The future of motorcycling

[mangocrazy]

The bloke in that vid has a really annoying voice, and in between stuff I can agree with he talks some prize bollocks, most of which Skub has pointed out earlier. He also refers incessantly to 'touring' bikes when what he's really talking about are Adv bikes, with all their metal box luggage and assorted paraphernalia. And anyone who can suggest that a naked bike is as comfortable to ride from a wind buffeting point of view as a fully faired bike is clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic. And did he really have to own three bikes of the same type and model before realising that they weren't suitable for him?

But his points regarding size and weight of Adv style bikes and the practical difficulties ordinary mortals have manhandling, parking and doing slow speed manoeuvres on them are incontrovertible. As far as I'm concerned, anything much above about 200kg wet weight is just getting too heavy for me. It's no coincidence that the two bikes I ride the most are the two lightest I own; the KTM Duke 690 and my 350LC.

[westers151]

An ex copper who openly admits to breaking the law on one of his youtube videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THGKG026Atg Go to 10 minutes in.

Lol, just listened to it, he let some blokes tyres down in revenge for him stealing his bike, it's hardly the crime of the century.

It doesn't matter how "minor" it was, he was a serving Police officer at the time. I expect the Police to operate within the law, and to not take matters into their own hands, They have no more right to let tyres down than you, or I.

It says a lot about the guy, and even more about the Police.

[westers151]

An ex copper who openly admits to breaking the law on one of his youtube videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THGKG026Atg Go to 10 minutes in.

Lol, just listened to it, he let some blokes tyres down in revenge for him stealing his bike, it's hardly the crime of the century.

Is it even a crime?

It's not the behaviour I expect from a serving Police officer.

[MrLongbeard]

Lol, just listened to it, he let some blokes tyres down in revenge for him stealing his bike, it's hardly the crime of the century.

Is it even a crime?

It's not the behaviour I expect from a serving Police officer.

If he hasn't broken the law it makes no nevermind for me, actually I don't care if it breaking the law, which I don't think it is, a bit of petty revenge which causes no harm.

[Skub]

If the scrote involved had stolen my bike it's entirely possible I may be looking for an opportunity to inconvenience him a little more than letting his bicycle tyres down.

[westers151]

If the scrote involved had stolen my bike it's entirely possible I may be looking for an opportunity to inconvenience him a little more than letting his bicycle tyres down.

Yes, you and I would, and if caught, we'd have our collars felt. We might not get done, but the Police would give us a bollocking.

However, it's perfectly ok for the Police to do that behaviour? Where's the line on what's "ok", and not "ok"?

[Bigjawa]

The bloke in that vid has a really annoying voice, and in between stuff I can agree with he talks some prize bollocks, most of which Skub has pointed out earlier. He also refers incessantly to 'touring' bikes when what he's really talking about are Adv bikes, with all their metal box luggage and assorted paraphernalia. And anyone who can suggest that a naked bike is as comfortable to ride from a wind buffeting point of view as a fully faired bike is clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic. And did he really have to own three bikes of the same type and model before realising that they weren't suitable for him?

But his points regarding size and weight of Adv style bikes and the practical difficulties ordinary mortals have manhandling, parking and doing slow speed manoeuvres on them are incontrovertible. As far as I'm concerned, anything much above about 200kg wet weight is just getting too heavy for me. It's no coincidence that the two bikes I ride the most are the two lightest I own; the KTM Duke 690 and my 350LC.

Adventure bikes, for the most part, are just tall touring bikes with some off road ability, I think when BMW started selling GS's with cast wheels it became obvious that the vast majority wouldn't see any off road action, I've had mine off road and a DT125 would leave it for dead. The big ally boxes are purely a fashion thing, I've got the standard plastic panniers on and they've been fine.TBH, I've never experienced any great problems manhandling it about, it's certainly much easier to handle than my ST1100 when it comes to dealing with car parks and turning in the driveway. They're both excellent bikes but the ST has a ridiculous 4000 mile service interval, the GS is 6000, the tank range on both will comfortably exceed my arse range.

But then again, who actually goes touring now? The vast majority of folk I know only ride maybe 100 miles on a weekend blast or commuting a few miles to work, you can do that on almost anything.

[KungFooBob]

I've got a GS LC. It's got spoked wheels. I have no plans what so ever to take it off road.

I bought it to tour. I have other bikes for non-touring duties.

It comfortable for me, I'm 6'3" and even normal 'sports' tourers are cramped. The GS isn't.

It's comfortable for a pillion, it's no Goldwing, but she doesn't complain (more than your typical woman).

It's got a shaft. Which is the primary reason I picked it over a Multistrada.

It did around 2,500 miles last year, 2,300 were on a jaunt to Fronch.

Most non-GS owners say people only buy them because they're 'on trend' or because of the 'Long Way Round' thing, where as the real reason they sell so well is because they're very very capable motorcycles. Before I bought mine I was very anti GS, but someone I trust bought one and couldn't stop raving about it, so I had to give it a try.

[Couchy]

Adv bikes are the sports tourers of today, it’s just middle aged men see them as cool unlike VFR’s etc which they don’t.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Adv bikes are the sports tourers of today, it’s just middle aged men see them as cool unlike VFR’s etc which they don’t.

That's true, though with the state of the UKs roads, softer, long travel suspension and stronger wheels aren't a bad idea.

[mangocrazy]

Adv bikes are the sports tourers of today, it’s just middle aged men see them as cool unlike VFR’s etc which they don’t.

That's true, though with the state of the UKs roads, softer, long travel suspension and stronger wheels aren't a bad idea.

Big fan of soft(er) long(er) travel suspension, but not necessarily when it's attached to a 250kg behemoth that's taller than me. A 150kg enduro, yes. A 250kg Adv bike, not so much.

[westers151]

But then again, who actually goes touring now? The vast majority of folk I know only ride maybe 100 miles on a weekend blast or commuting a few miles to work, you can do that on almost anything.

Me, and I do very little weekend riding. However, I used to be the opposite, and couldn't see why you'd go touring. But, that's when I was in my twenties, and bum up, head down, was all that mattered.

As for what's the right bike - it's whatever you're happy to ride, and not for anyone to push their opinion on you.

[Taipan]

I've got a GS LC. It's got spoked wheels. I have no plans what so ever to take it off road.

I bought it to tour. I have other bikes for non-touring duties.

It comfortable for me, I'm 6'3" and even normal 'sports' tourers are cramped. The GS isn't.

It's comfortable for a pillion, it's no Goldwing, but she doesn't complain (more than your typical woman).

It's got a shaft. Which is the primary reason I picked it over a Multistrada.

It did around 2,500 miles last year, 2,300 were on a jaunt to Fronch.

Most non-GS owners say people only buy them because they're 'on trend' or because of the 'Long Way Round' thing, where as the real reason they sell so well is because they're very very capable motorcycles. Before I bought mine I was very anti GS, but someone I trust bought one and couldn't stop raving about it, so I had to give it a try.

I always say BMW are off my list but i do feel intrigued by the model you have...

[Bigjawa]

I've got a GS LC. It's got spoked wheels. I have no plans what so ever to take it off road.

I bought it to tour. I have other bikes for non-touring duties.

It comfortable for me, I'm 6'3" and even normal 'sports' tourers are cramped. The GS isn't.

It's comfortable for a pillion, it's no Goldwing, but she doesn't complain (more than your typical woman).

It's got a shaft. Which is the primary reason I picked it over a Multistrada.

It did around 2,500 miles last year, 2,300 were on a jaunt to Fronch.

Most non-GS owners say people only buy them because they're 'on trend' or because of the 'Long Way Round' thing, where as the real reason they sell so well is because they're very very capable motorcycles. Before I bought mine I was very anti GS, but someone I trust bought one and couldn't stop raving about it, so I had to give it a try.

When was LWR? 04-05? My GS is well before that. I bought mine because my RE Himalayan started impersonating a berocca and it was cheap and well sorted, although I've owned a few old boxers, my only GS experience was a quick blat on a 1200 that I hated. After about 30 miles on the 1150 I wished I had bought one 20 years ago. I switch between the original wheels with knobblies and 17s with road tyres when i fancy a change. It's an amazing bike, it can do anything I need.

It's amazing though how riders of newer GS models look down on the stuff they raved about a few years earlier.

[Count Steer]

When was LWR? 04-05? My GS is well before that. I bought mine because my RE Himalayan started impersonating a berocca and it was cheap and well sorted, although I've owned a few old boxers, my only GS experience was a quick blat on a 1200 that I hated. After about 30 miles on the 1150 I wished I had bought one 20 years ago. I switch between the original wheels with knobblies and 17s with road tyres when i fancy a change. It's an amazing bike, it can do anything I need.

It's amazing though how riders of newer GS models look down on the stuff they raved about a few years earlier.

Bought my 1150 in 2003. I'd seen an earlier version parked up some time before and thought 'that looks useful'. Saw mine in the dealer's window. I went 'Ooh', wife went 'Ooh' We walked in and bought it.

Got fed up with pointing out the reg plate to the 'Aha, you watched LWR eh?' crowd.

Best all-round bike I've had. (K1200GT was good for touring too but not on some of the gnarly back roads stuff that the GS lapped up).

I preferred the 1150 engine to the 1200 too (had a 1200 sport tourer).

[wheelnut]

It's amazing though how riders of newer GS models look down on the stuff they raved about a few years earlier.

Do you think? I would say it’s the other way on, people who have had the older ones and progressed to the newer models (me included) still prefer the older models.

[Taipan]

I've had an 1100gs and a 1150gs but overall i preferred the 1100.

[Skub]

I've had an 1100gs and a 1150gs but overall i preferred the 1100.

Did the 1100 sell quicker?

[Dickyboy]

I've tried the GS thing and whilst it's great for a number of reasons there were downsides too (mainly bulk & height) but at the end of the day it didn't suit what I wanted out of a bike, in reality I think a std GS rather than the Adventure model would have suited me better & I suspect that's true of a lot of the people who choose the adventure model over the std GS. At present I'm battling my inner demons, go sensible & get an F800GT or go crazy & go down the Morini 1200 scrambler route once you've had full panniers & top box it's hard to go without before I even consider spares availability on the Morini...
Spin mentioned asperational bikes from back in the day, something that always sticks in my memory banks was drive up to my dad's to go to a Brough rally some years ago & wondering how we were going to get his Brough ss80/100 in the van - I shouldn't have worried it was as light as a feather

[Horse]

in reality I think a std GS rather than the Adventure model would have suited me better & I suspect that's true of a lot of the people who choose the adventure model over the std GS.

I reckon a lot of GS riders would have been better off with a basic 'R' bike. For me, the GS was always slightly too high and wide (handlebars).