HP2 Adventure

[snoopy]

Well it's still:

too expensive
too heavy
too complex
too thirsty

I'd stick with my trusty DRZ and save the extra 7+ grand! Stick 1k on DRZ extras and it'll do everything better than the HP2 other than outright speed.

 

[richie]

Snoopy, link to photos of your DRZ please

 

[Zwerver]

I agree, the DRZ is cheaper, lighter, simpler, and can do almost anything better then the Hp2. To be honest, al the rides I've made until now could have been done with a DRZ, or even an ancient MZ250. Sometimes it would have been more easy, sometimes not.
I would have saved a lot of money, f.e. to buy peanut butter to last a lifetime,
or save it for a very expensive gravestone, but I decided otherwise...

 

[runeo]

I agree, the DRZ is cheaper, lighter, simpler, and can do almost anything better then the Hp2. To be honest, al the rides I've made until now could have been done with a DRZ, or even an ancient MZ250. Sometimes it would have been more easy, sometimes not.
I would have saved a lot of money, f.e. to buy peanut butter to last a lifetime,
or save it for a very expensive gravestone, but I decided otherwise...

HP2, when to much is NOT enough!

/Rune

 

[snoopy]

Prepare yourself... the DRZ photo's are coming (just received more adventure equipment and currently bolting up!).

DRZ .... because HP2's are for well-to-do ladys.

 

[Trippy]

That is a great picture.
Makes me want one.

 

[AndyT]

For my coming Icelandtrip I swapped my 1200gsa for a 1200hp2:

HPN tank and TT Zega panniers

My old TT VP45 Tankbag for the 11xxgs fists quite good on the Hpn tank

No pic yet of the Technoflex suspension upgrade...

Gert - do you have any photos with just the Zega rails on the bike?

AndyT

By the way you never mentioned you were getting an HP2 at the Easter GS event!!!

 

[AndyT]

Pannierframe reinforces the original frame, so I should be able to get some weight loaded on it. The panniers itself have a max load of 10kg according to Touratech.
Leaving friday, so in the next few weeks it will be clear how the Hp2 holds loaded with some camping/hiking gear on bad roads...

Will you be stopping off at Kelso on your way up to Aberdeen for the ferry to Iceland. Its a Big bike meeting with the GS club having a stand there! m Fri/Sat/Sun

 

[beachman]

drz

unless i have missed the point...........How could u compare a drz and the hp2.Long trips with a combination of off road,slightly single track and big kms of transport sections.You would hate the suzuki for that. I know guys who trailor drz's to do big desert trips but long trips NO WAY.Love the setup of the hp2 with the tank, wish hpn would make mine.

 

[kiwiAdventure]

Why are we comparing the HP with a heap of cheap Jap junk.

 

[snoopy]

unless i have missed the point...........How could u compare a drz and the hp2.Long trips with a combination of off road,slightly single track and big kms of transport sections.You would hate the suzuki for that. I know guys who trailor drz's to do big desert trips but long trips NO WAY.Love the setup of the hp2 with the tank, wish hpn would make mine.

You have missed what is possible with the DRZ thanks to a huge aftermarket of parts. You'll see when I post my pictures that the DRZ does long trips better than the HP2. I did Newcastle to Wales, offroading and back to Newcastle in 24hrs.

Please only take into consideration that to compare the two has a difference of 7k of spare change and that with some of that you can lace the DRZ with high end components. Of course, the DRZ suspension is equal out the box, the engine is arguably of newer technology and the gearbox is a generation ahead. It requires work to make a DRZ high end but in that config I'd take on a HP2 anyday in anything other than outright speed (as I said earlier).

 

[MikeP]

Why are we comparing the HP with a heap of cheap Jap junk.

Not many of us are!

It's just the perennial phenomena of someone feeling the need to publicly state the rationale for their own personal choices in the (vain) hope that others will provide some sort of solidarity!

Back on topic:

I've always been keen to see someone take an HP2 and extend its "tourability" like this. It's an idea that I've toyed with once or twice myself but I had to come to terms with the fact that my type of travel means that a large % of my time is spent getting to the places I want to be. I think that the HP2, even modified, isn't the best bike for that.

It doesn't stop me being very interested in the outcome of others HP2 resolutions and I'll be very interested in the eventual reportage from the trip.

 

[Zwerver]

Gert - do you have any photos with just the Zega rails on the bike?

AndyT

By the way you never mentioned you were getting an HP2 at the Easter GS event!!!

Hi Andy,

At Easter I was still negotiating with my BMW dealer to get a decent price for my GSA. Only after they heard my younger sister was going to make a report of this trip to Iceland for our MC Magazine Moto73, there was a bit more possible and he made me an offer I coudln't refuse...

Some photos of the Zega rails (click to open large format):

Will you be stopping off at Kelso on your way up to Aberdeen for the ferry to Iceland. Its a Big bike meeting with the GS club having a stand there! m Fri/Sat/Sun

We are taking the ferry on saturdayevening in Hanstolm/Denmark. Toyed with the idea of combining the trip with some days in the Uk, starting at the HogRaost and take the Aberdeen ferry, but unfortunately I had too much work to do..
Hope to be over at your side of the pond in september for the Princetown event.
__________________

 

[Vern]

I don't think you can really compare an HP2 with a DRZ.The only reason the HP2 has mirrors,is so you can larf at all the rocks hitting the DRZ as you accelerate away from them.They are also useful when waiting for the aforementioned DRZ on the road.

For anyone with any doubts about the HP2,and what it's really for,should have a look at www.pgdakar.com and then decide if they want a DRZ or not!

 

[AndyT]

Thanks for the pics Gert,
I will definately be ordering up a set of these for longer trips and look forward to your trip report (I've still to post mine on my recent trip tothe Czech Republic ).

I will miss Princetown as I am away with work again.

Have Fun

AndyT

 

[Zwerver]

Andy,

The German company AfricanQueens also make some interesting parts for the Hp2,
and their pannier rails looks like a very good alternative for the TT version...
As I ordered mine, there was no info on that system, but I do not know if I would have gone for the tt one..

 

[AndyT]

Andy,

The German company AfricanQueens also make some interesting parts for the Hp2,
and their pannier rails looks like a very good alternative for the TT version...
As I ordered mine, there was no info on that system, but I do not know if I would have gone for the tt one..

Thanks Geret - I've seen this site and impressed with it. The owner has a fantastic looking HP2 with a large tank and superb paint job.

I'll check out the rails as you suggest

Thanks

Andy

 

[Dahoum]

I would have saved a lot of money, f.e. to buy peanut butter to last a lifetime, or save it for a very expensive gravestone, but I decided otherwise...

what an excellent philosophy of bike owning/riding

 

[Tsiklonaut]

I don't think you can really compare an HP2 with a DRZ.The only reason the HP2 has mirrors,is so you can larf at all the rocks hitting the DRZ as you accelerate away from them.They are also useful when waiting for the aforementioned DRZ on the road.

For anyone with any doubts about the HP2,and what it's really for,should have a look at www.pgdakar.com and then decide if they want a DRZ or not!

You just can't compare 1200cc with 400cc, it's 3 times difference in the power... but it is not 3 times difference in the weight department.

Thus the rest figure out yerselves...

Different strokes for different blokes, personally I'd take the HP2 thingy any day if I'd had the sufficent tosh fer it

I agree, the DRZ is cheaper, lighter, simpler, and can do almost anything better then the Hp2. To be honest, al the rides I've made until now could have been done with a DRZ, or even an ancient MZ250. Sometimes it would have been more easy, sometimes not.
I would have saved a lot of money, f.e. to buy peanut butter to last a lifetime,
or save it for a very expensive gravestone, but I decided otherwise...

what an excellent philosophy of bike owning/riding

Well sayed that. HP2 is deffo my dream bike to compliment me trusty 1100, since there exists no R900RR as a production machine that is no.1. in me wet-dream list.

Just had a ride with blokes on TT600R and DR800Big, we swopped bikes and did rough running offroad. Altough lighter bikes have their charm in very technical sections, it made me clear that it's the mammoth-trailies I like to ride. To open them up in the open spaces, no need to trash them to get them moving, big grin those big trailies make

Again that proves that it is different strokes for different blokes. Very nice HP2 travel kitted btw

Wish they made the 54 litre fuel tanks that the R900RRs had, HP2 has the same frame so they should be retrofittable:

Now that'd make me uber-wet dream bike for travel or even trans-Sahara

Maybe ask HPN about tanks?

 

[snoopy]

I don't think you can really compare an HP2 with a DRZ.The only reason the HP2 has mirrors,is so you can larf at all the rocks hitting the DRZ as you accelerate away from them.They are also useful when waiting for the aforementioned DRZ on the road.

For anyone with any doubts about the HP2,and what it's really for,should have a look at www.pgdakar.com and then decide if they want a DRZ or not!

That doesn't happen when you run out of fuel though, and it's $120 for a big DRZ tank ... or £400? for a bigger HP2 tank. Or get stuck in the mud and have to pick out another 60kg of excess. Does the HP2 even have tubed tyres? Bah.,

The HP2 only wins in the power department. There is nothing else the HP2 does better - try naming something. That power costs £7,000 extra and 65mpg on the DRZ becomes 35mpg on the HP2.

Don't get me wrong, I love the HP2, but I think you can could count all the travellers that would take an HP2 over a DRZ for real off-the-beaten-track touring on one hand.

Anyway I'm not really comparing the DRZ to the HP2. I'm asking, is the HP2 or a DRZ (or something similar) a more suitable "Adventure" bike.