First Adventure Bike

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First Adventure Bike

3/3

Wideglider
4 years ago

Well, been over half a year and since have test-ridden a few makes & models.
Revisited & test rode the BMW F850 GSA Rallye, feel confident on it, it feels planted & safe through the twisties, ample power & torque there. Ready to commit & drop deposit on it tomorrow - happy days!

speedzter
4 years ago

Nice bike, but I don't get why these "middle weight" bikes are so heavy !
I think I read it's 244kg with fuel ?
The Ktm 790 is about 40kg lighter at 203kg wet.

Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

Wideglider, did you ride the Honda Africa 1000?

Wideglider
4 years ago

Quoting speedzter on 12 Dec 2019 09:32 PM
Nice bike, but I don't get why these "middle weight" bikes are so heavy !
I think I read it's 244kg with fuel ?
The Ktm 790 is about 40kg lighter at 203kg wet.

I have ridden it twice over the last few months now in different terrain.
Of course it is not a light as some, (it has a 23 litre tank for starters), but I found it was easy enough to throw around for what I need, I plan on doing some big trips so comfort was factored in to the choice.
90HP Engine/gearbox with quick-shifter (up & down) were excellent. It just offers so much for a reasonable price: ABS, traction control, multiple riding modes, electronic suspension adjustment, cruise control, anti-stall control, large TFT display, tire press monitoring, heated grips, hand guards, adjustable windshield, running lights, side & centre stand, keyless ride.
I'm coming from a '96WG so all the above tech is new to me!

Anyway, I've definitely discovered over my shopping journey that 'ask a dozen riders for their favourite Adventure bike & you'll get a dozen different answers'.
Gone with what I'm definitely happy with - put deposit down this morning, exciting times!

Wideglider
4 years ago

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 13 Dec 2019 01:27 AM
Wideglider, did you ride the Honda Africa 1000?

Yeah rode the AT, nimble enough but felt a little under-powered (it is supposed to have enough according to specs but is underwhelming - probably in the way it's mapped).
Nothing really wrong with the AT but BMW offered so much more goodies for not that much more outlay.

speedzter
4 years ago

Exactly, we're all different, your choice at the end of the day.
As long as your happy.
As a matter of interest, did you test ride a 790R or 1090R KTM ?

Wideglider
4 years ago

Quoting speedzter on 13 Dec 2019 05:21 AM
Exactly, we're all different, your choice at the end of the day.
As long as your happy.
As a matter of interest, did you test ride a 790R or 1090R KTM ?

The KTM's certainly look impressive with plenty of performance but didn't ride them.
If I was wanting to ride more enduro, single track with plenty of extreme hill-climbs, jumps & berms then I'd have one.
I've gone more towards the Adventure Touring direction, am after more comfort & tech.

Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

Quoting speedzter on 13 Dec 2019 05:21 AM
Exactly, we're all different, your choice at the end of the day.
As long as your happy.
As a matter of interest, did you test ride a 790R or 1090R KTM ?

Quoting Wideglider on 14 Dec 2019 12:50 AMedited: 14 Dec 2019 12:52 AM
The KTM's certainly look impressive with plenty of performance but didn't ride them.
If I was wanting to ride more enduro, single track with plenty of extreme hill-climbs, jumps & berms then I'd have one.
I've gone more towards the Adventure Touring direction, am after more comfort & tech.

Few years back a mate test road all the Adventure bikes & finished up with a Yamaha. he has done a lot of touring an off road, road from FNQ to West A then down via 800k of nothing Broom to Alice has a special bladder to carry fuel . he is still enjoying it. everyone different. enjoy it post adventure pic's.

Wideglider
4 years ago

Quoting speedzter on 13 Dec 2019 05:21 AM
Exactly, we're all different, your choice at the end of the day.
As long as your happy.
As a matter of interest, did you test ride a 790R or 1090R KTM ?

Quoting Wideglider on 14 Dec 2019 12:50 AMedited: 14 Dec 2019 12:52 AM
The KTM's certainly look impressive with plenty of performance but didn't ride them.
If I was wanting to ride more enduro, single track with plenty of extreme hill-climbs, jumps & berms then I'd have one.
I've gone more towards the Adventure Touring direction, am after more comfort & tech.

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 14 Dec 2019 10:15 PM
Few years back a mate test road all the Adventure bikes & finished up with a Yamaha. he has done a lot of touring an off road, road from FNQ to West A then down via 800k of nothing Broom to Alice has a special bladder to carry fuel . he is still enjoying it. everyone different. enjoy it post adventure pic's.

Yeah, horses for courses. Just about any bike can get you there, some even do it on postie bikes (I don't quite get this really).
I don't think I'll be needing the special bladder for fuel though.

Wideglider
4 years ago

Dealer has bike out of the crate, now on workshop floor. Assembling screen, checking fluids, charging battery, removing protective coverings, fueling up.
Just one more sleep before pickup & ride home!

Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

Quoting Wideglider on 14 Dec 2019 12:50 AMedited: 14 Dec 2019 12:52 AM
The KTM's certainly look impressive with plenty of performance but didn't ride them.
If I was wanting to ride more enduro, single track with plenty of extreme hill-climbs, jumps & berms then I'd have one.
I've gone more towards the Adventure Touring direction, am after more comfort & tech.

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 14 Dec 2019 10:15 PM
Few years back a mate test road all the Adventure bikes & finished up with a Yamaha. he has done a lot of touring an off road, road from FNQ to West A then down via 800k of nothing Broom to Alice has a special bladder to carry fuel . he is still enjoying it. everyone different. enjoy it post adventure pic's.

Quoting Wideglider on 15 Dec 2019 09:34 AMedited: 15 Dec 2019 10:18 AM
Yeah, horses for courses. Just about any bike can get you there, some even do it on postie bikes (I don't quite get this really).
I don't think I'll be needing the special bladder for fuel though.

I think my mates Yamaha 3 cylinder 1200cc he needed to travel 700 or 800 no re fuel places. but not sure what economy on the bike is. BMW som have large tanks.

Wideglider
4 years ago

Mine will do 500km on a tank - still not too bad!
Had it for two days now and absolutely am enjoying it. Ample power (but I haven't really opened it up as still running-in). Been on a few bumpy fire trails, soakes it all up, searching Google Maps for all the off-road routes now. Playing with all the bells and whistles, really comfortable on the highway as well.

steelo
4 years ago

I’d love one of those jj. Need to get the lowering kit so my feet could touch the ground though.

paulybronco
4 years ago

Quoting steelo on 20 Dec 2019 10:27 AM
I’d love one of those jj. Need to get the lowering kit so my feet could touch the ground though.

Your stilettos dont reach?

Baloffski
4 years ago

Quoting steelo on 20 Dec 2019 10:27 AM
I’d love one of those jj. Need to get the lowering kit so my feet could touch the ground though.

Quoting paulybronco on 20 Dec 2019 10:49 AM
Your stilettos dont reach?

Pauly, ya so outta touch.
Stilettos are out Wedges are in man.
James that B EM is a lovely looking bike, I'd love one too.
Is a 2019?

Wideglider
4 years ago

Quoting Wideglider on 20 Dec 2019 09:10 AM
Mine will do 500km on a tank - still not too bad!
Had it for two days now and absolutely am enjoying it. Ample power (but I haven't really opened it up as still running-in). Been on a few bumpy fire trails, soakes it all up, searching Google Maps for all the off-road routes now. Playing with all the bells and whistles, really comfortable on the highway as well.

Just fitted a pair of Metzeler Karoo 3 tyres - ready for some real business now!

FXDF08
4 years ago

I’ve run Karoo 3 and TKC80 on my R1200GS for off road. Both good tyres on road and not bad off. I’m going to try Shinko 804/805 combo next time I’m planning a trip, as half the price. Annakee 3 are my normal tyres and have no reason to change as pretty good 90/10 tyre.

Wideglider
4 years ago

Yeah, the Karoo 3's weren't cheap but spoke to couple of blokes who'd tried em & were impressed. Anyway time will tell, will start wearing in tomorrow & then venture onto a bit more gravel with some increased confidence.

Wideglider
4 years ago

Quoting Wideglider on 01 Feb 2020 09:53 AM
Yeah, the Karoo 3's weren't cheap but spoke to couple of blokes who'd tried em & were impressed. Anyway time will tell, will start wearing in tomorrow & then venture onto a bit more gravel with some increased confidence.

Well a few weeks later and have put the Metzeler Karoo 3's through many gravel and sandstone tracks, wet & dry days. Used traction control at times, other times enjoyed getting it sideways! Rode from Moss Vale through to Goodman's Ford on the Wombeyan Caves Road, that's a real test for the machine & tires, and a test for me with the narrow loose gravel road, two-way traffic with blind corners, no guardrail with sheer drops most of the way! What could possibly go wrong?
Good grip on the road also, wet & dry, although being a semi-knobby tyre I haven't been attacking tighter corners at full tilt.
Really enjoying the F850GSA, should have bought something like this years ago (I said this before about many bikes)!

Topics

3/3

First Adventure Bike

First Adventure Bike

Wideglider

speedzter

Krash Kinkade

Wideglider

Wideglider

speedzter

Wideglider

Krash Kinkade

Wideglider

Wideglider

Krash Kinkade

Wideglider

steelo

paulybronco

Baloffski

Wideglider

FXDF08

Wideglider

Wideglider