Motorbikes

Ricardodaforce said:
Best selling motorbike in June was the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure.

Some people have got a lot of money to spend on a bike!
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I've tested the 1200 on a number of occasions in the past, and I just can't see what makes it so "great". Personally, I hate the feel of that "push-pull" engine, and the shaft drive was awful. It probably doesn't help that I've got short legs, but with the low seat option I can get both feel flat (just). I then got on a V-Strom, and it was wonderful. Comfortable, that lovely V twin, I almost chopped my FireBlade in for it. The 650 version is great fun too, and half the price of the GS....
 
Jelster said:
I've tested the 1200 on a number of occasions in the past, and I just can't see what makes it so "great". Personally, I hate the feel of that "push-pull" engine, and the shaft drive was awful. It probably doesn't help that I've got short legs, but with the low seat option I can get both feel flat (just). I then got on a V-Strom, and it was wonderful. Comfortable, that lovely V twin, I almost chopped my FireBlade in for it. The 650 version is great fun too, and half the price of the GS....
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When I bought my 1250 Bandit the BMW 1200 was more than twice the price but the Suzuki makes a brilliant touring bike if you upgrade the seat
 
Jelster said:
I've tested the 1200 on a number of occasions in the past, and I just can't see what makes it so "great". Personally, I hate the feel of that "push-pull" engine, and the shaft drive was awful. It probably doesn't help that I've got short legs, but with the low seat option I can get both feel flat (just). I then got on a V-Strom, and it was wonderful. Comfortable, that lovely V twin, I almost chopped my FireBlade in for it. The 650 version is great fun too, and half the price of the GS....
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It obviously has some attraction because it’s consistently the best seller. It will be interesting to see how the new H-D impacts on its sales.
 
Jelster said:
I've tested the 1200 on a number of occasions in the past, and I just can't see what makes it so "great". Personally, I hate the feel of that "push-pull" engine, and the shaft drive was awful. It probably doesn't help that I've got short legs, but with the low seat option I can get both feel flat (just). I then got on a V-Strom, and it was wonderful. Comfortable, that lovely V twin, I almost chopped my FireBlade in for it. The 650 version is great fun too, and half the price of the GS....
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I've got the 650 V-Strom, and agree, it is a wonderful bike. Ticks almost all the boxes for me, just a couple of times I've wanted a bit more power, but for everyday riding it is great. I had the old BMW GS1100, a 1200 Bandit, 900 Triumph Tiger, all good but none as easy to own, ride and afford. Didn't want to try the new 900 Triumph that Ricardodaforce has as it was out of my wallets reach..
 
A very long shot, but should anyone have a Givi E47NN top box that isn't getting used let me know and stick up a classified post as I'm about to buy one....!
 
I have a day off tomorrow and the weather will be perfect. A good few hours on the bike beckon.
If you’re planning on doing the same, enjoy!
 
I had to go up to London yesterday and came back today - 560-odd motorway miles, battling through the holiday traffic and now have a sore bum. Perfect weather but not quite the ideal roads....
 
I’ve seen far too many guys on bikes this week riding in tee shirt and shorts. Craziness.
 
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Ricardodaforce said:
I’ve seen far too many guys on bikes this week riding in tee shirt and shorts. Craziness.
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The only reason I don't ride in Crete is that it's too hot for proper riding kit and my skin's too precious (to me!) not to wear it. SO many gravel rash scars over there.
 
Nod said:
The only reason I don't ride in Crete is that it's too hot for proper riding kit and my skin's too precious (to me!) not to wear it. SO many gravel rash scars over there.
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I rode Zante in mid-summer. No way you could wear proper kit. You'd pass out half way.
 
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Ricardodaforce said:
Let us know how you get on with it.
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Well, I'm actually testing it for a couple of hours next weekend, but I had a good look/sit on/handle of both the GT Pro and the GT Low. Given the size relative to what I've ridden before the lowered version felt slightly better in terms of a fit; however, I'm testing the Pro with a low seat on and I'll make some decisions after that. Lovely bike in all guises, though.
 
learningtofly said:
Well, I'm actually testing it for a couple of hours next weekend, but I had a good look/sit on/handle of both the GT Pro and the GT Low. Given the size relative to what I've ridden before the lowered version felt slightly better in terms of a fit; however, I'm testing the Pro with a low seat on and I'll make some decisions after that. Lovely bike in all guises, though.
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I am 1.74m and have both feet flat on the ground when stopped at lights. For me the low version would feel cramped.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
On a hot day like yesterday I wear an armoured mesh jacket and use a small hydration backpack.
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Tried that a few years ago. The flapping of the mesh wore the sunscreen off and the resultant sunburn wasn't pretty! Still use the mesh armour but under unarmoured jackets. Got a couple of well ventilated leather jackets which are fine for the UK but I don't think they'd be breezy enough for the mid 30s it usually is in Crete when we're there.
 
Just found a shot of the new Harley adventure bike in use...
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A tale of woe!

I lost balance while at a standstill three weeks ago and over it went, scuffed handguard and a few scratches on the engine bars so not too bad. Unfortunately I was on the third bend from the top of Wrynose Pass at the time, I felt my back go as I tried to pick it up. Fortunately a couple of riders coming the other way helped me get it upright.

120 miles from home and every bump was agony even with the suspension set to soft, I had to stop twice for a rest but couldn't get off the damn thing. When I got home a neighbour helped me get off and park it. Slept on the living room floor because I couldn't climb up the stairs, or get my boots off.

With hindsight I shouldn't have done the ride but I wasn't thinking clearly :/

Haven't ridden since then but I'll rectify that tomorrow :)
 
You have my sympathies, Mr. B.. I did my back a few weeks ago and am hoping to get back in the saddle tomorrow.

One of the reasons I ended my relationship with the Rocket III was the thought of dropping it and having to get a crane company out to get it back on its wheels! Could be tempted back into R III ownership by the new models but I far prefer the brutish, monolithic look of the older ones to the oversized Diavel that the newer ones resemble. Mind you, the TC in the new ones could be handy - the old one had NO rider aids so needed a fair bit of rider sympathy to keep the rear wheel from losing traction.
 
One of my “bike in the middle of nowhere” pics avoiding the infected masses on my 2 wheeled isolation unit :)
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Wouldn't have been a pair of Bimmers though - they didn't start building bikes until the early '20s.
 
Nod said:
View attachment 325197

Wouldn't have been a pair of Bimmers though - they didn't start building bikes until the early '20s.
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Or - motorcycles - two wheeled contraptions that make a 350 mile round trip for chips seem perfectly normal :)
 
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Used to do a ~ 400 mile round trip for a couple of pints of orange squash. Long before speed cameras!
 
not ridden my bike in a week as ive been away on a family holiday...il sort that out with a blast round the lakes tomorrow...enjoy the last of the heat wave before the rain comes
 
I’ve been out on the LC most days want to make the most of the weather, I’m lucky have spare time at the moment
 
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