Honda @ on Tard me at Thunderbike in Nelson

**White trash** · 6th March 2009, 22:05

Originally Posted by Eddieb

haha buy my 888 ya caaant, you know you want to.

Yeah well, I saw the light, I may ride 2 massey ferguson's now but at least it's not a gay honda huh.

Brother, if I had a single cent, I'd spend it on your triple eight.

The ONLY spaghetti I've ever aspired to own.

**MyGSXF:Me** · 6th March 2009, 22:18

Originally Posted by thommo77

Get in there girl!

would love to.. but I don't have money....

**Winston001** · 7th March 2009, 00:01

Originally Posted by White trash

Brother, if I had a single cent, I'd spend it on your triple eight.

The ONLY spaghetti I've ever aspired to own.

Hmmm......I must be missing something here. Lovely bike, first of the watercooled quattros, yep all good, but according to Trademe, sellers want $10 - $28,000 for what is an early 90s machine.

Can understand a Darmah in good nick being worth something but why is the 888 so special?

**White trash** · 7th March 2009, 05:56

Originally Posted by Winston001

Hmmm......I must be missing something here. Lovely bike, first of the watercooled quattros, yep all good, but according to Trademe, sellers want $10 - $28,000 for what is an early 90s machine.

Can understand a Darmah in good nick being worth something but why is the 888 so special?

Simple. Because I like the shape and it's got more poke than an 851.

Darmahs are just horrible old bikes. Every man and his dog has a 916. So I'd get the in between model. Modern enough to be acceptable in the handling department, but almost a calssic in a way.

**warewolf** · 7th March 2009, 13:34

Originally Posted by thommo77

Hey, MyGSXF - that's gotta be you!

Nah, way too heavy & street-biased. She wants something she can take trail riding and fall off with confidence!

**Winston001** · 7th March 2009, 14:03

Originally Posted by White trash

Simple. Because I like the shape and it's got more poke than an 851.

Darmahs are just horrible old bikes. Every man and his dog has a 916. So I'd get the in between model. Modern enough to be acceptable in the handling department, but almost a classic in a way.

Cool. Looks like the 916 holds it's value too from TM asking prices. My ST4 is a 916 and I loves it. Whats interesting is an ST4 which is newer, has touring ergonomics and good for long-distance work, can be bought cheaper than the pure sports 916. Go figure. But I do like the 888 and 916 shape.

**buggsubique** · 7th March 2009, 14:36

Originally Posted by warewolf

Nah, way too heavy & street-biased. She wants something she can take trail riding and fall off with confidence!

Something small and light like a DR-Z perhaps?

**BMWST?** · 7th March 2009, 17:00

somemone wanna elaborate some pros and cons here tween this an the r100gs for me?I would be a returning rider with lots of road experience,6'3".did have a dt3 many moons ago and did lots of akatarawas etc then.At this stage i dont envisage doing real trail riding but The RRR and the wairarapa ride a week or so ago seems like the sort of thing i would like to do.I also plan some overnight camping trips using say the conservation dept camp sites,so dont want to be stopped by a roughish ford or the like.I must say i am mightily biased towards a shaft drive bike.

**Underground** · 7th March 2009, 17:48

If you search hard enough you will find detractors for all aspect of both bikes ,but at the end of the day they are both ideal for the tasks you have in mind so its just a matter of what floats your boat, if you have a shaft thing then ride the shaft !

**BMWST?** · 7th March 2009, 18:01

Originally Posted by Underground

If you search hard enough you will find detractors for all aspect of both bikes ,but at the end of the day they are both ideal for the tasks you have in mind so its just a matter of what floats your boat, if you have a shaft thing then ride the shaft !

this is true of course but the interweb seems to be full of people who have NO TOLERANCE for other bikes...would appreciate real world exp withthe said bikes.Couple of examples.According to the web R1000GS are plagued with hall sensor issues and if you dont have a circlip in the gearbox you are doomed...

**Motu** · 7th March 2009, 18:03

I haven't had either bike....but sorta close.The XLV750 had a shaft drive,which was good.Things against it were top heavy - at 6'3'' it's not going to be as big a problem for you as me at a puny 5'7'',but you will still be fighting that high CG all the time.You may say you don't care,but might have second thoughts when you pick it up for the 12th time....and the GS riders pass you by.Parts won't be such an issue with the XRV750 as the XLV,but there will be many more ''problems'' getting parts than a BMW.Plus is that Honda V twin just kicks arse! Personally the XRV750 would be the better bike to ride.

I have set up my R65 for gravel road use,opting for the lower bike and free revving engine over a tall GS and lethargic big capacity.A much more planted bike on the road,and the best bike I've ridden for a long time in gravel.Parts availability and ease of maintenance are a big plus for me.

I'd go for the BMW....but an Africa Twin is hard to walk away from.

**Underground** · 7th March 2009, 18:23

Originally Posted by BMWST?

this is true of course but the interweb seems to be full of people who have NO TOLERANCE for other bikes...would appreciate real world exp withthe said bikes.Couple of examples.According to the web R1000GS are plagued with hall sensor issues and if you dont have a circlip in the gearbox you are doomed...

Well the @ has a couple of problems too ,fuel pump and reg/rec replace them with aftermarket jobs or you're doomed . so they are even stevens so far .
Oh ,and rear tyres only last 4500 k's

**buggsubique** · 9th March 2009, 17:41

so has anyone seen or riden this bike yet? Might have a squiz on Thurs while I'm there.

**thepom** · 9th March 2009, 18:11

Ok I,ve had my africa twin for about a year now and am pretty happy with it AFTER you have done the fixes that are problems for these bikes....reg/rec....fuel pump.......(replaced with a facett solid state)....fit engine bars... and of course check the front drive shaft-you have to take the gear lever and side cover off and check the play on the front sprocket,ideally removing that too to inspect the splines on the drive shaft.You have to do this as people and mechanics tighten the chain too tight and destroys the splines.If its worn its an engine out job and split the crankcases to replace it,always ,always keep the chain a bit looser than on a normal bike.Check out this website in the UK for all info you need on the africa...its a great site and some one will always help you out with answers to any questions. www.xrv.org.uk You don,t have salt on the roads here like the UK so you won,t have the problem of wheels and brake calipers rotting. My major problem is spares,almost all my stuff comes from europe second hand or new and postage is the killer,but there is a good honda dealer in the north island that is supposed to be helpful( casbolts here in chch suck)....It is a terrific all round bike for touring and off road but tall and heavy but for the price you should snap it up.It is honda quality without the price of a beemer or ktm....good luck and go for it as you will not be disappointed