67 replies to this topic

[stormy]

Yeah, no sweat guys/gals. I was just surprised so much anti BMW sentiment. The folks I know who ride them don't take any of the propaganda seriously, but they mostly do like the bikes.

I still would like to know if anyone has a better idea for a 2 up, long distance, mostly on some off road, heated clothing, tough as nails bike that you'd do 500+ miles in a day on. Seems to me the realistic choices are quite limited. I think the GSA is a clunky looking sucker, but for that duty I like that fact that it's sort of like a tank.

Suzuki DL1000 (V Strom), one of the later model without the noisy clutch.

Literally half the price of the BMW, quicker, smoother, just as frugal, huge comfy riding position, and once setup correctly, will hustle with the best of 'em. Can carry vast amount of luggage should you need to. And just as ugly as the BMW.


and you get to pocket the change from not buying the BMW.

[Galilee]

Suzuki GS1000G



This one has done 590 000km (yes, that's the correct number of zeroes, I counted).

As you can see, it works in snow and gravel, and it can carry lots of luggage.



The owner of the bike rode from Lindesnes to North Cape (Norway south to North, 2547km one way) trip in JANUARY. And then he rode back again.

Edited by Galilee, 05 August 2009 - 07:09 am.

[ChrisG]

If you're looking for an adventure type bike in the US, how about the Ulysses?

Edited by ChrisG, 05 August 2009 - 08:53 am.

[dicky1]

Please please Mr Yamaha can we have a new Super Tenere with a a softly tuned 1000cc TDM engine

[AzzA]

but they're easy to park.

Is there a co-operative deal going between BMW and VW, or do you have to order the tank-stand separately?

[Toraneko]

Parts that are specific to the TDMs are 3 days away by special order, best case scenario, if you're near a city. They stock virtually zero of them - all shipped as needed. I have no clue if they are still making any of the specialized parts for them, or we're slowly draining the stockpile they started with years ago. For sure some parts are no long available, from anywhere, best I can tell. Fortunately, most are.

That said, my bigger issue is the rear seat space (w/ the bike fully packed) and lack of electrical (to run heated clothing). Last year in July we road through 35 degF conditions w/o heated vests and it was borderline. My GF damn near froze off the bike. I had to pull over and thaw her out and buy her a pair of ski gloves. Bottom line, some of the places we ride and want to ride get damn cold even in the peak of summer, and we also like to ride all around the west coast during the winter which is typically in the 50s or cooler. I'd love to get a bike with a huge electrical output capacity (GSA = 720 W which is pretty hard core).

I'm not trying to convince myself of anything. I simply can't think of what other bikes meet those specs. The off road part is really what makes it tough, as there are plenty of awesome full touring bikes around, if the goal is 2 up comfort.

If it's any consolation, I already have a BMW and still ride my TDM all the time. I love the bike, and will keep it until one of us is toast.

Pity you can't get 9'ers in USA. You have about 420watts total & only use about 245 watts. That leaves 175 watts to play with. Should be enough for heated clothing for 2 plus a few accessories. You can get a range of electrical kits from Eastern Beaver. I ride pretty much year round & had to get wife heated gloves,etc. No prob's running them off the TDM900 with a PC-8 fitted.

[Geordie Guy]

"Meanwhile, I've decided not to get the 2007 BMW R1200GSA"

Horraaaay !!!


"I'm holding off until next summer"


What..... NOOooooo !!!

Edited by Geordie Guy, 12 August 2009 - 11:39 pm.

[cornerman]

...... So, if you wanted to go 10k miles, though 1k miles of dirt roads, 2 up, with camping gear, expecting some damn cold weather, what would one ride? That is exactly the choice I'm facing, and image aside, I can't think of a better bike than the GS. If there is one, I'd like to know about it.

For me, the GS! But; and I say this as an ex R1100GS owner; they are a tractor. I thought this way when I owned it too. I loved our time together and only sold her to pay off debts but found that I would not places in the bush that I really wanted to go because I was afraid that that I would take a spill or two and find myself being unable to lift the bike. I have no worries about the reliability of the GS compared to any other popular contemporary bike but personally I am looking for something lighter.
I listened with big ears to your view about the TDMs pillion seat space though, thanks

Edited by cornerman, 13 August 2009 - 06:04 am.

[Geordie Guy]

Geordie - come out of the closet - you know you want one.

LD ....... Listen, this is the "Closet ".

I think the BMW Club is very exclusive, ( bearing in mind my Bezzy Mate rides one ), a bike is a bike.

As riders we should choose the best bike we can afford to enjoy.

What I dont get are the sheep in the world, the minority who have to follow an image, not just follow it, but idealise it.

There is such snobbery and condisention for other riders in their own ranks, who dont confirm to the ideal image, it beggers belief.

Not having the £500 BMW jacket, a set of touratec boxes £1,000 is looked down upon or up at with envious eyes.

It is that closet, a closed mindset that I cannot tolerate.

As bikers we should defend the chance / right to be a freespirit when we have the opportunity.

In this world of limitations, rules and survailence, to me joinning a narrow minded exclusive closet is
Fookin madnes !

Why we need Corporations and advertising departments to tell us what the "ideal way to freedom is " is bollocks.

The only way to Biker freedom is their bike and products, no other products shall pass through gates of freedom.

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than a GS1200 rider using a Givi style box and being accepted in the BMW fold.

And some extremist's believe it !

Come out the closet ...... I say lock the fookin door with them all in it.

Thanks for the opprtunity for getting that off my chest, No offence intended.

Cheers, Ivan

Edited by Geordie Guy, 13 August 2009 - 07:48 am.

[Geordie Guy]

LD,

sorry I forgot your over the pond.

Everything I said above must only apply to this side.

Beemers are all over the place here, you go out for a short spin to a meeting place and their all out with all the stuff on like their going half way round the feckin world.

Forget what I said buy a GS in the USA, you will be as much as a rebel than the best of them ....

I did Route66 on a Road king in 2005, hired it through Eagle Rider. Brilliant bike.



Stayed at Victorville second last night and then next to the Marriot next to the LA airport last night, was'nt till I took off I realized I was so close to the Pacific, 3 miles and did'nt go !!!!

Well there is always next time, fancy that route 101 looks fantastic.

All the best. Ivan

[tdm850rider]

Route 1 up the coast just N of LA, all the way, past Fort Bragg<snip> overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

You can see the Pacific ocean from North Carolina??



Or is there more than one Ft. Bragg?

[Toraneko]

What I dont get are the sheep in the world, the minority who have to follow an image, not just follow it, but idealise it.



In this world of limitations, rules and survailence, to me joinning a narrow minded exclusive closet is
Fookin madnes !

Thanks for the opprtunity for getting that off my chest, No offence intended.

Cheers, Ivan

Good to read that there are other's on this planet who are aware of the sheep problem & also the Big Brother problem.

[drumwrecker]

I recently had my VFRFL written off so looked around for a suitable bike. Whilst in France on my SV650s I saw a BMW 1200ST and really liked it and found a couple on my return. One looked like a really good deal and I was on the point of buying it when I took a look at the BMW forum. I couldn't believe the tails of woe on there, so many warranty claims, flaking paint, rotting aluminium, it goes on. Well I decided I couln't afford to have some really expensive part go bang on me so I backed out of the purchase. I bought the TDM in preference to a 2000 VFR800 due to the riding position and cost of servicing. I hope I made the right choice as I really liked that VFR. Brain over heart this time. Time will tell.

[iz4dja]

Good summary.

Actually, I think the KTM 990 adv is the overall best choice in terms of reliability, parts, and so forth, but they kind of suck on the road vs a GS. I guess my ratio is realistically 90/10 road/dirt.

Thanks to you all for the new bike ideas.

KTM & reliability ? They don't match each other

I would love to own this bike but when I red KTM forums I regress myself and I bite my tongue

For example : Wich bike has to check valves clereance out just after the first thousand kilometers ?
Answer : KTM.

Even though I'm mecanich it is not understandable to build some engines so difficult to manage.

[catt1]

After all of the fuss, I have been out twice on test rides. We have a lot of back dirt roads to discover on SA and I worried it might be too much for the TDM. Sorry, but I found the GS big, fat and klonky. We have loads on the road here too but the 800 GS is starting to take over. It's more practical.

Who ever did the BMW advertising needs a medal for selling so many GS's considering it's not that nice a ride.

I get back on the TDM and after 500m wonder why I bothered.

I'm looking forward to a test on the 1200 tenere tho'.