Are we the odd ones out?

[Posh Pete]

I've still got my 100GS and not likely to change it any time soon. I keep on being attracted to shiny new things but, so far, have resisted the temptation after weighing the pros and cons. The old airhead will tour just as well as any new bike, will carry all my gear and achieve pretty much the same average speeds. MPG is the only down side at 45 ish but the cash saved in not buying a new bike easily compensates for that.

 

[timeandtide]

I've still got my 100GS and not likely to change it any time soon. I keep on being attracted to shiny new things but, so far, have resisted the temptation after weighing the pros and cons. The old airhead will tour just as well as any new bike, will carry all my gear and achieve pretty much the same average speeds. MPG is the only down side at 45 ish but the cash saved in not buying a new bike easily compensates for that.

Unfortunately mine is refusing to start at the moment!

 

[AnotherGSGSGS]

I’m just observing that we airheaders are nowadays a minority group in the way that we think about our bikes

I wonder whether there is an element of our childhoods that gives us a certain mindset.
As a child I remember being stood in the cab of a 1978 ford transit Luton my dad had converted to a camper van. With a metal bar and a couple of fan belts I was holding up the gear box! Later I recall pulling the engine to bits on a 1978 Austin princess as it had blown the piston rings if I recall. I'm not grateful to my father for much as he's left me far more shit than gold but that exposure meant that an engine is not a scary black box and that I'm very grateful for!

Getting a professional to do certain things is sensible for time and quality, but dependence on a 3rd party for basic maintenance of a machine out of warranty is problem in my view.

I wonder how much it's down to lack of confidence Vs lack of desire to self maintain/modify.

I'm sure there are many who are simply too scared to work on their bikes in case they break something or can't put it back together correctly. That's easily solved with your good bike and a cheap minger to mess about with.

 

[Bubb]

Love the simplicity of my airhead st g/ s hybrid……
also love the guzzi v85tt as it’s like having a modern airhead gs…… goes well, handles well, sips fuel.
I believe that the guzzi v85tt is the perfect new bike for the airhead enthusiast. Not much electronics, no canbus, air cooled, shaft drive….suitable for home mechanics.

have the triumph tiger 650 (1970) for when I really want simple, classic, and probably going to break down to make any ride an adventure …. As the old saying goes : “ triumph, making men into mechanics since 1902”….
but it’s simple, so even I can understand it.

 

[ChasF]

I like the V85TT and see it a pretty close to being a modern day replacement for the R100GS even though it has a TFT screen and comes with an ‘app’. Although probably no longer a requirement for me I still don’t see it as an overlander. But for us it proved too cramped for 2 up trips (we’re tall but not especially large but we have this issue with a lot of bikes).

I started out with British bikes so the ability to make roadside repairs was a necessity but it was only when we were about to set off to SA on the R100GS that I really started to look into tools and spares to enable us to keep going. Apart from some serious tyre problems the only two things that went wrong we could fix ourselves.

At the end of the day though, it’s not just the ability to fix it at the roadside that makes a simpler bike my preference.

 

[barny]

I've just been looking at Mikeys post "Here ya go Kenny" and that typifies what has been said in this post. If that was a 1250LC at a stealer that would be empty your bank account and a new gearbox mainly because they can. Also probably find the dealer "Technician" will not have the knowledge or special tools to do the job so its out with the old in with the new and will it be recycled? I wonder which side of 2K the new gearbox would be? We have a lot to be thankful for with people like Mikey, Richie M and others for their knowledge, experience and they willingness to pass it on.

 

[King Rat]

Motorcycling is meant to be a simple pleasure. The modern bikes have made it more and more complicated, even navigation has been taken over by computerised gubbins. I enjoy the simple ride and I actually think the looks of the airheads are better, you can actually see the engine and the aesthetics are so much better, without having to resort to hiding the wiring and plumbing behind a big plastic sheet.

 

[oldnfat]

A quiet evening here, sipping whisky and listening to the wind rattling the windows. Browsing around the UKGSer forum the thought struck me that our little airhead section could be a very small minority group, with the majority being folks who have an interest in newer bikes. Myself I lost interest in new bikes in the noughties when sports bikes became miniaturised and more and more electronics gubbins was added to everything. Does that make me a Luddite, I don’t know, but I cannot get excited about any new bike on offer today and prefer the mechanical simplicity of my airheads and oil heads. I know that the marketeers claim that its the ‘buyers’ who demand more and more tech in their bikes (and cars) but I’m not convinced this is true, I think it’s technology for technology’s sake and it’s there because engineers like pushing boundaries, but I may be in the minority here (in fact I’m sure I am and I don’t care). Could be that I’ve reached a ripe old age where I’m cynical about whether things in general are ’progressing’ or actually turning to ratshit……

The only reason technology is ever encroaching is so that there is a reason to update your car/ motorcycle at the end of your 3 year PCP…..increasing the cost of said machines so the only way you can afford them is to buy through PCP…..a virtuous circle for someone although I fear not for the poor punter.

 

[mikeyboy]

I stuck my proverbial toe into the new 1300 section.
The tech is amazing,but for me ,worthless.
I love powerful bikes, but I want no electronic intervention.at all.
Abs is great on a bike,but way too expensive when it goes wrong.
When it all gets hooked up with traction control,electronic suspension etc etc.
too much,
Add into the mix that replacement parts just won’t be available ,in a few years for these bikes that get updated every season.
I’ll stick with airheads

 

[dean0n0]

I stuck my proverbial toe into the new 1300 section.
The tech is amazing,but for me ,worthless.
I love powerful bikes, but I want no electronic intervention.at all.
Abs is great on a bike,but way too expensive when it goes wrong.
When it all gets hooked up with traction control,electronic suspension etc etc.
too much,
Add into the mix that replacement parts just won’t be available ,in a few years for these bikes that get updated every season.
I’ll stick with airheads

But it's adding value.

 

[mikeyboy]

But it's adding value.

Lol,to who?

 

[dean0n0]

Lol,to who?

Obviously the ones who are shelling out their hard earned, bigger, more technologically advanced and refined than last years model.

Quality of materials, finish, longevity don't come in to it when you upgrade to the latest, must have model every few years.

 

[dean0n0]

And another thing!
Reliability and fixability aren't so crucial when you have a mobile phone and recovery services.

 

[Engineer]

A quiet evening here, sipping whisky and listening to the wind rattling the windows. Browsing around the UKGSer forum the thought struck me that our little airhead section could be a very small minority group, with the majority being folks who have an interest in newer bikes. Myself I lost interest in new bikes in the noughties when sports bikes became miniaturised and more and more electronics gubbins was added to everything. Does that make me a Luddite, I don’t know, but I cannot get excited about any new bike on offer today and prefer the mechanical simplicity of my airheads and oil heads. I know that the marketeers claim that its the ‘buyers’ who demand more and more tech in their bikes (and cars) but I’m not convinced this is true, I think it’s technology for technology’s sake and it’s there because engineers like pushing boundaries, but I may be in the minority here (in fact I’m sure I am and I don’t care). Could be that I’ve reached a ripe old age where I’m cynical about whether things in general are ’progressing’ or actually turning to ratshit……

Alot of the electronic gubbins is there to meet emissions regulations, ultra precise timing and fuelling is needed and that can no longer be achieved by mechanical means alone. If you have to have computer in there then you might as well use it for more than just emissions control.

My last fully air-cooled bike was a 2002 Ducati 620 i.e. I loved it for it's relative simplicity, it still had a cold start lever - if you like doing your own servicing then simple is always best. On the other hand the all around performance of modern bikes far ahead of bikes of even 20 years ago like my old Ducati. As always it depends on what you want a bike for - these days I just ride them (alot) and clean them; the dealer gets to do everything else

 

[Mad Hatter]

I stuck my proverbial toe into the new 1300 section.
The tech is amazing,but for me ,worthless.
I love powerful bikes, but I want no electronic intervention.at all.
Abs is great on a bike,but way too expensive when it goes wrong.
When it all gets hooked up with traction control,electronic suspension etc etc.
too much,
Add into the mix that replacement parts just won’t be available ,in a few years for these bikes that get updated every season.
I’ll stick with airheads

Got to agree with you on all of those points Mikey

 

[barny]

Got to agree with you on all of those points Mikey

Also you get that added value of carrying most of the on road development which most manufactures have had to limit to meet the restrictions put in place by the accountants to allow them to make large profits. There is probably more design put into the electronics and to ensure the bikes will just make the warranty period which will help the profitability of the dealers and the extended warranty insurance.

 

[peepingtom]

as much as I love airheads (since 1990) nowadays I prefer riding more modern bikes. they are much nicer to ride with better ergonomics and better reliability . I still have a basic but it's been under wraps and off the road for 2/3 years now . I like to look at it and dream and will get it back on the road one day but it's all a bit rose coloured spectacles often not as good as I remember. if I go on a trip id rather be on my Tuareg and if local the 350 scooter is great. at the moment not much is getting ridden unfortunately . just been out on the super cub 125 as away in camper at the moment as with that didn't have the silly keyless system so unnecessary on a simple little bike.

 

[Mad Hatter]

I’ve knocked off biking for this year now they’ve started putting salt on the roads up here, but the conversation on this thread is prompting me to try a euro trip on my Basic next year, just to see if old school can cut it on a big trip. It’s a bit of a daft question really given the number of people who’ve ridden around the world on airheads, but I’m not one of them and it will be a new things for me. Putting money where my mouth is as it were……

 

[timeandtide]

I’ve knocked off biking for this year now they’ve started putting salt on the roads up here, but the conversation on this thread is prompting me to try a euro trip on my Basic next year, just to see if old school can cut it on a big trip. It’s a bit of a daft question really given the number of people who’ve ridden around the world on airheads, but I’m not one of them and it will be a new things for me. Putting money where my mouth is as it were……

Is there scope, I wonder, for an airhead euro trip next year?
Dolomites, Picos, Pyrenees?
Could be great fun.
MickDB1 intererested?

 

[Pukmeister]

I guess one rider could carry a few vital spares and another a few tools, that should cover all bases for supporting the whole group ?

How do they run on E10 ??