Its interesting that most members so far, me included when considering the XR, just plumbed for what looked capable and available at the time but do not seem at all disappointed by their choices!

I find that quite encouraging: a small reminder that its the rider and what you experience that makes a trip, rather than purely the bike

It just goes to show, in my opinion, that spec sheets are a bit of a waste of time, other than the simple pre-purchase therapy of window shopping and licking one's lips at the prospect.

Perhaps the next time a newbie poster gets embroiled in a storm of opinions we should direct them here and point out: "See? If you get what you like for the money you've got, you'll figure the rest out for yourself..."

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Curiously enough I'm going through this very process at the moment, I'm trading in my stalwart Kawasaki GT550 and upgrading to something more versatile.

After reading the forums and drooling over one, I'm probably going for a XT660Z which appears to be a happy medium of good quality and a bike that I like the look of.


Heh, and no need for the redirect Warthog.

When travelling to "east" part of the world, i chose a bike which is "hard to break, easy to fix" ... KLR650 ... for solo, so-so mechanic, light traveller i think its a great pic ...also web-purchasing almost every part is possible....

But when travelling to "west", i chose a bike "hard to break, impossible to fix" ... BMW 1150GS ... i thought finding parts or dealer is not a big deal at that part of the world ...

Thats how i chose ...

I'm glad you've got a model in mind, Lagan , rather than being in that " I don't which way to turn" state that is so easy to fall in to.

I must say that this topic has got me thinking about how we choose bikes. The first thing to remmeber and often the easiest to forget is that one's bike is very personal. As with all personal things, we often think ours is best and can also get very defensive if that choice is questioned or criticised. Then all hell breaks loose and we are on 142 posts of slagging off!!!

I must say that I think anyone who wants advice on which bike they should buy should follow TWB's lead and not ask "which bike should I buy?", but rather "which bike did you buy and why?".

Then they can start looking through the responses for people who had similar needs to their own: route, luggage, price, performance etc...

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

I've just realised its a while since we had a BMW versus Jap bike ding-dong. People must have finally vented all their arguments!

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Regrettably, I'm sure it will come up again. Some opinions do seem unventable...

That is one reason why the "why did you buy yours?" approach would be helpful. It would also mean that a poster could get the answer they needed, rather than the answer someone else thought they should need, IYKWIM.

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Yes, ITIDKWYM!

__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Coming back to this after a day or so, I'd like to say well done chaps (and chapesses?). This site always does well for people actually answering the question rather than wondering off into why a Triumph outfit isn't an adventure bike (if you want adventure you should see the electrics ) or why we should all ride a certain model.

Long may it continue and thanks for such interesting replies.

BTW, Am I the only one who bought off a drunken salesman?

Andy

You won't regret it, it is an [i]awesome[i/] machine... I've covered over 20,000 miles on mine all ready this last six months, and it just keeps getting better - there is nothing it won't do (as long as you're brave enough!) and is mechanically rock solid...

I spent the best part of $10,000 building up my XR650R as a rally/touring machine (e-start, big tank, fairing and nav gear, brakes and loads of other bits and bobs...) and that was/is an awesome machine - but a little highly strung for serious distance work, especially on the road... after 18,000 miles (admittedly hard miles x) last year it started to use oil, and really needs a rebuild... I was all set to take it back to the US, when a found a XT660Z in stock and unsold last September - basically an off-the-shelf version of everything I'd turned the XR into - so bought that and shipped it to the US instead...

It has proved to be everything the XR was as a 'trail' bike, and far more comfortable when you do decide to stay on the tarmac... long service intervals, rock solid engine and super stable chassis, great ergonomics, good headlight (on low beam at least), more than adequate weather protection, big fuel range, EFi (it's been from -282ft to over 14,400ft), luggage and pillion capacity... hell, I'm starting to bore even myself!

I understand there are some UK dealers doing deals around 4500 pounds (sorry, US keyboard, no pound sign!) on pre-registered and 08 models at the moment... With a two year warrenty and all the warm cosy feeling that a new machine brings, I can't believe there is a better travel bike for the money?

xxx

You are correct about dealers doing good deals on the XTZ660 Tenere's.

J&S at Doncaster had a white one in at £4599, not only that but they offered me £300 more for my bike as a trade in than anyone else has, picking it up on Thursday

Perhaps it is also something to do with pre-internet era, when older members bought their bikes? I imagine back then things were a bit simpler. The less information (or choice) you have, perhaps more happy you are. If you don't read endless reviews and opinions on forums and just go to a shop, buy a bike that *you* like (not someone else recommends) and be satisfied... Nowadays if you start reading forums about diffrent opinions you just can easily go nuts.

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!

--Now you're talking !

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

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!!!

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)