Nice.......Santa is good to some!

__________________
Home is a place to be when there's no where better to go.......

Oh it's so tempting to join in the "you don't need a big bike debate" but I see it's been comprehensively covered here already... (the only thing I would say is after the BMW test ride, go to a Yamaha dealer and try the new Tenere - then you'll enjoy having £7000 left in your pocket!).

As for a test route - welovebikes has some great suggestions - lovely riding that far west, but I notice you only have about 28 hours with the bike, and some of that you'll need to sleep! (if only, perchance, to dream x)

From Kent it is a lovely ride through east and west Sussex, then thorough Hampshire and into Wiltshire - plenty to see and do, and the best? of what the south east of England has to offer? Lots of B&Bs too.

Personally I'd forget trying to camp before you actually buy a bike (the dealer isn't going to take kindly to you lashing all your gear to a brand new demo bike), and just get a feel for the machine and for tour/adventure riding in general.

if you are brave (or foolish!) enough to take a dealer demo bike off road, there are a number of easy-going unpaved roads in Wiltshire (around Salisbury Plain for example) - although you really do need to do your research as to which are open to vehicles... I can just see the headlines in the Wiltshire Gazette now - "biker found flailing under huge bike after being trapped for 12 hours and spending night out on the plain"...

Enjoy the BMW (then buy something more sensible x)

xxx

Nothing wrong with that as long as you make sure you get it dirty. Why buy one only to have it sparkly clean with low mileage, summer use only, never seen rain, etc, etc, a bit like this 5 year old example. What's the point in owning one?

Autotrader - BMW R1150 GS 1150cc

Look for the "all the gear, no idea" crowd at any bike meet across the UK. You'll pick them out easily from the real bike travellers, probably parked up next to the Rossi k**b jockey's with FIAT liveried R1's and matching leathers which is even more amusing. What's that all about??? :confused1:

OK, so we're talking about a £2k to 2.5k budget which I think is sensible for a first bike. T'Cats are a cracking bike even if they're getting on a bit. Slow steering but more stable than an R6. Also look at the Suzuki GSXR600 up to K3. They're dead comfy, not quite as racey as the reputation suggests, will take a pillion, magnetic tankbag, soft luggage, etc. My pick in that category and budget would still be the ZX6-R (J1, J2, A1P) as it's got the power of the GSXR or R6 but the practicality of the CBR-F and YZF. You'll have to check with your insurer though.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bi...02/?&R=EPI-292

Auto Trader UK - KAWASAKI ZX ZX600-A1P ZX636R NINJA 636cc

Or if you're still keen on a GS...
Auto Trader UK - BMW R1100 GS ( THE LONG WAY DOWN BIKE AT <zprice>£2489</zprice> WOW ) 1100cc

The Suzuki SV650 (same engine as the V-Strom) is also worth a look if insurance is a problem. I really wouldn't buy a first bike on finance anyway.

Again, no-one has got anything against E&C or the GS. My uncle's mate has a GS with 150,000 miles on it. That's what they're made for, not pub car park posing. If E&C bring more people to spend more money on the UK bike scene, then thats great for the motorcycle trade and customers alike.

Careful!

Terri, my girlfriend, is at her most miserable when she is cold and her role in the test ride will be to look forward to my return. I realise that the first time that she gets cold then our touring days are over unless we are in a lovely sunny climate. As for me, I am looking on eBay for some warm stuff, i've got a leatherjacket but i'm hoping that the weather is not too bad or I'll have to layer up.
The bike is on road tyres which is fine for me as it is probably easier to manage on the road and I am looking forward to doing the BMW off road course which I will be doing this prior to going on a real trek, a firm believer in getting the ride equipment for the job and being shown how to use it properly.

I can see the cost of this obsession escalating as timegoes on and I the time away can't be good either. I have a telecoms company and I am setting my business to run when I'm away, I am planning that by 2010 I will be in a postition to leave for 4-6months with a small income to finance the trip along the way. Hopefully the Worlds finances' will hold out till then.....

__________________
Home is a place to be when there's no where better to go.......

I must admit I liked Ewan and Charlies programmes and I have the books...I even have the t-shirt...honestly. But anyone can do what they did if they can ride a bike. Hotels, handlers what a doss.

I have friends riding up from OZ on a BMW 1200GS, 2 up all the way to Oslo and doing it all off their own back. They are in Thailand now.

You do not need a Bmw 1200 to tour. I have a Yamaha FZ6, 600cc, 98HP. Hard panniers and top box, passenger peg extentions GPS. I have been all over Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Germany and France all 2 up with camping gear without any problems.

I have no interest in getting a bigger bike because the FZ6 is fast if I want it to be, light to manoevre. I can ride on roads or tracks and it it cheap to run and maintain.

Make sure you get the bike you need, rather than the one you want.

Steve

I'll admit that I've got the LWD book and LWR DVD, special edition with previously unseen footage . I don't dislike them, I just fail to see why everyone thinks they have to be like them.

They're a cracking bike too. Passed up a '98 600 Fazer for £700 a few months ago. Kicking myself now as my Aprilia's not really suited for long distance.

Cheers for the links, it's knowing the options that creates the difficulty in choosing but also the excitement in getting a bike for the first time. One thing for sure, my bike will be out in all weathers and will be my faithful companion on and off road. Like you, i don't see the point in getting an off roader and keeping it for polished pub meetings on country tarmac lanes. My last obsession was wind surfing and i was out in hail, sleet and snow.....there's no time to waste!

As for E&C- I can't thank them enough for showing me what is out there. Not only have they shown me a goal but they have made me realise that inside I am an adventurer, not only in the travel sense. In business and in life i am always looking forward to the unknown and challenges in life to make the most of a situation and find a solution when faced with a problem. I know this sounds a bit deep but its where I'm at right now....

Cheers again craig76

__________________
Home is a place to be when there's no where better to go.......

When you are as new to this way of travel as I am and you have only seen one way to do it there is no surprise that one would think that there is only one way to do it, especially with all the bad bits cut out of the show.
The great thing now is that with all of the info, advice and options shown on this site and having found books like Motorcycle Adventure handbook and being recommended other story books of other real travels it is easier to see that there are other ways to get around.

Gotta be good for everyone though.....

__________________
Home is a place to be when there's no where better to go.......

This is almost the perfect quote - all I would add is that if you do the research, then the bike you need will also (naturally) be the one you want?

For cold winter nights in the mean time, you could also get hold of the Mondo Enduro and/or Terra Circa DVDs - it shows there are many different ways (and budgets) of doing what you plan to do... none better or worse than any other, just different...

xxx

Cheers mate, i'll be sure to give you a shout and we can meet up for a belly bustin scoff at the cafe.....i'll get the map out tomorrow and see where i'm going to be going, your route sounds like a good plan....

I don't want to upset BMW as I have a load more testin to do so I'll put up with the junk mail for a year or 10

I just had a laugh at the pictures on the site Welcome to the Horshoe Pass & The Ponderosa cafe Complex. Shows you all these bikes parked outside then another few pics the a cafe full of old ladies!!! Is this what bikers look like under all that leather???

__________________
Home is a place to be when there's no where better to go.......

Hi Scottie

It will be great to meet up and as I'm self employed too, perhaps you can give me a deep, well needed, motivational kick up the backside to get going again!

I liked Steve's quote too, as it will be a good one to impress other bikers with down the pub, with a cigar in one hand and a glass of brandy in the other.

Just remembered another reason to test ride your girlfriend on the back. Oh, I better rephrase that, please allow your girlfriend to pass an opinion as to the comfort and seat height of the R1200GS motorcycle, as I took my wife out to a local classic car and bike meet in the summer, on a very imposing and beautiful 07 R1200GS Adventure, fully loaded including the metal luggage.

Thought she'd love it, as it had the top box and backpad, but all the way there she kept saying she hated it and felt very unsafe and vowed never to on it again, so hitched a lift back in a friend's car.

Very strange I thought, but the reason for this was that she found it so high up and that scared her, which is a good point, as her head was a good four inches above mine and I was at the tallest point I've ever been on a bike, which is probably why I felt unsteady at low speed, which is another first for me.

She's biked as long as I have, over 30 years and has never had a problem, apart from the usual "slow down" nag and has enjoyed all other bikes, apart from R1's, etc and loves the ST1300 Pan, GL1800 Wings, Blackbirds, R1100R's etc or any other bikes she's been on the back of.

As you say good gear is all important for a loved pillion. After trying a vast array of bike gear in my time, my personal choices boil down to Rukka jacket and trousers and Daytona boots. For gloves on days like today, I use Frank Thomas Sub Zero Aqua and when it warms up I use my trusty Belstaff pair.

Why can't I post a short answer???

Good night all and by the way, "wat you natterin about when you rant of the Old Ladies at the Ponderosa? easy now, don't cha no, dez ar fit b**ches! Aye!" (say in an Ali G accent)

Chris

__________________
[/SIZE] "Live dangerously for as long as you can!"

Since Scottie enjoyed the Long Way Down so much, maybe he should get the missis an F650 for herself?!

xxx

Sorry Scottie in my rush to answer your thread I forgot to

you in.

Insurance IMO car no claims dont count
anything over 2 years old doesnt count
I think age is a big thing (lucky your fast approaching your forties lol)
But theres nothing stopping you ringing around to get some ideas of prices.

Im very much like you, I used to gaze at a map of the world during some very boring meetings I had to attend and think.... I wonder if I could go round the world on a bike (didnt even have a license then!).

Ewan and Charley are very entertaining ! I have the books and dvds and even paid to see Charley at a local theatre (he was very funny).
I even test rode the older 650 model but hated the single pot, Then I found my true love in my DL650 (they also do a 1000 version).

What ever you do, try and do it in small bites ie a weekend away camping with your partner, you or her might hate it ! (my missus was on the back of my bike and said never again ! that was 2 years ago and I still try all the time to get her on the back but she wont).

As for the gear, Im always looking at new stuff, ive tried leathers (too hot in Europe) so now i have a fabric jacket for the winter and a mesh jacket for the summer (when it comes lol).
For boots I went with Altberg (after trying out 3 pairs) they are brillaint !

Anyway ive waffled on, hope you have a great test ride

Cheers
Geordie

Ok, I'll admit it, I took my now wife to the Dragon rally the first Valentines weekend we were together and she's still sort of moaning about the cold

The solution IMHO is an electric vest. If you don't want to include one in your budget, send me a PM with a mail address and I'll e-mail you a Thumper Club article I wrote on how to make one.

Andy

Welcome to the world of the obsessive compulsive itinerant, if Ewbie and Boring only did one thing right, they have got another person into ADv riding.

I agree with the general consensus that a GS is a bloody awful first bike.

I also agree with the idea that the Thundercat is a great sleeper bike, they seem to get under0rated badly, but I like them. That, or the CBRF, or a ZX636, are all fantastic bikes. I've only personally had the Ninja, but test ridden the other two. Early Gixxers are good, I had one for my first bike, and Suzuki RFs are not cool, but very cheap for a fair bit of bike.

Ride eveything, see what you like, there are horses for every course.



Birdy