Adventure Bikes

AL- · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Karma :

Anybody here have one or recommend any good ones.

The BMW's are appealing to me, most notably the 800gs, but seem to be holding there value pretty well second hand, where as I am after something on a budget of 4-5k max!

I am open to suggestions. The bike will be used 90% of the time two up and touring the UK, Europe and eventually further a field Cool

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

So you'll be sticking to the road?

Probably something like a VFR or a varadero the big 1000cc one

If you really want to hit thr rough stuff a BMW F850GSPD might be a good choice, on the rough stuff is requires a very good rider though due to the immense weight. Tiffany has taken hers everywhere.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Everything I've read suggests that if you want to get decently dirty, the 950/990 adventure is a much better bet - sad because I quite liked the idea of the BMW.

As Itchy suggests, if you're sticking to roads, I wouldn't spend the extra on a model with some dirt bias.

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Karma :

I've been looking into the F800GS, but one thing that worries me is this:

Clicky

Neutral

Also, they seem to leak from the valve cover gasket.

Clicky

Shame really.

AL- · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Karma :

That is worrying Confused

tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Karma :

Dom · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Karma :

I have a 950 adventure and love it. Unlike any other bike I've had, I can't see myself selling it - it is genuinely good both on and off road, in almost any kind of situation.

When I was looking I test rode an 800GS, but I can't say I was that impressed by it. At the time I'd not ridden the KTM and I came away from it thinking it'd probably be good off road, but it felt a bit weedy on it. I then tried out the 990 which has quite a bit more power and just generally feels a much more solid bike. The suspension is brilliant and the LC8 engine is way more fun than any BMW I've ridden too.

It also doesn't hurt that the mid-late 950s can now be had for very very decent prices. As I see it, when you consider that the 950s are smoother and simpler than the 990s (yay carbs) the decision is pretty much made for you:

- The BMW 1100/1200s are too big, heavy and dull
- The F800GS is expensive as they've only been around a short while. Second hand models are likely to be the first model, i.e. the one with all the teething problems.
- ... what else is there?

This is assuming that you would be using the bike off road, or that you'd be riding stuff other than major roads, at the very least. If you want a road bike then there's probably other stuff to consider, e.g. Varaderos. Personally I think they're monumentally dreary bikes, but being Hondas they're probably pretty capable and reasonably good in terms of running costs.

There's also the Tiger and Multistrada, which would probably be worth a look. I'd be tempted by a Multistrada with termis if I was never going to ride off road. The new one looks nice, apart from that weird beak thing, but it's fucking expensive.
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Photos and that

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

There's always highland Smile

- https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=197255

https://www.othermakes.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/us-highland-desert-crosser-950.jpg

Very Happy

Dom · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Dealers suck anyway Smile

- I went in with a card loaded with cash to buy a 690 and they made me wait getting on for an hour so I could give the money to the right person, who then tried to ‘sell’ to my telling me how great the pliers that came with it were (which were about the cheapest looking part Rolling Eyes

.)
Then there’s the dealer I’ve mentioned to you before which I’ve not at all been impressed by.

Were someone to give me a big chunk of cash to buy such a bike, I think I would happily pop over on a plane to collect and get it shipped back (possibly via baja and the TAT Smile

).

To be fair, don’t think they’re even available yet, so it may all just be vapourware so far – hopefully they’ll get going decently though, if it’s what is promised, you’d think they could keep sales going for a few threads just with a couple of threads on advrider Smile

.

Dom · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Karma :

Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

https://lh6.ggpht.com/_0mzZVT8Q0l4/Sqpxv-iw5HI/AAAAAAAAEgs/3QvzmjLSQJU/Yamaha_TDM900_03_1024x768.jpg
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TDM850

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

I've just bought an F650gs Dakar, previous bike was a Triumph Speed Four.

The gs is extremely comfy, quick enough for me (although not as fast as the Triumph, not by a long way)

It handles a lot better than i thought it would, and i would have no worries taking it on a long trip. Thumbs Up

Jenks · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 May 2006 Karma :

DR800!
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Gazz · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 May 2009 Karma :

Always fancies the KTM bikes.

Think it might be the colour of them.

Nb · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2005 Karma :

Take a look at the dl1000. Thumbs Up

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Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Don't forget the Africa Twin... cheaper than KTM's etc, can get a decent one for around £3000, less if you don't mind a bit of work, you might get unlucky like me and have to do a fair amount of work, but mines pretty much all sorted now and it's a very capable bike.

It's good off road, it's good on road.. ideal bike really. Although I'm still looking to sell mine for a 950.

Problem with the 950 is there's not many about, yes they are available for around £4-5k but I can't seem to find any for sale...
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

If you're talking the Africa Twin, I think the Cagiva 900 elefant is definitely worth a look.
It weighs about the same as an Africa twin, makes a little more power and has a little better spec'ed components I believe. Harder to find, but go for a lot more reasonable prices.

Not bad bikes for what they are

However, the OP hasn't mentioned if he wants to take it off road, which makes a big difference to what you can get for your money - and I suspect the bent suspension issues with the F800 aren't an issue on the road too.

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

And I read up to the '90 mile' bit too. Good luck finding that much actual green lanes to ride in a day in the UK Razz

.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Dom · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Karma :

Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Yea, taking the other side for a moment – to be fair I chose my touring bike on a kind of inverse 90/10 principal – I chose a bike that was 90% good for 10% of the riding, while 90% of the riding I was doing it wasn’t nearly as suitable as other bikes.
However my reasoning was that the 10% of the riding was the fun bit, the raison d'être while the 90% was more utilitarian.