Thanks for that Ian; the web link is an awesome amount of data.
Do you happen to know if there are any "side effects" to disconnecting the ABS? - BMW web discussions are just full of this topic but they do have that canbus technology to live with.

Cheers,

Yep, and the "new" 1200GS is in the dealers later this month I have been told.

The thing is officialslacker, you have asked a wide open question (no budget or preference for new/second hand etc etc) and you are getting the whole gamut of replies!!

Matt,
You can put chunky tyres on the V-Strom I think Continentals fit but you would still have to take care and when you drop it it will cost more to repair and you WILL drop it.
At this stage in your biking experience I would get a second hand bike poss a 250cc and go to an off road school to get some tuition. Even if you can handle a bike on the road you will drop one almost as soon as you hit the dirt. My first dirt bike was an old Suzuki RM 250 that I got for peanuts and fell off loads of times but it didn't matter as it was basic and nothing broke. I went on to compete in motocross on an RM 250 and a Honda CR 250.
Riding on dirt is a whole different ball game and a different technique but riding on dirt will make you a better rider on the road.
I went to the local Harley dealer to check out the Buell and got a test ride, great bike and I wanted one in orange but when I got back the salesman told me the price 45,000 Saudi Riyals so I went to the Suzuki dealer and got a V-Strom for 23,000 SR 2006 model in black out of the showroom.
Don't be in a hurry to spend your money it might workout cheaper to buy an old bike to fall off than to buy a new one and make a mess of it.
Cheers
Ian:thumbup1:

Abs
 

Dave,
When I read about pulling the fuse the same question crossed my mind but there was no comment to be found on this.
My bike doesn't have ABS so it won't bother me but I think I would leave it connected as my previous bike did have it and I found it ok but you like it or you don't if you don't then you have the option to walk away.
Cheers
Ian:thumbup1:

Its a bit strange, why Suzuki dont have the option to disconnect ABS, if a person wishes to do so.l

Then again, Ive got a 07 Vstrom, and the system is working quite perfectly for my needs, so I really havent yet come up with any situation where I wouldve felt I'd control the bike better with ABS switched off.

Im actually in India with it, and a few weeks ago had a big situation on the road near Delhi, when a really large pig decided to run (fast!) straight into my path from behind a truck. I was doing maybe 100-110 kms per hour, too fast for India, as I found out, but it was a very good road, not like most roads here.

I can tell you that with a bike fully loaded and 2 persons aboard, its not easy to stop really quickly on a situation like that, when you simply do not have time to think. VERY good to have ABS at that moment.

I think the need to switch it off would come in some offroad-riding, to which the bike is not very suitable to begin with. For road-use, and especially on long trips, ABS is a big plus.

If you take the ABS-fuse off, that should put it to normal brakes. I would put the fuse back every now and then, because the pistons inside the hydraulic unit need to move back & forth not to get jammed (it actually does this every time you put the power on, but maybe not if you disconnect its fuse).

the 650 v-strom X (new) has engine bars, a bash plate (ali) and no ABS. it's also cheaper than the standard road based v-strom. Although it appears off-road biased (hence no ABS) it's still a road bike in terms of suspension, weight and riding position.

there are some really cheap 600 traillie bikes for sale (£1000-£1500). Sling on some canvas army bags (£10), strap on a 5 litre fuel can (once you get over the channel, £3). And go travel, you'll learn to ride along the way. Buy something better when you get back, and know more about it.

Just want to say thanks for the last few posts; all very interesting.

My interest is always in having full control over what is going on with my bike and the controls.
So, yes, I would normally have ABS switched on for road riding (I have never owned a bike with ABS so I have not experienced daily usage of such) and I take Pecha's advice seriously.
I would like the option of switching it off however for riding on gravel or other dirt (and when there are no pigs around the area!!).

if you look on the suzuki website, at the v-strom 650 (though I expect all ABS bikes), they have a video explaining ABS. I know we all know how it works, but some might be interested to see it working.

Thanks, got it:-

Suzuki GB Motorcycles/ATVs : Suzuki Extra Page

more times than I care to when road riding.

Hey guys,

Thanks for the advise!! Am going to buy that book as well.

I think that I'm going to go for a 2nd hand bike & the XT sounds like it will do the job, but I'm checking out other bikes & will test ride etc as many as I can. I appreciate what was said about not buying a bike with 'Adventure' miles and tbh I would not do that anyway - I feel the same way about cars (I mod cars - though I'm NOT a boy racer lol) and would never buy a car that’s been done up already due to the fact that I don't know if it's been abused, poor craftsmanship etc (No offence to anyone but if it broke due to it being abused or poor craftsmanship I'd be a bit :censored: off but if I was the one that abused it or what ever then I've got no one else to blame but myself! just the way I feel) , when buying I'd go for a standard car almost every time so was going to take the same line with bikes.

Anyway I think what I'd be looking for is a 2nd hand bike, standard, good con, as new as poss & as few miles as poss - maybe spend £3K including mods, from what I've seen I can get a 2002/03 plate XT600E for just over 2K so it's not totally unrealistic.

I had been thinking about buying a old 125cc (since I'm still learning think this is the biggest engine I can have at the mo) from ebay or somewhere, maybe for a couple of hundred & get as many miles as I can done, poss keep it at my mums as there are places I could take it to use offroad, well lose gravel, grass, dirt roads etc to get some experience.

O/slacker,
I think you have your pricing about right; a brand new 2003 model XT was sold recently by a dealer, on ebay or autotrader - can't remember, for £3000.

Learner limits; this is always a "moveable feast" thing and it changes again in April apparently (so get it done early!!) - there is loads of stuff on the internet about the impending changes.
Thing is, 125cc is no longer relevant - so long as the bike produces no more than 33 HP you are OK.