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14 Feb 2002
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And the question remains the same, which bike?
Ok, I'm in the market for a new bike. Was thinking about a sports bike but thought against it and thought I should get some sort of dual sport. I currently own a Honda Shadow 600 and a Kawasaki Concours, neither of which is good for RTW type traveling, at least if you get off road much.
Anyway, I'm still caught in what type of bike I would like. I'm not even sure the exact type of riding I will be doing so I'm just gonna list some of the things that I plan on doing now plus a little background on me.
I live in the US, Maryland, I'm only 28, ridden all over the US and rode in the 01 Iron Butt Rally. My current plans are to see Canada, Alaska, Western Europe, probably Mexico and hopefully South America and Africa.
What I'd like out of a bike is something that will do a good amount of normal paved roads, but since I don't know where I'm going has to do off road as well. I also would like to be able to either get a bigger fuel tank or add some sort of fuel cell. I also want a bike that will last at least 10 years, while I don't think I would ride it as much as my Connie it will get a lot of use, probably 100K over that time. I really don't want to pay a lot so a new 1150gs is out. I'm hoping to cap for the bike around $8000 US.
The bikes I'm currently looking at are:
BMW 1150GS/1100GS
pros: good for the highway, powerful engine, good for possible 2-up
cons: can be heavy from what I've read on some off road places, expensive, proably too much for me.
F650GS
pros: light, good for off road
cons: gas tank under seat, is it easy to get a bigger one? might not be the best for 2-up, might not be best for lots of on road riding.
R80/100GS
pros: a mix between the 1150 and 650, other than that don't know a lot about this bike. can be found cheap
cons: old, parts might be hard to come by
KTM/KLR
I really don't know much about them, I'm guessing they will be closer to the F650. The biggest con I can see is how many dealers are there worldwide?
That's about all I can think of now, I'd like some more feedback. I did read through most of the other "what kind of bike" questions but they didn't seem to fit to me.
Oh one more thing, I'd probably be doing at least some of my own wrenching so the easier to work on the better as well.
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14 Feb 2002
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Sounds like a 650 might be a bit small for what you are doing. THe F650 is nice, but an 1150 is a whole lot better for the highway (where youll spend most of your time) and for carrying luggage and people. If offroad is important to you, the 1100/1150 are out simply because they are, well, tanks. I mean, they are beautiful and nice, but they cant offroad like a 650. the klr is a simple no frills bike which is great offroad, but will tire you out on the road. And for two up, its not really a good option. I have read that KTM is going to release their twin 950cc bike as a adventure tourer - that engine won the egypt rally. Over 100 horsepower -wow. If I had your money, Id buy a f650. But I am not riding across the sea just yet - i must see this country first. Really - there are a lot of great bikes that you would do fine with i believe. A R80/100 is also viable, but older and a bit heavy. Good Luck!
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Ian aka "Maniac"
93' KLR650
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[b:]Ian aka \"Maniac\"[/b:]
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14 Feb 2002
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Ian's post is on the money.
A couple of other comments:
R80/100GS parts are NO problem. The bikes are well proven, we know what's wrong with them and how to fix them. A VERY known quantity. See the story on my bike for a taster, under Grant and Susans world tour at the bottom.
A tricky problem is balancing off-raod capability versus highway and two-up running - they are essentially mutually exclusive, so you have to decide hard which is most important, just how "off-road" are you thinking, and what are your skills.
See http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/art...oadsofbc.shtml for an idea about street bikes on dirt roads etc. and some comments on the subject.
For what you describe, solo I would recommend the KLR or F650, possibly the R80/100GS if you feel the need for higher speed cruising. Two-up the R80/100GS or 11xxGS. If you're both very small go for the 650's.
$8000 should be plenty. Factor in your skills and what it needs into your choice. Most R80/100GS's will need more work than the others as they are older, but can be a very rewarding and reliable project.
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Grant Johnson
Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
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14 Feb 2002
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Hey Edward,
see the 1981 R80 g/s in travel bikes for sale.
If I didnt already have my R80RT that would be the bike I'd take RTW.
Good Luck
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15 Feb 2002
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Grant Johnson:
R80/100GS parts are NO problem. The bikes are well proven, we know what's wrong with them and how to fix them. A VERY known quantity. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
This is what I was looking for. Since I have little knowledge of these types of bikes I didn't know how well they hold up etc.
What about the ease of maintence? I can do some stuff and I'm going to learn, how difficult are these bikes to work on?
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A tricky problem is balancing off-raod capability versus highway and two-up running - they are essentially mutually exclusive, so you have to decide hard which is most important, just how "off-road" are you thinking, and what are your skills.
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Yes the two-up is what's really got me. I'm not sure how much I will be doing. I've done lots in the past but that might change. My "off-raod" skills are pretty bad, though I'm not planning of just buying a bike and heading off to the remotes of Africa. I plan on getting in plenty of local experiece before anything.
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For what you describe, solo I would recommend the KLR or F650, possibly the R80/100GS if you feel the need for higher speed cruising. Two-up the R80/100GS or 11xxGS. If you're both very small go for the 650's.
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I might have to look at the R80/100s a little more now. I don't think that my off-road will be enough to need the F650s though I will still look at them.
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$8000 should be plenty. Factor in your skills and what it needs into your choice. Most R80/100GS's will need more work than the others as they are older, but can be a very rewarding and reliable project.
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I guess if I can find a good R80/100 then I will have the money to recondition it. Are there any "good" or "bad" years for the R80/100s? or anything to look out for when buying one? how about a good book on riding off road? or even a web site, I know experience is the best teacher but a good book can really help too.
[/B][/QUOTE]
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16 Feb 2002
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Ease of maintenance? - very easy! One of their biggest advantages is that most stuff can be done by anyone with a reasonable degree of competence, and minimal special tools. (can get by with none)
Good or bad years? - The only year I personally consider "bad" is the first year, 1981. The second year it got a bigger rear rim and heavier spokes, improved shifting, and a few other things.
From 82 to the end of the G/S series are all pretty much the same.
The paralever series had some variations, it's personal preference which you prefer.
See the links page for lots of info on them. One page has a full breakdown and history.
There might be a book listed on our books pages. Start there anyway and search Amazon, also Motobooks - there's links on the books pages.
You should also be able to find courses in your area. Sometimes a single course can answer a lot of questions you didn't know to ask, and get you off to a good start.
You can also have a look at an old article of mine on back roads riding: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/art...oadsofbc.shtml
Have fun!
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Grant Johnson
Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 15 February 2002).]
__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
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16 Feb 2002
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Hey Grant how do you get to that page without using your link? Is there any other articles?
As far as the question of which bike, personally I own a 01 KLR650 which has a HUGE following here in the states. It's about as simple as you can get for a big single 650 and it's what the US marines use now. It's OK in the rough stuff and OK on the road but that’s about it.
The KLR is VERY reliable(cheep too 5300$ approx new US$) but it will never ride as well on the road as a Beemer.(85MPH+ =scary on KLR) You'll have to dump some money into the KLR for it to feel anything like a nice new KTM or DR off-road, but those bike won't generally do as well on the road either.
Some of the small parts are cheaply made on the KLR like levers and some plastic pieces but there easily replaced with something nicer and more reliable.
An overall great bike and very cheap to maintain and own, fill petro, ride then repeat. Stock tank will give you around 380 Miles when full, great low end torque on the motor but slow overall compared to the BMW's of KTM's.
Great off road handling and acceptable on road performance if equipped properly.
If I was going from south Mexico to the tip of South America by the scenic route(like this guy www.strikingviking.net I would be on my KLR650, don't know anything about BMW's mechanics but the KLR is closer to a dirt bike than anything I've even seen from BMW.
The are other Japanese Dual-Sport bikes but all the other focus allot more on the dirt so touring with them could be tiresome, anything under a 650 is probably too small for long distance touring but anything bigger is going to be a tank off road.
If you spend more than 70% of your riding on the road or even want to do 2up touring some day I wouldn’t suggest the KLR.
[This message has been edited by c0_re (edited 15 February 2002).]
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16 Feb 2002
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Sorry, that's it, and that's the only way for now.
It's a section that's been "in progress" for a long time. You'll notice the very old design. Someday...
------------------
Grant Johnson
Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
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16 Feb 2002
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C0re is right on. I am in the same opinion as him living here in the states. The klr is dependable and tough - it takes a lot to make it tour-able (luggage, upgrades, seats, electronics, windshields .....). But it is cheap (5000 or less new) and there is a lot of stuff selling for it - aftermarket heaven. If I could afford it i would buy a beemer, but i like offorading and i wouldnt give up my KiLeR.
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Happy Riding
Ian aka "Maniac"
93' KLR650
__________________
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[b:]Ian aka \"Maniac\"[/b:]
[i:]93\' KLR650[/i:]
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17 Feb 2002
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Edward, you could do so much with a KLR 650. I would really recommend you get this bike. If you are going to be doing a lot of traveling get a corbin seat and some nice aftermarket items for it and you will still have money left over! It is a great bike, I've got a 2000 and I love it. You can go more places than you could on a BMW, that's for sure. For comfortable highway riding you would need to get a different sprocket, a Corbin seat, highway pegs, high windshield, ect...
You could probably pick up a left over 2001 for $4200 if a dealer near you still has one. $1200 in aftermarket accessories and that bike will be AWESOME. New exhaust, jet kit, the works. That's what these things were made for!
Take care,
-Glenn
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28 Feb 2002
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For what its worth, I've toured in the US, Canada and Alaska (70,000Kms) on my BMW R100R. All two up, that bike is similar in feel to the R100GS on which I have done a lot of miles in New Zealand. I love it.
In africa I rode an 1100GS, but in our group there were several two-ups on F650s. They were ridden hard and their riders were very happy with them.
In New Zealand I have ridden many miles on various F650s, two-up (both about 65Kg). My passenger prefers the 650 seat to our 1100GS at home in Australia, and the 650 is hard to fault.
If I could have only one the choice would be first the R100, closely followed by the F650, with the 1100GS last.
I also have an old Kawasaki KLR 600 at home and have ridden it 900Kms in one day, one-up. But it would be my last choice for a serious two-up tour.
Peter
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11 Mar 2002
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Riding a KTM LC4 640, and currently on the 4th month of San Francisco to South America trip I'll give you my 2 cents on this bike.
1) Parts and service in no problem, actually was eaiser to get part once out of the US.
2) minimal setup, just buy a 18 ltr tank and tourtec boxes and go, maybe some foam for the seat, or just extra cash for  s when to finish the days ride.
3) A lighter bike is more nibble and fun once you get off the sealed stuff, and some of the best riding I've had is the stuff off the beaten track
We are riding with 2 ktms, and they have provied no problems, only the riders do that.
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5 Apr 2002
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Hi, I bought an R80GS last Autumn and I have to say it is the best road bike I have ever owned (out of 50) as it copes well with what passes as paved roads around here (Hampshire) potholes badly filled in, gravel everywhere, it's not bad on dirt, bit heavy in deep mud but plenty of low down torque, it copes easily with motorway speeds, cruising at 85mph easily, parts are plentiful and cheap compared to jap stuff. Infinatly rebuildable not that you ever need to do much. Only down side is they are getting on a bit. Regards Chris
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23 Apr 2002
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Visit the thread
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000074.html
to see what GrantJ, myself and others had to say about a certain 1989 BMW R100GS...
In my opinion the BMW dealers in Central and South America (with the exception of Costa Rica, where they are superb) were pretty much useless/hopeless. You can guarantee they have no spares for old airheads or new oilheads or F650 and know nothing about anything.
There are good BMW shops in Turkey, Kenya and South Africa. I cannot comment on Australasia or Asia (Didn't ride there).
As far as Latin America is concerned, Japanese singles are everywhere and hence people know how to repair them.
Buy a cheap KLR in USA and ride it south. Even if it breaks (unlikely) you can buy another one and still be financially better off than with one BMW.
Again, personally speaking: Don't take your BMW out of North America or Europe.
Ride safely,
Chris B
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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...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
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