Adventure Bikes... ok so I am really bored with 'em.

[Mogster]

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'  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!!! 

[Kwikasfuki]

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.

[Rusty]

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 

[Kwikasfuki]

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

[Winston Smith]

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! 

[Winston Smith]

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

[cpettifer]

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.

[Rusty]

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 !   

[Mogster]

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  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.

[Rusty]

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 .......

[zedmeister]

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 )

[Winston Smith]

.. 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.............

[O.C.]

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 

[Mogster]

I also agree that some biking publications don't even mention Kawasaki products within their write ups.......  wot da Fk is all that about 

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. 

[Kevin]

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. 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