike for the first time. One thing for sure, my bike will be out in all weathers and will be my faithful companion on and off road. Like you, i don't see the point in getting an off roader and keeping it for polished pub meetings on country tarmac lanes. My last obsession was wind surfing and i was out in hail, sleet and snow.....there's no time to waste!

As for E&C- I can't thank them enough for showing me what is out there. Not only have they shown me a goal but they have made me realise that inside I am an adventurer, not only in the travel sense. In business and in life i am always looking forward to the unknown and challenges in life to make the most of a situation and find a solution when faced with a problem. I know this sounds a bit deep but its where I'm at right now....

Cheers again craig76

When you are as new to this way of travel as I am and you have only seen one way to do it there is no surprise that one would think that there is only one way to do it, especially with all the bad bits cut out of the show.
The great thing now is that with all of the info, advice and options shown on this site and having found books like Motorcycle Adventure handbook and being recommended other story books of other real travels it is easier to see that there are other ways to get around.

Gotta be good for everyone though.....:funmeteryes:

This is almost the perfect quote - all I would add is that if you do the research, then the bike you need will also (naturally) be the one you want?

For cold winter nights in the mean time, you could also get hold of the Mondo Enduro and/or Terra Circa DVDs - it shows there are many different ways (and budgets) of doing what you plan to do... none better or worse than any other, just different...

xxx

Cheers mate, i'll be sure to give you a shout and we can meet up for a belly bustin scoff at the cafe.....i'll get the map out tomorrow and see where i'm going to be going, your route sounds like a good plan....

I don't want to upset BMW as I have a load more testin to do so I'll put up with the junk mail for a year or 10 :innocent:

I just had a laugh at the pictures on the site Welcome to the Horshoe Pass & The Ponderosa cafe Complex. Shows you all these bikes parked outside then another few pics the a cafe full of old ladies!!! Is this what bikers look like under all that leather??? :rofl:

BM's v the Rest!
 

Hi Scottie

It will be great to meet up and as I'm self employed too, perhaps you can give me a deep, well needed, motivational kick up the backside to get going again!

I liked Steve's quote too, as it will be a good one to impress other bikers with down the pub, with a cigar in one hand and a glass of brandy in the other.

Just remembered another reason to test ride your girlfriend on the back. Oh, I better rephrase that, please allow your girlfriend to pass an opinion as to the comfort and seat height of the R1200GS motorcycle, as I took my wife out to a local classic car and bike meet in the summer, on a very imposing and beautiful 07 R1200GS Adventure, fully loaded including the metal luggage.

Thought she'd love it, as it had the top box and backpad, but all the way there she kept saying she hated it and felt very unsafe and vowed never to on it again, so hitched a lift back in a friend's car.

Very strange I thought, but the reason for this was that she found it so high up and that scared her, which is a good point, as her head was a good four inches above mine and I was at the tallest point I've ever been on a bike, which is probably why I felt unsteady at low speed, which is another first for me.

She's biked as long as I have, over 30 years and has never had a problem, apart from the usual "slow down" nag and has enjoyed all other bikes, apart from R1's, etc and loves the ST1300 Pan, GL1800 Wings, Blackbirds, R1100R's etc or any other bikes she's been on the back of.

As you say good gear is all important for a loved pillion. After trying a vast array of bike gear in my time, my personal choices boil down to Rukka jacket and trousers and Daytona boots. For gloves on days like today, I use Frank Thomas Sub Zero Aqua and when it warms up I use my trusty Belstaff pair.

Why can't I post a short answer???

Good night all and by the way, "wat you natterin about when you rant of the Old Ladies at the Ponderosa? easy now, don't cha no, dez ar fit b**ches! Aye!" (say in an Ali G accent)

Chris :eek3:

Since Scottie enjoyed the Long Way Down so much, maybe he should get the missis an F650 for herself?!

xxx

Sorry Scottie in my rush to answer your thread I forgot to

:welcome: you in.

Insurance IMO car no claims dont count
anything over 2 years old doesnt count
I think age is a big thing (lucky your fast approaching your forties lol)
But theres nothing stopping you ringing around to get some ideas of prices.

Im very much like you, I used to gaze at a map of the world during some very boring meetings I had to attend and think.... I wonder if I could go round the world on a bike (didnt even have a license then!).

Ewan and Charley are very entertaining ! I have the books and dvds and even paid to see Charley at a local theatre (he was very funny).
I even test rode the older 650 model but hated the single pot, Then I found my true love in my DL650 (they also do a 1000 version).

What ever you do, try and do it in small bites ie a weekend away camping with your partner, you or her might hate it ! (my missus was on the back of my bike and said never again ! that was 2 years ago and I still try all the time to get her on the back but she wont).

As for the gear, Im always looking at new stuff, ive tried leathers (too hot in Europe) so now i have a fabric jacket for the winter and a mesh jacket for the summer (when it comes lol).
For boots I went with Altberg (after trying out 3 pairs) they are brillaint !

Anyway ive waffled on, hope you have a great test ride

Cheers
Geordie

Cold other halfs
 

Ok, I'll admit it, I took my now wife to the Dragon rally the first Valentines weekend we were together and she's still sort of moaning about the cold :offtopic:

The solution IMHO is an electric vest. If you don't want to include one in your budget, send me a PM with a mail address and I'll e-mail you a Thumper Club article I wrote on how to make one.

Andy

Welcome to the world of the obsessive compulsive itinerant, if Ewbie and Boring only did one thing right, they have got another person into ADv riding.

I agree with the general consensus that a GS is a bloody awful first bike.

I also agree with the idea that the Thundercat is a great sleeper bike, they seem to get under0rated badly, but I like them. That, or the CBRF, or a ZX636, are all fantastic bikes. I've only personally had the Ninja, but test ridden the other two. Early Gixxers are good, I had one for my first bike, and Suzuki RFs are not cool, but very cheap for a fair bit of bike.

Ride eveything, see what you like, there are horses for every course.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...09475_6395.jpg

Birdy

Oh dear, you've got your work cut out i suspect :rofl:. How does she get on with being grubby and not a bit smelly (sweaty-type smelly, i hasten to add...), as riding in hot climes usually entails. Perhaps an air-conditioned/heated sidecar, ho ho!

"It's touring, Jim, but not as we know it".

Baby Bear Porridge
 

I have my work cut out alright......the first trip has to be just right, baby bear porridge....not too hot and not too cold! once she see's that there is a room with a mirror and a shower at the end of the day then she may not be so bad. As for total, all out adventure...well I think that will be up to me to be getting on with - or she may surprise us all and get a 650 and really go for it on her own???

Time will tell

"Beam me up Scottie.....I stink!!!!"

Hi Scottie. I passed my test last year and brought the bike i thought I wanted. Bearing in mind the 'Pillion Problem'!:eek3: I had my choice more limited as to what was comfortable for her too. Having ridden it for some time in various weather conditions I started to wonder what else was out there. My other half had come as a pillion quiet a bit over this time and had always stated "I don't want to learn to ride!!!!!!!!!!" "I am happy on the back" and lots of other similar phrases. She then turned to me one day and said "I wouldn't mind just trying a little bike" :scooter:so I organised a taster session for her with the local school. Well She was hooked! She passed her big bike test at the second attempt and has since said it was the best thing she did last year. :funmeteryes::funmeteryes:
It has given her so much more confidence in everything else she does too. Her workmates think she is as mad as march hare but who cares, she is the one doing it and not looking on from the sidelines. She has since got a big bike of her own and I have recently changed my bike to suite what I want to do more too.
Everyone's happy:thumbup1::thumbup1:
If you want to work on your other half we could meet up and let them have a chat:sneaky2: hehe.

Cheers mate, what's a "sleeper bike?"

And they say that fairytales are not real!!! I can't think of nothing better that having your other half join in on the adventure, after all that's why we decided to share life with them.......

I'm sure we'll all meet up at some point and the girls can chat, i'm focusing on getting a bike for myself first rather than having to pay for her lessons, test and then a bike (she's a student)

Same goes for the Suzuki GSX-F which is basically a Bandit with a jelly mould fairing. Not cool but a fair amount of bike for not a lot of money. Only problem you'll have with either the RF or GSX-F is getting rid of it. I'm thinking about getting a BMW R850R to use as my touring bike next year (don't think I'll get away this year.) Very conservative but I'll be keeping my RSV as my toy so I'm not that bothered.

Also some good advice there about going for textile riding kit over leathers. I usually wear leathers but they're too hot in warm climates. I have a budget Weise textile jacket which is great for commuting but I'm probably going to buy some better quality textiles from Hein Gericke.

i had a RF600 as my first proper bike (not counting the chinese 125 for 2 weeks on L-plates). did 20k in 8 months touring the Uk on it. excellent bike for £500! part-ex'd it for £400 at the end too.
my only complaints with it were they are too short in the leg, my knees cramped up being that bent. makes it a good girls/short blokes bike though as the saddle is nearer the floor. the other thing is i found im not a real fan of sporty riding styles, they make my wrists ache.
i took a few pillions on it & even geared up (less revs for the same speed with different sprockets) it was fine, still plently of speed & so on. a 600 will tour fine 2up with luggage, you'll need to use the gears more thats all. but then 600s always need that as they tend to be more tuned than the bigger bikes so need keeping on song.

random scottish photo
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...d/PICT0232.jpg

I hadn't realised till I popped into the local BM dealer yesterday that the F650GS is actually 798cc just like the F800GS. Aside from a few bits of plastic, it seems the only difference is a detuned engine, the wheels and the ability to have the 800 set for 91RON petrol. What's the point in that? Surely if you're going to lug round the extra weight of an 800cc engine you may as well get the oomph out of it?

Mind you neither of them looked like the one you posted above

That picture posted was a photoshop lash-up from ages ago, before the bike was actually released...

As for the differences between the 'F650' and the F800 - I agree, and the name (or rather miss-naming) of the cheaper bike is just stupid...

I think the reason for having two versions is that the cheaper bike is considered an 'entry level' machine - it also has a lower seat and is aimed and those people who might be intimidated by an 800 as a first bike (don't you dare say women!) - personally I think it borders on insulting the intelligence of potential buyers, but there you go...

(btw. the ability to run on lower octane fuel is a nod towards those who might wish to travel out of the first world... that said, 91 is actually considered 'super unleaded' over here in the USA - regular 'gas' is only 87 for goodness sake!)

xxx