Hey everyone so I've been made redundant at 29 which means can do a few decent trips while I think of what to do next career wise

Mainly thinking Scotland and a few euro trips once I get more confident at tent life on the bike

Previously had a GSA 1200 lc an a vstrom 1000xt which were good bikes but let down by dealership experience
Would have rather been self servicing

Which leads me to my current conundrum
Got about 4-5k to spend

Always had a soft spot for the 1150 GSA as I guess most of us have

Do I a get back on a beemer
An try hunt down a silver none abs single or twin sparker?

Or go for something different to the big bikes an get a Himalayan.

I don't speed on the roads but like swift cornering and decent acceleration currently riding a rd250lc which has made me re think my big bike theories again. With stunning handling etc

I know Nathan has been cranking the miles on his but just wondering has anyone else gone from a GSA to a Himalayan if so what did you regret or what did you love?


Anyone else done decent miles on one?


edit also considering an 800 GS around a 2008 if anyone has any opinions on them

Huge thanks in advance

Tom
Norton.rider on Instagram

Go talk to a dealer and get a feeling for parts availability on the Enfield. I was lucky with my now sold Bullet ABS. The only parts I broke were common to non-ABS bikes or I was able to fabricate. I broke the chain adjuster when repairing my snapped chain. This was July 17. I tried to buy both in the UK and India and you simply cannot get rear disc brake items, a year after the launch they were too new. The dealers didn't even have a parts fiche. Before I sold in April 18 I tried again and still no joy. My bike went to the Honda dealers still fitted with the ones I made (better IMHO, I used metal not cast cheese),but not an option everyone has.

The Bavarian Much Weight set-up has Motorworks for support when the Suited Lizards in the grey tiled coffee palace fail you.

Neither are my thing, but a year of Enfield riding (6200 miles) convinced me they are hobby machines in the UK, they expect you take up golf while its broken and probably only do 200 miles a year and not actually break it.

Andy

Cheers Andy,

That's exactly the sort of info I'm after had a nightmare with my 1200 GSA LC before so a bit wary of the coffee palace haha

the availability of stuff from Motorworks has my attention on the 1150 did hunt for one last year but struggled to find one in the right condition

The 800 looks pretty cool to although something I've not got any experience off

Never rode a hymalayan & don't have any intentions of splashing out big(ish) money for a 1940's designed bike.
The only advise l can give you is to get the best bike you can afford & look at the mileage & service history, luggage is a must, (prices for with & without panniers/topbox aren't that far apart) & if you insist on an Adv style bike, take a look at the Triumph Tiger range, even the older 988 (l think) Tiger is still a consideration.
Failing that & speaking from personal experience my pre-Triumph bike was a Kawa 650 Versys, & it is a much underrated bike that has plenty of oooomph & is totally reliable!

Also, look for another job you lazy fecker!!!!.......

haha cheers mate

an yeah Im gonna have to me dad an his bro all lost our jobs at the same time sucks to be honest but such is life

those tiger 800's do look pretty cool thats for sure,

know I've not mentioned it but even though Im 29 have restored 4 x 350 lc's 2 Nortons a 650ss and a 68 commando so know my way round a set of spanners which is why im thinking something I can work on myself : )

Think im going to have a close look at the 800 GS and the 1150 GSA between those two was just looking at the 0-60 times on Himalayan

so if anyone has any 800 opinions all welcome would have the budget for around a 2008 one

Cheers,

Tom

4-5K would buy a nice used vstrom 650 which will take you miles in comfort.



Just saying........

__________________
Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

Sounds to me like you've got more mech experience than most here on the HUBB.

You must have had a really high paying job to afford a R1200GS LC ... here in US they go for $25,000 on average. They come with a 3 year warranty and GS riders I know all buy extended service contracts to extend the warranty another 3 or 4 years.

So did BMW not honor your warranty? Or what?

Newer BMW's are now very dealer dependent due to all the computers, sensors and the like. You can buy devices to hack in and do stuff yourself now. Many do this.

Himalayan:
Read a couple ride reviews, both by Indian riders, and one guy I know. He really hated that Himalayan coming off a DL650 Vstrom. He felt earlier Enfield's were better. To me they are a joke bike and possibly dangerous.

Speaking of Vstrom, I also owned a DL1000, did 90K miles. Not one issue. I only went to Triumph for a change of pace. The Vstrom was the better ADV travel bike.

If you saved any money (hope so) from working, then chances are good you still have decent credit. So, you could buy any new bike on payments.

BMW's will always be costly if you let dealers do the work.

Triumphs are very good, quite expensive but reliable and fun to ride. Not cheap to maintain, but less than BMW. I've owned 3 Tigers. (1995, 1999, 2007)

Most Triumph dealers allow test rides. Try one out.

In USA one of the best "low budget" bikes going is the Kawasaki Versys 650LT. Simply a great all round light touring bike. I tested one, loved it. But I'll be buying the Versys 1000LT for longer trips, also a great bike.

Those Kawasaki's need very little to keep running, simple, cheap to run.
Great performers ... and they never break down!

If traveling Scotland and EU countries then really, you could ride any bike you like: Sports bike, ADV bike, Tour bike. All good.

The BMW R1150GS was my least favorite of all GS's (long term tested them all for magazine) When the R1200GS came out all our staff were STUNNED just how much better the R12 was over previous 1100 and 1150 models.

Your LC even better (not ridden that model) from reports I've read and talking to friends that own them. IMO, the 1150 is Farm equipment compared to R1200GS LC.

I'd get a few test rides.

Really appreciate the reply!
Yep I was a digital print manager saved pretty much all the wages to get it ended up with no bike for 9 months 3 engines after a dealer screwed up was just issue after issue an some of the excuses were laughable. When you have a deep understanding of engines can cut through the rubbish with what they were saying. Ended up selling it to another dealer an they put it right told them up front about all the issues.
Being redudndant now the company has closed has put a different slant on things
Was concerned about that with the 1150 that maybe I'd just be duplicating what I already had with regards to an older feel bike, mainly gonna be on the road like you said but would like to do some off road

Have you ever road an 800 GS they are nicely in budget to

Rd250lc is sublime can rebuild one in an afternoon haha gotta love two strokes.

Thought you might enjoy this spin out from the other day did a tongue in cheek video for my uncle an dad to cheer them up as we all lost our jobs at the same time

Honda Cb500x...... Its what I would take and that's from a Mutleystrada owner.

Your link above is dead here.

If considering off road in your mix of riding then you could put the Tiger 800XC and BMW F800GS on the list of bikes to try out. The BMW 800's also get complaints from owners, so far from perfect.

The Triumph has had a few issues, but mostly all good. I expect all may exceed your budget ... even used. $$$$$

The F800 GS is said to be better off road than the Tiger. I rode the BMW 800GS briefly, not a complete test ride. Really liked it overall.

Same with Tiger 800XC. Short time on both so can't really make a choice. I do prefer the Tiger for ON ROAD, both EXCELLENT bikes ... both expensive bikes.

The BMW R1150GS is about 75 lb. heavier than the R1200GS. You really feel it.
1150's also use horrible Getrag gear box. R12 now use a Japanese gear box.
Quieter, less clunky, more reliable, but not perfect. Lots more differences between 1150 and 1200GS's.

BMW's still have serious drive line issues, especially those riding GS's off road. Failed U joints, bearings, trans or drive shaft failures still more common than you would imagine on such an expensive bike. LONG WARRANTY a must! (IMHO)

A good compromise bike mentioned here would be the Suzuki Vstrom DL650.

A great road bike and many take them off road too, fitted with proper tires. It's quite doable for mild off road. Many ride Vstroms round the world with great success. This is one tough bike! One of the best travel (and all round) bikes made in last 15 years.

Also affordable used. Get a low mile minter and be happy.

The suggested CB500X is s good reliable bike but it is, IMO, way down on power. Weak and uninspiring IMO, but DO ride one, see what you think.

The Himalaya is completely new and I think doesn't share much with the Bullets. You potentially have the usual Enfield attitude to quality added to a design not many people know anything about (unlike Bullets) all packaged in a specification that doesn't do much more than an XT225 and has a silly price. I fail to see the attraction but thats not unusual.

I just switched to a CB500F and really see why people suggest them. Mollydog, have you been on the pies? My CB will cruise 20 mph above our speed limit and I keep grounding the pegs on twisty roads. Did 515 miles in 15 hours on the national road rally on Saturday/Sunday and it turned in 85 to the gallon with a 250+ mile range.

Andy

Sounds good ... yes, too many "Pies" for me!

But if you get off of a Tiger 800 or BMW 800GS straight onto the Honda ... do you think you might feel a bit let down on the Honda?

Sure, if you rev the nuts off it, I'm sure you can cruise at 90 mph all day.
What is that 0 to 60 time? My friends old VW bumper sticker says:
Zero to Sixty In 15 Minutes!

For a RTW bike ... I could see it as you're not so dependent of power, have time and it's perfect riding congested 3rd world situations.

But the OP is talking about doing Scotland and the EU. FAST is good on those roads. I've ridden a few of them, Alps and Pyrenees too. POWER is good.

NOTE that I suggested the OP TRY a test ride on the Honda. Why not?

I love the incredible fuel economy. A real asset in UK and EU where fuel is up what? Over $8 USD per US gallon now?

US fuel prices have risen now to about $3 to $4 per US gallon and Trumpist idiots shetting themselves over this. (no clue)

thanks everyone really do apreciate the replies gonna rule the royal enfield out
an have a look for either the 800 GS or a 1150 GSA got to sit on both today an really loved them

the 800 was really lithe but tall

1150 tank like compaired to the 1200 LC GSA I had but felt really well built

get the feeling the 800 might be more capable off road if i get to do it

but 80% will be road so some thinking to do

Gotta say I'd be firing up the Yamaha. Spend some of the money on soft luggage and take the back roads.