The Motorbikerist Thread

[evostick]

We certainly wont see bikes like it again.

I've had to learn to be CAREFUL again on the xjr. With the BMW I had linked brakes with very active abs so it was just a case of hit a brake, any brake and as hard as you like. I also had anti skid control which was totally unnecessary when you only have 80 or so bhp to begin with. It would cut in when leant over in corners though which felt awful so you had to remember to turn it off every time.

The xjr has none of that. I was coming off a roundabout onto a dual carriageway on cold sports touring tyres yesterday, gave it a big handful, the rear span up and I went a distance sideways.

Probably would've looked/felt good if I had meant to do it but in reality I just shat myself a little bit.

Noisy can.
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[NotoriousREV]

[Rich B]

I see you’ve removed the cat too....

[NotoriousREV]

I see you’ve removed the cat too....

[JLv3.0]

Clocked up 450 kms on the GS today. Such odd bikes - totally and utterly competent in every respect but they just don't engage. Anyway - all it needs to do is not go wrong and that'll do.

[nuttinnew]

[JLv3.0]

Clocked up 450 kms on the GS today. Such odd bikes - totally and utterly competent in every respect but they just don't engage. Anyway - all it needs to do is not go wrong and that'll do.

1k+ kms now and actually quite fond of it - when I rented one in Norway it didn't quite feel like the right tool for the trip but here it seems to be just the ticket. Mainly because it hasn't broken down and I'm still alive - been through a few places on the ride from Durban that didn't look too welcoming so well done BMW. Actually picks its skirts up if you give it enough right wrist as well.

Still prefer my Tenere though.

[evostick]

Fitted some Michelin Road 5s to replace the mismatched tyres. The rear had plenty of tread left but was a bridgestone something or other and seemingly made of wood. I didn't want one of those on the front. New tyres are awesome as always.

Also, the akrapovic without the db killer was giving me a headache so I put it back in. It actually seems to go a bit better with a little more restriction but it sounded a little too quiet so I took the baffle out again, cut a couple of inches off it and put it back in. Just about right now.

[JLv3.0]

Clocked up 450 kms on the GS today. Such odd bikes - totally and utterly competent in every respect but they just don't engage. Anyway - all it needs to do is not go wrong and that'll do.

1k+ kms now and actually quite fond of it - when I rented one in Norway it didn't quite feel like the right tool for the trip but here it seems to be just the ticket. Mainly because it hasn't broken down and I'm still alive - been through a few places on the ride from Durban that didn't look too welcoming so well done BMW. Actually picks its skirts up if you give it enough right wrist as well.

Still prefer my Tenere though.

Trip complete. 2,015 kms on the GS and it didn't miss a beat. Awesome bike when it's used as intended, not just accountants who can't open jars of beetroot

Nah seriously these big adventure bikes are unbeatable all-rounders - can claw up the side of a mountain, handle the curves well and top out at way more than is necessary. Every bike fan should have one - but it should NEVER be the only bike.

Can't wait for the Dubai summer to end and have the S10 as my daily again.

[evostick]

Trip complete.

Did anybody throw a spear at you at all?

[JLv3.0]

They just bounced off me, man

[Marv]

Clocked up 450 kms on the GS today. Such odd bikes - totally and utterly competent in every respect but they just don't engage. Anyway - all it needs to do is not go wrong and that'll do.

1k+ kms now and actually quite fond of it - when I rented one in Norway it didn't quite feel like the right tool for the trip but here it seems to be just the ticket. Mainly because it hasn't broken down and I'm still alive - been through a few places on the ride from Durban that didn't look too welcoming so well done BMW. Actually picks its skirts up if you give it enough right wrist as well.

Still prefer my Tenere though.

Trip complete. 2,015 kms on the GS and it didn't miss a beat. Awesome bike when it's used as intended, not just accountants who can't open jars of beetroot

Nah seriously these big adventure bikes are unbeatable all-rounders - can claw up the side of a mountain, handle the curves well and top out at way more than is necessary. Every bike fan should have one - but it should NEVER be the only bike.

Can't wait for the Dubai summer to end and have the S10 as my daily again.

I currently see huge adventure bikes as the equivilent of a S-Class Merc or 7-Series BMW.....technically brilliant in every way, just too big and heavy to appeal to me.

Not wanting to de-rail this thread, but what did you think of South Africa, JL? Having thoughts of visiting there next year.

[NotoriousREV]

The modern adventure bike aren't much heavier than the sportier stuff, and in some cases the same weight. I wouldn't want to hustle a Super Tenere round a track, but on the roads in Wales, a well ridden one is just as fast as a sportbike (if not faster due to more supple suspension, better comfort, and better visibility).

[JLv3.0]

A good question. As a biking destination it's wonderful - the scenery is out of this world and constantly changing, the road and driving conditions are far, far better than you'd expect and it's very cheap.

But I'm unlikely to come back. The ever-present security issues don't make it a place for me. For example I was staying in Port Elizabeth one night halfway through the trip in the poshest, quietest part of town and went out of the hotel at 8pm to grab some dinner. The receptionist couldn't believe I was going out at that time of night.

Streets were dead and every house I walked past was a fortress - sliding gates, barbed wire, signs warning of 24 hour armed security and so on.

There were also certain parts of the trip where the reliability of the BMW was most welcome indeed, and you can all read into that what you like.

I had no problems but you can't ignore the fact it's a country with unfixable issues. Others may disagree but that's my take on it.

[JLv3.0]

The modern adventure bike aren't much heavier than the sportier stuff, and in some cases the same weight. I wouldn't want to hustle a Super Tenere round a track, but on the roads in Wales, a well ridden one is just as fast as a sportbike (if not faster due to more supple suspension, better comfort, and better visibility).

100% mate. You can really crank these big fuckers around.

[Marv]

A good question. As a biking destination it's wonderful - the scenery is out of this world and constantly changing, the road and driving conditions are far, far better than you'd expect and it's very cheap.

But I'm unlikely to come back. The ever-present security issues don't make it a place for me. For example I was staying in Port Elizabeth one night halfway through the trip in the poshest, quietest part of town and went out of the hotel at 8pm to grab some dinner. The receptionist couldn't believe I was going out at that time of night.

Streets were dead and every house I walked past was a fortress - sliding gates, barbed wire, signs warning of 24 hour armed security and so on.

There were also certain parts of the trip where the reliability of the BMW was most welcome indeed, and you can all read into that what you like.

I had no problems but you can't ignore the fact it's a country with unfixable issues. Others may disagree but that's my take on it.

Yeah the security issues do take away some of the appeal. Can't imagine it's a country you'd want to stay in beyond 10-14 days, if you're safety conscious (which I am)

What do you do regarding riding gear on your bike trips abroad? Hire, or go through the hassle of bringing your helmet/jacket/trousers with you?

[Carlos]

My mate whos raced motox and enduros since he was walking has started riding adventure bikes on the road in his 40s after 20yrs of litre sports bikes. He reckons he's as quick on a KTM as he would be on a sports bike.

He did an Alps tour on a big BMW GS a couple of years ago and was going around the outside of local on sports bikes with his leg out

He was crazy when we had road bikes in our twenty's so don't doubt it

[JLv3.0]

What do you do regarding riding gear on your bike trips abroad? Hire, or go through the hassle of bringing your helmet/jacket/trousers with you?

Always take my own gear. Always. Without exception.

I had full dive gear on this trip as well. Packing was a nightmare.

[Marv]

What do you do regarding riding gear on your bike trips abroad? Hire, or go through the hassle of bringing your helmet/jacket/trousers with you?

Always take my own gear. Always. Without exception.

I had full dive gear on this trip as well. Packing was a nightmare.

I can only imagine!

Silly question then, did you day trip from the same hotel, or go on a tour and somehow manage to stuff your scuba gear in the paniers?

Think we need some pics of the JL on the GS in SA too

[JLv3.0]

Not a silly question at all mate. I'm not a day trip sort of a guy - I need a trip and a destination.

I had a courier take my monumental dive bag, and the suitcase my bike gear was in, from the BMW dealer I collected the GS from in Durban, and they took it to me in Cape Town, for the grand total of THIRTY ENGLISH POUNDS.

That was the game changer for the trip - for five days I lived out of a rucksack. PS - Google Kriega, and thank me later. No panniers.

In terms of photos - let's do this. When I get back on terra cotta (any Delboy fans here?) I'll post up my whole folder of the trip.

You'll see no pics of me on the bike as I did it solo

In terms of gear, I have some really strong recommendations.