Trailies that can do it all..help please.

[Fazerkev]

Wondering if you guys had any fave bikes to suite my bill.
After a bike to repalce the fzs600 I've had for 2 years. Been to France on it camping 2 weeks and although the Givi stuff was great, Can't help wanting something a little better for those long wet motorway days, and that will handle camping etc kit better weight wise.

Also I reckon I'd like to try riding off road a bit with my next bike.
Never done it and would mostly be dirt tracks and hard-pack.

I'd considerred the KTM 640 adventure, BMW 650 Dakar but am worried they will struggle covering motorways and fast a roads.
(not that I cruise at more than 85 anyway or cane my fazer.. it's more than enough to ride fast withough needing the top end rush for me)

BMW dealer reckons a 1150/1200gs would be much better..Dakar is heavy at 179kgs, same as my fazer!!! :shocked:
But they cost SOO damned much.
love the idea of a low maintence shaftie though but KTM suspension is meant to be better, esp off road..

I've been told Africa Twin, maybe a Transalp as these are smaller but the twins may be better for road manners and less vibes? (and be cheaper than new or used KTMs and BMWs)

ANythign else, othe singles worth looking at?
Is the v-strom at all worthwhile for soft-roading?

Oh yeah any will need hard lugage but I gues touratech does all of the trailies.
Cheers.
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Kev

[alone]

XTZ660? Another single. Less vibey than my F650.

Can't say on large distances, but I covered nearly 300miles on the XTZ (couple a-roads, 150miles straight motorway), and got off feeling as I'd got on.

If you're trying to save money.. Picked up the F650 Funduro with box/panniers and scottoiler, 30k on clocks, for £1,100.
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Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

[feef]

both the LC4 engined KTM and the BMW F650 will be fine on motorways the like at speeds up to 85. they'd be hard work at anything more than that.

If you're wanting something with a bit more poke, however, and the BMW 1150/1200 GS is a bit heavy, then check out the KTM Adventure 990.

a
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[G]

I'm not sure a trail style bike would be that suitable for you.

I don't think the lower capacity 'adventure' bikes would be that great - you generally don't get amazing weather protection.

How much off roading are you looking to do?

The V-Storm will handle pretty soft off roading; but cast wheels for a start aren't going to be great.

If you want to do semi-serious off road - not going for it, but doing a lot of dirt tracks that might get a bit rockier etc, it's worth looking at the KLR650 and DR650.

If it wasn't for off-roading, then I'd say either get your FZ setup to suit or look for something similar with a fairing if an aftermarket one won't do.

[sagalout]

If you just want easyish trail riding then a bigger bike is fine, and will be great on the motorway. My mate has a 1200GS and its a lovely bike. I have a Tiger and thats just as good. Both bikes are bloody heavy though. They are capeable of more serious off road but you'd really need to be a competant offroad rider and probably go with someone else to help you pick the bike up if needed. You'd also need proper knobbly tyres!

If you want to get into more serious off roading then you'd definitely want something smaller and lighter.

If budget stretched, and you're going to be doing mostly road riding with a few trails, the Tiger 1050 has to be the best option. Despite what the reviewers say they are still perfectly capeable of light trail riding:

https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=J3j4-FGA5Ms

Otherwise for a lower budget the 900i and 955i are great allround bikes . I bought mine in immaculate condition (until I dropped it and scratched the tank!) with full hard luggage, 12k miles for £3500. Before I'd ridden the tiger I really wanted a GS but just couldnt afford a nice one. Now I wouldnt swap - the GS is a great bike but the Tiger does the road bit better - smoother and quicker engine.

[Fazerkev]

Cheers for the input.
I've tried a 1200gs 1150 and 650 dakar. Immediate though twas Dakar but I bet a day on the motorway woul dbe hell and less able to deal with large luggage loads.
!200 is NIce but too costly, 1150 was way heavier and slower.

other bikes, but am unsure of are cheaper versions of what a 1200 is v strom 1000, tiger as you say and Capo nord.
I reckon you're right about bigger bike as my offroady will be limited I guess as I ned to get to the Alps first and her ein t heUk it's limited as to where you can go (or so I understand).

So the singles are out. BMW i smeant to be the least vibey but 10 mins on the dual carriageway saw me not wanting to go over 85 for long. Offraod and tight lanes was super fun though.. as was filtering... needs revving though.

Are cast wheels really that bad?
stroms, varaderos and Tiger can hack it?

Capo- can't get a test ride so won't be buying.. who do these sales managers think?
KTm 640 I rekcon woul dbe a nice bike but can't get a demo bike of that either soo...
F800GS is ideally what I need I reckon but it's not out till next March and will cost the moon!

I've sorted the fazer for touring already and also with a few mins spannering it's a sports bike.. kinda. So keeping by offroad plans at bay for another year.. oh well... at least the insurance is cheap.

Cheers guys.
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Kev

[G]

I'm not sure a Fazer would be much worse than a Varadero or similar with cast wheels for off roading - especially if you stick some properly wide bars on it.

Ok, it won't have the suspension travel, but I suspect you've got to be fairly good to start use the full capabilities of a Big Trail bike.

Cast wheels I believe are more an issue for having a stone hit them and getting cracked.

As far as not getting test rides - if a shop's only got a few of those models in and they let you have a test ride on one, even if they sell you one they're probably losing out a fair bit as then they have a bike that they can't sell as new , but they may soon not have any new ones to sell but still have the demo bike.

There's plenty of green lanes of varying degrees of toughness available to play on in the UK.