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 Erik_G BS6 13 Nov 2021, 18:29
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27 Jan 2022
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
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I've owned three of the bikes on Ted's list
The Rotax Aprillia/BMW's have specific weaknesses in the water pump and charging systems. If you can find a low mileage one and have the skill to get into the mechanical stuff you can probably make a decent bike. By the time you've done you will have spent Himalayan money and still have an old bike. Get one that's been cooked by a previous owner and bodged back together and there can be a world of pain.
V-Strom's are top heavy and lardy as a Glaswegian take away. Despite the capacity I'd put these in competition with 800GS's etc. for road only trips and people built like prop forwards.
The CB500X is a bit of a lump. In its standard form it was not capable of doing UK green lanes except the driest and most road like. Fix it with shocks and a lot of Rally Raid stuff and you've spent a lot. You can't get over basic service problems like the spark plugs being near the sump with the rest of the bike piled on top.The slippy clutch and ABS without an off-road mode were very poor on steep gravel.
I've had a short ride on a Himalayan and wish I'd bought it instead of the CB500X. Performance was fine, no previous owner bodges, seems simple to live with. I've had Bullets which maybe conditions you for what is normal. I wouldn't rate my knowledge of these as a serious opinion though, 30 minutes round Wakefield is rough and uncivilised but not in a good way.
There are no right or wrong answers. If I was going to India I'd get the RE. For the UK, if I lived near any of the last bits of legal unpaved road I'd go with a CRF250. As I don't I'll stick with the V7 for now.
Andy
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
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Lots more comments here!

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