BMW R1150 GS Adventure or XRV750 Africa Twin
Discussion
Thanks for the input fellers. Compelling argument for the Vstrom and Varadero.
I had an 1150 GSA a while ago. I replaced the clutch and starter cables, along with a bunch of other silly stuff. I'm pretty confident I could perform most minor-ish repairs and certainly all required maintenance on the roadside with a tidy tool kit.
I'll probably get another 1150 to be honest. Simple, big and comfortable, if very heavy if you're off road. I guess that will be my compromise - most of my route will be in either; sealed roads (if a bit rough in places) or gravel / dirt. I can't forsee too much mudding, dune-bashing or technical forest single-track.
Now, to find a tidy 1150GSA....
ETA: I'm already on UKGSer and Horizons Unlimited
I had an 1150 GSA a while ago. I replaced the clutch and starter cables, along with a bunch of other silly stuff. I'm pretty confident I could perform most minor-ish repairs and certainly all required maintenance on the roadside with a tidy tool kit.
I'll probably get another 1150 to be honest. Simple, big and comfortable, if very heavy if you're off road. I guess that will be my compromise - most of my route will be in either; sealed roads (if a bit rough in places) or gravel / dirt. I can't forsee too much mudding, dune-bashing or technical forest single-track.
Now, to find a tidy 1150GSA....
ETA: I'm already on UKGSer and Horizons Unlimited
Edited by TobyLerone on Thursday 1st March 14:36
Andy XRV said:
There is a very good reason why there are loads of low milage and low cost Varaderos & V Stroms for sale and yet even high mileage XRV's are like hens teeth 
Would have loved to find a tidy low-ish and well loved XRV, but they hold too much value - at least for my budget. I could get one, but I'd be inflating my budget for all the silly stuff I need - spares, tools, outdoor equipment, and then for the trip itself.Even though a tidy Africa Twin in red and white, with some off-road farkles will always be the single coolest dual sport / adventure bike.
OverSteery said:
milleplod said:
Spot-on advice regarding the GS.
The 1200 / water cooled GS's might be faster, more powerful, more refined, more frugal and a better ride. Even more reliable, possibly... But there's a lot more stuff on there that's beyond my bodging skills should it go wrong, in BFE.
And I've tinkered extensively on my old 1150, even if it was a few years since I last had it.
TobyLerone said:
Andy XRV said:
There is a very good reason why there are loads of low milage and low cost Varaderos & V Stroms for sale and yet even high mileage XRV's are like hens teeth
Would have loved to find a tidy low-ish and well loved XRV, but they hold too much value - at least for my budget. I could get one, but I'd be inflating my budget for all the silly stuff I need - spares, tools, outdoor equipment, and then for the trip itself.Even though a tidy Africa Twin in red and white, with some off-road farkles will always be the single coolest dual sport / adventure bike.
Andy XRV said:
I think you're right and IMO that makes the GS the ideal bike for your trip. Be rude to have an AT post without a pic
Ace. I really reeeeeeeeally want one! Maybe I'll buy a dirt cheap abused one, strip it, and have a chassis-up rebuild and recommission. I know it's going to be about 3 x the value of just buying a tidy one in the first place, but man maths and all...
Dog Star said:
R1.
Nick Sanders can't be wrong.
And you'll look cool.
I'm a bit big for an R1. I don't fit comfortably at all. Nick Sanders can't be wrong.
And you'll look cool.
I did some semi-serious off roading with my Speed Triple across Europe, in the Balkans and Corsica. It didn't inspire any confidence, and was clearly way out of it's comfort zone. Never again!
ETA: Some gratuitous pics. I'm not a photographer, so the pictures could be better. Gimme a break!
Snowed in on an Alp, early September. Not fun going down.
Albania
Montenegro / Albanian border. It really was as picturesque as this, for many miles.
After a wrong turn, and an illegal bribe to local law enforcement, I found myself in a minefield. Serbia (and the Balkan states in general, especially around the contested borders, even today) can still be a very very dangerous place.
Edited by TobyLerone on Thursday 1st March 15:10
TobyLerone said:
I'm a bit big for an R1. I don't fit comfortably at all.
I did some semi-serious off roading with my Speed Triple across Europe, in the Balkans and Corsica. It didn't inspire any confidence, and was clearly way out of it's comfort zone. Never again!
You should try it on a Mille.....not that it was planned! I did some semi-serious off roading with my Speed Triple across Europe, in the Balkans and Corsica. It didn't inspire any confidence, and was clearly way out of it's comfort zone. Never again!
Pete
kurt535 said:
If you haven't already, buy the dvd Mondo Enduro. What those guys achieved was amazing.
I'd avoid bmw for your trip like the plague.
Jap every time.
Why? Old school simplicity, albeit with a shaft drive. So many folks who choose them do huge mileages. I'd avoid bmw for your trip like the plague.
Jap every time.
As I stated, I'd love an Africa Twin, or XR650L. But they are both rare (the latter, extremely so). While a lightweight single or twin is fantastic when the roads seriously degrade or disappear entirely, it will represent maybe only 25% of my trip.
I may not have been clear, I don't have a huge amount of time, and my trip is pretty ambitious.
I'm still open to suggestions, but having done a bit of research, I'm pretty strongly leaning toward an 1150GS Adventure.
TobyLerone said:
Why? Old school simplicity, albeit with a shaft drive. So many folks who choose them do huge mileages.
As I stated, I'd love an Africa Twin, or XR650L. But they are both rare (the latter, extremely so). While a lightweight single or twin is fantastic when the roads seriously degrade or disappear entirely, it will represent maybe only 25% of my trip.
I may not have been clear, I don't have a huge amount of time, and my trip is pretty ambitious.
I'm still open to suggestions, but having done a bit of research, I'm pretty strongly leaning toward an 1150GS Adventure.
Quite. As I stated, I'd love an Africa Twin, or XR650L. But they are both rare (the latter, extremely so). While a lightweight single or twin is fantastic when the roads seriously degrade or disappear entirely, it will represent maybe only 25% of my trip.
I may not have been clear, I don't have a huge amount of time, and my trip is pretty ambitious.
I'm still open to suggestions, but having done a bit of research, I'm pretty strongly leaning toward an 1150GS Adventure.
Its a fact that the latest GSs, with all their technology, are a bit fragile, perhaps, in comparison to the older bikes - not a huge concern if a bike's still under warranty and covered by BMWs superb breakdown service though. The 1150s, and to an extent the early 1200s without electronic fripperies, are nothing to be scared of as long as their acknowledged weaknesses are catered for.
A friend has an 1150GSA that he's had from new - it now has 94k miles on it. The only thing that's failed on it was the ABS a couple of years ago at 80k. Because its only ever been serviced at the supplying dealer, BMW paid for the replacement parts, he paid the labour charges. Its still on its original clutch.
Pete
Edited by milleplod on Saturday 3rd March 08:53
Edited by milleplod on Saturday 3rd March 08:54
milleplod said:
TobyLerone said:
Why? Old school simplicity, albeit with a shaft drive. So many folks who choose them do huge mileages.
As I stated, I'd love an Africa Twin, or XR650L. But they are both rare (the latter, extremely so). While a lightweight single or twin is fantastic when the roads seriously degrade or disappear entirely, it will represent maybe only 25% of my trip.
I may not have been clear, I don't have a huge amount of time, and my trip is pretty ambitious.
I'm still open to suggestions, but having done a bit of research, I'm pretty strongly leaning toward an 1150GS Adventure.
Quite. As I stated, I'd love an Africa Twin, or XR650L. But they are both rare (the latter, extremely so). While a lightweight single or twin is fantastic when the roads seriously degrade or disappear entirely, it will represent maybe only 25% of my trip.
I may not have been clear, I don't have a huge amount of time, and my trip is pretty ambitious.
I'm still open to suggestions, but having done a bit of research, I'm pretty strongly leaning toward an 1150GS Adventure.
Its a fact that the latest GSs, with all their technology, are a bit fragile, perhaps, in comparison to the older bikes - not a huge concern if a bike's still under warranty and covered by BMWs superb breakdown service though. The 1150s, and to an extent the early 1200s without electronic fripperies, are nothing to be scared of as long as their acknowledged weaknesses are catered for.
A friend has an 1150GSA that he's had from new - it now has 94k miles on it. The only thing that's failed on it was the ABS a couple of years ago at 80k. Because its only ever been serviced at the supplying dealer, BMW paid for the replacement parts, he paid the labour charges. Its still on its original clutch.
Pete
Edited by milleplod on Saturday 3rd March 08:53
Edited by milleplod on Saturday 3rd March 08:54
years later, we trained two guys to ride bikes at our school who were on the production company for a Long Way Down. Well, he did a bit of kissing and telling about the support truck out of shot that accompanied the guys on their ride cos the beemers allegedly, kept breaking down due to the hard off road work. Weight is not a desirable thing in difficult conditions due tot he strain it puts on working parts.
I'm not suggesting that the GS, or the wider BMW, range aren't without their issues but I struggle to understand why, if they're as bad as implied on here, they are consistently the initial bike of choice for the majority of riders wanting to do "adventure" type touring. And that's not just in the UK! They are the yardstick by which all other bikes are measured for such journeys across the world.
Given old (or is that young?) obi wan kenobi and "what's his name" did their original trip 14 years ago, then surely the benefits from the marketing MUST have worn out by now if the 1150GS/1200GS are really that fragile/not suited.
Given old (or is that young?) obi wan kenobi and "what's his name" did their original trip 14 years ago, then surely the benefits from the marketing MUST have worn out by now if the 1150GS/1200GS are really that fragile/not suited.
And no one has mentioned one of these......
Forget the over weight / over rated / ££ expensive GS or the XRV750 Africa Twin ( which has a well known mechanical fault which requires the engine cases to be split and which is heavier and slower.
THIS is the ideal ADV bike for your trip.
750cc, 72bhp, 205kgs ( which includes the OE boat anchor silencer / and a bike which, once on the move, disguises its weight very well )
Suprisingly agile off road.
A huge 26 litre fuel tank, a very comfy seat and riding position, a bike that will cruise @ high speed on that Auto Route for hours on end, a bike that has no major mechanical issues, a very good spares availability, a multiple Paris - Dakar winner......
Ladies and Gents i give you the Yamaha XTZ750 Super Tenere.
Edited by neutral 3 on Friday 9th March 02:49
Edited by neutral 3 on Friday 9th March 02:50
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