First (BMW) adventure bike opinions requested

[Crim]

i feel like doing that every time i see a Kwaka, i like the bit at the end when he cant get it back up, thats why i brought the XR

tell me about it, she is a heavy old lump - and I just took her down for her first 6 months warrant she is growing up before I know it she'll be leaving home getting a job and sending me money

[Padmei]

tell me about it, she is a heavy old lump - and I just took her down for her first 6 months warrant she is growing up before I know it she'll be leaving home getting a job and sending me money

Jeez you've had it pretty good having it for so long & not getting wofs before

[Crim]

Jeez you've had it pretty good having it for so long & not getting wofs before

no they have always been 12 month ones (ATGATTATLBOPAW) - or were you taking the michael?

All The Gear All The Time And The Little Bits Of Paper As Well

[ops.normal]

Hi all

Bit of an update - sold the CBR (market value stings) and am chasing a Dakar in CHC.

I haven't ridden or even sat on the Dakar version, so am trying to track one down at a dealers just to confirm the fit is acceptable, and then we should be away laughing. Some have said the ride is less confidence inspiring than the standard version, due the narrow front tyre's contact patch combined with forks more prone to diving. If I can find a Dakar to take for a spin (without flying to CHC with a stack of cash and hope) then I might put those fears to bed.

Incidentally, rode the F800GS and it shot straight to no. 1 on the wishlist. There's an ex rental one on TM at the moment, but I've yet to find anyone (myself included) who is optimistic about ex-rentals.

Cheers

[Gremlin]

Don't be afraid to ask the loons that are KB. I've visited someone before to show him a 1200GSA, as no dealers had one, so he could try it out for size.

I'm sure someone near you will have the same bike you're interested in, just so you can see what it's like.

[JATZ]

Ex rentals...

Mrs J's first adv bike was an ex rental F650. It had about 120,000 k's when she got it and over 140,000 when she got rid of it. It always ran well (when it was upright) and never gave any trouble. My F650 had some minor issues and it had far less k's on it.
Hers was always serviced by trained profesionals, on time, and well looked after, I guess they have to be if the company wants top dollar from the customer.

[Transalper]

Ex rentals...

Mrs J's first adv bike was an ex rental F650. It had about 120,000 k's when she got it and over 140,000 when she got rid of it. It always ran well (when it was upright) and never gave any trouble.....

ha ha, I seem to remember a chain wrapping round stuff and a locked rear wheel in front of me once. A little bit spectacular as she slid to a stop with the back stepping out.

[_Shrek_]

ha ha, I seem to remember a chain wrapping round stuff and a locked rear wheel in front of me once. A little bit spectacular as she slid to a stop with the back stepping out.

& a team effort getting it back on the road to finish the day

[ops.normal]

If there happen to be any Dakar guys in AKL who wouldn't mind me having a bit of a nosey, that'd be a big help at this juncture :P

[Crisis management]

If there happen to be any Dakar guys in AKL who wouldn't mind me having a bit of a nosey, that'd be a big help at this juncture :P

Can't help with the bike but I have ridden the same model Dakar and hated the seating position, very much locked in place with knees bashing the tank, hard to standup (tank again) and a general all round pain in the arse as you couldn't move back and forwards on the seat to shift weight. I'm 5' 10 so if you're over six foot you better try sitting on one first.

How come no ones mentioned the best adventure bike in NZ, the 640 adventure? There has been one on Tardme lately (not mine) for 10k which I thought was a bargain!



After all that, just about anything with wheels does as an adventure bike for gravel roads and hard surfaces, my R80 (venerable 1983 model) goes as fast on gravel as most round here, I got beaten by an XR400 recently but it was close! If you can find a bike with an 19" front, thats all you need. Cheap and unbendable are the only criteria for a starter adventure bike (light weight is incredibly handy too).

[Oscar]

Can't help with the bike but I have ridden the same model Dakar and hated the seating position, very much locked in place with knees bashing the tank, hard to standup (tank again) and a general all round pain in the arse as you couldn't move back and forwards on the seat to shift weight. I'm 5' 10 so if you're over six foot you better try sitting on one first.

How come no ones mentioned the best adventure bike in NZ, the 640 adventure? There has been one on Tardme lately (not mine) for 10k which I thought was a bargain!



After all that, just about anything with wheels does as an adventure bike for gravel roads and hard surfaces, my R80 (venerable 1983 model) goes as fast on gravel as most round here, I got beaten by an XR400 recently but it was close! If you can find a bike with an 19" front, thats all you need. Cheap and unbendable are the only criteria for a starter adventure bike (light weight is incredibly handy too).

I was sorely tempted by that 640ADV - 1800kms on it at 10 grand..wow.

[Crisis management]

I was sorely tempted by that 640ADV - 1800kms on it at 10 grand..wow.

You can have my original, impecable 640 for only $14,000..... never been dropped, somersaulted, drowned in rivers or thrown down teh road.........................much.

To the OP, have you been to BMW experience (I think that's what it is called) in Kingsland, talk to the older rotund gentleman, there is nothing he does not know about BMWs and GS's in particular. Oscar knows him and may actually know his name?

[ops.normal]

Yep. I've had a yarn to the chap at Experience, very knowledgeable. Rode an F650GS parallel twin today...nice bike, but not totally enamoured with it. I don't know if it's just me being hamfisted and coming off a sports bike, but it felt a little strange tipping into turns, like it would have a bit of a think about it, maybe a wee tiny wobble as I got to the lean angle I wanted. Probably just me...

Will continue searching in earnest anyhoo - this is by far the most research I've done before buying a bike - sadly the deeper I look, the deeper the rabbit hole goes. On the odd occasion I just want to take the blue pill :P

[Oscar]

You can have my original, impecable 640 for only $14,000..... never been dropped, somersaulted, drowned in rivers or thrown down teh road.........................much.

To the OP, have you been to BMW experience (I think that's what it is called) in Kingsland, talk to the older rotund gentleman, there is nothing he does not know about BMWs and GS's in particular. Oscar knows him and may actually know his name?

Henry Plowright?

[Transalper]

Your're right about the more you research the deeper the rabbit hole, especially while you have no adventure experience as a base line to go from. Your second adventure bike should be a little easier to choose.
Just to add another 2c on the wheel size, seems like I've heard a lot of people, or was it one person over and over again... say that there is a very limited choice of tyres if you go 19" where as you have a lot of options in road vs mud orientations if you go 21" (like the Dakar).

On the fork dive and different turn in rates, you simply get used to it.
When I change tyres (worn to fresh or road to knobbs etc.) I find I sometimes initially tip in a bit quick on the first couple of corners needing to thus un tip a bit. It's a kind of wobble I guess but it's more me getting a feel for it again and usually only the first couple of corners.
You can spend money to lessen the fork dive under braking but most people I know never bothered.