OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: popeye on August 22, 2013, 07:48:15 pm
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Hi Guys and Girls, I'm thinking of doing a ride around the great land of OZ either next year or year after, mostly of coarse on the black stuff, probably 99 percent. Good roads bad roads, as an ex interstate Truck driver I no there are some shocking and some great roads out there, most of the trip will be camping in rest areas and the odd pub stay of coarse so there will be a bit of gear on board but do you ride a Road Bike say My ZRX1200R or do you buy a big Adventure bike like a KTM or a BMW, Triumph, Yamaha XTZ ????? Any ideas ?????
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BWM would be my choice.
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If you can still find one, I think a KLE500 would be super-reliable and good on fuel.
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There is one bike that stands head and shoulders above the rest for the trip you want.
BMW R1200 GS. 400 plus klms on a full tank. Effortlessly cruise all day way above legal limits. Aftermarket accessories galore. 10,000 klm service intervals. No chain or sprockets. Heated grips ( standard ) a must as you probably know. Will go Offroad where a standard 4wd will go. Best resale of any motorcycle, bar none. I bought one new in 2004 for $21,500 on road and sold it three and a half years later for $18,500. Test ride one, you will be surprised
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Talk to Lawsey Popeye .. he's currently getting his rocks off touring around on a huge arse KTM dual purpose thing. Seems that after doing it in the US he's got the bug bad and can't seem to stop long enough to enter a race meeting anymore ;D
Pity .. we miss him a bit :)
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If your a big softy like me you would buy a great big Goldwing :)
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Current model abs equipped 650 Vstrom!! Get a bash plate and some other gear fitted and you'll be surprised how versatile they can be!! And they're cheap as chips, in Vic at the moment you could get one under 10k ride away brand new!!
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A mate of mine just bought a BMW gs and loves it.
I noticed this at Honda last week
Looks nice
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b525/TFR555/IMG-20130729-00113_zps7fc1daaa.jpg)
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If you can get one:
(http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&docid=SC-DSUe2GrqXaM&tbnid=QRKfWXyZgnghqM:&ved=0CAUQjBwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bmbikes.co.uk%2Fphotos%2Fschemephotos%2FBMW_Kalahari_3oclock.JPG&ei=4-0VUrXNCcnqiAfHrYCIDQ&psig=AFQjCNGW27DPhqLdbhUcqOUy5Lz1FcfY-g&ust=1377255267185519)
(Imagine little Gaston hairing around on the dunes on one of them)
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I'm with Rookie on this one. ( Except for the bit about ABS ;D )
I reckon the best value all-rounder has to be the 650 V-Strom.
A few years ago I did an 8500km trip on one that varied from freeways to crossing the Simpson.
It did all with ease.
(http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr37/Tony_T12/EBR2008-167.jpg) (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/Tony_T12/media/EBR2008-167.jpg.html)
That said, the trip could be done on pretty much anything you fancy.
So don't listen to us, only you know what you really like to buy! ;)
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BMW. If your finances wont stretch to the R1200GS an R1150GS can be had for significantly less $$$ and is still VERY capable. I have had a couple of them and they handle all situations with aplomb. Until you've tried the telelever front end you don't know what consistent and unflappable steering is all about. The R1150GS are well sorted and are nicer on road as well, and copes with luggage easily.
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Popeye, having ridden both the GS and GSA 12OO through Africa and owning a Kato 990 Adventure and Adventure R.. More dirt, go the Kato, more flattop and bit more comfort go the Beema. Both are brilliant, knowing you buddy I think you will have more fun on the Kato. :D
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Actually Popeye, just about to do another month in Africa two up on one of the new Beema waterbottles, I'll let you know if I have a change of heart in regard to the Kato after I have ridden it for 8000k's. Interested to see how the fancy electronics hold up in very much Australian type conditions over there.
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There is one bike that stands head and shoulders above the rest for the trip you want.
BMW R1200 GS. 400 plus klms on a full tank. Effortlessly cruise all day way above legal limits. Aftermarket accessories galore. 10,000 klm service intervals. No chain or sprockets. Heated grips ( standard ) a must as you probably know. Will go Offroad where a standard 4wd will go. Best resale of any motorcycle, bar none. I bought one new in 2004 for $21,500 on road and sold it three and a half years later for $18,500. Test ride one, you will be surprised
I know a bloke who is selling one of these BM's. If you're going to the Crawford River classic speak to Phil on bike #65
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Yea I'm herein ya slawesy, I've had 2 KTM 950 Adventures and there high on my list they are a fantastic thing, but for more black top work I wonder whether the BM would be better or something else......
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If you do decide on a BMW, do yourself a favour and talk to Canam370. ;)
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if it is just you and not too much gear , dont underestimate the baby BMW 650/ 800 they are alot lower cruise well and are lighter if you decide to take a back road, and will cruise all day at speed limit + , also feul economy excellent. The 1200 gs is a tank!!
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Yep try out the 800GS before you buy anything and also the 1200 Tenere' is worth a potter.
How you gonna get around Aus without turning off up every dirt sideroad anyway Popeye? ???
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I live on a back country main road with a lot of bike traffic, three out of five of those bikes, the ones I've seen and heard, are opposed twin BMs, most of them well loaded for a trip. Just an observation.
Foss
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I live on a back country main road with a lot of bike traffic, three out of five of those bikes, the ones I've seen and heard, are opposed twin BMs, most of them well loaded for a trip. Just an observation.
Foss
That just means that those with a lot of money can afford a BMW and can have time off to get away....Just an observation ::) :D
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There will be a few of us going, the other guys will all be on road bikes except 1 who is buying a BMW 1200 GS, I did about a 13000 klm trip on a 950 and was really impressed but might test ride a few others before I make my decision, or I may just keep my REX for the trip, won't be to many dirt roads EML, the other guys are just going round the country not through it and over it like I would like to do..
Maybe a XTZ 750 would do the trip, a TURTON SPECIAL.
I will be riding on my own so plenty of room for gear unless I take one of those 45 kilo chocolate &$(@));()():'gm machines with me. Lol
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XTZ will put you into the VMX class (almost) so you'll get extra points. Batman has a Turton spec in his shed.
45kg chocky chewer is a bit light even for me...they need some handles so you can hang on when they go off.......
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I live on a back country main road with a lot of bike traffic, three out of five of those bikes, the ones I've seen and heard, are opposed twin BMs, most of them well loaded for a trip. Just an observation.
Foss
That just means that those with a lot of money can afford a BMW and can have time off to get away....Just an observation ::) :D
Not at all. The more frugal ones buy the BMW R1200GS.When you work out the difference between the buying price and the selling price the Beemer wins hands down. The KTM and the jap bikes have no resale value.
The KTM is a better thing offroad but in my opinion not as good on the tar.
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The only thing the KTM needs is 2wd. Think about that.
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Yep I think your right Ted, I've had 2 KTM 950 and they are an unbelievable thing in the dirt and ok on the road but I think the BM would be a better choice for a trip around the country.
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Yep I think your right Ted, I've had 2 KTM 950 and they are an unbelievable thing in the dirt and ok on the road but I think the BM would be a better choice for a trip around the country.
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If you get the BMW, get the wire spoke wheels. Much better for offroad. Steer clear of the alloy mags.
Fit a stain tune muffler and fastway wide foot pegs. The standard rubber pegs are lethal when wet standing up. Dont be afraid to fit it with the Continental knobbys. About the same on road as the standard tyres but 1000% better on dirt. Also if you get one I have a grouse small tank bag, rear bag and a pair of BMW Rallye pants I will give you for a song. Lucky bastard.
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Don't count out the triumph tiger 1200 for road use or 800 for off road use
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Yeah I'm gonna have a test ride on a Tiger, both sizes, also gonna ride a Multistrada....
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1200 Tiger Explorer comes in XC form now with spoked wheels but still 19 inch front and 17 inch rear. It's a thing of beauty if you ask me.
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The BM's are coming down in price, mate just picked up a 06 1200 with 80k on it for $10,000. I have a 1150 adventure, highly recommend it if you are going to living on it for any length of time. They are comfy and can handle luggage well.
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I rode an 1150 Adventure back in 03-04 and I didn't like it but saying that ,at the time I was an avid KTM supporter I can't really remember what it was like now......
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I rode an 1150gs then waited until the 1200gs came out. This was 2004 I think. I had ridden a few different dual sport bikes and had been told to wait until the 1200 BM was available before buying anything. Up until that ride I was sold on the Triumph Tiger. This didn't change once I rode the GS. I also don't get the whole BMW thing. I don't like the opposed engine characteristics, but would look at an 800gs now. I think these and the 800 Tigers would be the best. Each to their own. Ride them all and work it out for yourself.
Cheers
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Honda 50 stepthru, pretty shitfull all round but cheap ta run. Think this way if you added all the previous mentioned bikes above that have been sold, the total most likely would still be about 30 Million .... less than the chuckaway sorry 50 steppy. (ever tried to carry seven family members ,five bags of rice ,two pigs and a live cobra or two plus a couple of buckets of yuk whatever.. all at once on a BMW.. you all have seen the photos of stepthrus doing that ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
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That's f$)&ing funny ;D but you could be on to something there...