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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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  #31  
Old 22 Mar 2009
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I thought long and hard, read every magazine, asked everyone I knew, found out everything I could. I considered reliability, power, simplicity to repair, cost of parts then squarely raised a two finger salute and bought an old Ducati!

Not just any old Ducati, though, I bought the cheapest on-road twin I could find, an '81 Pantah 500.

For three years I have been fixing it, adjusting it, modifying it, rebuilding it, getting it towed home, tuning it, spending vast amounts of money on almost unobtainable parts AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!

I've done several long trips and lots of twisty country hacking - lots of kms and eventually she has proved reliable. That is to say I've ridden out all the problems.

What I have invested in my bike is the knowledge of every part, nut and bolt, wear cycle and drama both past and future.

I think I'll buy a BMW next time but I'll probably end up with Norton Commando!
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  #32  
Old 22 Mar 2009
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Originally Posted by Duchead View Post
------ but I'll probably end up with Norton Commando!
--Now you're talking !
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  #33  
Old 23 Mar 2009
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There are adventure bikes and then there are bikes that are an adventure....
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  #34  
Old 23 Mar 2009
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Originally Posted by Duchead View Post
For three years I have been fixing it, adjusting it, modifying it, rebuilding it, getting it towed home, tuning it, spending vast amounts of money on almost unobtainable parts AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duchead View Post
There are adventure bikes and then there are bikes that are an adventure....

If that is your bag, then you might want to try owning a Ural!!

That has been keeping me busy and broke for a while now!!!
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  #35  
Old 23 Mar 2009
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Plus window shopping, sitting on bikes and making broom-vroom noises when the sales guy isn't looking is all way more fun than reading internet pages!!
Actually it's quite good fun making them when she is looking (am I sharing too much information about my trip to BMW here?).

I was wondering now, about starting another thread, something like "how do you feel about your bike now you've had it for a while" where everyone can say whether their accidentally bought bike is everything they hope it would be.
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