Hello!
I got a problem!
I'm looking for a big "adv"-tourer.
I have sold my sport bike because I swear it's mission was to destroy my knees.
The problem then? I live in the wrong end of Sweden, kept my eye out for a 955 or other big adv within reasonable distance for about a year now but still nothing.
So I can't just go out and test ride bikes

I have always loved the tiger. Without ever ridden one, it's the number one bike I'm looking for.
How's the tiger compared to something like a R1150GS(which I have ridden) or dl1000?
Right now I'm thinking of abandoning the tiger for one of those two just because they are easier to find here.

Why should I keep waiting for a tiger(the sound alone might be worth it ^_^)?
Is the 1150gs reliable even though it has 50000-60000km on the clock?
Is it worth paying the extra money for the beamer?
The Strom feel like the cheap way out, but I'm strangely draw to it.

And something on the completely different end of the scale!
The 660 tenere! I adore the way this bike looks! BUT if I'm going anywhere on the bike, it's a long way to get there(1000km to Stockholm, for example).
Will I get insane riding a xt in highway speeds for extended periods of time?
And can it handle 2-up with two 80kg passengers or will it feel like a moped?

Thanks!

My neighbour has a 955 tiger. Its a great looking bike. And yes it sounds good. BUT............... it is a very heavy, tall bike, and not in my opinion suitable for anything more than tarmac. But it's a good touring machine if you can handle it.

Vstrom - I have the 650 and tour 2up with camping gear across dirt, gravel, tarmac, pot holes deep enough to loose a cow.... and so on. Good on fuel. Comfy.

Not tried 1150 BMW.

Tenere - can it handle 2-up with two 80kg passengers or will it feel like a moped? YES it will be fine.

I've travelled 2up on a moped with luggage. (nothing compared to India and what gets put on a moped) I've travelled 2 up on 350cc Enfield and luggage through Himalayas inc off road. I travelled 2up on a Chinese 150cc with luggage on and off road. It may take a little more time to get to your destination that's all. Going fast everywhere is not a requirement of adventure travel, is it?

Any bike will do. Nothing will be problem to travel with as long as it is suitable for what you plan to ride on. For tarmac any of the bikes you list will be great. Go off road with your list and things get interesting

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Regards Tim

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

Rode a DL1k for 5.5 years (various european trips). Great bike, plenty quick, comfy. Not an off roader by any stretch but easy on the knees and up to dodgy tarmac if not mud tracks.

Can't comment on the other 2 bikes i'm afraid. I did ride a gs1200 for 1,000 miles or so and preferred my DL (nicer engine).

Good luck with your decision.

I have test ridden two of your three and I should have taken a go on the big V Strom while a friend of mine owned one - I just never got around to it.

I agree that the 955 Tiger is a big heavy bike - top heavy actually.
Each revision became more road styled with wheels and a choice of tyres to suit.
The fuel tank is big and makes it very top heavy but it is a matter of becoming used to that.

The weight on the 1150GS is carried low down so it feels more balanced IMO but it is still a heavy bike - but then they all are.

If you are considering the DL1000, why not the Honda Varadero?

V twin, 3 cyl, boxer engine (known as the boxer for a reason) have different characters of course.

You have a lot of gravel roads that far north?

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Dave

Thanks for your replies.

Yes we have a lot of gravel roads here, pretty much everything between the coast and the border to Norway is unsealed except the bigger roads.
(And we have the militarys terrain-riding training grounds ~70km from where I live )

The reason that I don't mention the varadero is that my father in law's riding buddy have one(he still has it because they are insanely hard to sell) and they are the definition of heavy.
He had it stolen once. The guy/guys that stole it dropped it at the end of the driveway.... And couldn't get it up again, so they left it there

So the tiger is that top heavy, hmm...I probably have to try one before I make a decision. A local shop just got in a old 900(crazy price on it though. ~4000 euro for a high mileage 16yo bike with no luggage and no stock exhaust!). So I might give it a feel in the shop at least.

And more interestingly! A 2008 tenere just popped up not to far away. I'm super stoked to have a look at it, but where it's at it's still too much snow(by now too much ice I'm guessing) to dare a test drive.
I haven't ridden a single in 5-6 years. And the last one was a 2002 husqvarna CR 250...not really a comparison to a big four-stroke.
I realize speed is not the xt's game, but I would like to be able to hold at least 110kmph while 2-up up a hill and not have to have it pinned in order for it not to slow down.
I think my old 82 z1000 could use a bit more power sometimes :P

How do a f650gs(twin) compare to the tenere?

What are you going to use the bike for? A long overland/RTW trip? Mainly gravel/dirt roads? General touring?

None of the 3 big ones you mention are good on gravel. Not even the Tenere 660 actually. Their all to big, heavy and tall. But the Tenere are the best option though of the one you mention. The Tiger is tall and top heavy indeed as mentioned above. I am 180 cm and could just just tiptoe it. I owned one for 3 years and 20 k kms. Had many awkward moments when parking it on gravel when a few stones slipped away my toes. My Tiger needed a big top end job at 50 k kms as it used more oil than a two-stroker! But the power and tourqe was great indeed!

The Tenere need many farkles to become near its potential. The big single are so euro-restricted that it hardly breaths at all. The engine characteristics stock are terrible. For example you you will need more than 3000 rpm in tallest gear just to get the engine to pull clean. Its ridiciously restricted. But one can make it breath better. Seat, suspension, handlebar, lights are weak spots on the Tenere. I have been riding one more than 80 k kms on a overland tour. The rectifier also causes many a problem on the Tenere. And its heavy for its size. The KTM 690 are more than 40 kgs lighter just as a comparison.

Have been riding the 650 V-strom and liked it. It not explosive and maybe a bit dull but seemed a good bike in general.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

To be honest most of the time spent on the bike is going to be the daily commute :/
But I have the intention to do some general touring around the Swedish backcountry/mountains and Norway and Finland, so alot of dirt and gravel(no rtw aspirations yet anyway )
I want to be able to go pretty much where I want, but I don't need a enduro.
Did a bit of riding around on the thunderace I used to have, but whenever I came across a gravel road it felt like I was riding one of those sand compactor vibrator things and I ended up hanging on the bars all the time and that's no good :P

Yes I realize that the euro-restrictions do make the 660 suffocated, I thought air filter, pipe(with decat) and power commander would take care of a lot of that feeling?

Well a wee might be worth a look.

With those farkles you mention above here the Tenere will breath much better for sure. But what does a PC, new pipes and air filter cost? 2000 € or more?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

I had to have a quick look(just on eBay) and surprisingly it ends up at ~750 euro, I could probably get hyperpro springs both front and rear and still be at around a grand.

The ten that just came out here seems pretty well set up, the big crash bars, 4 led aux lights, hand warmers, 3 bags, new chain and sprockets, new mitas m10's and fresh from service

Don't even consider a 900. Beautiful engine, comfortable ride BUT very top heavy.
Had it, rode it, got the scars.
Now have a 2004 BMW GS 1200. Has 130000 miles on the clock, so well balanced even when loaded with all my camping gear, which given I spend 4-5 months a year living on it riding the continent says a lot
Good luck

If doing more than 50% gravel roads, the Yam 660, IMO, is worth a look. Test ride a must do. It lacks the comfort/space/smoothness of the others but MUCH better in sand, gravel and mud. Do the mods and de-restrict ... it can be a great bike. Better seat certainly would help. Not ideal all day on motorways at 140 km.

A Wee Strom is a very nice compromise Bike. Really does it all without effort. Stone reliable, comfortable, packs up like a Mule. With TKC 80 tires, good on gravel. Not fast like the Tiger but comfortable cruising at 120 km all day.

955i Tiger
I owned a 955i Tiger for 3 years, currently own a 1050 Tiger, and early on owned a 885 Tiger (1st generation).

The 955i is hard to manage off road, but the 19" front helps and good tires help. I love the Triple sound too and the road performance ... but it will SCARE you off road. I'm only 5'6" so top heaviness was an issue for me. If you're 6 ft or taller, not much an issue. Leverage in your favor.

Reliability: 8
Off road: 5
Value: 7
Fun: 8

V-Strom DL1000:
One of the best bikes I've ever owned. Did 80,000 miles, no problems. Rugged, even doing Baja washboard. But no dirt bike. With TKC tires, much better on gravel roads, where it does well. Great on highway, easy to work on yourself. Never breaks down.

Reliability: 10
Off Road: 8
Value: 9
Fun: 7

BMW GS1150
I much prefer the 70 lbs. lighter and better everywhere, R1200GS. I rode an 1150 in Baja, on and off road, and tested one for a month courtesy of BMW NA. I never liked the bike. A tractor is more fun to drive.

The R1200 is a TOTALLY different bike, MUCH better. If you can afford maintenance cost and parts of BMW ($$$$) then go with R1200GS, not 1150. If you ride a 1200 back to back with an 1150, this all will make sense. I love the 1200! (just can't afford one!)

Reliability: 6
Off Road: 8
Value: 5
Fun: 6

Thanks!

Yes the 1200 would be nice, but honestly for not that much more than a high mileage 1200 I can get a new DL1K "adventure" with bags and all.

A v-strom is sounding more and more like what I want.
That or a tenere(or super ten if I suddenly find an extra four grand somewhere :P )

Mollydog wrote:

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Good choice!
As good as the R1200GS is ... it still would not be my first choice from a practical point of view. Why not?
1. Expensive to buy and to maintain.
2. Not the most reliable bike out there (IE: final drive, trans, ABS/Can bus)

The Vstrom is very hard to beat from a value point. As I mentioned, I put 80K
miles on my '02 DL1000, another 20K on an '05 Vstrom. Not only is the Vstrom
(either Wee or V) practical, it's fun!! ... and much tougher than one would ever imagine. Even riding hundreds of miles of serious Wash board road at 70 mph.

The Vstrom is the same weight as the R1200GS, has equal leg room and is smooth at 80 mph all day with it's over drive
6th gear. Owner serviceable. In 80K miles, my valves never went out of spec. Really, a NO maintenance bike in so many ways. Keep a good chain/sprockets/battery/tires on ... and it's all it may ever need.


Corrugations on this bit will rattle your fillings out.

An easy stroll though some Baja Desert. (easy two track)

Looks nice!

Just missed out on two! ~35000km fully equipped dl's over the past days :/

So I'm hunting/waiting for a good one to come out

I would love to find a Kawasaki version, just because it's bright orange instead of the usual colours