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