New Zealand's 'perfect bike'?

[Oscar]

I know alot of you guys are big is beautiful, but I love my 650 v strom. 18 months old and 67k on the clock and still running sweet. If I cruise at 5-5500 rpm I get 450kms out f the tank (22 ltrs). Thats running it dry. Generally average 400+ to the tank full. Over 6000rpms and she can get thirsty. Thats full panniers and a top box. The boss and I go two up no problems, but i don't go much over 120, love my license too much. That said, on my own, with full luggage I got up to 180 (on the GPS) before the speed wobbles began. Thought it was time to slow down
Am at present wanting to add to the stable. But there is nothing really out there that rings my bell. Have put emulators in the front forks and looking at an Ohlins on the back. Am planning to do more overseas travel and want something a bit more in the engine department for the likes of Europe two up. Secondly a tad more ground clearance would be great. For NZ road conditions, tar and gravel, it is fine. But some more distant lands there are more pot holes then smooth road and with the added weight of another person a few more mm 0f clearance would be great.

I saw a DL1000 in Aussie with what looked like RM or DRZ forks on the front
and an Ohlins.
Lotsa ground clearance.
Nice.

[avgas]

- TS/ER range
- DR range
- TT, XT range
- XR range

Those would be my picks for the perfect bike in NZ.
Built like brick shithouses, off the shelf bearings, no electronics, flood proof.
All do over 100 kph.

All the bikes you guys mention have lots of bits to break off, hard to get parts, electronics/electrics that WILL fail if you try, rubbish fuel range, rubbish weight, rubbish tyres........so basically your wrong.

Oh and while were at the perfect kiwi car is the old hilux, escudo/grand whatever.......stuff that doesnt have plastic, electronics more than the average casio, fluid this or electric that.

Thats all - back to your comfort zone ladies

[Oscar]

- TS/ER range
- DR range
- TT, XT range
- XR range

Those would be my picks for the perfect bike in NZ.
Built like brick shithouses, off the shelf bearings, no electronics, flood proof.
All do over 100 kph.

All the bikes you guys mention have lots of bits to break off, hard to get parts, electronics/electrics that WILL fail if you try, rubbish fuel range, rubbish weight, rubbish tyres........so basically your wrong.

Oh and while were at the perfect kiwi car is the old hilux, escudo/grand whatever.......stuff that doesnt have plastic, electronics more than the average casio, fluid this or electric that.

Thats all - back to your comfort zone ladies

You should consider changing your user name to "Luddite".

[Big Dave]

Sent to me by a KTM owner, okay.

[Oscar]

Try this with a GS...

[Big Dave]

Try this with a GS...

Blah blah. There are only a small minority of us (well, you actually) that would want to do it on a 125.

[Oscar]

Blah blah. There are only a small minority of us (well, you actually) that would want to do it on a 125.

Stop it.
We're hijacking an interesting thread.


Getting back to NZ's Perfect Bike, I wasnae trying to bag any brand.

If I did more road miles, I would be lusting after a R1200GSA (or a F800GSA fer that matter). If The Publisher is to be believed (I know, I know), then 70% of NZ's roads aren't sealed, which makes a more gravel oriented bike the business...

[avgas]

You should consider changing your user name to "Luddite".

Nah - then i would be out of a job.
You have to admit that bikes are like food, what you like - is not good for you.
But of course if we lived any else but the arse end of the world i would feel more confident in other bikes....im just sick of the threads on there that start like this:

"Help! I was travelling NZ on my new BMW/KTM/Laverda/Buell... and while crossing a river/jumping a bank/riding the twisties/chasing rabbits/climbing a mountain...... the bike fell/drowned/stopped/crashed.... and now i really badly need the following parts ..... but i cant seem to find them anywhere!!!????"

Where as i can vouch for the other bikes that i mentioned cos i keep hearing stories that usually involve some cow cockey wheeling the bent and broken bike into a shed a few hours later it fires back into life and disaster is averted.

And before you retort this tell me this are you using window vista or the latest Mac OS or Linux OS.......if not - WHY?

[avgas]

Try this with a GS...

Funny they dont have the photo afterwards where a new rear shock is helicoptered in.

FYI show me the same bike in 30 years......

[Oscar]

Hold the phone...I found the perfect bike over on ADVRider:

[Forest]

Hold the phone...I found the perfect bike over on ADVRider:

Fantastic! That's what happens when a bike is designed by a committee.

Great photoshop!

[Oscar]

Funny they dont have the photo afterwards where a new rear shock is helicoptered in.

FYI show me the same bike in 30 years......

One of the reasons I waited to buy my 950 (apart from a complete lack of funds), was that I never version one of anything.

They do have a few niggles, but breaking shocks ain't one of them.
Have a look over at ADVRider.com, there's heaps of info. on them (and some great pics).

[Big Dave]

Stop it.
We're hijacking an interesting thread.

Kinda - point is there isn't a perfect bike for NZ - we're all individuals - like everyone else.

[Jantar]

Question for all - Ive been searching around for information on bikes looking for the next upgrade.

One of Hitchers post got me interested in the Suzuki V-Strom 1000.

What I'm looking for is a do-everything type bike.

• Good handling and reasonable power / speed so I can enjoy a bit of wrist down now and then.
• Comfortable riding for long treks, possibly taking it to o'seas for real long trips
• Ability to take 2 up for a long period (I'm taking my 11yo son with me camping etc)
• Be able to get to most places - although I'm not taking 'really off road'
• OK for commuting around town
• Value for money - the purchase price is not that important - but I don't want to pay double for a BMW that's only 5% "better"

In short - I'm intending of seeing 'a lot of NZ' - what would be the best bike to do this on (and why). I'm also hoping to do a couple of 'decent' overseas rides where Id ship the bike also - although that is later down the line.

Comments / debate appreciated:

- TS/ER range
- DR range
- TT, XT range
- XR range

Those would be my picks for the perfect bike in NZ.
Built like brick shithouses, off the shelf bearings, no electronics, flood proof.
All do over 100 kph.

All the bikes you guys mention have lots of bits to break off, hard to get parts, electronics/electrics that WILL fail if you try, rubbish fuel range, rubbish weight, rubbish tyres........so basically your wrong....

Somehow I don't see any of the bikes you've listed as being suitable for long distances 2 up with luggage.

As I commented earlier, there is no perfect bike, but plenty of good all round bikes. From what has been described, a larger capacity would be better. So the VStrom, GS1200, Tiger (07 or earlier model), would be the best ones to consider. Price would favour the Strom, but even I (as a Suzuki advocate) must admit that the Tiger has the smoothest engine of the three.

All of these will do over 320 km on a tank, so I wouldn't call that rubbish fuel range. Tyres are a matter of rider's choice, and why do you imagine that modern electronics "will" fail? The request is for a general purpose bike, not an off road trail bike.

[vgcspares]

Unless you've got good insurance you might want to steer clear of GSs - very fragile in a fall and they don't like repairing them. I've seen a few "lightly" damaged BMs get written off lately.