10,000 km in 10 days - Which bike for it?

[Taz]

I have seen simialr claims from other USA riders, but that is not a fair comparisom with New Zealand's roads.

My experiences are 6500 km (not miles) from the origional TWs, 5800 km from Battle wings, 8500 km from Scorpions and these are almost identical to the tourance in compound and tread.

In 25,000 km so far no tyres have managed 10,000 km, and I haven't spoken to any other New Zealand riders who have managed it either.

Like I said try a tourance. I got 13000kms out of one without being kind to it. Still had a 1000kms in it I reckon.

[sels1]

Have you had a decent look at the Triumph Tiger Malcolm? (old style or new)
Sit up comfort, long range tank, long service interval etc

Course I am a bit biased but they are good long distance bikes

[idb]

My Darmah did something like what you are looking for last year in Europe.
Buy a Darmah.

[BMWST?]

really dont think the mileage will be a problem for the oil...its norammly short runs,cold starts etc that kill the oil...if you are that worried book a service midway....ring them before you get there,and they will know you are in a hurry..have a nice lunch/rest while you wait...wuould take 30 mins max i would think....

[Moki]

The VStrom is a superb tourer, and I will be using it for next year's Southern Cross. However it does need an oil change every 6000 km and I have tried a number of different tyres but never managed more than 8500 km (Pirelli Scorpoins).

By 2010 when the 10,000 km in 10 days ride is on it would be 4 years old, and I normally change bikes every 2 - 3 years. If I'm financial enough I may look at keeping the VStrom and buying a second hand bike that is kinder on tyres.

Another option is to keep the VStrom and hire a suitable bike for the ride.

Done nearly 20,000 kms on a set of Pirelli Scorpions on a 1150GS ADV...

[Jantar]

Done nearly 20,000 kms on a set of Pirelli Scorpions on a 1150GS ADV...

Just fitted a new Scorpion on the rear. It managed 8500 km this time. the front has done 6000 and looks like it is around half worn.

[scumdog]

Just fitted a new Scorpion on the rear. It managed 8500 km this time. the front has done 6000 and looks like it is around half worn.

Hell, my H-D Dunlop had 22,000km on it when I replaced it - and would still almost have got a WOF!

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

i have michellen Road Pilots (But not the dual compound...) and get around 10,000 on the rear and 15,000 on the front...

but apparently they only have the dual compound now so I don't know for my next tyre.... however, the firestorm isn't that heavy, so it probably won't be too bad

[Gremlin]

Done nearly 20,000 kms on a set of Pirelli Scorpions on a 1150GS ADV...

Just fitted a new Scorpion on the rear. It managed 8500 km this time. the front has done 6000 and looks like it is around half worn.

my rear lasted 8500, front is rather knackered too, turned quite triangular, including the 1000km gentle run in period... so they won't really last much longer. Depends how you ride it, I found taking off from the lights a bit fast and doing a little wheelie rather addictive, ruins the back tyre tho. Spinning it up on gravel roads also reduces tyre life rather drastically.

[Fudmucker]

I did 6 700kms in 11 days of general touring this past March - on a 1200GS.
2 new tyres were fitted to start off but by the end, the centre line of the rear tyre was down to the wear indicators and the edges still had the hairs on!
(Long Straight roads) The bike was serviced before I left and only needed another 15 000k later. Fully synthetic oil.

I ended up replacing the entire clutch afterward (the previous owner's riding style, I am convinced, as my previous R80/7 went 76 000kms on the clutch in the bike when I bought it) but that was not indicative of the machine.

I was accompanied by 3 other BMW's - a 1200GSA, a 1200RT and a K1200GT. They all made it easily - another 3 300k in the same time would have been child's play.


Enjoy the ride - unchain yourself and ride a 1200 BMW...!

[longwayfromhome]

You ask about a suitable bike. There have been 3 and a bit suggestions for these, but amongst quite a few BMW riders in the US, the GS is highly regarded as an all-round touring bike. You have a recommendation on tires that will last the distance on these. You have a recommendation to handle the servicing intervals. A good second-hand R1150GS with ABS would be a top bike for a hard Iron-Butt-type rally. Some would prefer the 1150 over the 1200 because of even better reliability.

At the end of the rally you are then left with a first-class all-round bike. Additionally, if you look to keep it for a while, you can increasingly "improve" it with various add-ons that make the whole Iron-Butt thing more-and-more attractive.

Do not be fooled by by the fact that the US contains large quantities of freeways....it is also riddled with twisty, remote, attractive and empty roads, whole states and regions of them, wherein reside flocks of GS and other riders. The experience of IB'ers there is directly relevant to NZ.

[mangell6]

2001 FZ1 161,000kms (so far) - Service every 10,000km. Been using Contis for the last 60,000 and am now trying the new Conti-Motions after having used the Conti-Maxs and lately the ContiRoad Attacks. Have always got 9-10,000kms out of a rear tire and 12-17,000 out of the fronts - always depends though.

Am trying a new acceleration method of hard out of corners, easing off on the throttle as the bike becomes upright. My theory is that there always seems to be more tread on the sides of the tires than the centre.

[BMWST?]

Am trying a new acceleration method of hard out of corners, easing off on the throttle as the bike becomes upright. My theory is that there always seems to be more tread on the sides of the tires than the centre.

be careful with that one....

[The Pastor]

cbr250 would do it no sweat.

[TLDV8]

KLR 650.

Even the DR 650 would be viable,light,handles well,tyre changes and servicing are as close as the nearest motel car park.
About the only thing i would change is the gearing to suit the slower speed limit,it would be lugging at 100 kph and add a Corbin.
With a Sarfari tank it would be a lunch stop and top up for a 1000 km day.

I dismissed big singles forever then actually rode one. they are not bad and eat the miles no problem.