Lighter Bike needed

[floyd]

Hi all, i have and still have dabbled in an adventure tourer.

First was a honda Varadero, and now a Bmw 1100 gs.

To be fair i think both are heavy and cumbersome, so much so that the Bm is going to be sold.

Why can't they make a nice lightweight twin, around 150 kilos, stripped of all the unnecessary rubbish. I quite like the Transalp but why all the bumph on it.
It looks like a tarts handbag. To be honest i think someone needs to make a parts bin special.
The transalp would be a nice engine, reynolds frame frame, white power suspension, strong handbuilt laced wheels.
MMMMMM apart from the frame perhaps a Transalp special!!!

[dave ett]

The F800GS only weighs 185kg, and about 207 when full of juices.

Not sure what on it could really be removed to be honest. Stripping of the few plastics wouldn't save much weight and would make distances much harder work, and whilst there is a rear seat and pillion footpegs, again I doubt they add much since the rear subframe would need to be pretty beefy for supporting the weight of rider and luggage.

They've gone over to canbus for the wiring, so there's no huge bundles of wires. Alloy wheels, swingarm, forks, handlebars, plasic absolutely everywhere - fuel tank, headlights, screen brackets, radiator mounting and side pods etc, and only the frame is steel really.

Not sure I can see where much more weight could be saved, whilst still having a bike tough enough to last. Unless we go to aerospace materials with the associated costs!

I do totally agree with you, and I'm sure one day it'll come. When 400cc engines can make similar hp and torque numbers to an 800 well be half way there...

[Warthog]

As ususal, a parred down overland bike proper is a niche market, even amongst niche markets!! The overland look sells very well these days, but the market still wants all its gubbins!!

The closest a manufacturer have done to a proper overland bike is the new Tenere, IMO. I know BMWs are either loved or loathed on here, but I was happy with mine and it was the only choice two-up, for us. But, as already pointed out: it was not a light-weight bike, although very capapble for it's size!

Despite never having ridden one, I think the combination of small engine, decent-ish tank size and strong rear subframe (it can talke a pillion) the likes of the Honda NX400 Falcon are quite appealling. Unfortunately, quite rare in the UK.

[floyd]

I'm not a high mile rider, 500 miles a day! why!!!!. Unless you need to catch the ferry or get to a start point. Otherwise you miss so much. Nothing worse than sitting on ya bum for hours on end with boring motorway traffic.

[dave ett]

Royal Enfield 500 with knobblies on?

[floyd]

You're having a laugh
Saying that 150 miles is about right i guess for one of those, then you need to tighten all the bolts and reset the valve clearances

Cheap though, about £500

[Threewheelbonnie]

Originally Posted by dave ett

Royal Enfield 500 with knobblies on?

I'd like to see someone try it with the new motor'd version. Everyone who's ridden one seems to rave about how they've entered the 21st century without loosing the essentials (fuel economy and simplicity). Build quality I wouldn't worry about, the 2004 I had had fewer problems than any BMW I've ever owned except the first F650. I'm not sure the HP limitation would be to everyone's taste, but IMHO they are getting very close (if not actually there) to a very usable bike. I think in maybe 2 years time there'll be people telling us good things about Enfields.

My other suggestion is the Bonneville/Scrambler family. Despite Triumphs best attempts to market this as a weekend polishers machine (just like Watsonian with the Bullet), they are proving very tough and reliable. Spec wise, excepting the DOHC and chain drive it's very similar to a BM airhead without 20 years of other people's bodges. Check out what the boys on ADV rider are doing, there are a fair few using the bikes instead of just playing Steve McQueen down the local coffee bar.

When I started looking for a usable bike I'd had enough of the likes of BMW's bling. If you'll excuse the mention (not trying to start this one again) I wanted to go more Ted Simon and less Ewan & Charley. I don't want CAN systems and HID lights and a solar powered step ladder to get me into the 10-foot saddle. While I like the look of the new Tenere I know the Bonneville will get me just about anywhere and think the right Bullet could too. Time for one or two of the manufacturers to take a step back and see where their now overweight overcomplex "Adventure" machines came from IMHO (not that they will, most R1200GS's ride on the M-25).

Andy

[floyd]

^^^^^^^^

I agree with the overspeced, overhyped bikes

and i have recently bought a BMW1100GS, i thought i would try one!! I don't like it at all, ok on the open road, other than that UP FOR SALE IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED
Personally i prefer to travel light!!

It's a bit like camping, folks take everything bar the kitchen sink

Camping to me is a tent, a primus a saucepan and a frying pan

[ALPMONKEY]

A frying pan AND a saucepan , thats luxury .

[floyd]

Crazy i am

[JMo (& piglet)]

If you particularly want a twin, then perhaps a KLE500 might fit the bill? - it ain't a rocketship, or particularly inspiring to ride, but it would do the job as a travel mule?

If you want the 21st century version, the Versys seems to get good reviews, but is more road/tarmac biased of course...

If you want a single, then as has already been mentioned, the new Tenere is rather good...

xxx

[buebo]

I can't praise the bike enought, have a look at the new KTM 690. Of course it's no twin, but runs fairly smooth for a single, has lots of power, is not too heavy and has an excellent handling.

There's three issues I'm having with it so far:

It needs to see the dealership every 5000km for an oil change and every other time for the valves. For a travel bike that's a bit short in my book, but if you can do your own maintenance it might not be a big deal.

The stock seat is horrible for touring.

The tank is a tad small. I get about 200km before hitting reserve, but there's a lager add on tank available from Aqualine.


The bike is worth checking out, even if it's too expensive right now you might be lucky in a year or two.

[JMo (& piglet)]

Originally Posted by floyd

Why can't they make a nice lightweight twin, around 150 kilos, stripped of all the unnecessary rubbish. I quite like the Transalp but why all the bumph on it.
It looks like a tarts handbag. To be honest i think someone needs to make a parts bin special.
The transalp would be a nice engine, reynolds frame frame, white power suspension, strong handbuilt laced wheels.
MMMMMM apart from the frame perhaps a Transalp special!!!

It's not a twin, but otherwise the spec is looking spookily similar...?!





xxx

(ok, so it's still a fair way away from 150Kgs too, but better than it was x)

[floyd]

looks kinda cool in an ugly way

Give me more info

Yes i know its a Yamaha, water cooled

[John in Leeds]

The Highland ticks lots of boxes, 950cc Vtwin, 165kgs dry, 220 kms to reserve when murdering the speed limits and comfy enough for 500 mile plus days, oll change and filter 10 minutes. Not quite smooth enough for the very long haul yet but it is improving as we do some development. Hoping that one day we'll get it right

some more info here

Highland Motors - Page 7 - ADVrider