Is a BMW R1200GS too much bike for a new rider?
 

I would have to agree with the crowd saying to start with something a bit smaller and USED first.There is a very good chance in your first year or so of riding you may tip over your bike....for whatever reason. Parking, backing up,
slick pavement, or God forbid a real crash. If you've done your homework on your learner's bike then you should be past most of this.

Still, the GS, any GS, is a big and very expensive monster to start on.The power is not a worry really but weight, size, height and balance are.

If you're a big guy then it would be easier, but its not at all a learner friendly bike, IMO.

If you like trailies, nakeds or Supermoto type bikes, well, there are tons of
choices out there for you. I would lean towards a 2nd hand (2 to 3 year old)
650 single like a DR650, XT, or Honda XR-L.

If you want more street oriented then maybe a DL650 Vstrom or SV650.

Actually the SV is one of the best all round bikes in the world and makes an
excellent novice bike but is also able to handle track days and VERY spirited
riding. Buy a nice used one. It will give you room to grow.

Here in the US tons of kids get straight on a Hayabusa or ZX14 Ninja and off they go. No restrictions here. Most, actually buy 600cc sports bikes. But those bikes make 120 Hp. Typically, what happens is they crash within a few months (at the most) and never, ever come back to motorcycling. They've scared the crap out themselves. Young guys tend to have more testosterone than brains and certainly lack maturity or experience in this area.

Start small. You can always move up. Survival in the long term is what its
all about.

Patrick

1200 ???? For beginner ???
 

If you a beginner, not important how experienced you feel or you are, it kills.
When I got my licence at the age of 32 I thought I can manage and ride 800 kms at the very first day when I got my bike. It was an F 650.
No way, it doesn't work.
You need to get experience by making somu mileage within some certain period. Yeah I think it is true: 12 months.

Start with a smaller one like 400. If you will go for 1200 GS don't go to race bikes.
If you trust yourself too much than go for 600 or 650.

Spend some time on it. And see yourself.

Self confidence is ok but can be dangereous.

Be on the bike and on the road and enjoy.

I figured that they were right, but it's nice to get it confirmed. I've been offered a kawasaki ER-5, which is the bike I learnt on, so I'll stick with that for 12 months.

Thanks.

As a BMW motorcycle salesman, I'd rather sell you a used F650GS than a new R1200GS.

As others have correctly said, the chances of dropping it in the first year are high, best do this with a cheaper used bike.

You'll also learn more & a quicker pace on a lighter, more manageable bike. There's a chance that buying too big a bike too soon can lead to you feeling intimidated by the sheer size, weight & performance of the larger bikes. End result - you don't ride, sell it sooner rather than later & take a big loss. I've seen it happen.

"The Rule of 5"
 

It takes 5 minutes for someone to show you how to operate a motorcycle.
It takes 5 days to run the gauntlet and complete a motorcycle course.
It takes 5 weeks before you can start to become overconfident in your skills.
It takes 5 months(if you're lucky) to completely heal broken bones.
It takes 5 years(through close calls, near misses, your stupidity, the other guys stupidity, expected, unexpected, risktaking, - have I left anything out-) before your brain goes on "Auto Defend". It doesn't take long to aquire the skills necessary to ride. It takes 5 years of experience to aquire the survival skills and "awareness" to keep you out of trouble.
That being said, I would not advise you start out on an R1200GS. It's a great bike down the higway. Maneuvering at slow speeds in tight quarters can get you into trouble on the GS and you need to develop the awareness of what you can and cannot do with the bike at your skill level. It's a whole lotta bike for a beginer to handle. If you get a motorcycle that's too small, you'll become bored with it pretty quick. If you get a motorcycle that's too big, it might get you instead. Try something in the middle range. A 650 was suggested. It's way easier to handle and you take those skills with you when you move up to a bigger two wheeler. The people I ride with that have the better motorcycle "Handling" skills usually started out on smaller displacement bikes and or dirt bikes. Stands to reason ( although some will argue the point). Anyway, whatever you choose, be carefull and enjoy. Best... Smitty

Though beginning with a small and a managable size is ok, there's no rule that the size of the motor increases with experience. After twenty years and 1300s I ended up with a 600 and I am longing for small managable bikes in the city traffic. BMW 1200 is not a problem if you are to hit the road for long distance travels but it will always be a pain under your butt in the city, no matter how experienced rider you are.

cozcan

F650gs
 

If you have the money to buy a R1200GS, you can easy buy a F650GS. For traveling alone, it is all you need.

I am riding for more then 30 years on all kind of bikes (have a look at my website) and I am very happy with my F650GS now. The only reason to buy a much bigger bike is for riding with a passenger.
If one of my kids would like to get a bike, I would rather have him or her ride a BMW F650GS then a Jap 600cc sportsbike.

If you buy a used F650GS, you can ride it for two or three years and if you think you need something bigger, go to the BMW dealer and trade it for a 1200.

I would not recommend jumping onto a big bike straight away, chances are that you will have some form of accident, even if it just the bike falling off the side stand (we have all done it!).

I would also be wary of leaping onto a sports 600 as these are very fast and not very forgiving to any errors a novice may make.

I would get something like a GT550 or GPZ500 ER500 for the following reasons: All these bikes are cheap to buy and repair, all very reliable esp. the GT550, all are capable machines that will allow you to develop your road skills, good economy for fuel, cheaper insurance ect.

With the money you save over a new Beemer treat yourself to an advanced riding course (lowers insurance again) and an off road school to further improve your skills. Also invest in the best leathers, lid, boots and gloves that you can afford.

Give it a couple of years and then think about a big bike. You may not be the coolest kid on the block but you are less likely to end up in a bad way. Ride safe and enjoy!
:biggrin3:

Max66

I passed my bike test in November last year, at the ripe old age of 38. My first bike is an XRV750 Africa Twin. You can pick them up for anything upwards of £1000 in the UK.

I've ridden all through the winter, and now summer, been on the motorway, off-road, and a little long distance stuff too. I can't fault it. It's certainly fast enough, but maybe not enough to have you wrapped around a tree. It's not a small bike, but it's not a huge lumbering monster either.

Anyway.. another model to consider

Something to be said 4 learning on a 2nd hand bike! After very prowdly buying a new f650GS Dakar, i wrote it off 3 months later. End of dream...? Now iv got same bike but much cheaper 2nd hand in good nick. Feels much better making those stupid little mistakes (which us beginers are likely to make) on cheaper bike. Same thrills less stress!

Happy hunting

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that the size of the bike or engine does not matter when you start riding. The only downside of the R1200GS is that it's expensive if you drop it and you're much more likely to drop a bike in your first year.

Other than that I don't think it makes any difference. Bigger bikes are easier to see. It's no faster than than a 600, low speed manouvering is good and the throttle is not binary - you can ride as slow and safe as you like. The relaxed riding position encourages a more sedate ride than a sports bike. The high seating position gives good visibility. It's much less tiring on longer rides than almost any other bike I've ridden.

Your safety is down to how you ride, not what you ride. You definitely get safer over the first few years but the choice of bike isn't a factor.

steve

You've made some good points but I don't agree. Bike and engine size does matter. It is not the ONLY factor overall to be sure, but it IS a factor. To say "it does not matter" is an overstatement IMO.

Ask any of the many motorcycle training experts there in the UK. The
psychological aspect is critical here. The GS is a very tall, very awkard bike to a begginer, particularly true if the new rider is under about 6' tall. I've been riding 40 plus years, am only 5'7" and the GS intimidates me, and I ain't no shrinking violet.

Once again, an over statement. True, the bike is not the ONLY factor, but it must be considered in the mix of ALL the other factors a new rider faces. The BMW is an awkward beast by anyone's accounting. From the Bass-akwards Teutonic insprired switchgear (horn/turn signal placement) to the cyclinders that newbies whack their shins on. Once moving the bike rides beautifully and your earlier points are good (tall, good view, visible, easy to steer in traffic and so on).

But a 530 lb. bike with a 35" seat height may not be the most newbie friendly
ride to start on. Riders come in all shapes and sizes. I'd have to say MOST new riders I've dealt with would be scared off by a big GS. Why ruin someones' first motorcycle experience getting them hurt, humiliated costing them some serious money? THESE factors have to be considered too.

Patrick:scooter:

Back on a bike..
 

Yours is the same question I've asked myself a lot over the last 6 months. For what it's worth here is my perspective. I hope it helps.

I had a bike around 15 years ago and I'm now 38. So I guess I categorise myself as the typical 'Born again' candidate. I want to get back on a bike and the GS1200 is the one I've chosen to buy. I can't really rationalise it - it's big, it's heavy and I'm new to the experience of two wheels again. But I personally don't see the point in buying a V Strom 650 (my other possible choice), which is probably equally as heavy and wasting money on a trade-in in 12 months.

But I'm honest with myself and in lots of ways ways it doesn't make any sense. I don't want to drop it, or worse fall off it. So I went to the BMW rider school in South Wales and took a refresher. Nice guys down there and above all else honest. My instructor and colleagues of his have given me the confidence to think my decision is the right one for me at least. I spent the second day of a two day course on a GS1200 which I found as easy to ride if not easier than the GS650 the previous day. I certainly enjoyed the experience more on the bigger bike. My instructor who's a qualified ex-police rider felt the GS1200 would be a good choice for me and he didn't have any sale to make.

I'm tall enough to handle the bike a little easier and confident of riding it. The course certainly helped and I can recommend it without question. It's your call at the end of the day but I don't think it's a black and white issue.

Good luck with your choice

I figure if you have to ask anybody what the right bike is that you aren't ready and haven't done enough research yet. Whether or not a particular bike is right for you isn't up to someone else to decide. On the flip side, telling someone that a bike is tall, or heavy, has a learning curve, and is gonna get dropped in the first year is useful information.

I did go with a VStrom 650 and could have bought two of them for the price of a 1200GS in the US. No regrets at all here. I'd still like to have a 1200GS, but I won't be giving up the VStrom to get one.

Near enough a perfect bike........ only thing better would be a 350cc Enfield in a grass field.

and if you get the chance do some riding in a field somewhere ( get permission from the landowner) What you learn there will likely prolong you life considerably. try figure of eights, fast and slow ( walking pace) learn to feel the rear wheel spin/slide and control it. What you learn early on is what your reactions will be later. always wear a helmet...

If water feels like concrete at 100mph, what does concrete feel like ??

Just to let you know that it is possible to go straight onto a big BMW.

I have held a car licence for 10 years and, after watching the LWR i decided to buy a bike and copy the LWR.

5 minute decision....5 days of lessons and 55 minutes after passing my test i rode my GS to get it MOTd and then spent the sumer terrorising the UK countryside!!

Yes, i dropped it once or twice....yes, i put it in a ditch off road.....and being 10 stone and 5'10" did build up a sweat moving it around car parks. But you soon learn where not to park it, how to pick it up.

Then....i went and did it.... www.etribes.com/markstowe

I went to try the BIG BMW.
 

i went to try the 12GS, it is big, i am 6"4', 30 years old, have some experience with scooters and smaller bikes, but i like the big GS, it's heavy but not so much more than the F650gs dakar. I would like to use it for a two up touring. i think it's comfortable, but at the same time there's the KTM which is nice too.

Patrick,

i understand, but the guy in this thread was asking if the BMW R1200GS was too much for a new rider. I am not the most, off-road experienced rider, i went and tried the KTM 950, which i think is really really nice, cheaper too, but the BMW has comfort, the support in some ways and if you buy new,
the bike has roadside assistance, that in many cases is a good thing. ABS, maybe is just piece of mind.

I still haven't decided, but i didn' really like the Suzuki that much, don't know, i guess i have to try one more time. It definitely felt cheap.

Thanks,
FR

beginners bike
 

IMHO and out of my experience some good beginners bikes:

Honda CB 250RS (build 80 to 84) light, easy to maintain and they come at the price of three big macs. Get one from the scrapyard and spend $ 500 and you will have a new bike. I had one as a commuter in Munich for three years. Now upgraded with XT / FT 500 power plant, M-bars and rear set. 131kg and 36hp of pure fun. Avoid the useless and brittle e-start version.

Suzi GS 500, Kawa ER5, Honda CB500. Very nice and very cheap bikes. Always liked the GS 500 (unrestricted) for its sporty character. Also great bikes are the older CB 400N (although a bit heavy) and Yami SRX 600.

Any 250 semi offroad if that's what your heart desires. Does not really matter what you get as long as you have the spirit already. I travelled on my CB250RS (roadbike) from Munich as far as Lago di Garda, all over Switzerland and Osnabrück. Others go RTW on a scooter or to the North Cape on a stepthrough. Bigger semi offroads (650) are fine as long as they can take "a drop" without disintegrating and are not too high. Avoid BMW F's (too pretty) and go for something like DR650SE (very light and can be set low without sacrificing suspension quality.

So the answer is....
 

no.

for what everyone says here, don't get a 1200GS as a first bike. is that right?

No
 

Yep. You would also rather start driving cars in a Series 1 Golf than in a 911 Carrera Turbo?

But, is the weight similar to the f650gs or not? then, if you want to ride two up, what options do you have apart from the v-strom 650? what gives you the comfort and capacity of a 1200? i would like a F800gs if there was one.

Are any details available anywhere on the new Guzzi ?

Patrick said ----- "I'd love to see them do an adventure bike"-----------

Yes , so would I .
Guzzi's have a style of their own ,which I find very appealing - especially in red !

The answer is ....Maybe!
 

Basically, yes. But there are always exceptions.
If you go back to the beggining of this thread you'll see the original poster
is not a raw begginer. He's been riding an ER-5 Kawi. Also, if you read
previous replies, you'll see the pros and cons of buying a new R12GS as
a first bike. For some guys the bike would be fine. But its a big ticket item and other cheaper choices may make more sense. All this is gone over ad nauseum
in earlier posts.

Do you mean is the BMW F650GS close in weight to the DR650? The answer is
the DR650 is about 65 lbs. lighter than the BMW. There are plenty of other
Adventure bikes that work beautifully two up. CapoNord, Tiger, Varadero,
Navigator, Vstrom and KTM 950. If you go with a more standard bike you
have even more choices.

BTW, BMW are working on the F800GS as we speak. But its still a long ways
off. Look for it in the EU in late 2007. In the US, spring 2008. They may even
have a prototype at the Munich show (Cologne?) in just a few days.

Patrick
:scooter:

Mot Guzzi Stelvio
 

It's called the Stelvio. They've built one in Mandello. Here is a link to a decent photo from a magazine...

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113158

The original Guzzi NTX was fairly decent adventure tour bike, with a large gas tank and the 650 or 750 motor.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...50_rally89.htm

The Quota is quirky, but has a 100 percent successful ride completion rate in the US to Ushuaia ride. The 1000 was a much more purpose built bike than the 1100, but was not sold in great numbers or imported into the US. There were probably a total of 400 Quotas built, and it's hard to achieve perfection with such a small production run.

Thanks for the pics of the Stelvio 1200! Very cool looking bike! :thumbup1:
Man, I hope they actually build the thing.

A friend is a long time Guzzi dealer. He had a Quota on the work
stand, so I got to watch him going through it.
It was a trade in being fixed up for re-sale. He knows Guzzi's
pretty well and pointed out some of the flaws on the Quota.

The owner traded it for a new Tiger. So I have no direct experience
with the Quota, never ridden one. But I'm not surprised it made the Usuhaia run without major probs. The basic running gear is beyond repproach....better than BMW IMHO. Guzzi are still the great undiscovered brand. With a few
updates the Quota could have been great.

Perhaps if Piaggio can continue to funnel R&D money into Guzzi and
actually PAY suppliers and make payroll, they may actually build some
world class bikes. It is Piaggio now, right? Hard to follow Italian Corporate
shenanigans. :cursing:

Can you post some pics of your Quota in RTW guise? I'd love to see
it!

Patrick:scooter:

Patrick...
 

what do you ride again?

The Guzzi Legacy
 

Great bikes, lousy owners. They've been on the verge of bankrupcy for more than 85 years.

I am trying to upload photos but they are WAY too big. Any suggestions? I have them posted on my blog at http://motovista.blogspot.com

Is that a gas bbq on the back of that Guzzi or one gigantic top box???

I think that bike is based on this classic early Guzzi Adventure Bike.:thumbup1:

http://patricksphotos.smugmug.com/photos/91476353-L.jpg

Back to the topic.
 

what options for a first rider:

KLR
F650GS Dakar
VStrom

any other suggestion? what about two up?

I must agree with most of the comments so far but what is the point in buying a bike that you are not really happy with just to get experience. I no it makes sence but it would always be in the back of your mind that you should try the 1200. I would strongly recommend that you do the BMW course in wales as you can drop the bike as often as you like (so to speak). I have been riding bike from the age of 16 but didn't pass my test until 33ish. Having had a long break from riding for any period of time I did a much the same thing. I rode off road for a few months during the Iraq war (2003) on a 250 Army Honda. A light bike but not with all the Army kit that goes with it.

The MOST important thing in all this is how you ride and only you no this. you can always do advance training/advanced riding course. You can get experience on a bigger bike. Just be safe. Think once,Think twice, Think BIKE.

Good Luck
Peter (now living and riding in the UAE)

Regards off road training I don't agree with BMW's method or philosophy at
all. I believe its all about selling GS's. This method goes directly against every proven tenent regards learning to ride dirt bikes for the last 50 years. KTM are doing a similar campaign and its all BS IMO.

Start Small is always best.

The only way to learn properly on a dirt bike and NOT get hurt is to start small. This especially true for older, more frail riders. You know, like the guys
who can actually afford to spend $17,000 on a dirt bike. (A GS)

I've been at this for a long, long time, I'm no beginner. I have flat track, moto
cross and enduro competition back ground. I also have done a LOT of teaching of both kids and adults.

I can promise you the guys who start on a XR100's or XR250's will end up being far better dirt riders, SOONER, than anyone trying to learn on a 550 lb.
street bike. And, they will be safer in the process.

The only way to progress off road is to push limits a bit and you WILL fall.
You need to fall....so you can learn HOW TO FALL properly and not get hurt.
Falling off is part of dirt riding. But getting hurt seriously does NOT have to
be part of it. Has anyone here ever had a 550 lb. GS on top of them?
I have, and a Tiger and a Vstrom as well. Not good.

I have trained kids who have gone onto professional motocross careers and
one who will be on the USA's ISDE jr. team this year to New Zealand. I wasn't the only one who worked with these kids, just one of many "mentors".

Anyway, I feel I've seen enough to actually know what a disaster trying to
learn on a big BMW is. Now if you consider dirt riding to be riding down a dirt
road, then we are in different worlds.

But if you're talking rough going, single track, deep sand, huge, deep ruts, massive rock fields, super steep up hill and down, well, to me, that's dirt riding
in my world.

One of the very best cross training activities you can do is to take up
Trials riding. The very best enduro riders in the world most all have some
Trials experience. David Knight is the current Hero. Best rider in the world
at the moment out of the UK. You guessed it, former Trials rider. Nothing
teahces principles better.

Patrick:scooter:

Sir Patrick.
 

I am not sure what the person that started this thread is looking for, but most of the people that will go around the world, won't necessarily have to go dirt riding, it's more a A to B kind of thing but in a large scale. This is my view anyway. So if the 1200gs is big capable of going off road in terms of rock climbing, that's a whole different story and probably the worst option. Do you agree?
I am still thinking about it too, i am no off road expert, i like to go out with my wife on long trips, from Brisbane to, who knows where and when we are ready, maybe take a looooooong trip. Maybe to visit my parents in Rome. Please all we need here is the right suggestions. I might end up with a F650gs, but i am worried that my wife would be a little cramped. I would like a Ktm950 too. Is that too off road for two up, and no off road maniac type of travelling? it's all in your hands Mr Patric.

Thanks,
Daniel

ride whatever feels right. that needs you to test ride bikes. it's nothing to do with the brand, or the supposed reputation (GPz305 excepted). it's also nothing to do with magazine reviews. If you're going to spend that long with something between your legs, you may as well be getting some excitement out of it!

by the way, the amount of RG2100 Adventures I now see sailing across Scotland with their riders kitted out in spanking new BMW helmet/suits/gloves/boots/socks/underwear is incredible. And very few of them seem to be bikers, if you know what I mean. the karma is all wrong...

Hey Daniel,
My :offtopic: off-road rant was really in response to the previous post.
And to illustrate the current trend of many new GS riders doing the BMW course and thinking they've actually got some skills by the end of one or two days. Like we saw in the very young and strong boys in Long Way Round, the course didn't exactly help them, did it?

Granted, they were probably better off doing it than doing nothing
but are far from good dirt riders. Its very hard to learn to manage a bike that
big....and, as I said, a bit dangerous IMO. On a small bike you learn the Physics very quickly and easily and gain confidence, which is key.

Doing RTW, depending how you choose to do it, may require very little
off road skills at all and in many places dirt can be avoided all together.

For you and your wife I'd go with the bigger bike, go for comfort, luggage capacity, range, speed. You won't be doing the Borneo outback but no
worries. Plenty to see.

Then work a bit on your own skills, especially in sand. Sand seems to be
the undoing of many riders on heavy bikes. There are a few tricks for sand if
you can get your mind 'round them.

In nasty conditions of short duration like bad rocks, deep ruts or water crossings, its best the missus gets off and walks it. Better only one wet rider than two, eh?:eek3:

Cheers,
Patrick:scooter:

After research and seeking advice....

Get the bike you like and 'do it'. We all learn and appreciate things in different ways.

Thank you guys.
 

thank you very much to all of you for keeping this thread alive and to help people like me to make the right decisions. I have not the same experience you have and i am always interested in finding things from more experienced riders. One thing i have noticed, like in advrider.com is that not many people of my age are interested in long distance travelling. i am 30 years young, any one else of that age?

Thanks,
Daniel

My first bike was a CT90, and I still remember it took some getting used to the strange steering dynamics of the bike on the steep hairpins near my house (with cars all around). My second was a T200 and then a CB400 - which felt like a huge bike at the time. Over the next 10 or so years I got bigger bikes and now 25 years later I'm comfortable on anything.

It doesn't really matter what "feels" right, it's learning and experience. Most youngsters start on small under-powered bikes because that's all they can afford. If they've got more money they buy rocketships and kill/hurt themselves. In hindsight I'm glad I didn't have the money at the time to buy the bikes I would've liked. As you get older you have more income and are more inclined to want to jump straight in at the top end.

You're going to be riding for decades to come why not take a few years to get really familiar with how a bike works; how cars do/don't see you on the road; riding in different conditions; etc. I think a 650 is too big to start with - better to get really proficient and comfortable on a 250 (we are talking about riding on the road here, not in the bush on the beat-up 500). So what if you trade up in a year or two, at least you'll be alive and well and able to properly manage a bike. In my view this is really not something to hurry.

cheers
Brett

thanks again,
 

but when you ask people about two up, they all go: " you need a bigger bike" i have no idea. all i was riding in the past was an old 1969 Vespa 150, before then was my cousins motorcycle in Spain, that's what they used to ride in summer. i would like to do some touring, whatever takes me and my wife from A to B in comfort will do. there are to many forums and after all, i've come to the conclusions, you do what you want to do, a Postie Bike (CT110) or a HD, maybe a John Deere lawn mower too, someone really did it.

Take care and let's see if this thread keeps going,
Ciao,
Daniele

ps: i think the best looking is the KTM. The most comfortable the BMW and the best in price the Tiger and VStrom.

Max66, just had to say that - as a new rider, the fact that you went to a riding community board to inquire about the kind of bike you should get shows admirable forethought. I'm sure that if you show equal dilligence as you gain riding experience your skills will be considerable and your enjoyment and safety equally so. Riders of all experience can certainly take a lesson from you.

Mollydog... I practically blew cofee through my nose at your picture of the early Guzzi adventure bike. I've gotta do my next enduro on one of those!

http://patricksphotos.smugmug.com/photos/91476353-L.jpg

Yea, that three wheeler is for real. Guzzi made these things intially under a
military contract in the late 50's I believe, then sold them as some kind
of tractor for farmers. This is a lousy pic, you can't really see the engine.
I've actually seen them in the flesh at bike shows, along with the old Bacon Slicer singles, Guzzi V-8, V-7 Sport (first Guzzi two wheeler to use the V motor) and other Guzzi classics.

Many Italians feel very strongly about Moto Guzzi. Moreso than any
other Italian brand. Not sure why this is but its kind of like their Harley....they
get real teary eyed and nostalgic when Guzzi comes up. Serious. A wealthy plastic surgeon friend collects Alpha Romeo's....and Moto Guzzi's. (he's Italian). :thumbup1:

Buy what you want!
 

Just spent the last half an hour reading this entire thread and the various points that were made in it. As I have just joined the forum I dont want to annoy anyone (yet!) but I feel like I have to put my little bit in as well!

I started riding when I was 23 as I was supposed to be getting a bike for courier work in Edinburgh. As it happened I stayed on four wheels as it was the winter!

I moved out to Dubai a few years later and there was very little choice in the bike market. My first bike was decided by what was in the showroom at the time, so I bought a new Triumph Daytona T595. Now this goes against all the comments I have just read about starting small, but I had the money and there was a good group of riders who met every weekend for breakfast runs.

I never had an issue starting with a 1000cc bike and I learnt very quickly what the bike could do, and what I could not! I kept the bike for about four years and travelled around 20,000miles in the UAE and the UK. In that time I had a number of scares that would have happened on any size bike (usually caused by cars/trucks/camels etc)

I did have one big 'off' which I still cant remember much about but it never diminished my love for two wheel travel. When I returned to the UK in 2002 the first thing I bought was another Daytona and proceeded to tour Europe on it and use it everyday for commuting until I blew the engine on it!

I am back in the UAE now and looking for something to entertain me. We are lucky here as the bike culture has grown and there is an FIA track less than 15 minutes from office which has track days a couple of times a month. I would go for another 1000cc as I have a mental block about going smaller but the current 600's are looking very attractive, especially for the track!

So I dont believe that going for a bigger bike is to waste to your time. You will learn on it as you will learn on something smaller. You may also avoid the trouble of arriving at a corner on your new 1000 a hell of a lot faster than you did on your old 600, panic braking and making a lovely hole in the hedge/wall/car the same shape as you and the bike.

Its depends greatly on the rider and the way they approach the bike and their riding. Any bike can be a handful. Buy what you feel comfortable on, but make sure you get your riding kit sorted first.

There are two types of riders. Those that have crashed and learnt, and those that are learning to crash.

Cheers

Hi ;

Falcon Rust wrote .....

"One thing i have noticed, like in advrider.com is that not many people of my age are interested in long distance travelling. i am 30 years young, any one else of that age? "

I am 44 years old and have started long distance travelling when i was 38.

I rode from Turkey to Jordan, St.Petersburg, Ulan-Bator, Katmandu, all the balkans and Morocco (up to Mau. border) during the last 6 years.

Planning for a trip to Poland next year.

Dreaming to ride up to SA, starting from Morocco -->SA-->Eth.

And your question, for the first time ever, made me think " I am old for such things or what?"
:)

Just joking of course ... see you around the Globe somewhere ..

Cheers,

how big are you?
 

I agree with all that's been said above, but particularly those that say that it depends on your size as much as the bike.

I'm a big bloke - 6'2" and 23 stone (that's 320lbs for the yanks). I learnt on an ER-5, but after a day on it it bored the hell out of me! While I was learning. I'm now getting a 1200GS on the recommendation of my instructor and my dad (who is massive like me!). But I am getting it second hand (£5k for a really good nick bike with all the extras) so if I munch it but it's not the end of the world - the power of the bike doesn't matter if you get hit by two tonnes of ford focus at a cross roads - you'll still end up in a bad place. If I forked out £12k for a new one and did that I'd be seriously peeved.