What adventure bike ?
Discussion
I need help
Later on this year I'll be free of work commitments with some funds to go travelling.
The very least I'll do is a European road trip, possibly up to Scandinavia heading over to Croatia, it
y and down to Spain
For the above trip I reckon a 1200 gs would be lovely
So if I then decide I need to go into rougher areas and encounter a lot of unsurfaced roads Am I going to want to something lighter.....say the Ktm 990 ?
I've also ridden the super tenure Yamaha and really warmed to that bike despite it being heavier than the gs !!!
If you could help with any advice would really appreciate it
Later on this year I'll be free of work commitments with some funds to go travelling.
The very least I'll do is a European road trip, possibly up to Scandinavia heading over to Croatia, it
y and down to Spain
For the above trip I reckon a 1200 gs would be lovely
So if I then decide I need to go into rougher areas and encounter a lot of unsurfaced roads Am I going to want to something lighter.....say the Ktm 990 ?
I've also ridden the super tenure Yamaha and really warmed to that bike despite it being heavier than the gs !!!
If you could help with any advice would really appreciate it
I have a Tiger Explorer, its a similar weight to the GS. I think of I was definitely going off road I would want something lighter. The 1200 is a lovely bike, handles well and is fast enough for most stuff, but I wouldn't want to be picking it up!
Have you thought about the 800 Tiger? It's a pretty good mix for adventure biking rather than general touring and one has just been ridden round the world with no major issues.
Have you thought about the 800 Tiger? It's a pretty good mix for adventure biking rather than general touring and one has just been ridden round the world with no major issues.
srob said:
You want adventure on a bike, buy a 1920s bike and go out without a toolkit. Guaranteed adventure 
KTM 1190 Adventure
Got me all over East Africa with zero problems. With the right tyres you can really off road but the rod manners suffer massively. Can't have it both ways though. Road tyres will limit you to dust tracks but heaven help you if it rains!
Edited by bass gt3 on Wednesday 26th August 22:04
Toured Africa on a 1984 800cc GS [well with 1000cc adaptation], on off road tyres [Heidennau Scouts].
Why, well as long as you have the key settings anyone can fix a bike with carburetors and simple electrics.
For a long, mainly road tour, I would recommend a GS1200 with Tourences on. Pretty good for most tours. BMW have outlets all over Europe, even North Africa
Why, well as long as you have the key settings anyone can fix a bike with carburetors and simple electrics.
For a long, mainly road tour, I would recommend a GS1200 with Tourences on. Pretty good for most tours. BMW have outlets all over Europe, even North Africa
Honda Crosstourer.
It'll be a lot cheaper and a lot more reliable than the BMW!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
It'll be a lot cheaper and a lot more reliable than the BMW!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Edited by Rosscow on Thursday 27th August 08:39
bass gt3 said:
KTM 1190 Adventure
Got me all over East Africa with zero problems. With the right tyres you can really off road but the rod manners suffer massively. Can't have it both ways though. Road tyres will limit you to dust tracks but heaven help you if it rains!
Edited by bass gt3 on Wednesday 26th August 22:04
crashley said:
bass gt3 said:
KTM 1190 Adventure
Got me all over East Africa with zero problems. With the right tyres you can really off road but the rod manners suffer massively. Can't have it both ways though. Road tyres will limit you to dust tracks but heaven help you if it rains!
Edited by bass gt3 on Wednesday 26th August 22:04
Still deciding what bike to get.
r4_rick said:
thanks for all the replies, got a test ride tomorrow on a ktm990, but the same shop has a lovely 1200gs anniversary too! I ought to have a ride on a triumph too...
Do try the F800GS, if going off road it's very good.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Gi-FVTXN4
I've had a Tenere, which was a really good bike. They do everything quite well, and will go forever. I changed that for a Triumph Explorer, which I love. It's fast enough for most occasions, it's got cruise control, and doesn't keep breaking like those other German adventure bikes! I'm going next week to France, Switzerland , Italy, Austria, Germany, it will swallow the miles, and be good around the mountains. Great bit of kit.
Have a look at Moto Morini, the Gran Passo. It's like a 1200GS ( which I've tried) but much sportier, if you like that kind of thing ( I do). Not many about but it has an awesome engine that they make themselves, everything else is bought in. Not too heavy either ( 200 kg - ish). Takes luggage and all that. Some vids on YouTube.
Happy hunting!
Happy hunting!
I rode the ktm990 adventure and tbh that's my fav so far, might have something to do with the leo vince pipes, but it was fun, great equipment too, engine bars, sumpguard, panniers etc.
something is nagging about the GS though, maybe its because I had an 1100 about 10 years ago, back then I thought it had character/was a little different...today its the default choice and for very good reason.
I think the Yamaha and the ktm are a better ride, by all accounts the Yamaha is more reliable...the ktm has the fun factor possibly because its lighter/sounds great and is a little quirky. this is where the internet is a pain in the backside, years ago you read mcn, chatted with your mates, went for a test ride and bought one, today if you think i'll just do a bit more research there are videos, forums blah blah arrrgghhhhh.
anyway its a nice kind of first world problem to have
something is nagging about the GS though, maybe its because I had an 1100 about 10 years ago, back then I thought it had character/was a little different...today its the default choice and for very good reason.
I think the Yamaha and the ktm are a better ride, by all accounts the Yamaha is more reliable...the ktm has the fun factor possibly because its lighter/sounds great and is a little quirky. this is where the internet is a pain in the backside, years ago you read mcn, chatted with your mates, went for a test ride and bought one, today if you think i'll just do a bit more research there are videos, forums blah blah arrrgghhhhh.
anyway its a nice kind of first world problem to have
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