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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 Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 20 Nov 2012
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that Baja looks amazing!
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  #2  
Old 21 Nov 2012
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Originally Posted by MagicMANX View Post
that Baja looks amazing!
Especially if you like an old CZ and a look which just obviates questions of quality !

The Triumph Scrambler is better looking and just as silly. The TE630 . . . much better bike.
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  #3  
Old 21 Nov 2012
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Originally Posted by Genghis9021 View Post
Especially if you like an old CZ and a look which just obviates questions of quality !

The Triumph Scrambler is better looking and just as silly. The TE630 . . . much better bike.
The triumph scrambler is better looking, but the husky will weigh about 50kg less. however my CCM weighs 50kg less again and trumps them both on looks (in my opinion)


This one is actually Mrs Fox's CCM but you get the point
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  #4  
Old 22 Nov 2012
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Originally Posted by Fantastic Mister Fox View Post
The triumph scrambler is better looking, but the husky will weigh about 50kg less. however my CCM weighs 50kg less again and trumps them both on looks (in my opinion)


This one is actually Mrs Fox's CCM but you get the point
Um, yes, in your opinion....... sorry mate, but I'd take the Husky or Scrambler over the CCM any day of the week and twice on Sundays. The CCM looks a bit, er, rustic?
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  #5  
Old 22 Nov 2012
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Originally Posted by Fantastic Mister Fox View Post

How beautiful! Like this style pretty much - for this (almost) unique bikes!
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  #6  
Old 3 Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by Genghis9021 View Post
The Triumph Scrambler is better looking and just as silly.
Have to defend the Triumph Scram here. Yes it's not designed to go off road but I owned one for 2 years, did some mods and took it on the ADVriders meet in Italy in 2009 where it got some scathing looks. I had the last laugh though because it got to places that some KTMs and BMWs failed to get to.
The Scram is actually built like a brick shit house which is why it's heavy. It's also low which has both negative and positive aspects:-
Limited suspension travel and poor ground clearance means you have to pick your line carefully.
Low enough to paddle your way through tricky stuff.


I'd say Triumph missed a trick with the Scram because if they made one with decent suspension and more ground clearance but kept the seat low it would be the modern equivalent of the R80GS.
I swapped it for the 800XC which I honestly think is the best all round bike on the planet at the moment. It no worse than any of the other bikes in this photo...


Head down expecting a flaming........................

Have to say that I like the look of that Baja but look at the spindly sub frame. No good for carrying anything but a couple of sandwiches.
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  #7  
Old 6 Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by blacktiger View Post
I swapped it for the 800XC which I honestly think is the best all round bike on the planet at the moment. It no worse than any of the other bikes in this photo...
Wonder how long it'll be before you start slagging the XC then!
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  #8  
Old 12 Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by Magnon View Post
Wonder how long it'll be before you start slagging the XC then!
Not long after he's interviewed for "How to suffer a tib/fib fracture on a motorbike" - a) paddle while riding. Mind you, I hope that doesn't happen. Paddle in a boat or if you're a duck.

We "must" inform the Dakar organizers that eliminating the big Katoom from the race (following Meoni's death) that they chose the wrong bike. It should have been the "Scram", built in homage to . . . those magnificent old Brit bikes that were long on character and exhaust note and not alot else. Granted, the "Scram" is alot heavier with similarly poor suspension. Those photographs are nice but . . . I know plenty of people who ride Gold Wings and GT1200-1600s on such "terrain".

MCN (Motorcycle Consumer News) a US-based publication that does not accept any advertising recently reviewed the TR650. MCN is a bit like the UK-based 'Bike' (my favorite motorcycle mag, with MCN 2nd) in that it just states opinions and findings rather plainly. US motorcycle mags are notoriously positive and often seem like nothing more than sales vehicles for the manufacturers.

MCN's take:

Pros:
  1. Good Value
  2. Good power from modified GS650 engine
  3. Good suspension balance street/dirt

Cons:
  1. Heavy - 405lbs wet - compromises dirt work considerably
  2. 5-speed transmission
  3. Raised pillion seat interferes with rider movement
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Old 23 Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by Genghis9021 View Post

Cons:
  1. Heavy - 405lbs wet - compromises dirt work considerably
  2. 5-speed transmission
Those are my two biggest complaints with the bike too.

Wish they had done enough work to the engine to a) take 7-8 kgs out of the engine and b) to make it 6 speed wide-ratio instead of 5 spd wide-ratio.

On top of that they could take 10 kgs or more out of the bike via stuff like the all steel frame and swingarm and heavy exhaust.

With not much work they could have made the whole series of bikes 15-20 kgs lighter.
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  #10  
Old 24 Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
Those are my two biggest complaints with the bike too.

Wish they had done enough work to the engine to a) take 7-8 kgs out of the engine and b) to make it 6 speed wide-ratio instead of 5 spd wide-ratio.

On top of that they could take 10 kgs or more out of the bike via stuff like the all steel frame and swingarm and heavy exhaust.

With not much work they could have made the whole series of bikes 15-20 kgs lighter.
This bike will be popular because it is cheap like the KLR, if they start fixing what is wrong with it to make it lighter then the price will become heavier..
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  #11  
Old 24 Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
Those are my two biggest complaints with the bike too.

Wish they had done enough work to the engine to a) take 7-8 kgs out of the engine and b) to make it 6 speed wide-ratio instead of 5 spd wide-ratio.

On top of that they could take 10 kgs or more out of the bike via stuff like the all steel frame and swingarm and heavy exhaust.

With not much work they could have made the whole series of bikes 15-20 kgs lighter.
Walter what's the wet weight of you XChallenge with no luggage?
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