The thing with most real bikers is that you can only afford one bike – my current employer certainly doesn’t see the need to pay me enough to run two – which boils down to the reality of having to chose a bike with way to many tricks to make it amazing.
I need a bike that will happily send me 27 miles down the A1 each morning, then crawl through Central London traffic. Okay easy, I need a commuter bike.
I need a bike that will tour the UK and the rest of the world on tarmac. Okay easy, I need a tourer.
I need a bike that will tour far away places that have no roads and take me on an adventure. Okay easy, I need an adventure bike.
Bugger.
So I need a good all-rounder – the CBF600 has been amazing, it’s a commuter that will happily take a shed load of luggage, not complain and let me tour the UK and beyond…. but it starts to get a bit limited when you hit even the most benile of b-roads.
That’s left me with a few other options, the BMW GS1200, the KTM Adventure, or maybe something from the far side, the Aprilia ETV 1000. The BMW is too flashy and everyone has one, the KTM is too tall and the Aprilia, well that’s just about right… except I’ve just discovered they are being discontinued.
Bugger.
So what now?
I’m in kind of the same boat Matt. I’ve just recently got the bug for adventure biking, but I have an R1 and I’m no Nick Sanders! I also have a KTM 625 Supermoto, which is great fun but has a range of about 60 miles. I don’t want to sell either as I love them too much.
I really want a 1200 GS Adventure, but I’m not really keen on shelling out £11K for a bike, plus, as you say, everyone’s got one. I don’t like the looks of the KTM 990 and it’s too tall also. I got the impression from Horizons Unlimited that many people consider the GS to be too heavy to take off the beaten track and that 600s to 800s are more the ideal engine size/weight combination. I’d be interested to know if you come up with any alternatives!
Yes you’re spot on there – was really tempted for the BMW 650 Dakar but it’s too much for a thumper for the daily grind.
I’m really tempted by the Aprilia but it depends on the price and if I can even get hold of one!
I ride just 7 miles on my daily commute and I’m numb by the time I get to work on the KTM. I’m dreading a trip to North Wales that I have coming up soon.
Fair play to the Dakar boys, but they’re racing! I want something a bit more comfy! Plus I want to carry a load of luggage and still have the two-up option, all of which basically eliminates the 650 and 800s for me I think. It seems that every path leads me back to 1200 GS at the end of the day. Plus, I quite like it’s helicopter gunship looks 😉
I have worries about reliability and also about seat height and weight as I’m a bit short, but I’ll arrange a couple of test rides and see how I get on. At the end of the day I guess they’re all capable bikes and, as my friend tells me, I should get the one I want and not worry about forum posts.
One last thought, have you considered the BMW F800 ST? Perhaps too road oriented like your CBF?
I should be studying but….Does it have to be new? Even if it does there’ll still be plenty of ‘new’ Capo’s around for a while and they are a good used buy. If you’re looking at a capo there’s also the Varaderro and the Vstrom – i- I know it’s a susuki.
Then there’s the Tiger – the ‘old’ 955 is still being made and is cheaper than the new one. And of course at some point in the not to distant BMW will wee on everyone’s party with the launch of the 800GS. So in a way – great choice but in another to much choice.
Look on http://www.xrv.org.uk for info on the vara a lot of peeps who ran Africa Twins are now on these and they love them – the firestorm engine works well in this bike and it’s a Honda too and a good option if height is a consoideration!
Did you get my last comment?
Seat height is the biggest concern of mine actually – plus everyone you talk to about the KTM says it’s designed to stand up on – and I don’t fancy hacking all the way to Russia and Morocco standing up!
I’ll let you know how I get on with the ETV – should be test riding it this week.
F800 – nice bike – like it a lot – but yes I don’t see the point in dumping the CBF for something so similar.
Matt, I went to Wollaston BMW in Northampton on Saturday to look at the 1200 GS, but I ended up putting a deposit down on a new GS Adventure! Awesome piece of kit, but unfortunately I have to sell my beloved R1 to pay for it.