Most reliable and easy to work on Adventure Bike

[flyingcbf]

Hi Chaps,
any ideas on an adventure bike that's easy to work on and reliable? Deciding between GS1200 and Africa Twin. Or something else entirely?
Cheers
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2019 Suzuki V-Strom 250
2020 Cb125F @ 5k miles and going up!

[flyingcbf]

I've actually been watching a video on youtube: https://youtu.be/UA0X6bmT3rE

Seems this bike is easy to work with regards to valve adjustment.
____________________
2019 Suzuki V-Strom 250
2020 Cb125F @ 5k miles and going up!

[Robby]

I would expect the BMW would be easier to work out on out those two, not that either should require a great amount of work. Should be mostly still in the realm of annual servicing, not old/fucked enough to need a lot of fixing.

I would also consider Guzzi V85, simply because I like Guzzis and it's what I would go for if it had to be an adventure bike.

Something does seem a little off about both your recent posts, are you learning about spannering on fairly new, expensive and complex bikes? If so, this is not a good way to save money. Most of us that can spanner learnt to do so on cheap old bikes, generally out of necessity as broke young people. We learnt by making mistakes, I doubt I'm the only one here that undertook pointless, invasive work on a bike to fix a simple problem elsewhere - like rebuilding an engine when the problem was water in the carb - and ruined the engine in the process.

If your major outlay on servicing is taking it to a shop once a year for a service, then it will a long time before it's cost effective to do it all yourself. You need to buy tools, you need lots of time, and you will break things.

My cheapest bike to own is the one I bought brand new that goes to the main dealer once a year for its service.

[A100man]

[MCN]

R1200GS

Less things to break.

And most stuff is hanging out in mid air so has the easiest access to its testicles.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[flyingcbf]

[pepperami]

[pepperami]

What about the Enfield Hymalayn?
Not the most exciting bike in the world , but relatively simple bike.
Can’t be that hard to work on.
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[blurredman]

2t's even simpler maintenance..
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (bored to 295cc) - 38k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 49k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k.

[A100man]

[A100man]

[Polarbear]

If you are talking about reliability, I don't think there is a main stream modern adventure bike I would worry about reliability with. Modern bikes are up there with modern cars for that.

If you are talking about repairability after you chuck your adventure bike off a mountain, well that's a completely different story and perhaps the opposit of what you would get when going for reliability.

For that reason I'd probably go with the Enfield and carry a hammer, screwdrive and adjustable in my toolkit.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[A100man]

[Polarbear]

[stinkwheel]

Enfield- Easy to work on.

Africa Twin- Doesn't need to be worked on.

KTM - Shitshow.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Tdibs]

Whats the intended use of the bike? To do offroading or road miles/general touring?
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[kgm]

Easiest to work on is probably the v85tt. I'm seriously considering one for they reason, plus it looks quirky and fun. Just not sure it has enough power for what I want.

The Africa Twin will likely be more reliable than the GS but an arse to work on. Honda like to make things awkward. Actually that's one of the reasons I'm moving on from my crossrunner. Love how the bike rides. Frustrates the life out of my working on it.

Ha probably a bit easier to work on but not as guaranteed reliable. Lots of horror stories and parts are pricey.

Having said that, if the V85 thing doesn't work out I'll likely end up on a GS or an 890 adventure (easy to work on but plenty of reliability horrors).

[Tdibs]

I dont know if I would class any of the modern crop as easy to work on. Really you are getting into OBD/laptop tuning past basic maintenance.

Easy to work on is DR650/XT600/XL600. Big single with few other components. Very bodgeable after throwing it on its side a good few times on the lanes.
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[davebike]

OBD

BMW you need a GS911 unit there not cheap around £500!

Honda, you need an adaptor lead £12 and an Android phone or tablet with an app most are about £15 !

Yes I work on both! but since the demise of the Air Head I would not own a BMW ! Not that unreliable just bloody expensive to fix

Current bike NC750Xdct Yes complex but it is Honda and dose 80mpg and 115mph what more do you need
Oh and I grom and a C90 lurking I a bit of a Honda fan
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[Skudd]

Having just replaced the shaft drive on a BMW Adventure, they are bloody expensive, just done the tyre sensors, only the cost of a battery and a bit of time. Bits even second hand are expensive.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[flyingcbf]

After considering those posts, I think I'll keep away from BMW then... Was thinking of it.
So it's either NX750 DCT or Africa Twin.

Thanks
____________________
2019 Suzuki V-Strom 250
2020 Cb125F @ 5k miles and going up!

[MCN]

[flyingcbf]

[Islander]

[flyingcbf]

Links like these should be a sticky to help those owners of beamers.
____________________
2019 Suzuki V-Strom 250
2020 Cb125F @ 5k miles and going up!