Why do you hate BMW 650s?

[windboy]

For what its worth my T/A is now sold - now I've got to find its replacement

What's going on here? in less than a month: transalper, ruralman and windboy got rid of their trannies?

For what its worth, I got rid of mine cause it was too top heavy for me (being a short arse) but I still reckon the transalp is a fantastic adventure bike...

Ruralman, were you after a tiger? In case you're interested, about a month ago there was a nice black older tiger (with the spoked wheels) pimped up for adventure, pretty immaculate at Motoworld Powersports Ltd, 3D Saturn Place, Albany, North Shore. (09) 442 5052

later,

[oldrider]

Ruralman needs/desires a litre plus bike and soon his hand will be revealed, what will he buy to replace the trusty TransAlp?

Maybe we should run a poll?

BMW
Triumph
Suzuki
KTM
Vespa
Zimmer

All will be revealed in due course, rumour has it he is on the bargain trail, even as we speak. Cheers John.

[Transalper]

What's going on here? in less than a month: transalper, ruralman and windboy got rid of their trannies?

Mine went because my partner now rides her own so no more need for the extra pillion friendly and big luggage side of life.
Also some of the adventurous rides I find myself on are more and more in to the trail ride category now days. While the Transalp could still take me there, the DR650 is easier going when things get real muddy or rough.
So I changed my bike when my focus got more Trail orientated.
When my focus turns back from tracks to roads with a few pillion rides thrown in I would be very keen for a new Transalp.

[oldrider]

That's the real guts of it Transalper, defining what category of riding you do!

Trail: No

Venture: Yes

Sports: Yes

Touring: Yes

Track (off road): No

Track (on road): No

Then it's a matter of finding the bike/bikes most suitable for the riding you want to do!

I can only afford "one" bike these days, so I am trying to adapt the Tiger to suit our requirements.

What I regard as Trail is too hard for me now, even on a trail bike and competitive racing of any type is beyond my capability even if I secretly would love to have a go at it, in my dreams!

So today it seems we need a bike for Venture/Touring with a dab of Sports where I can coax a bit out of the situation.

The Tiger is too big and too hard for me to handle at the Trail edge of Venture riding too, so I have to be very careful just where I point that front wheel.

All else taken into account, the Tiger is shaping up real well, so far and we are both really enjoying it! Cheers, John.

PS: Do they make a VTwin Zimmer yet?

[Skinny_Birdman]

Mine went because my partner now rides her own so no more need for the extra pillion friendly and big luggage side of life.
Also some of the adventurous rides I find myself on are more and more in to the trail ride category now days. While the Transalp could still take me there, the DR650 is easier going when things get real muddy or rough.
So I changed my bike when my focus got more Trail orientated.
When my focus turns back from tracks to roads with a few pillion rides thrown in I would be very keen for a new Transalp.

I'll sell it back to yer when I've thrashed the s*** out of it - even I wouldn't buy a bike off a 24 year old with a Blackbird

...but at least it's still in the hands of a KB'er. To me the Transalp is a robust, affordable alternative to the Funduro, as well as a forgiving, easy to ride bike that will be an ideal first full licence bike for my partner. I'lll still be holding on to my beloved TT250R for the real gnarly stuff, because I don't want TimG to show me up with his superior Transalp skills.
Now I just need a race bike.... and a winning lotto ticket...

[timg]

TimG to show me up with his superior Transalp skills.
Now I just need a race bike.... and a winning lotto ticket...

Skill? Wot skill? Stoopidity - yup! Big balls - maybe! Yer not allowed a winning ticket until mine comes in & there's a Blade in my shed.

[Ruralman]

Ruralman needs/desires a litre plus bike and soon his hand will be revealed, what will he buy to replace the trusty TransAlp?

Maybe we should run a poll?

BMW
Triumph
Suzuki
KTM
Vespa
Zimmer

All will be revealed in due course, rumour has it he is on the bargain trail, even as we speak. Cheers John.

Too late for poll - deal done, possession next week.
John has summed up my reason - I want a litre bike. I have a dirt bike for serious trail and off road. For the big adventure trips fully loaded, sometimes with a pillion the 650 just doesn't have enough grunt for me - especially when you're riding with guys on bigger bikes on the highway. I also do quite a few tarmac only rides and again the extra cubes makes a difference. The Transalp did keep up but you were ringing its neck sometimes to do that and the others were just loping along - the T/A got surprisingly thirsty too when pushed like this and the bike I'm getting is more economical, plus has a bigger tank, as well as the extra cc's.
When I'm on my own without much luggage I am still very happy on the T/A - unless theres some passing manoevre I want to pull off when, shall we just say the speed the manoevre starts at is slightly higher than the recommended limit...............
The T/A is a very relaxed bike to ride - it has great torque at low revs and will pull away from near death on steep tracks without any drama - neither the 650 or 1000 cc V Stroms are very good at this, but both of these make the T/A look rather pedestrian once you're up in the revs and speed. Its a very good allrounder and while the new one due in Jan/Feb will doubtless have more power it still won't have what a litre bike has.
As far as being on the bargain trail?? - we all want to buy as best we can don't we??. I've spent more than I'd hoped but got a better lower km bike which is already well set up for what I want.
Roll on next week

[Alpha Solo]

I've got to say it is one of the best bikes I've owned.

Lots of fun in the gravel and great on road manners, you would have trouble pulling one out of a bog but still the best adventure bike for me.

And it will get you there !

[ZReX12]

I've got to say it is one of the best bikes I've owned.

Lots of fun in the gravel and great on road manners, you would have trouble pulling one out of a bog but still the best adventure bike for me.

And it will get you there !

I see you list a 2006 Pampera, which version is it? What do you mainly use it for and do you like it?
Rode an older 280(?) a year or so ago and was impressed (make a very good replacement for my old TLR) but wasn't that keen on the two stroke engine, kind of like the look of the new 450 four stroke as a good trail bike for tight technical stuff but haven't found anyone whose ridden one yet.

[Alpha Solo]

The Pampera is a classic, great design and super flywheel power for hill climbs etc. I'm not a fan of 2 stroke either but this bike has always reviewed well and I was looking for something suitable to get my wife on to bikes (in my dreams she's a supermotard racer!) The bike weighs 98kg and I can pull it out of a mud bog and lift it off the ground, not many bikes I can do that with. Lindon from DAS had a quick look at the suspension and now it's real good. Keep me posted if you find any reports on the 4 stroke 450 version as I might get one of the engines later down the line...