BMW Vs Transalp or Varadero

Got a solicitor finalising the return of the BMW so am in the frame
for a new daily ride type bike.

It needs panniers & a top box, heated grips & a mainstand (not
critical)

I am thinking of buying a second hander & not new this time.

Transalps look a good bike, been around for years etc. Any known issues
with one thats done 20-30k?

Or a new new or used Varadero 1000, they are a bigger bike, but the
seat is well low. Again, any known issues?

I had a look at the KTM adventure range, but they are stupid money to
buy & even worse to insure.

There is alkways the good old fashioned 1150 GS Adventure, i do like
it, but is it really better than the 1200?

I dont like the Tiger, it's just not me.

Any other suggestions would be good.

--
'Chill Winston.......'

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover Discovery II (2001)
BMW GS1200 (2007)
Honda CBR900RR Fireblade (1997)

 

Africa Twin?

 

Not many about tho, they look the dogs too.

I'll have a gander.


--
'Chill Winston.......'

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover Discovery II (2001)
BMW GS1200 (2007)
Honda CBR900RR Fireblade (1997)

 

Well, if you find one that's done in excess of 50 miles then it's
obviously going to be better than your brand new 1200, isn't it?

 

It sure is. Not sure i could bring myself to buy another BMW now.

--
'Chill Winston.......'

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover Discovery II (2001)
BMW GS1200 (2007)
Honda CBR900RR Fireblade (1997)

 

Very true.

I fancy a big traillie thing at the moment, but can't find anything
that's both decent condition and reasonably priced.

 

wessie banged the rocks together and they said :

<coughs>

Mines been maintained. Must have been. At some point. By someone...

Anyway, its worth **** all now so I'm keeping it for a hack and fun
ride.

I highly recommend them though. Fitting braided hoses makes the brakes
not work even quicker. Fit a dyno jet kit and they become an absolute
hoot to ride, and combine that with an after market can as the original
weights about 1/5th the Titanic.

 

I have a feeling that might be an issue for me, too.

Might be worth thinking about. My local spanner-monkey has expanded his
business - he's bought the old Millenium Motorcycles site in Aberdare
(next to Geraint Jones Renault) and stuffed it full of 'yingtongwankas'
- will full spares backup, too. Which is handy.

Dunno. I'm a notoriously tight bastard, but I could be persuaded to
spend semi-proper money. The only thing in the back of my mind is that
the VFR costs me feck all in maintenance - I really don't want to buy
into something that'll cost me more than feck all....

This is true.

I've promised myself I'll use the bike a lot more this year - the last
few years have been wrong for me with changing jobs / my dad passing
away / moving house etc. I've already done as many miles this year as I
did all year last year.

 

They are really, really good bikes, and hugely underrated here. If they
have a fault, it's that the power is a bit marginal two-up, but they're
a far better choice than that bathroom suite they call a Deauville
650/700 tourer.

My mate Niall had one. Too heavy and it drank fuel like you weouldn't
believe. He flogged it sharpish.

The BMW cognoscenti seem to rate the 1150 over the 1200. I absolutely
loved the one I rode. But you've just got rid of an unreliable Beemer -
do you want to risk another???

 

Good call, although they are getting scarce and long in the tooth.

 

My mate Niall's got one and loves it. I mentioned that the 650 floated
my boat more than the 1000, but he mumbled something about both bikes
having the same frame and the 650 being as near as dammit the same size,
but with less power, which surprised me.

 

Did he mention how it compares to the GS he had?

 

Fair enough.

Indeed. I think it's mostly because it'll be seen as less "threatening"
or more user friendly.

 

No, but then he had a very early GS1100, and was never entirely happy
with it: FI glitches, etc.

I fancied the idea of the 650 on the basis that it ought to be smaller,
lighter, and with just enough power to be fun (ie: the Ducati 750SS
syndrome), but if it's only a few kilos lighter and with a shedload less
horsepower....