Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Which Bike?
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 Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 30 Jan 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Vojvodina, Serbia&Montenegro
Posts: 125
f650 vs aprilia pegaso vs suzuki dr650se vs xt600tenere vs h

Hi!

The eternal question,WICH BIKE???

i'm a bit of a short guy,170cm so seat high should not be much than 850mm(i couldnt touch the ground with my feet otherwise)

Wich bike is the best,considering price should be under 2500 euro.


BMW inspires confidence,but it's extremly ugly!!!How good are big milage ones,for that price usualy +50000kms or so

Aprilia is well designed,looks goog for all purpouses and it's even got a temperature gauge,and fuel reserve warning light!? absolutely NOT NEEDED,SO THE GERMAN ENGENIERS THINK!!!i cant belive it!!!

Tenere is a bit old fashioned and,tough not ugly as the BMW but i'll be stil lought at around town,small fuel tank too,is that seat realy confortable!?


Please give me your coment on all of them

thanks

jondoe

[This message has been edited by jondoe (edited 29 January 2003).]

[This message has been edited by jondoe (edited 30 January 2003).]
__________________
cheers

jondoe
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 1 Feb 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 60
Everything depends on what the bike will be used for.

In general, I would vote for BMW.. (owned Pegaso and driven BMW and Yamaha on noumerous occasions...)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2 Feb 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Vojvodina, Serbia&Montenegro
Posts: 125
Hi!

Why BMW?
What are you impresions on Aprilia?
I dont think that BMW is that much better,tough it has the same robust Rotax engine(only Ap's got an extra intake valve)
and BMW is so ugly!
I'll use it for round the mediteranean an a bit of sahara.
But i'll all so will use it for crusing around town and beyond.

The round the med tour:Moroco-WSahara-Muretanie-Algeria-Tunisia-Libiya-Egipt-Jordan,and on to Europe

Since this is my first big trip,and I don't have much offroad expiriance i'll stick to the good roads whenever posibile.

Only real offroad will bee desert camel route from Ouadane north-east to Chegga(not on utexas maps)and then to north-west to Tindouf or continue north-west to Chenachene and on to north beetwin the ergs,wich should soposed to be hardpacked rock track(enyone has the info on that?)

cheers

jondoe

PS: are the air/oil cooled good for such hot conditions?

[This message has been edited by jondoe (edited 01 February 2003).]
__________________
cheers

jondoe
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2 Feb 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: canada
Posts: 23
suzuki DR650 seat height 34.5in (2.54cm=1in)) the suspension can be lowered 1.5in,in the rear shock adjustement: you now have a 33in seat height. order the gel seat lowers the seat height 1.5in---now you have a seat height of 31.5 which puts it in a catagory where most people will have no problem putting their feet down. i do not think you can do this with any other duel sport except BMW650 which has a 31in seat height.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 3 Feb 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Vojvodina, Serbia&Montenegro
Posts: 125
Quote:
Originally posted by newfie:
suzuki DR650 seat height 34.5in (2.54cm=1in)) the suspension can be lowered 1.5in,in the rear shock adjustement: you now have a 33in seat height. order the gel seat lowers the seat height 1.5in---now you have a seat height of 31.5 which puts it in a catagory where most people will have no problem putting their feet down. i do not think you can do this with any other duel sport except BMW650 which has a 31in seat height.

Hi!

Thats true,i saw the ad on dr650se for sale with 820mm seat(costume low seat) plus suspension,it might work

Suzuki dr650se,i think,could be my choise,or may be not.Look's decent,it's cheep,robust dr machine,small exhoust pipe...

but the debate goes on

Why is xt600 tenere(twin headlamps) so hard to find,on mobile.de not a one at the moment!?
__________________
cheers

jondoe
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 5 Feb 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 54
There is a budget priced version of the Dominator known as the Vigor, and this may interest you. It shares the Dominator engine but has a low(ish ) seat height and is very easy to ride. Earlier models are known as SLR650s, and are more " off road " ready, although this in reality only means knobbly tyres. A very simple, air cooled engine.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 6 Feb 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Porto, Portugal
Posts: 185
Quote:
Originally posted by JohnZ:
There is a budget priced version of the Dominator known as the Vigor, and this may interest you...
I'd like to add to that - my partner has an SLR and having tried to ride my XTZ, a dommie and other, this was the only bike she felt really comfy on - low height - good reliable engine - modifactions easy to do and easy to work on.

Only down side - it's a spanish made model - hard-ish to get hold of and you would want to make sure that the bits that are not used to bad weather are stripped and powder coated - this is my plan over the next year to get get hers ready for a trip.



The vigor which took over in 1998 (uk) has a rev counter and a small cowling/fairing.

Tony.
__________________
Tony Robson
I'll try anything once, twice if it didn't kill me!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 7 Feb 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Vojvodina, Serbia&Montenegro
Posts: 125
Hi!

Yeah,it like a dominator,more or less same,seat hight:845(domi 880) not much low after all.

bmw-800mm
suzuki xf600 freewind-830mm
aprilia pegaso-845mm

some one with expiriance with a suzuki?
How come thay are so cheep,compared to bmw and aprilia,tough thay all have the more-less same price when new!

cheers

jondoe
__________________
cheers

jondoe
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 7 Feb 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Porto, Portugal
Posts: 185
Quote:
Originally posted by jondoe:
How come thay are so cheep,compared to bmw and aprilia,tough thay all have the more-less same price when new!
The BMW and Aprilla seem to hold their prices better in the UK, the Freewind is impossible to get hold of unless you pay big money for one - so few around and all 3000GBP region.

The SLR650 and Vigor can be picked up for around 1500 GBP or less. Why - well probably the bad image they have, Spanish made etc... don't know - open to suggestions here......
__________________
Tony Robson
I'll try anything once, twice if it didn't kill me!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 8 Feb 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Vojvodina, Serbia&Montenegro
Posts: 125
Hi!

Prices in Germany,www.mobile.de

Aprilia year '97 aprox 3000 euro
BMW F650 '97 aprox. 3000 to 3500 euro
Suzuki xf freewind '97 from 2200 to 2700

cheers

jondoe
__________________
cheers

jondoe
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 14 Feb 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 26
[QUOTE]Originally posted by jondoe:
[B]Hi!

The eternal question,WICH BIKE???

1. It depends where are you going and what you want to do in the countries you are going.
2. For countries like Morocco, Pakistan, India, Nepal etc. a enduro bike good, not heavy, not expensive using little petrol and tire. What with a 1122 ccm bike, on which you have to replace the rear tire after 5000 km?
3. I am driving an old Honda 600 XLM with a tank of 30 liters (bought it in 1985) and it is really very, very riable (roughly the same engine as Dominator, but older than Dominator). With one tank filling I made it(2 persons and lots of luggage) from Pula in Croatia back to Zurich in Switzerland, crossing several passes in the Italian Alps (roughly 880 km.
On this bike I not even had to change any bulbs in 17 years, change oil every 4000 km, change chain every 20 000 km, change rear tire every 7000 km - for Europe - change front tire every 15 000 km, change battery every 5 years. This bike never gave me any problem in 17 years. Nearly forgott the brake pads.
I think it is far better than the 600 Tenere, and for several trips far better then a huge and heavy BMW. For me its the best bike for adventure travel, and I will use it on my trip to Pakistan / India this summer. And driving it on bad roads is simply a pleasure.


------------------
Alois
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 21 Feb 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: paris, france
Posts: 86
Hi there, I cant comment on the other bikes but I do have an aprillia pegaso 1996 model and I cant believe how good its been, used all year round never fails to start. Comfy fastish, the only complaint is the small 100 mile tank range. A pain when touring and you constantly have to look for petrol. Spares could become a problem if required, but as i,ve not broken down I dont know !
I would not replace my bike with any one that list with the exception of a mint tenere or a new bmw 650 dakar.
HTH
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 22 Feb 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 60
With Aprilia there is one major problem -- head gaskets can blow... and they DO blow... quite often...

Therefore I have voted for BMW - reliability is the key here...
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 20 Mar 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Batley West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 25
I am only 5'6" and I have an Aprilia Pegaso. I find it a very comfortable height and riding position is good. I have tried many bikes including BMW's (my partner has one) KLR 650 which we used to have was just too high. So far the Pegaso seems great for me although I haven't been too far on it yet.

Ally
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 20 Mar 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: paris, france
Posts: 86
Quote:
Originally posted by Noise Data:
With Aprilia there is one major problem -- head gaskets can blow... and they DO blow... quite often...

Therefore I have voted for BMW - reliability is the key here...
Are you sure? I thought both engines came from the Rotax factory build quality would be the same, Or is it the 5th valve which causes the problem? You,ll make me paranoid now.... ;-)
Hey Ally, I thought I was the only rider, you never see them on the road !. Is your the Mk3? Dont think its as pretty but the tank is bigger right? I,m 5ft 6" too and find it spot on.
Predator exhausts are good for when your rot out. I,ve only had to put petrol in and ride it...cant fault it really :-)

Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
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...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:20.