The old post is here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...und-world-5034

A myth or not I have used BMW for serious travels and I will do it again...

BTW: Your link doesn't work.

In the first 180kkm my BMW left me stranded once. The rotor had broken. After 150kkm the driveshaft failed but I still used the bike for some weeks after the vibration started.

Right now it is totally rebuild, engine is superb and the rest is pretty much HPN, without the gearbox which I never have opened.
I can't think of any other bike (maybe a XT?) wich can take so much beating and still start the second life after 180kkm, but if I find one I might buy it...

hello, Back in the early 90's Therese and I travelled on a 1978 R65 BMW from London to Australia.The bike was a basket case I picked up from another Aussie in London.It was put back together with a 2nd hand short motor as the big end was stuffed . I put on a set of Konis, new clutch and rechromed fork stantions.,a set of panniers and a Scottish lambs wool. with a carnet in hand we set off.It went well all the way home.26,000 k we did.the bikes only hicup was a rear main bearing in the gearbox went awol in Iran.( the only part I didn't look at) 2days and $25 US later I had rebuilt the gearbox with 5 new skf and timkin bearings in Isfahan .
The R80 GS that I've had for 21 years ,yes would have been a better chioce of bike, but it was at home . so the R65 And Bmw I think are very reliable.remember the R65 was a 400 UK pound bikeabout $600 Aussie at the time so you don't need to spend heaps .Oh ya I also drowned her in Pakistan ,a local paki and Alla had her going and back on the road within an hour.that another story

In my opinion, the GS is just waaaay too big and way too heavy, you dont need all that power-torque and you dont need all that carrying capacity unless you are traveling two up. and the BIG drawbacks are it is thirsty and expensive.

I would go better for a 500 to 650, single cyl, carbed, air cooled jap. I would use a Jap bike because the machanics in the third world would manage to fix them and pretty much nobody has dealt with broken down beemers.

Among the few good things the GSs are unbeatable in, are: comfort, looks and riding two up.

personally I would understand if anyone preffers a KTM Adventure, 990 or 640 to a DR650 or an XT600 or a GS since the previous are a lot more performance focused and some riders demand. but again you pay big time for that.

The caponord, multistrada or varadero are luxury sport-utes, that will certainly let you down on the first offroad situation you face, plus there are more plastic on them than there is motorcycle.

and the V-strom is just a joke, is an street bike in disguise.

Canuki.
zuk- xf650. (look for it on the net, its the streetable version of the DR).

Oh, and by the way, I live in Colombia (SA) and I have traveled all around my beautifull continent.

and the V-strom is just a joke, is an street bike in disguise
Really? So you've ridden one eh?

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Instructions previously supplied to Vincent, the initiator of this thread:

1. Locate hornets' nest
2. Locate big stick.
3. Retreat ten metres from hornets' nest.
4. Charge at hornets' nest with big stick.

That should do it.

Simon

__________________
Simon Kennedy
Around the world 2000-2004, on a 1993 Honda Transalp

Hey Simon,
You'd be pissed off to if you paid $17,000 USD for a bike and had
it in the shop all the time!

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

[QUOTE=mollydog;111515]

BMW's LOOK GOOD, but don't live up to the LOOK!
They never really have.....

Margus kind of represents the tough old guard of BMW owners.

You still see some old guys like Margus,

to perpetuate the mythology that surrounds BMW.

What crap.


Really? So you've ridden one eh?

.................................................. .........
Despite Mollydogs remarks, sampled above, this is....

An excellent thread, fired by passion - this is good stuff. Threads like this are a treasure, despite the odd nasty post. Don't lose this energy because of minor irritants.

The quality end of the debate is represented by Margus, who avoids rumour, gossip and abuse, gives facts and figures, and argues with reason and logic. He is clearly not blindly loyal to any bike or manufacturer, but judges them on merit and suitability for purpose. We have benefited from his comments and how he presents them. That includes people like me who don't ride a BMW, but who certainly value the bikes that BMW produces. Who couldnt?

The shabby end is represented by Mollydog's threats to punch people and how tough he is, his "ass puppet" remarks to one who dared to disagree with him, and his argument, which seems to rely on hearsay and bias. He boasts that in a bar, he always wins. In bars which I frequent, he would end up with his sorry, battered face in the urinal. Some of his comments above give the nature of the man. It seems that if he is losing a debate, he resorts to needling others. But when he's on easy, safe ground, he's harmless, and is a very jolly read. But when required to think outside the box, he cant do it. He is unable to handle Margus's last comment about the endless BMW bashers - that it's all about the rider, not the bikes, which are simply passing consumer goods, to be changed like a pair of boots.

This is a good and energetic thread, and I hope Mollydog doesnt spoil it for others. But dont get rid of him. Unpleasant he is - troubling he is not. If you met him on the road you'd "lose" him right away. I think we are all big boys and girls and we know how to deal with the likes of him.

And it keeps him off the road!


Margus is not "old guard" - he is actually quite young. I think old Mollydog likes to provoke.

Thanks for the comments James. I was just interested really. And, I promise not to punch you out... There are as many reasons to not like a bike as to like one and human shape, size, and desires all play a part.

I didn't mean to compare any brand (Suzuki) just interested if any real data is out there. I have owned a Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, KTM, Ducati and Montessa and a number of different bikes within that. Not to mention my BMW - and found them all to be awesome in one way or another - which I think is true of most bikes - with some notable exceptions.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for any hard data and make sure it gets up on the site... I might even ask my friend who owns a BMW, Yamaha, Ducati dealership if he could get me some... but I think that might mean BMW punches him out...

Either way I guess the most important thing is I am happy with my purchase and the only thing wrong with it so far is I don't get enough time on it.

Hope to see you out there,

PS Caminando - well said

Dean