No really. i am so bored with reading about bloody adventure bikes and 'specialy the GS... every month there is a weedling article about them in the Bike mags, and every time a Test rider or bike Jurno gets on one, they seem to be given a pair of 'GS Rose Tinted shades' by BMW... they aren't that good, i've owned one.....
I've Just finished MSL's article on 'em....' the GS seems light compared to the Honda' :huh: your havin a laugh, I've ridden all the bikes they tested and owned a GS (which i hated) and the GS is a Lump, a big hideious unreliable piece of German Pig Iron, the rest em are shite fer long distance touring, you may as well get a naked bike, like a tuono, or Speed Nipple, at least you won't get ya head slammed about by the buffeting, and you'll enjoy the twistys more.
If you are going touring.... buy a bloody tourer!!! :hammer:
I really wanted the GS. Went to the local dealer prepared to buy the top of the range adventure version.
Took one for a test ride and I knew the vibration in the grips would peeve me off. I still think they are nice bikes, although a tad overrated.
Well ... I love my Gtr to bits .. it's great and does all that I require... but... when it comes to be replaced in a few years or so I shall get a GSA ... I always like to have a change and get something different ... ( and they are VERY quirky ! ) ...there is so much out there to choose from I just wouldn't spend another £13000 on the same bike :smiley:
But you'll come back to the GTR
TBH, I like to change as well, but haven't seen anything that I really like.
Honda CrossTourer or the Ducati Multistrada if I want to get back into adventure tourers
Don't agree Mog - the GS is a lighter feeling machine than most and the engine is sublime for what it is designed for, the low down stufff.
I also find the handling brilliant on the GS.
I have also test ridden for mag features the RT, GT13 and GT16 and they are all really capable tourers, equally as good as the GTR, in some ways better, other ways not so, but on average they are all very equal. A lot comes down to personal choice and brand selection/loyalty.
There is a bit more buffeting on the Adv bikes, but they aren't that bad. I prefer the GTR for higher speed stuff, but the GS is as much fun on the twisties when you've arrived. TBH I don't really like to do the autoroutes/bahns/motorways if I can help it, so the higher speed stuff isn't an issue.
I love the tourers, but the adventure bikes certainly aren't 'shite'
Tourers are prettier though, but don't seem to get thje same attention as an adventure bike or even a cruiser! :biker3:
Quote from: Kwikasfuki on May 17, 2012, 04:19:18 PM
But you'll come back to the GTR
TBH, I like to change as well, but haven't seen anything that I really like.
Honda CrossTourer or the Ducati Multistrada if I want to get back into adventure tourers
Mutlistrada is a phenomenal piece of kit but expensive and chain driven. I don't think it has the same quality of feel as the GS/GSA
I test rode an RT at the same time as GTR. I didn't like it and I think it was the engine I didn't like. People rave about the engine in that and the other 1200s, but I didn't get it. Prefer the smoothness of the GTR instead of the lumpiness of the RT.
I really wanted to try the Multistrada, but didn't want to love, so didn't test ride. I was moving to a tourer as my riding is 90% motorway most of the time and needed the comfort.
But for me that's exactly what I DO get ... the complete difference from sweet smooth refinement to big chunky gear box with a bit of Tutonic clunk !! I love it ! :laugh: :laugh:
What i was having a poke at was the fact that all the Bike Jurnos seem to have decided that they are now too fat to ride anything bar an 'Adventure Bike' for the most part...... 5 years ago ya couldn't prise 'em off of a 1000cc sports bike... now its loose clothing and nobblys all round.
I know that it's each to their own, but it would be nice to see a little honesty on the pages.... not the 'It's brillient cos you've Wined Dined and 69'd us' bollox, just cos they've been invited to yet another launch in Spain in December, when the rest of us are freezing to death at home.
I like reading Bike mags, usually in the loo :mfr_lol: but I'm getting bored with all the articles about adventure bikes, it seems the rest of the types of bikes are being either ignored, or worse slagged off.
Know where you are coming from mate ... it won't be long before they get bored and move onto something else. I buy a copy of MCN or a bike mag only every few months now for those exact reasons .... just wait .. as soon as the winter sets in we will get the same old shite tests on gloves and waterproofs and winter servicing .. then in spring its new models and lets test the new 600 range ....... :sleep1: :sleep1:
I take MCN every week and i have never seen such a bias read, they really are BMW and Triumph bias, no matter what the competition you can guarantee one of them will be the best. I cant wait for the new trophy tourer because you can bet that too will beat all comers including the GTR. ( BUT WE KNOW BETTER )
Quote from: Rusty on May 17, 2012, 05:43:17 PM
.. as soon as the winter sets in we will get the same old shite tests on gloves and waterproofs ............
Guess what I'm currently testing in preparation for the autumn editions............. :whistling:
I'm with Mogs on this one, I owned a GS and it was a BIG BIG mistake for me (but not for everyone),
But lets be honest just how many bikers actually use their 'adventure' bikes regularly off road, some do...but most don't, if ya want to go off roading then buy am off road bike and do it properly
After getting off a GS and onto a GTR (again) I couldn't get the grin of my fisog, in fact its still there
I also agree that some biking publications don't even mention Kawasaki products within their write ups....... wot da Fk is all that about :huh:
Quote from: olde coney on May 17, 2012, 09:49:44 PM
I also agree that some biking publications don't even mention Kawasaki products within their write ups....... wot da Fk is all that about :huh:
Good point that, now you mention it there is very little in the mags about the Jap 4 nowadays, lots of Bee-eem Triumph, aprilia etc...seems that the European Marques are the ones giving away all the freebeeis and posh launch events. :hammer:
Quote from: Kwikasfuki on May 17, 2012, 03:03:48 PM
I really wanted the GS. Went to the local dealer prepared to buy the top of the range adventure version.
Took one for a test ride and I knew the vibration in the grips would peeve me off. I still think they are nice bikes, although a tad overrated.
Grip Puppies (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grip-Puppy-Comfort-grips-Models/dp/B005DJSQ0Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337322178&sr=8-1). I felt no vibration at all on the bars of our '08 GS but it was bad on our '11 GSA. Someone suggested Grip Puppies and, much to my surprise as it's such a cheap solution, they really work.
Kevin
Quote from: olde coney on May 17, 2012, 09:49:44 PM <snip> But lets be honest just how many bikers actually use their 'adventure' bikes regularly off road, some do...but most don't, if ya want to go off roading then buy am off road bike and do it properly <snip>
I think you're missing the point. They aren't off-road bikes, they're tourers that have off-road ability. I'm sure anyone regularly going off-road would do exactly what you suggest - buy an off-road bike. People who want to tour yet retain the ability to go trail riding while on tour, especially when two up, will buy something like a GS if they have any sense. It's not just off-road where they come into their own - they're great to push round twisty country lanes as they soak up the bumps and handle really well.
It's horses for course. We took the FJR for our blast round Europe recently and the GSA for the weekend in Wales. For the Brit Butt Rally this year we'll be taking our FJR as there will no doubt be lots of motorway riding and I'll be the first to admit the GSA is not a great motorway bike. For the German Butt Rally later in the year, which is in the Alps, we'll be taking the GSA.
I'm sure I've said this on here before but if we could only have one bike it would be something like a GSA just for their go-anywhere ability. If you doubt the last bit of that statement get yourself booked on one of the courses at the BMW off-road school in Wales and see exactly what they are capable of.
Kevin
+1 :agree:
Adventure Bike. The Land Rover of the two wheel world.
nope, still not convinced, i had a GS, brand new one with all the toys.
It was fine for a weekend away but when it was loaded up for the trip to Andorra, by the 2nd day i could have happiley set fire to it... it's slow, under powered, the buffeting is utterly miserable at anything over 60mph and it handles like a Giraffe on LSD.. I would rather ride through the Alps on a Donkey than go on a GS again... :hammer:
Ok I agree if you are Charlie Mc Ewan and you are going through Africa or Russia, it's probably ideal, seeing as it runs on goats piss and the roads are crap.... but i would take one of the old ones rather than one with all the electronic gismos...... anyway, didn't Nick was-is-name go round the world on an R1...
so Adventure bikes are just that, something that a 40 something bloke can dress up in his 'enduro' gear and have an 'Adventure' down to local bike shop..... same as the other 40 somethings that dress up like a Moto GP star and 'race' to the local bike shop.
20 years ago if i had to have one bike it would have been a Gixxer 750... which it was .... i went everywhere on it, including zig zaging across Spain (I camped as well!)
10 years ago, i went naked Yam XJR and the the Tuono.... same again toured Italy on the Tuono.
Now i have the GTR (and tuono) ... but tbh if i had to have one bike it would be a close thing between the GTR and the VFR12.... they are sports tourers ....which is what i do...
I have never relied on Jurnos (cos they're reccomend which ever Bike they get paid the most to push) other peoples opinion or brand loyalty, the only way to find out if a bike suits is to get on and ride it....sometimes as with the GS it takes a while to sink in, but one should at least be honest with one's self, and say...nope not for me... get shot of it and get summit that 'ripens ya plums'
If Adventure bikes are for you... then good on ya.... me ... i'd rather have Eeyore
You're right Mogs - horses for courses, etc.
If I was placed in the only one bike for the rest of your life position it would probably be the most versatile of all - ST1300 Pan, but it would be a close run between that and the GTR!
any bike that ive ridden that basically isnt a japanese 4 cylinder , ive been disapointed with
Quote from: Winston Smith on May 18, 2012, 08:12:03 AM
Adventure Bike. The Land Rover of the two wheel world.
Ah yes.... and there are 2 sorts of people who own Land Rovers thems that live in the middle of no where and need to transverse rough ground..... and thems that pounce about Oxfordshire wearing a wax jacket and trying to look windswept and interesting... Bit like the GS really *snigger*
But thems in the know would always go for a Toyota Land Cruiser, cos it's more reliable and much easier to mount a 50 cal machine gun on the back!!.... bit like a GTR :gunsmilie:
There's no bike that does it all for everyone - For me, most fun was my Speed Triple, best for long distance & touring is GTR, favourite beast is/was my ZX12, my best all-rounder . . . 1200GS - did it all, but not as well as the others in my categories
Anyway ... going back a few posts .. Moggs ... glad you like the VFR ! :laugh:
For me;
Best LD bike - Kawasaki Z1300/6 with Krauser fairing and Russell saddle.
Best dirt bike - Yamaha YFZ450
Best "sport" bike - Kawasaki 1400GTR (remember that I don't fit on sportsbikes)
Best Tourer - Honda Goldwing
Best "Adventure" bike - KTM 990 Adventure
Best all-rounder - Kawasaki 1400GTR
I've ridden just about every BMW except the 1600s and their gearboxes are rubbish, until recently they used stupid switchgear, and they are overpriced. Build quality isn't all that any more either.
The best BMW I ever rode was a K100RT . Did what it said on the tin with no fuss or bother. Gearbox was shite though.
As for Adventure bikes, different people ride for different reasons.
Some want to pose, some want to see the world in 3D (not possible in a car), some crave the "rush", others just want to belong to something. Me, I fit into all those categories at various times.
:biker3:
Quote from: Mogster on May 18, 2012, 09:06:39 AM
Ah yes.... and there are 2 sorts of people who own Land Rovers thems that live in the middle of no where and need to transverse rough ground..... and thems that pounce about Oxfordshire wearing a wax jacket and trying to look windswept and interesting... Bit like the GS really *snigger*
But thems in the know would always go for a Toyota Land Cruiser, cos it's more reliable and much easier to mount a 50 cal machine gun on the back!!.... bit like a GTR :gunsmilie:
:stupid:
Just got home from a looooong day at work, tired, worn out, full of cold, headache, and feeling fairly crap
Thanks Mogs your post made me laugh out loud, and I agree 100%
BTW I have a Land Rover but don't do the school run thingy, nor do I own a wax jacket :mfr_lol: :undecided:
Most of the off roaders that fit that category only ever come into contact with bull :shit: not real :shit: like mine does :yes:
And as I've said before I owned a new BMW GT 1300 EE, which had 'issues', and then I owned a BMW R1200GS with Adventure kit.. sorry guys but it was a heap of :shit: