Paging the BMW and touring-isti: R1200GS or other tourers
Pip Luscher
He asked specifically about the R1200GS, which I have a vague idea is
not a good choice from a reliability POV. ISTR also that some modern
BMWs are a bit buzzy.
He wants an upright riding position; no Sprots bikes. He'll be
ridining about 8 days (I guess each way) and will also want it for the
odd commute (he lives in Perth).
--
-Pip
Fr Jack
BSA Bantam
--
Fr. Jack
I hear you talking but the words are kinda strange
SteveH
Weren't the R1100GS and R1150GS more robust?
Something even older, like an R80GS or R100GS may be even more suitable,
as they can be repaired with nothing more than a hammer and adjustable
spanner.
--
SteveH
Pip Luscher
>Pip Luscher <plus...@live.invalid.co.uk> spewed forth:
>
>>K's BIL has just asked me about a suitable bike for riding across Oz.
>>He asked specifically about the R1200GS, which I have a vague idea is
>>not a good choice from a reliability POV. ISTR also that some modern
>>BMWs are a bit buzzy.
>>
>>He wants an upright riding position; no Sprots bikes. He'll be
>>ridining about 8 days (I guess each way) and will also want it for the
>>odd commute (he lives in Perth).
>
>BSA Bantam
You have me confused with someone else, sir.
As a hardened Guzzisto, I would have suggested a Stelvio but I don't
know enough about their reliability.
--
-Pip
Pip Luscher
wrote:
I should point out that the chap in question isn't really a garage
monkey.
--
-Pip
wessie
news:pmgig553s82lh9p6b...@4ax.com:
I wouldn't take an R1200GS on such a journey. They have reliability issues
and, due to complex electronics, are less easy to fix with a bodge compared
to earlier variants.
The newer F800GS seems to be just as bad. All sorts of problems reported on
UKGSer.
Get him to do like the Wellers did for their marathon trip around Europe.
Buy as late a model R1150GS he can find that does not have EVO brakes[1].
Relatively simple technology that most competent DIY mechanics can fix on
the rare accasion it goes wrong. There is a wealth of information on the
web for every conceivable fault as the bike has been around since 1999. You
can even get a gizmo to read the not very complex electronics
http://www.hex.co.za/gs911/index.html with a bluetooth phone.
In Oz, I think the Honda Afrika Twin was a big seller. This would be good
too. Maybe an Yamaha XTZ660 if he wants something newish.
[1] on EVO bikes the brakes won't work if the electronics fail. On earlier
bikes, if the ABSII system fails then the brakes will still work in a
conventional manner.
--
wessie at tesco dot net
BMW R1150GS
steve auvache
<plus...@live.invalid.co.uk> writes
>K's BIL has just asked me about a suitable bike for riding across Oz.
Why on earth would he want to do that when there are perfectly good
aeroplanes that will have him from one side of the country to the other
in a few hours with almost no risk of chance contact with the locals in
the middle?
--
steve auvache
Andy Bonwick
I'll go for the usual trick and suggest a Yamaha Tenere.
They're a lot cheaper than the GS and unless he wants to go for a
fairly high touring speed it'd do the job for the touring and the
commuting. I don't know how good they are for riding long distances on
less than brilliant road surfaces but according to the owners forum
everyone who's got one likes it.
Timo Geusch
> Pip Luscher <plus...@live.invalid.co.uk> wrote in
> news:pmgig553s82lh9p6b...@4ax.com:
>
>> K's BIL has just asked me about a suitable bike for riding across Oz.
>> He asked specifically about the R1200GS, which I have a vague idea is
>> not a good choice from a reliability POV. ISTR also that some modern
>> BMWs are a bit buzzy.
>>
>> He wants an upright riding position; no Sprots bikes. He'll be
>> ridining about 8 days (I guess each way) and will also want it for the
>> odd commute (he lives in Perth).
> Get him to do like the Wellers did for their marathon trip around Europe.
> Buy as late a model R1150GS he can find that does not have EVO brakes[1].
> Relatively simple technology that most competent DIY mechanics can fix on
> the rare accasion it goes wrong. There is a wealth of information on the
> web for every conceivable fault as the bike has been around since 1999. You
> can even get a gizmo to read the not very complex electronics
> http://www.hex.co.za/gs911/index.html with a bluetooth phone.
I'd agree on the 1150GS if he wants a BMW.
> In Oz, I think the Honda Afrika Twin was a big seller. This would be good
> too. Maybe an Yamaha XTZ660 if he wants something newish.
>
> [1] on EVO bikes the brakes won't work if the electronics fail. On earlier
> bikes, if the ABSII system fails then the brakes will still work in a
> conventional manner.
That's not quite correct. The EVO brakes will still continue to work but
they will need more effort than it takes Nige to stop swearing. This
isn't hearsay btw, I've had the electronics switch off the rear servo on
the GSA.
--
Morini Corsaro 125 | XL250 Motosport | R1150RT | 3 1/2 Sport
Laverda SF2 BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10
The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.info/faq/
"Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar
The Older Gentleman
Tenere.
--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250 Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
The Older Gentleman
> In Oz, I think the Honda Afrika Twin was a big seller.
An old, old bike now, though, so many will be tired.
>This would be good
> too. Maybe an Yamaha XTZ660 if he wants something newish.
Already got my vote :-)
c...@nospam.netunix.com
> Pip Luscher <plus...@live.invalid.co.uk> spewed forth:
>
> >K's BIL has just asked me about a suitable bike for riding across Oz.
> >He asked specifically about the R1200GS, which I have a vague idea is
> >not a good choice from a reliability POV. ISTR also that some modern
> >BMWs are a bit buzzy.
> >
> >He wants an upright riding position; no Sprots bikes. He'll be
> >ridining about 8 days (I guess each way) and will also want it for the
> >odd commute (he lives in Perth).
>
> BSA Bantam
<sniffs bait>
<swims away>
He needs a comfortable cruiser with the biggest possible tank range.
A Dullville with a few extra cans in the panniers would probably be
OK, the biggest problem is that fuel supplies are a long way apart so
litrebike thirst is a bad idea.
--
03 GS500K2
76 Honda 400/4 project
68 Bantam D14/4 Sport (Classic)
06 Sukida SK50QT (Slanty eyed shopping trolley)
Pip Luscher
<putmyn...@tesco.net> wrote:
>Get him to do like the Wellers did for their marathon trip around Europe.
>Buy as late a model R1150GS he can find that does not have EVO brakes[1].
>Relatively simple technology that most competent DIY mechanics can fix on
>the rare accasion it goes wrong. There is a wealth of information on the
>web for every conceivable fault as the bike has been around since 1999. You
>can even get a gizmo to read the not very complex electronics
>http://www.hex.co.za/gs911/index.html with a bluetooth phone.
OK
>In Oz, I think the Honda Afrika Twin was a big seller. This would be good
>too. Maybe an Yamaha XTZ660 if he wants something newish.
My recollection of most non-giant traillies is a narrow seat though.
Is this likely to be a problem on these?
--
-Pip
Andy Bonwick
I've heard a few complaints about the Tenere seat but I've not had a
problem with it. It's got a 200 mile range and riding it that far
without stopping isn't a chore.
I've put a taller screen on mine to remove the buffeting that was
present with the standard one but most other riders seem happy with
the standard one so it's probably just me.
Pip Luscher
He *is* one of the locals. Well, he is now.
--
-Pip
Fraser Johnston
"Pip Luscher" <plus...@live.invalid.co.uk> wrote in message
news:pmgig553s82lh9p6b...@4ax.com...
I'm in Perth and selling my 650 V-Strom. : )
You can't go wrong with the GS but it is costly bugger.
Fraser
Fraser Johnston
<c...@NOSPAM.netunix.com> wrote in message
news:heblnb$e5q$1...@news.albasani.net...
> Fr Jack <s...@m.com> wrote:
>> Pip Luscher <plus...@live.invalid.co.uk> spewed forth:
>>
>> >K's BIL has just asked me about a suitable bike for riding across Oz.
>> >He asked specifically about the R1200GS, which I have a vague idea is
>> >not a good choice from a reliability POV. ISTR also that some modern
>> >BMWs are a bit buzzy.
>> >
>> >He wants an upright riding position; no Sprots bikes. He'll be
>> >ridining about 8 days (I guess each way) and will also want it for the
>> >odd commute (he lives in Perth).
>>
>> BSA Bantam
>
> <sniffs bait>
> <swims away>
>
> He needs a comfortable cruiser with the biggest possible tank range.
> A Dullville with a few extra cans in the panniers would probably be
> OK, the biggest problem is that fuel supplies are a long way apart so
> litrebike thirst is a bad idea.
A friend of mine has done the Nullabor 5 times on his SV1000 but he is a bit
mad. Fuel range was only an issue on one leg and he was 1 litre short so
carried a 5 litre fuel can.
Fraser
Fraser Johnston
"SteveH" <itali...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1j9l6bb.um9q07lmrklfN%itali...@gmail.com...
Bit old though. By going old you need something easy to work on because it is
more likely to break.
Fraser
Fraser Johnston
"wessie" <putmyn...@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:Xns9CCB92D18...@188.40.43.245...
Africa twins are pretty rare here. Most touring type ADV bikes are V-Stroms,
Beemers, KTMS, Teneres or Versys.
Fraser
Fraser Johnston
"steve auvache" <dont...@thecow.me.uk> wrote in message
news:j4k$0LARvUCLFwg$@auvache.force9.co.uk...
No kidding. The nullabor is the most boring piece of road on earth. 2000ks of
salt brush, emus and kangaroos that are intent on killing you.
Fraser
frag
> news:1j9l6bb.um9q07lmrklfN%itali...@gmail.com...
> >
> > as they can be repaired with nothing more than a hammer and adjustable
> > spanner.
So if a con rod broke you'd use the adjustable spanner as a makeshift
replacement?
Suitable beaten into shape by the hammer?
Which you could then use to seal the hole in the crank case by takng the head
off, beating it into shape using two rocks, chewing the wooden handle into a
paste to glue things together...
--
frag
MicroPlanet Gravity Newsreader V2.9 http://mpgravity.sourceforge.net/
The Older Gentleman
> You can't go wrong with the GS but it is costly bugger.
An awful lot of irate owners seem to think otherwise.
--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Triumph Street Triple Honda CB400F
Suzuki TS250 Suzuki GN250 chateaudotmurrayatidnetdotcom
Nothing damages a machine more than an ignoramus with a manual, a
can-do attitude and a set of cheap tools
wessie
@mid.individual.net:
>
> "wessie" <putmyn...@tesco.net> wrote in message
> Africa twins are pretty rare here.
same here, on the used market, as owners tend to hang on to them