From Yamaha cruiser to BMW 1200GS

[OpFor]

I love my Yamaha, but I already found good stable for her. Reason is my moving to NZ (with my family), and I already have an idea to get a BMW 1200GS.
With NZ roads and off-roads and marvelous scenery (just from pics and videos), I think this kind of bike is most useful. With 100km+ on this bike, I must say this is one mean machine.

On the other hand, a good cruiser is valuable for stress relief, so I would like to get one of the Triumph's beast (there is no Triumphs in Serbia, just few of them).

P.S. Is there any stress in NZ, by the way?

[marks]

P.S. Is there any stress in NZ, by the way?

Only if you are married

[OpFor]

Yeah,
now I have an excuse for buying Triumph's Rocket III :woohoo:

[clint640]

Welcome mate! where in NZ are you planning to live?

A 1200GS is a great bike for NZ, There are lots of gravel roads to explore.

Cheers
Clint

[OpFor]

Christchurch, for now.
As we know 'till now - nice place, no rush as in big city.
We are living now in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, over 1,5 millions people in it.
Too much crowd.

[clint640]

Excellent Choice! We spent a day riding around Banks Peninsula & the Port Hills there last week, the good stuff starts about 5km from the centre of town!

Cheers
Clint

[EJK]

CHCH will be quiet. lol

A BMW? Great choice! :)

[Transalper]

Yep lots of places to adventure here and a big arss BMW will take you to many of them but something lighter will get you through so much more.
If you stick with the BWM I hope you have some off road skill and are a fit, strong individual.
Our 'rescue Ryan' is getting a little worn down these days.

Sing out when you get here and I'm sure some of us local adventurers will be happy to show you around a bit.

[Jantar]

P.S. Is there any stress in NZ, by the way?

Hell yes, This can be a very stressfull place. But we do learn how to manage it with a few general rules:

1. Never, never go shopping with your wife. This is a major cause of stress, you will be asked for your opinion and no matter how you answe you will be wrong.

2. Settle on your favourite brand of beer as soon as you can. Beer over here is often also called "piss". There are numerous beers available, but only one that rates as a biker's beer. It is known by the acronym Superior Piss Enjoyed In Great Hotels Thoroughout the South. "SPEIGHTS" Choosing any other beer will cause ribbing by other motorcyclists. Particularly stay clear of light beers and lagers.

3. Ride your motorcycle as often as you can.

4. Never, never go shopping with your wife.

Follow these rules and the stress will just disapear.

[young1]

Jantar you are wrong with what Speights stands for. It stands for;
Some People Enjoy It God Hates The Stuff.

Opfor, once you get to the clean air here in NZ maybe you will see sense and ditch the idea of a GS and go for a KTM?

Seriously I am sure the Canterbury Adv riders will make you feel right at home no matter what you are on.

[Subike]

OpFor
after reading the Serbian Team World Tour post
I think you may put a few of our riders to shame when it comes to getting a big bike over rough stuff.
From that report I can see you will fit in here really fast and well, on and off road.
But wait till you see the roads before you decide on what ride to buy.
Our longest straights are only 1k!
And all bar the most rural roads are sealed.
But the Police are as bad as those you met in californi USA. Ass holes!
Looking forward to meeting you.

[marks]

Hell yes, This can be a very stressfull place. But we do learn how to manage it with a few general rules:

1. Never, never go shopping with your wife. This is a major cause of stress, you will be asked for your opinion and no matter how you answe you will be wrong.

2. Settle on your favourite brand of beer as soon as you can. Beer over here is often also called "piss". There are numerous beers available, but only one that rates as a biker's beer. It is known by the acronym Superior Piss Enjoyed In Great Hotels Thoroughout the South. "SPEIGHTS" Choosing any other beer will cause ribbing by other motorcyclists. Particularly stay clear of light beers and lagers.

3. Ride your motorcycle as often as you can.

4. Never, never go shopping with your wife.

Follow these rules and the stress will just disapear.

that just about sums up the rules for a stress free and happy life :banana:

[Lucy]

Jantar you are wrong with what Speights stands for. It stands for;
Some People Enjoy It God Hates The Stuff.

Opfor, once you get to the clean air here in NZ maybe you will see sense and ditch the idea of a GS and go for a KTM?

Seriously I am sure the Canterbury Adv riders will make you feel right at home no matter what you are on.

Huh? I was told that it stands for Some Poofters Enjoy It, Guys Hate That Shit.

Goes to show there are three sides to every story eh!

Burp.

:Playnice:

[OpFor]

I am a kind of cruiser fan, but it will be pity to ride just on tarmac in NZ.

My good friend own Honda's Africa Twin 750 and I like it a lot (of course, I spit every time on it, but only to annoy my buddy). No electronics - pure mechanic which you can fix with wrench & hammer.
On the other side, BMW is everything as Africa, but much sophisticated - but this is just my feeling and opinion. Of course sophisticated = very expensive.

But I am glad that there are KTM-ers, TransAlp-ers ond oth-ers that enyoj in AdvRides - so keep one place for me (or two if I convert my wife from bicycle to
bike :hug:)

[tri boy]

I am a kind of cruiser fan, but it will be pity to ride just on tarmac in NZ.

My good friend own Honda's Africa Twin 750 and I like it a lot (of course, I spit every time on it, but only to annoy my buddy). No electronics - pure mechanic which you can fix with wrench & hammer.
On the other side, BMW is everything as Africa, but much sophisticated - but this is just my feeling and opinion. Of course sophisticated = very expensive.


Ahh, if simplicity is your requirement, throw a leg over a Triumph Scrambler:banana:
Simple, fun, and annoys the shit out of toffy nosed BMW riders, KTM riders grudgingly tolerate them. :rolleyes:
Best damn camping/pack mule on the planet. MHO

[cooneyr]

Our 'rescue Ryan' is getting a little worn down these days.

Sing out when you get here and I'm sure some of us local adventurers will be happy to show you around a bit.

Dont go giving him any ideas. I dont rescue greater than 650cc BMW's anyway :D

Like TA said though let us know when you are here and we will be more than happy to show you around.


I am a kind of cruiser fan, but it will be pity to ride just on tarmac in NZ.

My good friend own Honda's Africa Twin 750 and I like it a lot (of course, I spit every time on it, but only to annoy my buddy). No electronics - pure mechanic which you can fix with wrench & hammer.
On the other side, BMW is everything as Africa, but much sophisticated - but this is just my feeling and opinion. Of course sophisticated = very expensive.

But I am glad that there are KTM-ers, TransAlp-ers ond oth-ers that enyoj in AdvRides - so keep one place for me (or two if I convert my wife from bicycle to
bike :hug:)

Nobody seems to have mentioned it yet but a place to start looking for bikes is TradeMe (http://www.trademe.co.nz). There are a couple of africa twins on there at the moment along with a reasonable selection of just about every other adventure bike. Keep an eye on the dual purpose section (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/mcat-0001-0026-1255-2506-.htm).

Something else to whet your appitite - check out my web site ADVRoutes (http://www.advroutes.org.nz).

Cheers R