Hi everyone

Finally got rid of the GS 1200 TE adventure a month or so back after a right saga with Bmw,

suffice to say I won't be getting another modern beemer any time soon,

So been thinking currently put my fireblade back on the road, and a few of my classics, spotted the new V-stroms last night really like them but not to sure about running out and buying another bike when I've got other options

Pretty much put every penny over the past 5 years into classics but nothing you would really say is an outright adventure bike.

Suffice to say Im confused haha

Leads me to a few options

my 2011 blade is pretty trick so not something I'd like to abuse daily with the paint job but could be an option if I swapped the bodywork was thinking even a IomTT spec tank for a bigger fuel range.

Norton 650ss - my daily ride at the moment 1967 great bit of kit but some of the bits like mudguards are getting harder to replace

rd 250 lc great bit of kit again but turning into as much as a nightmare as the 350lc to get parts for

Gsx 750 et really like this super smooth gear change beautiful engine, but again could picture it being a pain to get a component for as stuffs running out on the two

LC 250 sort of seems not to bad if strictly road work

One outside possibility I was thinking about was a 70's commando got a Norton Villiers 68 but thats to rare to use and abuse but one thing I have realised you can get everything from Andover next day which is a bit of a revelation for a classic bike easier to restore than the Japanese stuff haha, maybe in a scrambler style trim, just an idea

Ideally something I can work on myself

New option wise would be maybe a V-strom 1000 or 650

What would you do or consider ?

Thanks in advance ^^

What are you trying to do with a new bike - go RTW or just head for the pub? The collection you've got sounds like you've got plenty of choice if it's for something to use in the summer, but if you're looking for a classic as regular transport it's going to be a short list (IMHO).

A number of bikes on that list are likely to have a BMW badge on the tank and if you've had a run in with them recently that might be something you want to see. For what its worth though I'd suggest an R80G/S or maybe one of the older street models - an R100 for example.

A Commando that someone has poured their heart and soul (and most of their bank account) into might be ok but personally I'd never trust it. Any character they're said to have is just another way of saying unreliable - again IMHO but I've known a few people with them and they're always referred to in the future tense - "when I get it back together again...."

Anything else made by a blacksmith - classic Triumphs, BSAs etc are similar examples of entropy in action and it's only the power of prayer that stops their atoms spontaneously dispersing to the far corners of the universe. I don't think I've ever known a classic Brit owner that doesn't permanently have oil under his fingernails. The only people in a worse condition are those trying to keep classic Ducatis on the road.

So what do I use? Amongst others I have an early 70's XS650 Yamaha. Great engine, rabid dog handling (fine until it bites you) and a reasonable spares situation (even if most of them have to come from the US / Germany).

Hi thanks for the reply ^^ at the moment longer trips in the uk, cornwall again from manchester, to Scotland, hopefully Iceland, Norway to see family in Denmark would love to do harder stuff and do a RTW but need to save up for that an some medical stuff to sort first so smaller euro trips an uk trips I think but know I've got to work up to it guess we all need dreams

Yeah the beemer / so called dealer mechanics nearly cost me my life 3 times so not in a rush to get back on one lesser rider I dread to think ,3 engines in total to over a 6 month period dealer network and bmw support is shocking for a supposedly rtw capable bike. Raft of electronic issues speedo's, suspension

Older ones are cool though ^^ got a friend who's got a 1150 gs adventure with well over 160,000 on it

Calling a 650ss a daily runner, I would guess from that you could use anything with two wheels including the BMW IF you didnt take it to the dealer.
Your rides are not that far so why not the SS or any of the others?
If as in my case you just want to ride for awhile with minimum prep, many bikes will fit your needs, maybe describe more clearly your intended use then more info would be forth coming.

I have found the old bikes and old technology to be simpler to fix by the roadside. In effect those bikes are more survivable than a lot of modern bikes.

Reliability depends a bit on how you look at it, To my mind if you have to go to a garage in order to continue your journey that time is the time between servicing and the service interval. Now my Enfield with a 22 litre tank can go for 450 miles between refuelling stops (keeping 50 miles in reserve) This makes it twice as reliable than a bike that needs a visit to a garage for fuel every 225 miles and so on.

Now it does need a bit of mechanical attention more frequently than most modern bikes but I spend a lot less time oiling my chain each day when travelling than other bikers spend getting fuel. Not only is it fuel efficient, The parts I have bought are extremely cheap especially when compared to new Triumphs. (by a factor of 6 or more). Like all bikes it has some weaknesses or a inclination to have them. These can be sorted properly and then the problem has gone away. It is easy to make them better than when they left the factory. There are very few bikes that couldn't do with checking over the wiring harnesses and maybe improving the connectors. Now it is true you can't hold 100 Mph two up with a four man tent, table, chairs and a couple of surfboards which some require. If however you have more modest ambitions you really do not need a monster bike. I would be happy to take the Enfield anywhere. It can go to more places than my Triumph (2003 thunderbird) or my old BMW. Especially the odd wet sloping grassy field after camping in the rain all night.

The trick is not to be in a rush, be methodical and enjoy the ride. The destination is not that important.

Yeah, an 1150 might be a good choice. It's the one modern BM that I considered spending my own money on. You've just got to find one that's not been flogged to Mars and back.

You might also want to take a look at some of the Triumphs from around that era as well - particularly the triples. Some of those early generation ones were really solidly built. In 2015 we did 10,000 miles around the USA with a friend on a late 90's one that had 70,000 miles on it then. I hated it when I first rode it a few miles down a dirt road but changed my mind totally when we were swapping bikes out in the mid west. They haven't really made "classic" status yet either so prices haven't taken on that rose tinted glow of inflation.

Left field suggestions might include a VFR750/800 Honda (a bit like my friend's Triumph but blander) or a "lifestyle" bike (Harley Sportster for example). If looking the part enters into the calculation you could do worse than taking a look at the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride pictures for inspiration The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride Blog. Ride what they ride and you won't go far wrong - it's my only hope anyway! Having said that, anyone who has two RD Yamahas is ok in my book !

I really do like the 1150 just a bit big as I'm leaving my current job once I find a new one, so somehow got to fit all my bikes back at home haha house is going to be full lols

risk of them getting stolen I guess not to bad as an even the Norton 650ss is super original now I've restored it and only had one owner before me the original one o.0

a modern bmw again is totally out of the window after what happened worst 7 months of my life tbh, bike is everything for me escapism wise


a multitude of failures and 3 engines + a battle with bmw that nearly lost me my job because I was on the phone so much, + a 4 hour public transport journey every day never again lol

Think the 1150 would be as new as I would go

what enfield do you have oldbmw quite liking the look of that new one thats coming out

The bikes Backofbeyond and myself talk about when saying older BMWs are airheads as in pre-1995, something without electronics and that your local dealer will not touch. I have two, an '83 R80G/S and a '91 R80GS both of which have done 170,000 miles and are still capable of day to day reliability and RTW overland trips with no more problems than a modern GS.
If you are capable of keeping a Norton 650SS on the road an airhead will be no problem for you.

Hi Mark must admit those have got my interest anything that means not dealing with Bmw's atrocious customer service nightmare dealer network and attitude gets my vote

I am tempted by those two as well, xt models.