Hayabusa to BMW 1200 GS
Discussion
I need some help here please...
We are in the process of starting a Touring company where we will be taking people across Southern Africa with BMW 1200 GS and 800 GS (clients choice). We will be doing some serious off road riding as you can imagine, but my problem is this...
I currently have a Suzuki Hayabusa and I absolutely love the thing and I ride her quite hard. I have been riding since I was 4 and grew up on a farm with plenty of off road bikes. However, I've been in the UK for 18 years now and have always had sport bikes (R1s, Fireblade, Blackbirds, etc.). I want to start spending more time on the GS bikes to start getting used to them, so have been spending the last week researching other riders comments on the subject.
I use my Hayabusa to commute to work with every day (25 miles) into Wimbledon and obviously getting out of here in the afternoons/evenings does require some filtering.
Am I doing the right thing??? so confused
We are in the process of starting a Touring company where we will be taking people across Southern Africa with BMW 1200 GS and 800 GS (clients choice). We will be doing some serious off road riding as you can imagine, but my problem is this...
I currently have a Suzuki Hayabusa and I absolutely love the thing and I ride her quite hard. I have been riding since I was 4 and grew up on a farm with plenty of off road bikes. However, I've been in the UK for 18 years now and have always had sport bikes (R1s, Fireblade, Blackbirds, etc.). I want to start spending more time on the GS bikes to start getting used to them, so have been spending the last week researching other riders comments on the subject.
I use my Hayabusa to commute to work with every day (25 miles) into Wimbledon and obviously getting out of here in the afternoons/evenings does require some filtering.
Am I doing the right thing??? so confused
I'm booked in of the Offroadskills.com course this coming weekend so am doing exactly that!
If I get one, I will be doing quite a lot of green lane riding to play around...it's the daily commute I more concerned about..don't want to buy the thing and then a month later think it's a crap bike
If I get one, I will be doing quite a lot of green lane riding to play around...it's the daily commute I more concerned about..don't want to buy the thing and then a month later think it's a crap bike
Rosscow said:
Are the GS's the correct choice of bike?
I know they're popular, but I always hear bad things about reliability and can't help think there might be something better, lighter, for the job?
I haven't heard anything about reliability, but that doesn't sound good!! Thanks for the tipI know they're popular, but I always hear bad things about reliability and can't help think there might be something better, lighter, for the job?
Steve Bass said:
How "serious" will the offloading be??
Are you familiar with Southern Africa?? It's quite a bit different from Wimbledon
And why choose GS'S specifically??
If you're taking paying riders you need to account for all skill levels. GS's are heavy things and not so great at true off road. There's a joke in South Africa (the GS'S biggest market) that the GS stands for Geen Sand. Afrikaans for 'no sand" due to its weight and poor offroad ability.
Additionally, when punters do crash, which they will often, parts are very expensive and the bikes themselves aren't so robust.
Then factor in the amount of services the bikes will require and you'll understand why a GS wouldn't be the best choice for repeated serious off road trips.
Look at things like the Yam XT660 which are far more robust.
As for learning to ride offroad, no amount of mx track riding or greenlaning will teach you how to handle a 200kg bike in deep sand.
And unless you're going to offer something unique there's a ton of companies offering this already from solo trips to fully organised and escorted adventures......
This is from someone who lives in SA and has ridden the Rift Valley through Malawi and Mozambique. GS's tend to go as far north as the border of SA before the dirt starts,)
I was born and raised in South Africa so I have a very good knowledge of the terrain. Johannesburg, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Etosha Pans, Namibia and Back.Are you familiar with Southern Africa?? It's quite a bit different from Wimbledon
And why choose GS'S specifically??
If you're taking paying riders you need to account for all skill levels. GS's are heavy things and not so great at true off road. There's a joke in South Africa (the GS'S biggest market) that the GS stands for Geen Sand. Afrikaans for 'no sand" due to its weight and poor offroad ability.
Additionally, when punters do crash, which they will often, parts are very expensive and the bikes themselves aren't so robust.
Then factor in the amount of services the bikes will require and you'll understand why a GS wouldn't be the best choice for repeated serious off road trips.
Look at things like the Yam XT660 which are far more robust.
As for learning to ride offroad, no amount of mx track riding or greenlaning will teach you how to handle a 200kg bike in deep sand.
And unless you're going to offer something unique there's a ton of companies offering this already from solo trips to fully organised and escorted adventures......
This is from someone who lives in SA and has ridden the Rift Valley through Malawi and Mozambique. GS's tend to go as far north as the border of SA before the dirt starts,)
Edited by Steve Bass on Tuesday 20th September 08:44
gareth_r said:
I have zero off-road experience, but the videos of South African tours that I've seen were on hard-packed dirt roads, rather than on Dakar Rally sand or the sort of muddy trail that you find in the UK, and the medium to huge "adventure" bikes seemed to give the riders no problems at all.
(I'm convinced that some of those dirt roads are smoother than the potholed tarmac I see around Bristol.
)
They all seem to be BMWs, though. Do BMW offer the best support in SA, or is it just the Charlie and Ewan effect?
Great call...We have a deal with BMW already in place there and they have given us loads of options which we like and will also have a support 4x4 following us the whole way...on a bit that I have already done, it's a lot more extreme than you may think (I'm convinced that some of those dirt roads are smoother than the potholed tarmac I see around Bristol.
)They all seem to be BMWs, though. Do BMW offer the best support in SA, or is it just the Charlie and Ewan effect?
[quote=Löyly]What's the GS like for commuting? Pretty good I would hope since they were designed with that in mind. They're also popular with short blokes with fat wives who tour at a leisurely pace, it seems.
[/quote]
I think I have made up my mind...I have been on loads of forums now and most people seem to really like them, so Im in...pictures to follow shortly
[/quote]
I think I have made up my mind...I have been on loads of forums now and most people seem to really like them, so Im in...pictures to follow shortly
andyr30 said:
I can't really answer the questions you've asked....but can I have a job? Sounds like it would be a job my dreams are made of!
Off road touring through a stunning country is a dream of mine, would quite happily do that everyday for a job :-)
Hi Andy...unfortunately I am stuck in the UK for another 4-5 years while my girls finish school before I can go out there and go and do it full time...really looking forward to it though...keep in touch and maybe come out with me next year??Off road touring through a stunning country is a dream of mine, would quite happily do that everyday for a job :-)
Right...my journey starts this afternoon when I leave for Wales to go and spend Friday and Saturday with Simon Pavey at his offload skills school. I'm back on Saturday night and on Sunday (if everything works out) I will hopefully be picking up my first 1200 GS or GSA. Here goes nothing!!
black-k1 said:
Prof Prolapse said:
308mate said:
There must be more to it, surely?
It's very simple. They might not know it, but most people have already made their mind up before they ask a question, particularly a "what bike?" one.They're just looking for someone else to provide a logical explanation for their choice.
He is NOT asking if the GS is the best bike for his SA tour company or if there are better alternatives.
He is NOT asking for opinions on the GS’s ability off road.
He is NOT asking if setting up a SA touring company is a good or bad thing to do.
He is NOT asking for advice on how to set up a SA touring company.
He IS ASKING if people feel that the move from a Hayabusa to a GS is considered a good move for a 25 mile commute into Wimbledon.
The OP had already made up his mind on all the things he was NOT asking about but got responses for anyway.
He has now (top of page 2) made up his mind about his original question having received sensible answers to his question on other forums!
I am now the proud owner...
308mate said:
I don't really get this. You have a deal with BMW, you're setting up the business but have no time on the bikes you're going to use?
How will you act as a guide in tricky conditions? How will you equate bimbling at 20-30mph in the Brecon Beacons mud and gravel, to 60mph plus across dry, sandy Africa? Why are you so paring the Hayabusa or the commute to an ADV bike on an ADV? What did you do by way of research for the most appropriate bike? What comparisons did you make? Do you already have an idea of routes you will take, where the GS might struggle, etc?
What next? "I currently drive a 911 Turbo but I've decided on a Unimog for our support vehicle for our tour company. I'm worried it won't handle quite as well but don't worry, I'm testing one tomorrow in a gravel car park in Surrey. Am I doing the right thing? "
There must be more to it, surely?
I have done 3 trips across Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia already, so please don't worry about the company, but thanks you for your opinion anyway!How will you act as a guide in tricky conditions? How will you equate bimbling at 20-30mph in the Brecon Beacons mud and gravel, to 60mph plus across dry, sandy Africa? Why are you so paring the Hayabusa or the commute to an ADV bike on an ADV? What did you do by way of research for the most appropriate bike? What comparisons did you make? Do you already have an idea of routes you will take, where the GS might struggle, etc?
What next? "I currently drive a 911 Turbo but I've decided on a Unimog for our support vehicle for our tour company. I'm worried it won't handle quite as well but don't worry, I'm testing one tomorrow in a gravel car park in Surrey. Am I doing the right thing? "
There must be more to it, surely?
Edited by 308mate on Thursday 22 September 10:02
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