Adv Tourer Demo
 

Well, I really been thinking about selling the 600rr and getting something like a used DRZ SM for screwing off on and a more two up capable bike like an adv tourer, so A and I took a little trip down to our local BMW/Ducati/KTM/Triumph dealer today. We didnt bring a camera, so no pics of us on the bikes.

First up

1200 GS:
http://www.due-south.co.za/images/1200_gs2_large.jpg

It really didn't have much grunt to it, but was really smooth getting on the throttle. It really left me wanting a lot more on the low end like the 1150 has. However, the ride was supremely perfect. It was the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden on the street. A fit on the back fine and I could barely tell she was back there. The bike we demoed even had a grill Fatburg would be proud of and it had a back rest for A and she said that is a must if we get a bike like this. This would be a fun bike for touring and I could see us taking a lot of long trips with it.

990 Adventure:
http://www.bikez.com/pictures/ktm/20...%20-%20KTM.jpg

This was a ugly mofo. It was a bit nicer down low. The demo bike had been setup with every performance accessory they could throw at it. It had WP suspension, brembo brakes and god knows what else on it. It wasn't nearly as comfortable, but would be a lot more fun out on the trails. One downside was it was tall and a big pain in the ass for me to get on let alone A climbing over me to get on the back. A had a grill on this to lean back on as well.

I wanted to demo a tiger, but they didn't have any for demo. I really wanted to sit on the 800GS again, but they didn't even have any in stock and sold the only one they got in and don't know when they will get more. Ah well....
http://www.webbikeworld.com/triumph-...umph-tiger.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...alifing111.jpg








Bonus, I demoed this last without A on the back:
http://twistingasphalt.com/wp-conten...ypermotard.jpg

thumbs up is right, good lord was this a hooligan bike. I will eventually own one of these, that is all. I blew my load of happiness for the next ten years while riding this bike. Let's say I was very squidly while riding it and I was in full gear. Icy hot baby, icy hawt.

I have yet to hear someone hate on the Hyper after they ride it.

yeah it made me hate my 600 for sure. I am just tired of the 600. I accomplished what I wanted out of it and now want to move on to something else, not like a liter bike, but a different type of bike. I don't really want to race and not really a track addict with the gap in my backyard, so I need to find something else to get me riding more again.

I hear ya. Ditch that RR and buy the Hyper. I really wanna ride one.

The other thing about the 1200 is it's FUCKING HEAVY... in long way down and long way round... Euan and Charlie BOTH were needed to pick it up if they went down... just something to think about.


also if it's long trips... check the range... I think they're both about 200miles though...

I'm thinking if you don't like the 1200's power... the 800 isn't gonna thrill you much either

:lol: The hyper is the opposite of a long trip bike. Very short range.

The 800 would be a more trail capable bike because it's a LOT lighter.

yeah I am not in the position to buy a hyper right now because I am in the market for two bikes, with one being a long tripper. I will probably end up with something like a DRZ SM as the second bike.

Motorcyclist had a decent write up on a DRZ SM last issue. Made me want one.

but how does it compare to the KTM? I think the KTM would be the better all around choice... especially for long trips with A... and a grill and the refrigerator and freezer on either side.

Doesn't Fnfalman have a KTM adventure.?

Trip check out...
http://www.advrider.com/

and

http://www.Alaskaleather.com... the owners of this shop rode from Barrow AK (furthest point north you can drive/ride from... to tip of south America... on some GS1200s... so if ya got questions about being comfortable... she can answer it... and if you need anything she'll ship it to you... if it doesn't work.. ship it back and they'll refund your purchase... pretty cool IMO...

Can you see Russia from Barrow AK?

no... it's too far north... it'd be like trying to see Arizona from Okahoma City

(joke.)

yeah I know... so was I... it'd be more like trying to see it from Kansas City

Son of a bitch trip. If I had money right now Id buy your bike in a heartbeat and you could go shopping.

Have familiarity with the bikes you rode. Good and accurate impressions. For what you're looking for, the GS is probably the ticket. For long trips, two up, the bike delivers. The KTM is as you note. As is the Hyper. Try to score a Tiger demo. It might fall a little short of the GS as long distance steed, but what an engine, and what a lot of bike for the price.

have you ridden the 800?

the 800 is dependent on if Andrea learns to ride, if she doesnt want to ride then I may look into the 1200. The 800 is more for me riding alone.

Thanks sfarson, I will try to score tiger ride.

ahh ok...

you'll have to let me know how your 800 and tiger rides go...

maybe check out the kawi klr 650, this dude rode around the world on one.
Heard the versys is an awesome, underrated tourer also. It was apparently a big flop in the states but all the mags loved it.
I kinda dig the looks also.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos...i_Versys_2.jpg

Too bad Yamaha isn't bringing the badass looking XT660Z Tenere here.
http://thekneeslider.com/images/2008tenere.jpg

If I were going long range touring though I'd go for the Bakker Grizzly All-Rounder. It's got a GSXR-1000 engine! Bakker makes all kinds of weird ass bikes.
http://www.thebikergene.com/gallery/...y/_%286%29.jpg

That Yami looks odd...


the last one would be bad ass... though I wonder about range... though with 8 gal tank (what the BMW's have) I'd think you should be able to do 200+ easy

the yami's headlight and windscreen kinda remind of the droids from the last star wars movie.
They said they used real low gearing on it but trust me, gsxr 1000 engines can go through gas like a ford expedition if you're caning them often. I honestly don't get that much better mileage on my gsxr than in my altima since I drive the altima conservatively.

What kinda mileage did you get on your bike to and from Indy?

I bet the bakker is cheap, lol

1. REAL low gearing would create more torque... but cause it to run more RPM's suck'n more gas..

2. I got high 30's... low 40's if I was on twisties... as I usually ran 80+ on the super slab and with my gearing being as low as it was... it loved the fuel...

before my gearing I could go 175 a tank easy... on my trip I'd start looking at 140-150...

um mild correction. torque output remains the same but is more accessible

thanks... yeah I meant more torque down low...

It doesn't seem to have been mentioned, but for AV touring at an excellent price point you might consider the 1k V-strom I owned one for a season and like an IDIOT I sold it for what I paid for it.

I just picked up the latest issue of BIKE... and they did a comparo of the GS, Vstrom and Tiger... they said only the GS had any sort of real off road capability...

I figured they'd all be decent... :idk:

I never would thought of you being an ADV guy.

Good review. I actually demoed a Tiger. Smoothest motor and throttle ever. Just entirely too tall a bike for me.

Good luck with the search

I don't really like the weestrom all that much. I have rode one of those awhile back.

Me neither, I had a lot of fun on a dirt ride (wasn't a really hard single track trail, just beginner stuff) I went on. So I been looking for a dual sport/adv tourer ever since.

thanks kev, how's the triumph?

kller 650 ftw

I want something a little more comfortable, hence adv tourer, that's pretty much a dirt bike

comfort is over rated

that's why I will be getting something like a drz sm along with it.

You should check out the Aprilia Dorsoduro

http://www.apriliadorsoduro.com

http://www.aprilia.com/modelli/road/...y.asp?id=1846#

It rocks. Wish I had more time to ride. But it's still hella fun. :dthumb:

aprilia motors on the motards are just way too unreliable. If I get a GS I will have one bike that will require a lot of maintenance, I want something that will be rock solid and the DRZ is as much as you can ask for in the motard area.

Tis a sad sad day, I never would have thought ud want anything else...no plans on keeper the cbaaar for a tracker?

But i understand the reasoning to spend the time with A on the back, is she seriously considering learning to ride if you get one of these beasts?

And I have zero opinion on which to get, I am still in gsxr love...cant imagine owning a dual yet...altho i am going to play with a 4wheeler tonite, I may start changing my mind...

If she gets a bike, then I will consider something smaller than a big adv tourer, I will be getting a motard to go act a fool at the gap with yall.

Just admit you're getting one of these and be done with it.

oh yeah, that's all me

gut a Ully.

dear god that thing's exhaust looks like it should have after burners

The BMW F800GS isn't all that shit hot. Yes, it's more offroadable than the R1200GS, but there is something not quite right about either the chassis or the steering geometry. The front end tends to wash out at medium speed. I know of at least three capable riders lowsided on that bike on easy corners. Offroad capability is nowhere as good as the KTM 990 Adventure even though the KTM is about 30-40lbs heavier. I took that mutha on some fire lanes and it squirmed a lot more than my KTM. I think that the 21" front doesn't couple well with the 17" rear wheel.

The KTM is definitely tall and it sucks gas like Frank Sinatra sucking down bourbon. The BMW 1200GS is a miser on gas.

I like the Tiger 1050 a lot, except for the suspension is on the soft side. I don't know how it will fare with a passenger.

If you can't flat-foot with both feet on the bike, the KTM would not be a good bike to take passenger on.

BTW, the BMW R1200GS Adventure is the one with the bigger tank. I think that the standard 1200GS still runs on a 5.5-gal tank.

I love my Beemer and all, but there is no way no how I would even entertain an adventure bike other than the KTM. That mutha runs like a raped ape.

I would ride that. Might needs some turbos if not already equipped.