TRF Forums

It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:26 pm

All times are UTC [ DST ]




Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 13 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:27 pm 
Offline
125cc

Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:26 pm
Posts: 206
Location: Melton Mowbray
Me and a mate are considering a long distance trail riding tour. Maybe down through France and Spain to Portugal picking up as many trails as possible on the way.

We're thinking a couple of big BMW's would do the trick nicely to cope with a bit of high speed motorway work and easyish trails whilst carrying a fair amount of luggage.

Does anyone have any recommendations of what to buy or avoid? We wouldn't want to pay loads which kind of rules out newer 1200 GS's but maybe an older 1100 or 1150?

_________________
John Kitching
Yamaha WR450 / BMW R1150GS Adventure
RoW East Midlands TRF


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:16 pm 
Offline
400 cc
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:44 pm
Posts: 1218
Location: East Yorks
Don't know a great deal about them but this looks a nice old thing....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAGIVA-ELEFANT-GOOD-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ280333905605QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycles?hash=item280333905605&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

_________________
@MHFMag on Twitter


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:01 pm 
Offline
80 cc

Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:08 pm
Posts: 59
Depends on the depth of your wallet really. Africa Twins, KLRs and KTM Adventure 950/990 are some of the other choices....


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:39 pm 
Offline
125cc
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:45 pm
Posts: 146
Location: South Yorkshire / Derbyshire
A mate of mine done this on an Africa Twin from lincs down through france and back no probs,paid £1800 for bike you never no in todays climate there are bargains to be had ,as for off roading one i was out with a lad from wytrf on saturday and all that i managed on wrf450 he managed on africa twin thats my tupence worth anyone else :?: what ever you do life,s an adventure go for it. :arrow:

_________________
A smile is a curved line that can solve a problem .
The greatest gift of life is to live it , some people just exist


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:56 pm 
Offline
125cc

Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:26 pm
Posts: 206
Location: Melton Mowbray
I was thinking BMW GS 1100 to 1200 as my road bike is going to have to go to fund it so I want to be able to do everything on the new bike that I do on my road bike as well as a bit of off roading.

I reckon I can get a half decent 1100 or 1150 for 4 or 5 grand and that's about my limit.

I don't want to use my WR450 as the service intervals and road speed will make it a bit crap.

I used to have an XT660 and don't think that would be big enough for the long road sections.

_________________
John Kitching
Yamaha WR450 / BMW R1150GS Adventure
RoW East Midlands TRF


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:13 pm 
Offline
200 cc
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:08 pm
Posts: 273
Location: Just North of York 07974354188
John wrote:
I used to have an XT660 and don't think that would be big enough for the long road sections.

I think the new one would be the perfect bike for such a trip as you describe.
Any GS 1100 on will be WAY too heavy for anything other than a gravel driveway.
Having ridden with a new Tenere quite a lot recently on and off tarmac it had no worries coping with all the roads my GSA did (after a long road trip to join us each time) and is more than capable with staying with my 450EXC on the lanes.

Take a look here to see what the owner has to say about it:
http://www.therevcounter.com/off-road/2 ... z660z.html
http://www.therevcounter.com/motorbike- ... 2-3-a.html

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:20 pm 
Offline
300 cc

Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:01 pm
Posts: 863
Me, Adam (Cornwall Group) and Dan went ot Morocco in '07 on XT600s. More than adequate on Motorways. Tin luggage etc. Met more than one 'adventurer' over there who couldn't cope witht the weight of their BMW or KTM twins in the sand. Criteria for bike choice: proven record, cheap, simple, inflammable (in case we had to abandon it)!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:00 pm 
Offline
50 cc

Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:17 pm
Posts: 8
A group of us went to Morocco for a month, one lad had a 1150GS adventure,it was way too heavy and too much of a handful in the soft stuff as well as the rocky trails. Two of us had Africa Twins, which were the best compromise for long distance and the rough stuff, it was so good I have kept the bike and intend use it again on the same sort of trip. You will need to fit some knobblies though as the trail type tyres are not so good. Hope you find something you like and have a good and safe trip.
Cheers John from Dorset.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Sat May 02, 2009 9:40 am 
Offline
125cc

Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:26 pm
Posts: 206
Location: Melton Mowbray
Thanks all for the advice, I've pretty much ignored it all and gone for a GS1150 Adventure :oops:

I suspect I will live to regret it (best case :? ) but we're not going to try much more than easy trails.

If one and a half actors can handle them I'm sure we can :lol:

I've had to sell my road bike (a 600 Fazer) to fund the GS and I'm hoping the GS will do most of what the Fazer did (I know from experience an XT660 won't having owned one) on the road as well as allowing for a bit of easy off roading.

I'm picking the GS up from Devon and riding to Melton Mowbray on Monday so that will be a good first test (mainly for me)

_________________
John Kitching
Yamaha WR450 / BMW R1150GS Adventure
RoW East Midlands TRF


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: What adventure bike?
PostPosted: Sat May 02, 2009 10:07 pm 
Offline
125cc
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:57 pm
Posts: 107
Location: Blackpool
Obviously you have made up your mind already, but I can never understand why people go for 1200 BM's for these trips? I would have thought an F650 or F800 with a top speed of around 120-130 would be more than adequate on the road and a lot less of a handful on the rough stuff.

Good luck and make sure you do some weight training before you go, for when you have to pick the beast up!

_________________
Tony Davenport
Lancashire Group
http://lancashiretrf.free-forums.org/


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 13 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group. Color scheme by ColorizeIt!