I have experience with Jeeps, Tacomas, Sportsmobiles, etc but I have an itch for an adventure bike. I have researched the BMW r1200 GSA and all sounds perfect but I'm wanting to glean some 411 from the locals. I'm 6'4", 215#, road 60%, gravel and White rim-ish stuff 40% of the time, money less of an issue, function and dependibility the most important thing. LMK what you think...
Which bike?
- Thread starter tomesd
- Start date
CoastalDefender
Explorer
trailsurfer
Explorer
BMW 1200 GSA, you can't go wrong with the bike for your 60/40 use. I am 6'2", 210.
And after putzing around the last few years with all kinds of bikes, the BMW 1200 GSA, for me and most of my friends, wins by a mile. It can go most places you could ever dream of going , with the range and comfort that other bikes just don't have.
And after putzing around the last few years with all kinds of bikes, the BMW 1200 GSA, for me and most of my friends, wins by a mile. It can go most places you could ever dream of going , with the range and comfort that other bikes just don't have.
Not crazy off road stuff- mostly gravel, maybe some mild jeep trails, etc.
goodtimes
Expedition Poseur
The 1200GS is perfectly capable of the use you are describing -- but it's a big damn bike.
You mention that money isn't such an object. Given that, and the fact that you didn't mention any previous motorcycle riding experience, I would suggest that you first take the Basic Rider Course from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and get your license (the MSF will provide a bike for the course). Then get in touch with Jim Hyde out at Raw-Hyde Adventures. He runs the west coast BMW training school, and has a fleet of R1200GSs that people can rent while taking his training courses (which are very good, BTW). Take his intro course on the 1200. That will show you what you are up against for the type of terrain you are planning on riding.
The 1200 is a fantastic bike -- but I'll go out on a limb and say that it probably isn't the best bike to learn on, for most people anyway.
Another option would be to visit the Raw-Hyde booth at the 2011 Overland Expo. They will have their rental fleet there, along with instructors and a riding course where they will be giving riding clinics (along with a few of us who aren't associated with them).
You mention that money isn't such an object. Given that, and the fact that you didn't mention any previous motorcycle riding experience, I would suggest that you first take the Basic Rider Course from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and get your license (the MSF will provide a bike for the course). Then get in touch with Jim Hyde out at Raw-Hyde Adventures. He runs the west coast BMW training school, and has a fleet of R1200GSs that people can rent while taking his training courses (which are very good, BTW). Take his intro course on the 1200. That will show you what you are up against for the type of terrain you are planning on riding.
The 1200 is a fantastic bike -- but I'll go out on a limb and say that it probably isn't the best bike to learn on, for most people anyway.
Another option would be to visit the Raw-Hyde booth at the 2011 Overland Expo. They will have their rental fleet there, along with instructors and a riding course where they will be giving riding clinics (along with a few of us who aren't associated with them).
RunninRubicon
Adventurer
Question
Is Raw-Hawde going to have the F800 BMW to offer as a rental as well? This would make for a wonderful opportunity to get to ride one in the environment that I'd like to ride one in. Usually a test ride from a shop avails you a ride on the street only.... short of jumping the curb or buzying the sidewalk, it's hard to get an appreciation of a dual-sport on but one surface. Does anyone know?
thnks.
Is Raw-Hawde going to have the F800 BMW to offer as a rental as well? This would make for a wonderful opportunity to get to ride one in the environment that I'd like to ride one in. Usually a test ride from a shop avails you a ride on the street only.... short of jumping the curb or buzying the sidewalk, it's hard to get an appreciation of a dual-sport on but one surface. Does anyone know?
thnks.
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
Glen Heggstad is 6'3" 220 and he LOVES the big Beemers. That's what he rides for his daily driver.
However, he already had over a million miles (literally - no exaggeration) on hot rodded Harleys before he switched to adventure bikes.
He chose the smaller Beemer 650 for RTW use.
He trades them in and buys a new one when the warranty is up because he doesn't want to get stuck with a big repair bill - he rides 'em hard and big Beemers can be expensive to fix.
However, he already had over a million miles (literally - no exaggeration) on hot rodded Harleys before he switched to adventure bikes.
He chose the smaller Beemer 650 for RTW use.
He trades them in and buys a new one when the warranty is up because he doesn't want to get stuck with a big repair bill - he rides 'em hard and big Beemers can be expensive to fix.
I think the 650 Beemer is a great bike, lighter than the big ones. But, you'll be waiting on parts in many areas if you break down and in smallville, the local bike shop guy will likely be working on a Harley and occassionally a rice burner.
Therefore, my choice is the Transalp dual sport. Light, sips gas, quick and will do 75 all day. Problem with dual sports is that none are great off road and on road. IMO, the Beemer is about 70% on road and 30% off. The Transalp has a long history of winnings at Dakar and is closely balanced between the two worlds.
But I am bias,since I ride a Transalp. lol
Therefore, my choice is the Transalp dual sport. Light, sips gas, quick and will do 75 all day. Problem with dual sports is that none are great off road and on road. IMO, the Beemer is about 70% on road and 30% off. The Transalp has a long history of winnings at Dakar and is closely balanced between the two worlds.
But I am bias,since I ride a Transalp. lol
goodtimes
Expedition Poseur
I believe they will have 800s at the Expo (along with the 1200s, and probably some smaller bikes). They will have a huge presence at this years Overland Expo.
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
Aye. He started with a KLR650 which he rode down to Nicaragua and back to California on a "shakedown cruise". He used that same bike when he started South America and was still on it when "The Columbian Thing" happened and they stole it from him. But it was already having problems and starting to break down by then.
After he got released and was hanging out at Ricardo Rocco's place in Quito, Brad shipped him his bike, which was another KLR setup exactly the same as Glen's first one was and was being prepped to join up with Glen in Panama. If you saw both bikes side by side, you could only really tell the difference because in the toolbox bolted to the back, I scratched "#2" into the fresh wet bed liner material right after the inside of the box was sprayed. It was a 3-day mad rush to get the bike prepped, crated and delivered to the shipper in Los Angeles - and then U.S. Customs sat on it in Florida for 6 weeks before they let it get shipped to Ecuador. We were pretty sure the fix was in and US.gov didn't want Glen hopping on his new bike and heading back up into Columbia to retrieve #1. Maybe they figured he needed a cooling off period.
#2 did okay, but by the time he'd hit TDF and was on his way back up along the east coast it was already having problems. It eventually broke an alternator mounting boss inside the case which he got welded up at a small dirt bike shop. By the time he got to Manaus it was pretty much falling apart and he was deep into a "NO MORE KLRs" mood.
After a thousand mile boat ride up the Amazon, he flew to Panama and picked up a new BMW 650 and hooked up with Brad. Brad had come down to ride the last leg home with Glen, and brought KLR #3, which he had bought to replace #2 that he'd sent to Ecuador.
By the time Glen got back to California, he had fallen in love and transformed into "Mr. BMW". I was a single father at the time, and had sworn off bikes for the duration of my 18 year sentence. Glen told me that when I started riding again, if I bought a Harley instead of a Beemer he'd have to kick my ***. (I was a Harley rider before.)
He tried like hell to get a BMW sponsorship for the RTW ride, but the best that could be arranged was to let him buy a bike at dealer cost. He already had an 1150GS, which he had bought as soon as he got back to California from the SA trip, and he loved it - but it had had a factory recall for a bad driveshaft bearing or some such. He took an off-road riders course on the 1150 and if anyone could muscle that thing around in the dirt he could, but he decided on a 650 for the RTW. Not only lighter and better on fuel, but also chain drive and easier to fix on the side of the road (or to boost up into the back of a friendly local's truck - which does also happen).
After he got back from the RTW, he bought another 1150 and then when the new 1200s came out he bought one of those and said it was lighter and more powerful and he really loved it.
He started on the KLR because they had a good reputation and also because he had a limited budget and had to make his savings last 6 months on the road. By the time he got home he'd decided that it was false economy and he should have spent the money for a Beemer in the first place.
To be fair to the KLR, Glen is a lunatic. A real life Iron Man. He is one of those guys who simply will not stop. Take his bike, he'll walk. Break his legs, he'll crawl. Whatever it takes he WILL get to the finish. He's also got over a million miles on two wheels and has the skill and confidence - and what's even worse...the desire - to ride into conditions that would make most experienced riders cringe.
Which means that he also has a tendency to crash and eat **** more than most people.
I would say for most riders, the KLR is a nice bike and I wouldn't have a problem with owning one. For a maniac like Glen...it just doesn't have the balls to take the punishment when he's pushing the limits. And he's usually pushing the limits...
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RunninRubicon
Adventurer
Thanks for the head's up.