Queries and questions, aka a newbie

[Deleted Member I]

Buy an adventure!

Pips,

Buy the 1150 GS Adventure. It is a bloody cool bike and the stuff you can do with it.

From the sound of your posts, you are a pretty confident rider. So just go for it.

I have seen several "vertically challenged" people ride an adventure. None of them have "both feet flat on the ground" but the things they could do on the bike is unreal. Get some proper training and I sure you will fine.

If you get a 650GS and am unlucky in dropping it. Make sure you "jump off it" rather than fall off it. Take it from me .... bike damage is a lot less painful!


T.

 

[Reprobate]

I'm actually not as stupid as I sound

I have that problem, but in reverse. I'm not actually as intelligent as I sound.

I'd get the Transalp. Nice bike, easy to flog when you want to upgrade. And you'll have something to look forward to (I ended this sentence with a preposition on purpose!).

 

[Taff]

Thanks! .. but my bloke said I should go for the big one instead. I've only been riding since February..

I really admire your balls but take it easy, or you could soon become just another accident statistic! If you want my advice, ride what you feel safe with, not what your "bloke" suggests. If I were you I would get a 650 Dakar, put some serious miles on it and get more experience under your belt before I would even get on a 1150. I have seen big rufty tufty rugby players struggle with an Adventure, at 8 stone, believe me you will struggle big time. Don't feel that the Dakar is an inferior bike - of course I would rather an Adventure, but there are a few on this board that have gone from a 1150 or an Adventure to a Dakar.

 

[mikeh501]

You got balls man!

I've had my Adv approx 3 weeks now, and its a top bike as you prolly know.

I have some comments though re: your choice - but at the end of the day thats exactly what this is "your choice"

* At 8stone your going to struggle. Your 125 isn't going to be anything like a 1150GS! I am nearer 20st and 6ft like you. I have the low seat and on the odd occasion have had a 'moment' when going slow or coming to a halt fast etc - especially 2up. This is a bike which takes planning when parking etc.

* The GS is no light weight, and if you restrict it down to 33hp or whatever its going to go like a dog - and I'm not talking whippets! It definately wont light your fire thats for sure.

* GS, are your sure? I'm asking because I have been riding for 3 years and have had a Suzuki GSX1400, a Aprilia Futura and now the GS. When you have been riding for a bit, you will better understand what you want it for. I originally started out wanting to just hoon round at the weekends, I then did a couple of tours - Scotland then Italy. I am now a paid up Euro nut, hence the Adventure.

 

[kitchenpete]

pips,

I passed my DAS last year (2nd time) and I the 1150GS as my first bike, which I found easier to ride than any other bike I'd tried (Honda CB500, BROS 650, BMW 650GS and Suzuki Bandit 600)- inlcuding the 650GS. Balance of the 1150GS is amazing, provided you are moving.

However - as a newly passed biker, I paid £1200 insurance for the year (fully comp, parked outside in London) and I'm glad that I'm strong (only 5'11" but over 15 stone and that's not all fat!), particularly when the ground is uneven underfoot and/or riding two-up with full luggage. Remember - it's 250kg of bike plus you, pillion (could be >150kg between you) and maybe 50kg of luggage that you need to shift/hold upright. Both of these should make you think twice.

If you want to ride motorways, the Transalp's twin engine may be more comfortable than the high rev vibration of the single BMW 650s.

Good luck and reconsider the DAS test - surely it doesn't cost so much more.

KP

 

[Henry Mawson]

Not Henry, his horny girly...

I'm a bit late to this thread, so all sorts of stuff may have happened since - did you pass? Hope so.

Anyway, I'm a girl, 5FT 9IN, 10 stone, and have just been out to test ride a GS 650 Dakar. I've been gagging to have a go, I think they're very pretty and I'm dead impressed with what H can do on his GS1100 so assumed this would be a smaller version, you know, to tour on and do a little off road stuff. WRONG! As soon as I got on the motorway I knew I hated it. Which is a damn shame. I got blown all over the place, and it was really hard work. Great around town, loadsa power and torque for overtaking and motorways, but I just didn't feel safe. Oh, the seat was nice and comfy, too!

I've sat on H's GS and it's comfy, I can put both feet flat on the floor, and once I either persuade Carol Nash to insure me to ride other bikes, or go out when the plod are in bed, I'm well up for trying it out.

So it looks like I'll be keeping the Africa Twin for now - just need a better seat cos this one's bum hell.

You go for it, I went straight from a CG125 to a ZXR750, it just requires a little common sense. Moving a big heavy bike around at very low speed is difficult - my left wrist will attest to that(ouch) but once moving it'll be firmly planted (much more so than a 125) and at the end of the day you get used to it. Talking of which, I must go to the Asda carpark and learn how to do a u-ey on mine!!

Best of luck

Kirst x