Time to Make my Mind up!

[sniffy]

Hi Guys,

Some Advice please.... am looking at getting a HP2 Enduro. want it to ride on and off road and a bit of long distance stuff. Am I kidding myself that it will do all this? Looking at getting a 2nd seat made for road & the long distance stuff.

Spent some time on one at BMW School in South Wales and was good fun offroad but found the front end a little quick to turn seemed to drop into turns very fast.... Whats it like on the road?

Do you guys ever meet up for a ride?

Cheers

Sniffy

 

[folkbiker]

Hi Sniffy i live in Leeds and might have an HP2 for sale PM me if your interested or if you want ay info about HP2S
Cheers

 

[Spout]

Sniffy,

if you plan your long distance rides on A roads you'll be all right. HPs aren't too good on dual carriageways - constant revs, no balancer shaft, low(er) gearing, no weather protection etc.
Seat isn't a problem, and you'll be stopping every 120 miles to fill up anyway!

You don't say what you're used to riding, but the HP sort of feels like a 650 single on steroids

Buy one - you'll not be disappointed.

 

[Mav]

Hi Sniffy

Welcome to the site

It does depend on what kind of riding you want to do. As spout said, it's a bit like a 650 on steriods in that it weighs about the same as an F650 but has over twice the power So you can take it to some pretty gnarly places off-road... and have fun getting there.

As far as regular roadwork goes - using the SM rims, I use mine very day for my commute (between 100 and 300 miles depending on where I'm going) and for distance, two up touring (2200 miles around France in a week, 1600 miles around Ireland in a week). So I have a slightly different opinion to Spout in that I think the bike is fine on the motorway sitting at 80/85 all day. After 18000 miles, I'm still with the original seat, although the Renazco saddles do look sweet...

Personally, I can't think of a better single bike that will allow you to do some real off-roading and still do the road work. I also think it is a lot easier to make an HP2 more capable on the road than it is to make a GS/GSA more capable off-road.

Here's a couple pics of my set up:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/2621809025/" title="IMGP2419 by jsmarkos, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2621809025_626e76c540.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMGP2419" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/2622631322/" title="IMGP2417 by jsmarkos, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2622631322_79977b7817.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMGP2417" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/1872225705/" title="G hotel carpark by jsmarkos, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2342/1872225705_595d227a3d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="415" alt="G hotel carpark" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/1469130807/" title="IMGP1290 by jsmarkos, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1148/1469130807_b1f6b2316f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMGP1290" /></a>

As you can tell:

Hope that helps

 

[dirtydog]

Firstly, buy one with your eyes open!

There are some reliability issues with the bike, just read the threads!

It is ok off road, really depends what you call off road. Don't expect the lard arse to behave like a 450 enduro, you'll be very disappointed! For a bike of it's size it's pretty good, although not that much better than a standard 12 IMO...

It's a better road bike than it is off road. On SM rims with some stickies it's a hooligan and I take great pleasure in scratchin about with sportbikes on the weekend! On fast road riding the suspension is pretty crap. If I decide to keep mine that will be the first thing I'll change, up front and the rear.

As a commuter it's fine, although mine does struggle in slow moving traffic through the city, having a full race system doesn't help things though!

As a tourer, I wouldn't even bother spending the money to make it one, I'd buy a 12 instead. Although if you're into S&M and bondage you may want to tour on it...

Weather protection is non existant, it's a pretty harsh bike to ride through the winter!

There is one big plus to ownership.....there ain't many about! It's sort of nice to turn up to a bike meet of 200+ and yours is the only one on the carpark amongst all those common 12's and 1150's and the 'oh so gay' ADV's with twat suit clad pilots aboard...

Be part of the weird clan and buy one!

Welcome to the darkside...

DD...

 

[sniffy]

Thanks guys.....

Think have made my mind up to get one.....

Dont want a GS or ADV as when I was in europe it seemed that 3 out of 5 bikes were a GS or ADV.

Ridden GS and HP2 offroad and the HP2 was way more fun....

Mav what screen have you got on your? Have you had some mods done to forks as well?

Will keep you informed...

Cheers

Andy

 

[sniffy]

Folkbiker

dont know how to PM.... so contact me. Is it the HP2 Enduro you have?

Cheers

 

[Mav]

Thanks guys.....

Think have made my mind up to get one.....

Dont want a GS or ADV as when I was in europe it seemed that 3 out of 5 bikes were a GS or ADV.

Ridden GS and HP2 offroad and the HP2 was way more fun....

Mav what screen have you got on your? Have you had some mods done to forks as well?

Will keep you informed...

Cheers

Andy

The screen is a Puig standard screen that you can pick up from Hein Gerrick (SP?) for about £30 and mounts on to the headlight, using a couple spacers and slightly longer bolts. The forks mod is done by Dr Shox who essentially puts in what should've been there to start with Costs about £3/400 but it means my forks have been good for 18,000 miles.

With regards PM - you need to subscribe. It's a bargain at 12 pounds giving you PM ability as well as access to the for sale section and the virtual pub

Welcome to the dark side Andy

 

[oldfool]

make up your mind

I have had the hp2 a few years 16,000 miles. This bike will do anything you want. I,m getting ready for another 4000 mile plus road trip right now. I have also done some 100 mile offroad rides, not dirt roads real offroad rides. I have not had the problems you hear about,I don't believe you need special seats,windscreens,or heaters-just ride and enjoy. This bike is my favorite enduro I have owned. I took off all the stuff that doesn't belong on an enduro and used it for what it was designed. Have fun. Richard.

 

[scalpel]

The screen is a Puig standard screen that you can pick up from Hein Gerrick (SP?) for about £30 and mounts on to the headlight, using a couple spacers and slightly longer bolts. The forks mod is done by Dr Shox who essentially puts in what should've been there to start with Costs about £3/400 but it means my forks have been good for 18,000 miles.

With regards PM - you need to subscribe. It's a bargain at 12 pounds giving you PM ability as well as access to the for sale section and the virtual pub

Welcome to the dark side Andy

Hi Mav

You say the screen you are using is a Puig standard screen. Iam looking for this specific screen but need more details. Is it just known as a Puig standard screen or is there other model specs?

Thanks

 

[Mav]

Hi Mav

You say the screen you are using is a Puig standard screen. Iam looking for this specific screen but need more details. Is it just known as a Puig standard screen or is there other model specs?

Thanks

To be honest, I don't know It's the standard/universal screen that that Hein Gerrick sell. Unfortunately, it seems remarkably hard to find a Puig website. There are a few high res pics of the screen fitted here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/sets/72157601372005388/

Hope that helps

 

[scalpel]

To be honest, I don't know It's the standard/universal screen that that Hein Gerrick sell. Unfortunately, it seems remarkably hard to find a Puig website. There are a few high res pics of the screen fitted here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/sets/72157601372005388/

Hope that helps

Thanks Mav! I agree, Puig websites with the screens on is quite hard to find.

 

[Karlz]

My turn now

Okay, Ive been siliently looking at these thread for a little while.
Not contributing a hell of a lot.
I have owned a HP2 for 3 years now. (warranty expired)
Its the only BMW I have ever owned. I've had a shitload of other jap bikes, and I have always been anti-Bmw. I always thought the Bm's were old fogie bikes. I saw the HP2 enduro in the showroom, thought I better give it a try.
End result, I bought one.

The HP2, like a lot of other contributors on this site confirm, is the wakiest, craziest bike ever made. It has a wow factor, you know when you roll up to a bike meet, no one ever has one (exception Wales tosser meet). It drops wheelies in 3rd gear without dropping the clutch (100 kph). Its a truly maniac bike.

It has its short comings. The tank range is not like an adventurer, but who want to ride it more than 100 miles without giving the arse a rest.
Carrying capacity is shit, wear a backpack.
Relaiability? Odyssey battery, snip the side stand switch, all is ok.
Suspension is soft, ride it offroad.
I dont know how good it goes on the road with SM wheels, I didnt buy it for that.


I ride it offroad, its good.
I ride to work in it, its good.
I do doughnuts on my mates lawn, its good.
I ride to the local coffee shop, it looks good.

I love the bike.
It cost me an arm and a leg to ship it from UK back to Aus, but was well worth it. These bikes are even rarer here than Europe.

Great bike. I hope BMW dont make another, I like the rarity factor.

(ps: I know why people sell them, scares the shit out of me still)

 

[sniffy]

Thanks Karlz,

think you have hit the nail on the head as to why I want one...... or should I say have bought one.....

Think mine will spend more time on the road but i am sure its going to be loads of fun...

Cheers

 

[NZGSer]

Good man. Even rarer here than in Oztralia I suspect, only 7 in the country that I know of and one one of those resold since first owner. Mind you, we had 4 turn up on an off-road ride just recently in Wellington, felt flippin' common to be amogst that lot

Mine is a couple a years old now, I use it nearly every day (a lot on gravel and mud), the side stand has been crippled since day one, it's scratched to buggery, my boots have rubbed nearly all the paint off the frame, it sucks gas and gets through rear tyres like its possessed and the warning lamps come on and go off as they feel like it. It's just had its 40K service so just run in really.

I might be persuaded to sell it ........

lets see ........

.....

.....

..... nah, don't think so

 

[Mav]

Good man. Even rarer here than in Oztralia I suspect, only 7 in the country that I know of and one one of those resold since first owner. Mind you, we had 4 turn up on an off-road ride just recently in Wellington, felt flippin' common to be amogst that lot

Mine is a couple a years old now, I use it nearly every day (a lot on gravel and mud), the side stand has been crippled since day one, it's scratched to buggery, my boots have rubbed nearly all the paint off the frame, it sucks gas and gets through rear tyres like its possessed and the warning lamps come on and go off as they feel like it. It's just had its 40K service so just run in really.

I might be persuaded to sell it ........

lets see ........

.....

.....

..... nah, don't think so

40K miles??

I thought mine was high as 20k...