Bike recommendations

Originally Posted by Red Herring

My local dealer has a brand new one with all the "Desert" extras including panniers, crash bars and spots for 9k.

What does a GS cost with that spec?

Performance, GS has marginally more power and considerably more weight. You make your choices, I'm sure you're be happy with whatever you decide. Good luck.

Very strange, suzuki's own site says the Desert V-Strom is £10,699. Last time I saw a deal that good, it was because it was too good to be true.

Originally Posted by Red Herring

Just picking up on your comments around Italian bought bikes and it leading into Italian insurance.... are you considering buying in the UK and keeping it on GB plates in Italy, covered on a UK policy? If so it might be worth reading the small print.....

Thanks for the advice, already got that covered! I might be unconventional, but I am always legal! (Except exhausts)

Originally Posted by Littlepeahead

Yes and you have to remember that. My panniers are wider than my bars. So far I've hit a car (gently and it was a BMW) and nearly knocked a mate off as I pulled along side him at the lights and forgot my luggage was so wide that I clunked my panniers into his soft luggage. It's like being a cat with your whiskers trimmed. On the upside you can fit a LOT of cheese into them.

No chance of getting a second hand well cared for KTM? Stu's one had done not many miles for the age, the guy who owned it ran a business in very very expensive classic cars and when we bought it it was in a climatically controlled showroom surrounded by a few million worth of beautiful Porches, Aston Martins, Jaguars and a former F1 car. He'd only used it to do a few big trips round Europe and the rest of the time it had sat in that garage. I'm sure a few people buy them just for that purpose.

I don't know if you watch Baron Von Grumble on youtube but that reminds me of their Eurotour 24 episode 2 "Pannier Problems".

I'll try to find a used, but if I buy used I have to drive back to the UK once a year to get an MOT and stuff which is quite inconvenient, whereas if it's new I can be abroad for up to 3 years, theoretically.

[STRAMASHER]

Hello Allan,


Think you are in the right area for your height as regards a GS Adventure/KTM for the really tall seat heights but if you fancy more of a supermoto...


I'm afraid its another "I recommend the bike wot I got." Or at least a prompt to get a test ride on one.


I test rode a Honda Crosstourer DCT (a VFR1200F on stilts) for a day. Town and country and did not want to give it back, 300mile later I signed up for my own and traded my GSX1400 of 11year and 70k. Apart from the looks, no regrets. I wanted a something different but still a comfy 2-up tourer, cantered the Pyrenees for two weeks. I had it down to a CT or S10. No test rides on the S10, more spendy, low power and lots of bits I did not like the look of. (Exhaust, panels, wheels, shaft....aye I'm a bike tart.)


Pro's


Monster engine. 110bhp+ at the wheel maybe but its the torque that I really love. Blats like a twin from 1500rpm, creamy woosh of a midrange and then if you hang on, oh looky looky a top-end! Perfect fuelling.Its a four but does not feel like one. Narrow engine means narrow frame and waist.


Shaftie! A consistant connection between throttle and wheel. No more crawling about the ground at the end of the day with a can of lube/selection of spanners.


Rare in a sea of GS's and Tiggers.


The noise. Exhaust and shocking volume of the airbox honk. Its no 90deg V4 750/800 (my favourite although never had one) but I have never heard anything like it. Its no sewing machine, plays quality tunes on the throttle.


8000mile service intervals (valve check alternates), 3yr warranty.


Build quality and finish is typical Jap built Honda. Can't pick a hole in it anywhere. Uses no oil. Oil looks new.


Cheap tyres cos they are so skinny.


Comfort. More upright though than a XJR/GSX. More legroom. 34" sticks myself and 6'2".


Intergrated luggage hangers. No scaffolding. Narrower than the bars. 39L and 35L I think.


DCT gearbox. Sensible head says its fantastic for pillion work, big daftie heid on and its a revelation in town whazz away from the lights with coffee in hand or a tab on, like a scooter (if you like)... gotta be good for Rome?
But for razzing about its a wonder. Simply, its just faster. Mechanically and for my wee brain to process leaving more time for lines and where I'm going and that razzing up and down. (Auto-blips at high revs when thumbing fast down changes.) I'm always in manual unless I'm knackered, trigger finger for up, thumb for down.
7/10th riding in Auto/Sport is intuitive, Auto/Drive for the motorway.
No fore and aft movement going up and down the gears just solid stability and constant drive forwards.
Its done by Honda so its stupid proof. Can't stall. Can't arrive at the lights in the wrong gear. Can't be in the wrong gear, even in full manual mode.Can't blow it up or lock up the rear if you are getting too giddy. Can't upset the bike mid corner changing up or down.


Cons


Its a Honda. If it matters to you.


Looks. Adv bikes are not "classically" pretty.


Front suspension is definitely road only. Bit crashy when the road is really rough. No compression damping.


Rudimentary traction control. A joykiller in the dry but luckily one press of a big button switches it off any time you like. Upgraded last year and possibly this years too.


Wind noise. Had to change helmet and get a touring screen to stop the wind noise from 40mph! onwards. An ADV bike trate it seems.


Fading forearm and neck muscles after years of nakeds. So weak handshake and headbanging-lite.




Should have left it at get a test ride but you did ask, and the black sheep of the adv world hadnae had a mention yet! Good luck and might bump into you whatever you are on (hmm, maybe not a GS) in the Alps/Dolomites end of June.


My Pretty Picture:





My Tunes:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aX-LSO_dAI


More Owners:


http://www.crosstourer.com/index.php?action=forum

[Ch00]

Sounds lovely with that can on it even in auto mode

[carelesschucca]

Originally Posted by Ch00

Sounds lovely with that can on it even in auto mode

I can second that, STRAMASHERS sounds lovely every time I hear it. The bike fair shifts too. But the rider is a little mental (I think that's why I like him)

[embee]

Presumably you've done all your reading of BMW owners' forums with the various reliability/recall issues. Providing you're aware of what can/does go wrong.


I'll just throw in a new Africa Twin for good measure. Seems to be liked by the reviews so far. Similar ballpark pricing.


I have a DCT NC700, and it's a brilliant bit of technology, supposed to be even better in the new AT (3rd gen DCT).

Thanks for the detail Stramasher! You're right, the looks don't do it any favours and I don't care for automatic stuff because gear changes is what gets the ladies wet, but I will definitely give it a test ride. After all, with an Adv bike I'm obviously not going for form over function! I think the Africa Twin looks cool but I don't know why. I'll try it and see how I feel. Those two and the GS are the only ones on the list so far! I sat on the GS yesterday, here are some pics of me (and I'm hunching a bit!) and one of my girlfriends on the bike

[Viney]

Single sided swing arm bmw have an issue with eating rear wheel bearings and thisbyear turn can eat the rear different gears.

I'd get-away TDM or suchlike.

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