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30 Jan 2012
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Just a suggestion, take a look at the BMW F800GS. The 800cc bimmer is a great bike too, less expensive and a lot easier to off road riding. Rusty suggestion is also a great option, the V-Storm is a really great travel bike too.
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30 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkm_br
Just a suggestion, take a look at the BMW F800GS. The 800cc bimmer is a great bike too, less expensive and a lot easier to off road riding. Rusty suggestion is also a great option, the V-Storm is a really great travel bike too.
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I'd go for a 650 DLV-strom too....Cheap, very reliable, comfortable, economical, well balanced etc..
The F800 requires a back up truck full of spare parts and a Starfleet trained auto electrician to keep it running. 
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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30 Jan 2012
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Can't go smaller...
Hey guys, thanks for the feedback so far. But I don't think I can or want to be in smaller than 1200cc. I am used to the power of HD 1550cc and I love it, specially the torque. I used to have a Virago 750cc, so done with that. Another thing is that I love to travel and I want something that will be confortable, good wind protection and yet I could do some light offroad stuff.
2 years ago I did a solo trip to the Route 66 on my St.Glide. It was awesome, and I even took some short sidetrips and visit the Grand Canyon, Mohabi Desert, Death Valley and Meteor Crator and that was a few times were I had to change routes due to condition of the roads, and while in the Death Valley, I wanted really bad to go to the top of the mountains but I could not do it on St.Glide. St.Glide suspension sucks. It is great for the smooth road, but it has a Air shock that needed to be pumped every so often, and those side bags cost $900 US dollars each if you brake them, ( I did once ) No the kind of bike that you want to lay it down if you loose balance on the gravel!
I am planning to test drive the GSA tomorrow and hopefully the Tenere later in the week. Will see.
Cheers!!
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30 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moulin6801
Hey guys, thanks for the feedback so far. But I don't think I can or want to be in smaller than 1200cc. I am used to the power of HD 1550cc and I love it, specially the torque. I used to have a Virago 750cc, so done with that. Another thing is that I love to travel and I want something that will be confortable, good wind protection and yet I could do some light offroad stuff.
2 years ago I did a solo trip to the Route 66 on my St.Glide. It was awesome, and I even took some short sidetrips and visit the Grand Canyon, Mohabi Desert, Death Valley and Meteor Crator and that was a few times were I had to change routes due to condition of the roads, and while in the Death Valley, I wanted really bad to go to the top of the mountains but I could not do it on St.Glide. St.Glide suspension sucks. It is great for the smooth road, but it has a Air shock that needed to be pumped every so often, and those side bags cost $900 US dollars each if you brake them, ( I did once ) No the kind of bike that you want to lay it down if you loose balance on the gravel!
I am planning to test drive the GSA tomorrow and hopefully the Tenere later in the week. Will see.
Cheers!!
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I'd get the Tenere in your shoes; no bugs, Japanese reliability, much less $$$ than the BMW or Triumph - what's not to like? I've got the 660 and it's ace.
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30 Jan 2012
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If you are bold enough you could also look for the the Ducati Multistrada 1200 or the Moto Guzzi Stelvio. I personally love how the Stelvio looks but, I really don´t know if I will choose her to a RTW trip.
BTW, Suzuki is selling again brand new 1000cc V-Storms, the bike have about 100 hp (110hp in the BMW 1200GSA) and costs a lot less than the BMW.
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31 Jan 2012
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I have been riding two Electra Glides (Standard and Ultra Classic) from 1999 to 2011, on the roads of Europe, Middle East, Russia, Caucasus and Kazakhstan.
I sold the Ultra Classic last October to purchase the Super Ténéré XT1200Z, which is the bike that will take me to northern Iraq in 4 months from now.
I made wonderful trips on the Harleys, but I'd hardly get back to it after 3 months of jap riding.
Anyway, if you wanna go RTW, I'd consider an old but reliable Honda Africa Twin 750, if you are disposed to change your mind about riding at least 1200 cc.
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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré
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31 Jan 2012
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Go with the GSA if that's what you like best. I'm a new GSA owner (2011 1200GSA). I traded up from a F650GS twin because highway travel was unbearable on the F650 at times. The GSA's big gas tank and windshield block wind, cold, rain and bugs. I can practically light a cigarette while riding its so effective. The seat is very comfortable and it's a pleasure to ride. Mine is my daily commuter. I haven't driven a car in almost 3 months. It's no dirt bike, but I don't pretend it is one. I take it on rough dirt trails and forest roads at least once a week after work. It's a bear to pick up when dropped, but I just try my best not to drop it. The Tenere looks promising too, but add up the panniers, and crash protection and your at the same price as a 1200GS. I will almost guarantee that after your GSA test ride, you will buy one. It took just one test ride of my buddy's and I was at the dealer 2 weeks later trading in my F650. I've ridden part of the Great Western Trail here in AZ and am planning a Continental Divide Trail ride this summer.
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31 Jan 2012
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I've got a 2011 Guzzi 1200 NTX Stelvio. Love it to bits. Would even RTW it. Whatever you do - at least check it out. You might be in for a surprise 
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1 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moulin6801
Hey guys, thanks for the feedback so far. But I don't think I can or want to be in smaller than 1200cc. I am used to the power of HD 1550cc and I love it, specially the torque. I used to have a Virago 750cc, so done with that. Another thing is that I love to travel and I want something that will be confortable, good wind protection and yet I could do some light offroad stuff.
2 years ago I did a solo trip to the Route 66 on my St.Glide. It was awesome, and I even took some short sidetrips and visit the Grand Canyon, Mohabi Desert, Death Valley and Meteor Crator and that was a few times were I had to change routes due to condition of the roads, and while in the Death Valley, I wanted really bad to go to the top of the mountains but I could not do it on St.Glide. St.Glide suspension sucks. It is great for the smooth road, but it has a Air shock that needed to be pumped every so often, and those side bags cost $900 US dollars each if you brake them, ( I did once ) No the kind of bike that you want to lay it down if you loose balance on the gravel!
I am planning to test drive the GSA tomorrow and hopefully the Tenere later in the week. Will see.
Cheers!!
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If you don't mind me asking, where are you going to test ride the Tenere in Nashville? I have a buddy who is wanting one as well, and we are about 90 miles north of you.
You might want to give the smaller bikes a demo ride first. My 650 Suzuki V-Strom will outperform my Road King as well as my friend's Screamin Eagle Electra Glide with the 110c.i. engine. If you are truly wanting to do adventure riding I'm thinking you will be a little disappointed with the bigger bikes you are looking at, especially if you plan on doing very much off road riding. They are heavy and tall, and I'm told not a lot of fun to pick up when dropped. Imagine sinking your Glide to the pipes in the mud and pushing it out, it would almost be the same if your adventure tourer was loaded. I rode the V-Strom in a lot of places I probably shouldn't have, and it's not a lot of fun to push out of the mud either. I rode it to Alaska in 09 and wished I had something lighter and with more ground clearance when I got there. BUT, if you are just wanting something to do the occasional gravel or dry dirt road on then you will be fine with the big bikes. I would go with what you find the most comfortable to tour on.
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7 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moulin6801
I am planning to test drive the GSA tomorrow and hopefully the Tenere later in the week. Will see.
Cheers!!
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Moulin,
It would be good to hear your impressions from your test rides; here in the UK it didn't used to be easy to test a Yam 1200 tenere because the dealers didn't have them on the shop floor - the idea seemed to be that a customer would buy it "blind" without a test ride:confused1:
It should be easier now that there are a few second hand ones in the dealers.
p s
I agree with the underlying theme of some of the earlier posts - someday a thread will stay away from  for more than a day or two, but I am not holding my breath when BMW are in the subject line of the thread 
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Dave
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1 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
I'd go for a 650 DLV-strom too....Cheap, very reliable, comfortable, economical, well balanced etc..
The F800 requires a back up truck full of spare parts and a Starfleet trained auto electrician to keep it running. |
Hey Ted,
LOL, I'm not going to lend you my canoe this summer if you so vehemently insist on retaining the role of the resident anti-BMW crusader on this site.
The OP already said he can't do anything smaller than a heavyweight (1200) so I doubt he'll look at the middleweights.
Oh, and by the way, I can't imagine that actual real data would in anyway sway your biases, but I had the pleasure of riding my DL (1000) again in West Africa this winter. Certainly based on my experiences with my DL and my F800, once a person rides enough miles on these bikes (and most other modern bikes), the maintenance required and reliability are all pretty similiar.
In fact, I've had a lot more issues with my DL but there are quirks on every bike, doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend that bike or the F800. We all have our preferences and biases, but in reality these are mostly just our opinions based on what we like, and a lot less about facts. There is plently of room in the world for people to like different things so we shouldn't be so dismissive of other peoples preferences. Some people even choose to live in the UK! 
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2 Feb 2012
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Join Date: Jun 2010
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1200cc adventure bikes can be an ideal choice for some people. I think it's better to keep an R or K BMW for the asphalt miles and buy something like a 250cc for off-roading but I can understand the thinking behind buying a big BMW. They can handle bad road surfaces, handle better than a Harley, look cool in some circles and you can "customize" them. All the custom parts are in a catalog but nonetheless they will be custom.. lol.
Anyways, I would buy a Stelvio NTX if I were you. They are the coolest looking thing from that bunch. Or a Triumph Tiger Explorer.
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5 Feb 2012
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I test ride both the BMW GSA 1200 and the 1200 Tenere and must say that for me the BMW ws way better on every aspect. I didn't like the position on the Tenere, which is like sitting on a chair...
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6 Feb 2012
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Have to agree with Ted...74,000km half way around the world on a F800GS!...biggest lemon ever!! Stay away from this bike unless you like dealing with morons at BMW and enjoy been broken down in the middle of nowhere...continuously!! oh and don't forget wasting money you could have spend on travelling!...Swapped it half way for a 2010 XT660 Z Tenere..what an awesome out of the box adventure bike...albeit with a few mods!
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7 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MountainMan
Hey Ted,
LOL, I'm not going to lend you my canoe this summer if you so vehemently insist on retaining the role of the resident anti-BMW crusader on this site.
The OP already said he can't do anything smaller than a heavyweight (1200) so I doubt he'll look at the middleweights.
Oh, and by the way, I can't imagine that actual real data would in anyway sway your biases, but I had the pleasure of riding my DL (1000) again in West Africa this winter. Certainly based on my experiences with my DL and my F800, once a person rides enough miles on these bikes (and most other modern bikes), the maintenance required and reliability are all pretty similiar.
In fact, I've had a lot more issues with my DL but there are quirks on every bike, doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend that bike or the F800. We all have our preferences and biases, but in reality these are mostly just our opinions based on what we like, and a lot less about facts. There is plently of room in the world for people to like different things so we shouldn't be so dismissive of other peoples preferences. Some people even choose to live in the UK! |
haha oops. I better start behaving myself.. 
I just have to say how I see it though.... People are welcome to ignore what I say. While they are sailing down that long river called "Da' Nile" 
Just seen this video pop up on my FB news feed. Thought it 'perhaps' relevant..
50,000miles f800gs engine destroyed - YouTube
F800GS Piston slapping ? - YouTube
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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