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old BMW GS1200 or new bike with same price? old BMW GS1200 or new bike with same price?
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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  #1  
Old 24 Dec 2014
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Weestrom (new or used) would be my idea (I've broken too many Bavarian chocolate fire guard designs). Tips/thoughts:
  • The manual calls for 4500 service intervals but only an oil filter every other time. 6000 miles and a filter every time will be fine.
  • Heidenau K60 tyres give a real improvement on rough stuff.
  • Buy some spare centre pop rivet type connectors as used to fasten the bits of fairing together. To get at the air filter and back top plug you need the inner fairing and tank off. Takes under ten minutes but there are a good dozen of these little plastic dots and you are bound to lose a couple to the chuck-key/washer/13mm spanner eating gremlins that inhabit every workshop.
Enjoy your trip

Andy
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  #2  
Old 25 Dec 2014
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Thanks Andy. So you reckon it is also good for two up?
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  #3  
Old 25 Dec 2014
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the vstrom can be connected to your phone for electronic scanning.see the stromtroopers site.besides giving you the 60 mpg and ability to run 80 octane gas,efficiently.
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  #4  
Old 26 Dec 2014
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buddy of mine does plenty of touring 2up on a wee strom. he is not the smallest man i know, doesn't have any problems.
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  #5  
Old 26 Dec 2014
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If you can, go and have a test ride with different options.
All bikes are mechanical, so something might go wrong and break.
All bikes have their own positive and negative things.
Can you do your own service or do you need to rely local mechanics?

I have been on the road now 2,5 years with my 2005 R1200GS. At the moment she has 310,000km.
It has had some issues (some due to too much speed...).
Reason why I took this bike was because I already had it and I know bike really well (new bike I would have needed to dismantle few times and learn it´s weak points).
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  #6  
Old 26 Dec 2014
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Another vote for DL-650 !

I want to see the new africa Twin also. But not sure if the spare parts are any available on the road yet ? !
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  #7  
Old 1 Jan 2015
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Hi Helumi,

I just have a question about your sponsors. Is this possible to get any sponsor at the stating stage? How did you get them?

Thanks,
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  #8  
Old 1 Jan 2015
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Hi,

Just wanted to know, is this possible to get sponsor at the starting point? I was thinking about photography equipment and how can I convince them.How can I deal with sponsors?
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  #9  
Old 2 Jan 2015
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Gotta go with the flow here... the DL650 may not be everyone´s cup of tea, but for lower budget 2-up long distance, it is pretty tough to beat. The older version (2004-11) like ours below wasn´t bad, but newer (2012-15) has improved in several ways. It won´t be as comfy, or as powerful as a new big GS, but you can´t expect that at about half the price.

More or less no insurance company will be willing to cover your bike´s value, when you go to Asia, so that is something to consider. I think you need to be prepared to lose the bike completely, if something happens to it (stolen, sunk in a river, burnt, totalled in a crash, etc). Even if something doesn´t happen to it, it will gain age quite rapidly on a trip like this. Those are important reasons, why I would not go on a very expensive bike, if a cheaper bike could get the job done just fine.

But don´t just listen to others – test ride all the bikes you are thinking of, and see, which one YOU like best. That is ALSO a very important factor, and a very personal one.

Our 2007 bike in Iran – on the way to India, and Australia actually, it never missed a beat:
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  #10  
Old 26 Dec 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pejman View Post
Thanks Andy. So you reckon it is also good for two up?
So long as you are tall enough (same issue with any bike of this style) they are great two up. I'm a short **** who rarely meets more than a few hundred yards of gravel hence my switch back to a road bike. The wife loved the DL's back seat once safely on it though.

Don't let the engine capacity trick you into thinking "small bike" the Wee is 70 HP, full size and at times anything but wee with full tank and luggage. Does motorways like a touring bike, survives places only a 125 trail bike would be fun on.

Andy
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gs 1200 old models, maintenance, sponsor, two up

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