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BMW GSA or HP2 Enduro BMW GSA or HP2 Enduro
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  • 1 Post By geoffshing

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  #1  
Old 1 Jan 2012
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Question BMW GSA or HP2 Enduro
I'm putting together a plan to ride the two American continents, South to North starting in November 2012. Thing is I have a 1200GS Adv and a HP2 Enduro, but which one to take? The GSA is already sorted with Panniers etc; but I'd have to consider a larger fuel tank for the HP2 as well as hard luggage. The soft ones I've already got for it won't be so secure.

What do the collective think?

Heart says HP2 but the GSA would probably be more practical.
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  #2  
Old 2 Jan 2012
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Or you could just buy a third bike :-)

Kidding aside, I think you should take the bike that is already prepped and spend the money you saved on something else.
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South East Asia, USA, Central and South America and Scandinavia.
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  #3  
Old 2 Jan 2012
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"Thing is I have a 1200GS Adv and a HP2 Enduro"



My suggestion, (for what it's worth) TRY THIS.... is to lay both bikes down on the grass and pick each one up ten (10) times in rapid succession, have a break between each bike and the bike you lift the least stays at home. If you cannot lift either of them ten times, then I suggest you choose wisely and go for a different bike..!

A wise man said "It's easy getting into the shit, it's the getting out of it that's hard..!"

I wonder if you'll repost having found out and let us know your results.

p.s....... I did it!
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'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'
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  #4  
Old 6 Jan 2012
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Is the HP2 subframe man enough for big luggage. I seem to remember reading somewhere that it isn`t.
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  #5  
Old 22 Apr 2012
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HP2 Enduro
G'Day BS,

I am leaving for Europe from Oz in 3 weeks time and have my eye on a HP2 Enduro to buy on arrival. I have read heaps of reviews and seen many a video on Youtube although what I would really like, if I may is ask for your thoughts on the HP2, good bad or otherwise. Actual fuel consumption, comfort on long rides, improvements, sealed road handling ect.

I have been getting round Europe on a 86 K100RS which has been perfect over the last 5 years or so. Although over the next few years I'd like to go the road less traveled, and eventually ride it back to Oz. Absolutley no point in bringing back a K100RS right ? I am a minimalist and dont carry huge amounts of luggage although on a RTW trip one might just have to load up a bit.

Cheers Dave.
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  #6  
Old 22 Apr 2012
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Ride the bike you love. This fellow dealt with the HP2 small tank and weak subframe like this:

Louistech Hp2

I remember seeing my first HP2 years ago at a moto campout when Glen Heggested (Striking Viking) rode up on one to give a slide presentation. He loved, loved, loved that bike and had already put a sticker on the windscreen naming it Esposa (Spanish for wife). Although the private slide presentation he gave me on his laptop later that night of beautiful Latina women was far more interesting than pics of his Beemer on the top of an Indonesian volcano.

I believe tourtech made a large fuel tank back then for the HP2 that gave it a 500km range.

GSA is the more practical solution of the two. But practicality is for people like me who get old and fall on hard times and need to ride bikes that cost just south of an HP2 rear shock.

Either bike will do. I wish my travel plans involved such pressing decisions.

Kindest regards,
John Downs
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  #7  
Old 23 Apr 2012
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Decisions
[QUOTE=John Downs;376446]Ride the bike you love. I wish my travel plans involved such pressing decisions.

G'day JD,

Yes, decisions, inordinately more loot than I ought to part with and I often think far too many sacrifices made to boot however..........

I have been scooting round on an old but sure footed and reliable K100RS which I'm fortunate enough to have purchased and kept with friends in Europe for the last 5 years or so and use while on yearly holiday.

It has taken me as far north as Norway, along the north German coast, through Poland across Chez Rep, Hungary, Austria Germany, Holland, UK, France up n over Mt Blanc, Italy and Switzerland numerous times. I’ve taken it everywhere even through snow storms going over the Brunner pass, I'm in no hurry to do that again but it's not the first time I’ve been caught in a snow storm on the bike. Let me tell you it raised an eyebrow or two, hugged more than my fair share of sausage warmers too! I mean that literally :-)

Living in the tropics and the outback most of my life it's high time I had a bike to get on the road less travelled, both here and aboard. Something that’s useful, reliable, light, powerful, handles, easy on the eye and hopefully a wise decision / investment for the long term. Not I assure you an easy decision and it's taken the best part of 2 years to save and come to terms with.

I’ve bitten the bullet, started haggling and with 3 weeks to go before departure still have not secured a beast. The number of scammers on the net is confronting, the time wasted makes your blood boil. Once I do if I do secure a bike there’s all the foreign paperwork to ensure I haven’t bought a lemon or stolen bike, either way it’s a challenge that I’m up for and I hope rewarded with as an end result.

Cheers Dave
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