TigerTriple.com

Talk => General Discussions => Topic started by: ghulst on May 26, 2021, 11:13:55 PM

Title: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on May 26, 2021, 11:13:55 PM
Have I? Let me explain. Last week I saw a nice '06 BMW R1200 GS Adventure for sale at the bike shop of an acquaintance. As the weather was ok and I needed to be in the area anyway, I went around to have a look. So, I sat on that and on a '14 R1200GS. And to be honest, I do like those bikes. I am biased as I did also own a R1150GS a couple of years ago. I wasn't actually seriously shopping for anything, but I do like the look of that GSA and it was in the area, which triggered my visit.


Well, this is where it gets tricky. Because of our discussion, I started looking into the benefits to put a motorcycle on the business. And that is very attractive. It allows me to put all motorcycle related costs on the business. That includes the bike, fuel, maintenance, parts and even "necessary items to use the bike" like clothing, helmet, navigation etc. As I have been eyeing a new suit and helmet, just those two items almost make it worth it.


The next question then is, what am I going to do. I have a very nice '11 800XC that I can probably sell for more than it cost me to buy and I've had a couple of years to enjoy it. However, it might be hard to put it on the company out of private ownership. So, it would make more sense to sell the Tiger and buy something else. And that is where things become more difficult. After all, there are many nice motorcycles on the market today. This list is in my head currently:


Similar price category (here in NL):
Triumph Tiger 900
Honda Africa Twin
BMW F800GS.


Slightly cheaper:
Suzuki V-Strom 1050 XT


Even cheaper:
Yamaha Ténéré 700 is even cheaper.
I could also mention the KTM 790, but I am not sure I would like that as I think the front is just ugly.


Another option would be to buy a nice second hand bike, as the ones I looked at. A '14/15 BMW R1200GS for instance. I wouldn't choose the Adventure as those are huge and are going to be hard to fit in my designated space in the garage.


So, for all of you, how crazy am I? Which current Tiger 900 buyers have tried them against the ones I mention above? Really looking forward to your feedback.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on May 27, 2021, 09:00:43 AM
Quick question.  How do I start a business in the Netherlands?  I would get taxed into oblivion doing that in the UK.

Bikes? Depends on your focus. Quite a few that you mention are biased toward off road riding. Is that what you want?
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: mat-tiger1 on May 27, 2021, 09:43:38 AM
I spent a whole weekend a couple of years ago riding this around the mountains of southern Spain & I must say, I found it a very capable ride indeed. I used it both on and off road and never felt out of my comfort zone regardless of the type of terrain.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210527/fe81e7728513fe0de6b44a9856feba02.jpg)


It was easy to ride and comfortable, but call me old fashioned because I was so looking forward to getting back to my (then) 18 plate 800 XCA as the BMW (for me at least) "lacked character"

I now have the 900RP and I can say without a shadow of doubt that this new offering from big T is a huge improvement on the outgoing 800 and bridges the gaps for those who had previously complained that the 800 wasn't smooth enough, powerful enough or easy enough to ride & it also seems to be winning over a load of former GS riders who are searching for something with more character!

If I were choosing something for an everyday commute that would take me pretty much anywhere come the weekend, my vote would be with the 900RP!

All the best,
Mat-tiger1.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on May 27, 2021, 10:23:40 AM
It does sound like the smart thing to do and it looks like you may have a convert in Nick the Cheesemaker  :rfl

As the Man says, the 900 is popular, he has the experience to know  :thumbsup

I didn't see the 1200 Ex on the list and don't know how it would compare financially, with the miles you do, the shaft drive might be an advantage. I can say they are very comfy and feel feather light on the move.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on May 27, 2021, 10:59:05 AM
Quote from: Nick Calne on May 27, 2021, 09:00:43 AM
Quick question.  How do I start a business in the Netherlands?  I would get taxed into oblivion doing that in the UK.

LOL, there's a whole story to it. However, the short of it is that for a bike the rules are quite favorable. I can list all of the cost that are involved in buying the bike and all the necessary accessories as company costs. I need to do 10% of the mileage of the bike on work-related trips so I can deduct our version of the VAT. If I buy a fuel burning bike, I can do an investment deduction off my profits of 28% of the purchase price. If I were to buy an EV, I can deduct another 27% (max) of that purchase price off my profits. I then need to track my mileage and I need to determine the percentage of private versus work kilometers and then add that private percentage of the actual costs of the bike to my personal income. Not a bad deal, if you ask me.
Quote from: Nick Calne on May 27, 2021, 09:00:43 AM
Bikes? Depends on your focus. Quite a few that you mention are biased toward off road riding. Is that what you want?
Nail on the head. I like the upright position of the allroad bike. The T7 and especially the KTM are more offroad focussed. To be honest, I don't really ride offroad that much at all, as the Netherlands, and especially my region doesn't really allow a lot of offroad riding... But I do like the looks of the T7. The others are more in the same league as my current Tiger/past GS. And there is that -totally unrealistic- dream of throwing my leg over the bike and riding away for weeks to end up in the middle of nowhere. ;)


Quote from: mat-tiger1 on May 27, 2021, 09:43:38 AM
It was easy to ride and comfortable, but call me old fashioned because I was so looking forward to getting back to my (then) 18 plate 800 XCA as the BMW (for me at least) "lacked character"

I now have the 900RP and I can say without a shadow of doubt that this new offering from big T is a huge improvement on the outgoing 800 and bridges the gaps for those who had previously complained that the 800 wasn't smooth enough, powerful enough or easy enough to ride & it also seems to be winning over a load of former GS riders who are searching for something with more character!

Thanks Mat. That is very useful information. On the one hand, I like how the Tiger revs higher than the BMW. On the other, I love how the Beemers grunt seems to be able to pull you out of everything. In that way it gives you a very relaxed riding experience. I do like the looks of the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro as well, but that is not within the budget (yet) as most of those are still €20K+ here. From what I have understood, the V-Strom lacks a lot in the character department, but haven't ridden that one either. ;)



Quote from: Sin_Tiger on May 27, 2021, 10:23:40 AM
It does sound like the smart thing to do and it looks like you may have a convert in Nick the Cheesemaker  :rfl
:ImaPoser

Quote from: Sin_Tiger on May 27, 2021, 10:23:40 AM
I didn't see the 1200 Ex on the list and don't know how it would compare financially, with the miles you do, the shaft drive might be an advantage. I can say they are very comfy and feel feather light on the move.

Yes, that is another thing the GS has as an advantage. The shaft drive is definitely an advantage. I am getting really fed up with my Scottoiler and the mess it gives. In that way, my 1150 was ideal. The reason the 1200 Explorer is not on the list, is that it seems to be pretty bulky and the test reviews say that the GS is a bit more nimble than the Explorer as well. Mind you, I have never actually ridden one.


So, I need to go ride my 800XC, a GS and 900 back to back to see how they compare. :) (And perhaps the Explorer...)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on May 27, 2021, 04:58:51 PM
I'd skip the explorer unless you get a deal.  They are pretty large and very top heavy.  Think of a 'fat steamer' and you are in the right ball park, and that's a bit of a shame with more modern bikes available to you.

How about the tiger 850?

Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on May 27, 2021, 06:23:57 PM
A trip around the shops, that'll be a fun ride report  :thumbsup

Ignore him, he has a thing against fat chicks  :*&*
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: mat-tiger1 on May 27, 2021, 06:40:56 PM
Quote from: ghulst on May 27, 2021, 10:59:05 AM


Thanks Mat. That is very useful information. On the one hand, I like how the Tiger revs higher than the BMW. On the other, I love how the Beemers grunt seems to be able to pull you out of everything. In that way it gives you a very relaxed riding experience.

When you go on your test ride you'll be very surprised (in a good way) by the torque delivery on the new 900!


All the best,
Mat-tiger1

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on May 27, 2021, 08:40:02 PM
Well, they are saying that the weather is going to improve after the weekend. Unfortunately, that will also be a very busy week for work, but at least I will be able to plan something soon after. I did overhear a salesman saying that it is not easy to get new bikes in at the moment. Supply seems to be trickling in. I heard him say to someone on the phone that he would be able to sell every bike he gets in, as long as he would actually get them in...
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on May 27, 2021, 11:46:48 PM
Quote from: ghulst on May 27, 2021, 08:40:02 PM
I heard him say to someone on the phone that he would be able to sell every bike he gets in, as long as he would actually get them in...

I had a car salesman try to pull that one on my wife once, I was a bit suspicious so I dialed his number from my mobile and the look on his face when he looked at his phone was priceless  :cp needless to say we walked straight out  :pottytrain2

It might be the case though, I've heard stories about car hire companies charging silly money at the moment as they are short of vehicles.

Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on May 28, 2021, 08:11:02 AM
He was on that call before I walked in and there weren't any people at that end of the showroom. Not sure it is a prank, as chip problems thatare plaguing the car industry have hit the motorcycle industry as well. I doubt he was doing it for my entertainment as he actually didn't talk to me at all. Much to busy at his desk. Might have already ridden something if we had talked. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on May 28, 2021, 08:31:33 AM
Quote from: Sin_Tiger on May 27, 2021, 06:23:57 PM
Ignore him, he has a thing against fat chicks  :*&*

Yes, a restraining order in fact.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on May 28, 2021, 12:50:37 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on May 28, 2021, 08:31:33 AM
Yes, a restraining order in fact.

:mut  :thumbsup
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on May 29, 2021, 10:03:55 PM
It has been a busy day. I spent most of the day riding the Tiger and ended up riding:

(http://pictures.arnehulstein.nl/images/2021/05/29/348A91E6-44C8-4CE8-AC1C-9975F7113750.md.jpg) (http://pictures.arnehulstein.nl/image/q3hM)
KTM's 890 Adventure R

and

(http://pictures.arnehulstein.nl/images/2021/05/29/46C30F55-1D93-41F2-B4F1-39246A63FB3D.md.jpg) (http://pictures.arnehulstein.nl/image/quT0)
Yamaha's Ténéré 700.

Long story, which I am not going to write now. However, I will leave you to guess which one of these I loved best. Also, I found out something as I was riding my Tiger today. With covid it had been a while since I last did a good couple of hours riding on it. And I am afraid I will be getting another bike. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on May 30, 2021, 06:04:27 AM
A new steamer would be best.  :occasion14 :occasion14
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on May 30, 2021, 04:35:12 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on May 30, 2021, 06:04:27 AM
A new steamer would be best.  :occasion14 :occasion14

:thumbsup  :occasion14 but what colour  :icon_scratch:
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on May 30, 2021, 05:41:53 PM
One with a euro compliant 1050 engine grafted in.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on May 30, 2021, 08:33:44 PM
Not sure if I'd want to go that way. ;) To be honest, one of the biggest things I noticed on my rides yesterday, was my ride on the Tiger. I mean, I really like that bike, but I remember why I ride it less than I did my 1150GS or my steamer. The ergonomics are just not suiting me that well. :( It never really hit me that much, as I bought the Tiger after a short stint on a DR800 single-cylinder, so after that, everything is comfy. :D  But when I compared it to the KTM and the Yamaha, I really felt the difference. More on the Yamaha than the KTM even. And it goes a lot further than just changing the position of the handlebars, I think.

To get back to those rides, just a quick recap. The KTM was something. The 890 Adventure R has got a lot of grunt if you are willing to get it up in the rev range all the time. It was no fun to ride under 4000rpm and above that, it is in full attack mode all of the time. Another thing I really couldn't get used to was the lightness of all the switchgear, the shifter pedal, and the brake. You did not know you were pushing it, yet something happened. If you then combine that with the overall nervousness of the bike, I knew very quickly that I was not going to be friends with this bike.
The Yamaha was a different story. At least the shifter, the brakes, and the throttle had some weight to them. You feel something when you work them and that was a lot better. The engine also had much more low grunt, though noticeably less top end. I guess all the reviewers love their top end and drive in full hooligan-mode all the time. I am not one of those people, so the Yammie suited me much better. I will not lie, I love the looks of that bike. Especially that blue Rally version is something I love the look of. However, the saddle is what is known in the business as 'effective' and 'rally worthy'. In layman's terms, that means that it is rock hard and easy to slide along. That will have advantages in some places, just not on the open road where I use my bikes most. The wind protection is also less than I would want to have. I didn't even notice that on the KTM as I was too busy being annoyed with other things, but on the Yamaha, I really felt like it needed a bigger screen and a nicer saddle. And that would obviously kill the looks.

So, on with the program. I've got three big bikes lined up for Wednesday. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on June 02, 2021, 12:55:22 AM
Don't worry Nick's just having a dig at me  :icon_razz: turns out that's not as easy as it first looks, so other plans are brewing  :mut

That's what happens when professional magazine riders do reviews, they tend to focus a lot more on performance  :icon_rolleyes:

Ergonomics are so personal and can make or break a decision. I used to ride my XC 800kms in a day, Singapore to the Thailand border, it worked for me with nothing more than an adjustable spoiler on the stock screen. I had an hour on my friends cast wheel model of the same year and really noticed the difference from the comfort aspect which I found strange, as on paper it shouldn't have made that much difference  :icon_scratch:
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on June 02, 2021, 05:55:10 PM
Can I guess, Sin?

Is it putting a boat engine in a steamer? Or better still putting a steamer engine in a boat?

Ghulst - we looking forward to the outcome later today!
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on June 02, 2021, 10:07:05 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on June 02, 2021, 05:55:10 PM
Can I guess, Sin?

Is it putting a boat engine in a steamer? Or better still putting a steamer engine in a boat?

Ghulst - we looking forward to the outcome later today!

Same issue with engine mounting points and spine frame, Google Doxford Opposed Piston engine to see why  ;)

Is an Afrika Twin not in the running?
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ssevy on June 03, 2021, 02:34:12 AM
If I had the scratch, I'd love to test ride some bikes, but I prefer to continue riding my Steamer, oblivious to all of the wonders of a modern machine.
I once test rode a sprint 1050 that was local to me for a friend in a distant state. I showed up on my 99 Legend, we switched bikes and rode some great roads, and then switched again and rode home. Compared to that 1050, my Legend was so underwhelming. That ride taught me never to test ride anything I couldn't afford, and so it has been since that day.
If I were in your shoes(riding boots?), I would be test riding everything that I could afford, and let the bike tell me when it's "the one".
Can't wait to read your impressions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 03, 2021, 07:49:25 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on June 02, 2021, 05:55:10 PM
Ghulst - we looking forward to the outcome later today!


Well, because of all kinds of circumstances (amongst which was major server-surgery of which this site profits as well), I had to postpone my meeting with the three big beasts until next week. However, I will try to ride a Ducati Multistrada tomorrow afternoon after some performance work has been done on the Saab. ;) Not sure whether that will work out, but I hope it will.


Quote from: Sin_Tiger on June 02, 2021, 10:07:05 PM
Is an Afrika Twin not in the running?


It was actually on the list in my first post. I hope to ride that next week. If all goes well the dealer will have a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, a BMW R1250GS and a Honda Africa Twin 1100 for me to ride.


Quote from: ssevy on June 03, 2021, 02:34:12 AM
If I were in your shoes(riding boots?), I would be test riding everything that I could afford, and let the bike tell me when it's "the one".


Funny you say that. I always also ride stuff that is beyond what I can afford. Mainly to see what way I need to look. Years ago, Triumph had a test ride thing where you could sign up to drive any Triumph and get a t-shirt after the ride. Needless to say, I jumped on that and test rode a Tiger 800XC. That bike was totally out of my budget as I could barely afford the '89 Honda Transalp 600 I had at the time. However, the bike did open my eyes to the joys of owning a triple. So, that triggered my search for the next best thing. I dug into Triumph-ness and found out there were more Tiger predecessors and ended up realizing that Steamers were the cheapest option to get a Triumph triple in an allroad frame. And so the search started. I sold my Transalp reasonably well and found a steamer from an inheritance, made an offer and the rest is history as they say. ;) Now, some years and some bikes later, I have made the jump up to the 800XC I wanted years ago albeit an older one with quite some miles on it.
Right now, the situation is different as the business is doing well and I need to make some investments to not sponsor my tax man too much. (Believe me, I am wiring them some serious bike money regularly.) So, the search is on for whatever I like. Well, within reason, obviously. However, a 1250GS is not off the cards especially as BMW understand entrepreneurs and have much more attractive financial arrangements than the other brands have. And that is something that will have to weigh in at some point as well. After all, this is obviously a serious investment. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on June 03, 2021, 10:50:09 PM
 :icon_redface: missed the AT in the earlier post.

I haven't done a test ride for a long time for reasons much as Ssevy says. The XC for me was the nearest I came to a "Steamer Feel" although many may disagree. I did ride the first model year Explorer and was pleasantly surprised just how easy it was to ride but didn't make quite the same connection. I rode several GS's out east, more because friends wanted to try a triple than me wanting a GS. Without prejudice, I really did not enjoy any of the GS's, in fact given the choice I felt more at home on the big Tenere but hated the looks and the dealer support was reputedly almost as bad as BMW at that time and place.

Now about that SLAB  :bad
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on June 03, 2021, 11:18:58 PM
We are lucky to have such choice. Very lucky.

From memory, the best upgrade for the saab was better front tyres.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 09, 2021, 08:17:00 PM

Well, here we go. A quick update to catch all of you up on what has been going on...


(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210608/912e07f7df73373787bfe9fcc6e3d81e.jpg)


As I mentioned, the Saab has been tuned a little bit, so that was also an awesome opportunity to visit a Ducati dealer in that area. Did I mention that when you drive up in a convertible on a sunny day, and you have used sunscreen, clean your face before you put on your lid. The sunscreen will come along with your sweat and it hurts your eyes badly. Don't ask me how I know...


(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210608/6e75ce1d6a55340829841d5e72404fce.jpg)


So, I had seen the 1260 Enduro back in October and I really liked the look and finish of the whole bike. That is not paint, that color is in the plastics, so that is really neat. The saddle is pretty narrow in between your legs and wider underneath your bum, so it is pretty comfortable to sit on. The bike also gave me a lot of confidence, so on my fourth turn, the lean angle on the bike was at least as steep as on my Tiger. The 1260 is pretty much an rpm machine. It loves you to rev it and you really feel as if the bike enjoys that a lot. If you are in the lower revs, it takes it a while to wake up, but when you are up in the rev range, it is off like a dog chasing the ball you just threw. With a matching smile on its face. Did I already say I loved the look of it?


(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210608/f9c462fac57c63d1bbf4bbb8f7161046.jpg)


When I got back, the V4S was ready for me. This no longer is a twin and the tests in the magazines rate this highly. In a German magazine, it almost beat the GS, so I had high expectations. Plus, it is the current ultimate gadget machine. So, I started off trying the adaptive cruise control as soon as I could. Which is a very, very nice feature. Especially when you do a lot of motorway miles, this will be a great thing to have on your bike. (Yes, bikers get lazier by the day. Holding the throttle for four hours at 120 is just no fun at all.) Anyway, that was about the best thing about the V4S. It felt alright, but I could not angle it as I did the Enduro and the engine was supple and nice but did not have any 'happy moments' as the 1260 had. It just did what you asked of it, but there was no excitement in it.


Unfortunately, they no longer make the 1260, so the only one I could buy was the demo and I am not sure I would want to do that.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 09, 2021, 08:41:16 PM
A double post? From the forum-guy???  :icon_eek:  Yes, sorry. I felt it would be too much to put both test days in one post. It would be too much to read. ;)


Anyway, it was the perfect morning this morning. 20 degrees, nice and sunny and so I got my Tiger out for a reference run before going out to the dealership. After all, it is just much easier to compare new bikes when you ride them back to back.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210609/80260692cb587aff19019ac29f35dd7e.jpg)

The first turn went to the Tiger 900. Fortunately, they gave me a white one to match my own Tiger. Unfortunately, they only had the GT Pro and not the Rally Pro, which I thought of buying. The first part of the ride was taken up by me playing with the controls and settings. There is just too much going on on this bike and I do find the switch between the mode button and the rest of the settings with the little 'joystick' a bit confusing. So, I settled on Road and Sport mode and decided to just ride. Which was nice. The Tiger is a nice bike, but honestly, it is not that different from my 800XC. So, I don't think I'd shell out another 12K to trade in mine on this. Unfortunately, I spent too much time comparing and not thinking about taking a picture, so I took one in front of the dealership... ;)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210609/3b067ffd2bf41e49deab0ca4baa77ee2.jpg)

When I got back, the biggest of the three beasts was waiting for me. A 1250GS with full luggage set. It really was a much better version of my old 1150GS with more power, more torque and more gadgets. ESA worked nicely and the engine pulled well from very low to very high. Great riders bike. And it gave me a bit of excitement when I decided to quickly open up the whole throttle on an empty road in third gear. And it pulled a wheelie. Well, a very small one as the bike immediately corrected it, but it was a wheelie.  :wheel
The only thing I really found lacking on the GS was the wind protection. That could probably be solved with a bigger screen. But other than that there were just little things like the actual sound the engine makes and the lack of real excitement. Again, this engine just does what you ask from it and it does that in a very convincing way. But you always feel that the GS is just listening to your commands and making them happen. It never seems to be doing something that it really likes itself. There is more than enough power in the package though. I was stuck behind a large lorry and two vans and just overtook them on a local road. I would not have done that on the Tiger...


(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210609/26484cb741597f85fe1178d0f2db974b.jpg)

And then there was the Honda. To be honest, I really wanted this bike to win as I really do like the look of the Africa Twin. I also do like the sound of the engine as it reminds me of my old Transalps, but then on steroids. Unfortunately, the dealership did not give me an 1100, but a 1000, so that has 10hp and quite some Nm less than the 1100. Also, most of the 1100 gadgetry was not on this and that did not do the bike justice. All of the bikes did have quick shifters and the one on the Africa Twin was the most convincing one in my opinion. But as I had never ridden with one, that does not mean much in this world. ;) On the AT the wind protection could need some help and the saddle was pretty hard as well. It did give me a very 'commanding feel' though. As though I was just able to bend traffic around the bike. Disclaimer, when I tried it, that did not really happen, so I did need to stay in my lane. ;)


So, what did I learn today? It is not going to be a Tiger as it does not make sense to spend the money to get the same bike. The other two? Well, the GS is the ultimate mile muncher. I can imagine getting on it, riding 1000 miles and then grabbing a sandwich. The Africa Twin is more of an adventure machine and it looks as if it is ready to ride you to Kenia to go spot some of the big five. However, it does take work to ride it, the saddle is terrible and it has less power than the GS. But you do turn your head after you have parked it.


Up for the next round. No idea on what though. I think I do like to try a real 1100.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Lee337 on June 09, 2021, 09:43:50 PM
Sounds like an eventful few days.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 09, 2021, 09:53:55 PM
Oh, it absolutely has been. But now there are so many new questions. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on June 10, 2021, 12:34:09 AM
Great to be able to do that and not feel like a fraud as I would  ;)  Good comparisons  :thumbsup

Not a big fan of impregnated colour plastics, they all seem to fade with long exposure to UV  :icon_scratch: maybe that's not such a problem in the UK. I also worry about not being able to touch up a scratch. My tech toy wish list all got crossed off about 2005, I use only about 20% of what the SE can do.

I use cruise control a lot both bike and car and find it useful, in fact I miss it when I don't have it. I have used a couple of vehicles with the adaptive cruise and it worked but I didn't like it and it seems that you if have adaptive, you can't configure it for non-adaptive. On a busier dual carriageway or motorway I found it slowed down coming up on traffic while I looked for an overtake lane gap, then didn't get back up to matching lane speed quickly enough without overriding. Seemed to still be locked onto the vehicle I'd just pulled out to pass, this was evident on three different makes and I couldn't figure out how to configure it to do otherwise. I concluded I didn't want it on a bike.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on June 10, 2021, 01:50:24 PM
As an AT owner I think you have got it about right.  Personally I wouldn't necessarily recommend them to you unless you plan to spend some time away from surfaced roads as there are better on-road options.  What makes the AT 1000 so exceptional is being able to move from road to off it seemlessly, its Honda goodness, reliability and in the case of the 1000, the absense of tech unnecessary to adventure situations.  (Adpative cruise control- I :^_^) Think big, soft dirt bike, perfect for a slightly more challenging adventure and you are in the right ballpark.  The 1100 has a bit more power and torque taking it a little further towards the BMW etc.  Both are relatively slim, easy to ride, very neutral overall and considerably better looking than most adv bikes.  The 1100 has a better seat.

Given your riding profile surely it is down to the BMW, no?  If not, and you fancy some Honda-ery goodness then try the 1100 adventure sports plus edition model, it seems to match what you want best.

Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 10, 2021, 05:41:30 PM
Quote from: Sin_Tiger on June 10, 2021, 12:34:09 AM
Great to be able to do that and not feel like a fraud as I would  ;)  Good comparisons  :thumbsup

Well, I am not a fraud as I am considering getting one, so comparing all that is on the market is not more than logical. Right? ;)

I guess that the color in the plastics can discolor, but in case of the Ducati it is done in a way that I doubt that will happen. Or I'll be able to buy a cheap one in 15 years. ;)

The adaptive cruise control worked a treat when I used it. However, I have not tried it on a dual carriage way. In the car, I have found that it was pretty easy to make it work, so I would think the same would go for a bike. But again, I haven't tried it. I do like the feature...

Quote from: Nick Calne on June 10, 2021, 01:50:24 PM
As an AT owner I think you have got it about right.

Thanks. That sounds good. ;) I do like that Honda reliability. It is one of the strong points of the bike. And it does give you the idea that you can switch to desert riding right after you have done your grocery shopping. Yes, my riding profile would make you think I would really need to go for the BMW. The question is, should I? I would really like to see what the 1100 is like. Or, better put, I am not sure I would want to pull the trigger on a new BMW. After all, there are so many of them and they don't look as good as the AT.
(Or is it that I want the AT to make me look good. ;) ) I am not sure. Yet.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: London_Phil on June 10, 2021, 08:31:05 PM
Just a comment on a previous comment from you Ghulst. You tried the Road version of the 900, but commented the latest Tigers are too similar to the 800xc, which I think is not accurate.
I know When we were in Ireland, Mat Tiger had his new 2018 800xca, which he has now traded up to a 900. It was clear that the 800xca was a big improvement on the 800xc ( Mines a 2012) with better display, more rider modes, and a better overall setup, and although you said rider aids were not your thing, I thought that about the 800 having abs, but now I would not want to be without it. There were a number of improvements, then the 900 came along, and was improved again. Now it may not be "better" in your eyes, but the takaway is that I think if you think the 900 is somehow not vastly improved from our 800's you've possibly missed something with the road version you tried. just my thoughts.

You have of course not mentioned my favourite, the HD Pan American. I urge you to try and get a test ride on the 1250 Special with adaptive ride height etc, just to see what it can do....Biased..moi????
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 10, 2021, 09:37:26 PM
@Phil; I have read a lot of comments on the Tiger 900. Many people found it a vast improvement on the 800, which was the main reason why I did a reference ride on my '11 Tiger 800XC before riding the 900. And to be honest, the Rally Pro version was the cheapest of the three bikes I was going to ride. The Tiger was also the most loaded bike of the three. I mean, I have done winter rides when I would have loved a heated seat. ;) Plus, I run a Tiger forum. :D I really wanted to like the Tiger. Honest.
You mention the driver aids and the drive modes, and I think I would absolutely be the first to admit that I will probably use them quite a bit when I would own the bike. However, I did a number of runs down a couple of roads that I know well. First on the 800XC, then on the 900. The trouble for me was, that I felt more confident on the same road on the 800XC than on the 900. I did not really notice the increase in power or much of an improvement on the dynamic suspension. Plus, the AT and the GS both actually gave me more confidence on the same road. That is what bugs me. I am not going to shell out a lot of money for a bike that isn't doing for me what its predecessor does.

Ah, the H-D Pan America. I have sat on it. I really would like to try it. Even if just to be different. They look like nice bikes and that would be a massively impressive V-Twin to have between your legs. Perhaps I should try and get my leg over one. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on June 10, 2021, 11:25:17 PM
Remember not to be too logical. Some part of every bike purchase has got to be about making your heart sing, otherwise you are doing it wrong.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: London_Phil on June 10, 2021, 11:30:49 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on June 10, 2021, 11:25:17 PM
Remember not to be too logical. Some part of every bike purchase has got to be about making your heart sing, otherwise you are doing it wrong.
Totally agree, and It's a personal choice, but is the road version of  the bike directly comparable ride wise to the Trailie? It would be a shame to not buy one model, based on the experience of a different version is all..
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 11, 2021, 12:04:10 AM
Absolutely Nick. And I do agree Phil, however, I have not been able to come across a Rally Pro to ride anywhere near me. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on June 11, 2021, 01:29:20 AM
Could some of that be down to something as simple as tyres  :icon_scratch:
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 11, 2021, 08:44:10 AM
Oh, the tyres had a definite influence. I am betting that, with another set of tires, the bike wouldn't 'fall' into the corners as much as this one did. But tyres make no difference in the pull the engine has from the lower rev range. That is what I found interesting. I am not a rev-happy rider, so in theory I should be able to notice the difference in the power and torque this engine makes. After all, it is claimed to be 10% up on power and 12% up on torque across the rev range. Not so much on top numbers as the 900 only has 0.9kW more absolute power than the 800, though it is up an absolute 8Nm. And that just leaves me wondering where that has gone. I honestly did not feel the big improvement all the reviewers are raving about...
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on June 11, 2021, 11:28:52 AM
Not able to say what bearing this has on your experiences but I vividly remember when I took a 1050 for a test ride in their first year, and was serious about buying then  ;). Riding some familiar roads, I was thinking what's all the fuss about, then I went into a corner I regularly ripped through and realised I was entering it up to 10mph quicker than I normally would have without it registering, split second of panic before just getting on with it and thinking "I didn't expect that".

I'm wondering if, doing what you're doing, it might actually be harder to make a comparison with so many choices and variables rather than the more limited choices that I had at that time.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on June 11, 2021, 05:50:16 PM
That's a good point. Jumping from tiger to AT I don't think I am going any faster until I look at the clocks. Then it's clear all of a sudden.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 11, 2021, 06:44:59 PM
Interesting observation. To be honest, I have not been looking at the clocks. I had been concentrating on the ride more. However, I had split my test into two parts. One where I would just ride with the traffic, as I normally do, to get a feel for the normal behaviour of the machines. It is no use trying them out in full hooligan mode, only to then realise you never really drive that when you normally use the bike. ;) The second part of the ride were a couple of narrower, more twisty roads to check handling. I just went back there on my way back from the office and at least I would choose the exact same gears again. It could have been that I would have been faster, but to be honest, that was not the point. It is the difference in feel that I was concentrating on. I don't have to be faster as I can lose my license at every single stretch of road on the 800XC anyway. I do want the bike to match my riding style a bit more though. To feel as if it is having a bit of fun while we are riding. And to me, there was no difference in 'feel' between the 800 and 900...

But, I might need to go out to a dealership in an area I don't know to experience it again. And then ride the Rally Pro. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Lee337 on June 11, 2021, 07:56:48 PM
Got me thinking I may need to test out a few alternatives to the 955i - not that I intend to get rid of her, I've pretty much got her as I like now, but as I'll have plenty of free time come 1 July, it'd be rude not to take advantage.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on June 11, 2021, 08:28:45 PM
Interesting isn't it? When you get the itch to change nothing can stand in the way, but conversely some bikes are keepers.
Title: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 11, 2021, 08:44:19 PM
Hahahaha, well, to be honest, I rode the XC for a work related trip today and I found myself to be quite happy on it. Sure, cruise control would be nice for 20 minutes of motorway and it could do with a bit more shielding from the wind, but still.

That's the thing though. I don't have to change. It is an option that has presented itself to me through some clever thinking of someone. ;) But when the opportunity arises...

In that way, these test runs are not at all decisive and I don't have to buy today. I was considering waiting to buy something until after summer anyway. Brands might be releasing their 2022 models by September, so that might bring in new gadgetry (adaptive cruise control on the GS and AT?) and perhaps some other news? The purchase would be nice to do in this fiscal year, so that gives me lots of time. I can keep my helmet and suit for some time longer. ;)

Quote from: Nick Calne on June 10, 2021, 01:50:24 PM
Given your riding profile surely it is down to the BMW, no?
That just left me wondering whether the guy with the Tiger and the AT is actually trying to sell me a BMW here now. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on June 12, 2021, 09:54:52 AM
Just get one of each! :occasion14
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 12, 2021, 10:24:25 AM
Hahahaha, well, not this year at least. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Bixxer Bob on June 12, 2021, 12:32:22 PM
some Honda cars have adaptive CC included in the spec.   Mine doesnt.  dont ask how
i know  :icon_lol:
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: London_Phil on June 12, 2021, 08:56:24 PM
Had Adaptive CC in a Hyundai Ioniq. Was amazing, and the Ioniq was not a bad car too..
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 14, 2021, 10:16:21 PM
The question is, should I take this test seriously then?

https://youtu.be/kVgFbV_kB60 (https://youtu.be/kVgFbV_kB60)

Oh, and the request is in to ride the Pan America... ;)


For those who don't want to watch it:
1st BMW R 1250 GS Rally (Very complete bike, expensive bike, does everything really well, carries weight well, refined.)
2nd Yamaha Ténéré 700 (Briliant bike, easy bike, could be more expensive, fun to ride, feels like something you can just ride across Europe easily.)
3rd KTM 790 Adventure R (Not much in it between third and fourth. Great bike, but if you don't want to push it during your ride, or if you are a novice on or offroad, it is not for you.)
4th Honda Africa Twin 1100 (Fantastic bike, but the other ones were just a bit better both on-road as well as off-road.)
Title: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 16, 2021, 05:45:11 PM
Today was that day on which you really wanted a mesh jacket for your ride. It is 30 degrees outside and when I left this morning, that temperature was a lot lower. So, I am slowly floating out of my awesome but old Dane Gore-Tex jacket. First stop after my meeting, my house to switch to my mesh jacket. What a relief. Though it still is incredibly hot. Anyway, it is all for a good cause as there is a River Rock Grey machine waiting for me.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210616/debc51849cd87efc6119dda37c95aa70.jpg)

My first impression is great. The machine looks much better in real life than in the pictures. It is relatively easy to get on and off and it has a whole host of buttons to play with. However, there is just one that is important. The starter button. I hit that and get on my way. On this Pan America, the clutch action is really short and only at the extreme of the lever. That took some getting used to. The other thing that bothered me was the way in which the throttle responded. It was pretty jerky and whenever I hit a pothole it made my right hand crack the throttle open a bit more, resulting in a bit of a jerky ride on rough pavement. That did not happen in rain mode, but let's be honest, you don't buy this bike for rain mode, right? Wind protection wasn't worse than the AT or the GS, so no points gained or lost there.  The cruise control worked nicely, though it would have been nice to have the buttons a bit closer to your fingers. Control-wise the AT had the easiest cruise control, in my opinion anyway. I was riding the Pan America and not the special, so no height adjustment and no electronic suspension. That would have been nice and would probably have improved the ride a lot. However, it was not on here, so I can only imagine. ;)

The verdict? H-D has really done its best. However, though it has a lot of power, it did not feel either as much fun as the AT or as composed as the GS. So, this one drops off the list.


So, at the end of the ride, I did have my dealership make me an offer if I were to buy a new R1250GS. Well, that got expensive quickly. The bike is some € 20,000 to start with, but once you have put on the packages you want (and need for residual value) you end up with a € 26,000 bike. On a positive note, they did offer me € 1,000 more for the Tiger than the dealership where I talked about the T700. However, that also leaves a much bigger gap. ;) Though BMW do a very attractive financial lease scheme in NL against incredibly low interest rates. So that is something to consider.


Then there is just one thing left to do... Search more and ride more. ;) I have just enlisted for KTM's local test day to ride their 1290 Super Adventure S and their 890 Adventure R again. Just because I did want to take another look. And I might need to find a place where they have a T700 with another saddle to ride...
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on June 16, 2021, 08:01:32 PM
No one can doubt your thorough approach. :occasion14
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: mat-tiger1 on June 16, 2021, 08:17:54 PM
Pity you couldn't get across to the ABR festival next week! All the major manufacturers will be there offering their bikes out for test rides in the heart of the Warwickshire countryside!

https://www.adventurebikerider.com/adventure-bike-rider-festival/


All the best,
Mat-tiger1

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 16, 2021, 08:22:18 PM
Hahahaha, probably not, Nick.

It does make me wonder whether I would really like to put down 26K on a bike though... I mean, those beasts are expensive. A T700 would be 14K and then I'd need to dig into a better saddle and another screen. Oh, and luggage... ;)

To throw in a wild card, for the same price I could also pick up a Guzzi V85TT Travel, which actually is a very nice riding adventure bike. Though it is a lot like my old 1150, which would trigger the question why I'd buy it and not get an old 1150 again....

Or one of the KTM's, or an AT, or... ;)

Quote from: mat-tiger1 on June 16, 2021, 08:17:54 PM
Pity you couldn't get across to the ABR festival next week!
Now that would have been fun!
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on June 16, 2021, 10:10:35 PM
We can only applaud your dedication to the search, cue Monty Python Coconuts  :notworthy
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on June 16, 2021, 11:50:01 PM
(https://media.giphy.com/media/xJzP5KqPH9PzO/giphy.gif)

But what a ride those were. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on July 03, 2021, 09:19:14 PM
Ok, just a quick update of my day today...

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210703/981f003bce36f3b4e4f47aa8d8b4b0f6.jpg)

First off, I rode the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. A cracking bike, so to say. Lots of tech in there and it rode quite well. The anti-dive and automatic electronic suspension behaved very well. I did have to come to grips with the quick shifter, but apparently, a bit of tweaking on the position of the shift lever should sort me out there. It was the first time that someone explained to me how to do a wheelie at the start of a test ride. That was surprising, to say the least. However, as wheelies are not really my thing, I left both wheels on the ground and did a little tour on it. To be honest, this bike is worth investigating further. It had some nice power down low (pulling away in 3rd at 1800rpm actually works quite smoothly, but when you go up the rev range, you have to mind your shoulders. They can be pulled out. This thing pulls like a freight train if you want it to. I really did like the balance of the bike. So, the KTM joins the row of options. BMW 1150 GS, KTM 1290 Super Adventure, and Honda Africa Twin 1100 Adventure Sports. The GS will probably be succeeded by a 1300 by November, so that might not be the best investment right now. Then again, Beemer trade-ins seem to be pretty good on residual value...


(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210703/584c9b20381770a87dcde06a83603459.jpg)

My second ride today was on an 890 Adventure S. I had ridden the 890 Adventure R before and I requested to ride that again, as I felt that I might not have given it a fair chance. Back then I wrote that I never had a bike that I knew so quickly I was not going to like. Unfortunately, there was no R, so I ended up on an 890 Adventure S. Well, my thoughts in my previous post turned out to be true again. Everything just feels too light, as if it would easily break off. The bike is nice, the power is incredible, but the way everything feels is just low quality. In my opinion. The shifter was better on this one than on the R that I rode, so that was ok. But the switchgear on the steering wheel had so much less of a quality feel than the 1290's that it was ridiculous. You have to keep the engine a bit higher in the rev range as well. Ride it above 2500 and the bike does whatever you ask of it. Go below that, and you need to work the clutch or shift down. However, when you really pull that gas handle, it catapults itself forward. Great fun engine combined with the 'attack position' you have on the bike, makes it a great weekend warrior and probably a lot of fun on gravel. Just not for me.


Back to options then. The 1290 Super Adventure S is a new contender. It is fun to ride, comfortable and quick. It is probably at least as offroad capable as the GS, if in capable hands. However, it is €6.000 cheaper. I could buy two more Tigers for that money. ;) So, I need to be able to spend a bit more time on that bike and then ride it back to back with a GS preferably. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Lee337 on July 05, 2021, 09:06:00 AM
I quite like the look of the 1290 Super Adventure & saw quite a few around the Lake District in the UK last year, so i've no doubt they are popular. I'm getting some new tyres on the car later this week & there's a KTM dealer 2 minutes walk away so I might go have a closer look.

The other one is a bit too Orange for me.  :bug_eye

Not that I'm considering buying a new bike any time soon, if ever.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Bigfeesh on July 11, 2021, 06:57:41 PM
My pal & I were doing much the same up here last thursday, the best looking and best priced was the Yamaha, there were two versions, one of them was the Rally, £4k cheaper than the Honda! Apparently it has much fewer electronic gadgets, £4k's worth is a lot of electronic chips! Not a fan of present gadgetry really but it's your money to spend. The Yam looked right, nice paint and nice price too.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on July 11, 2021, 10:29:29 PM
I'm afraid I'm both a sucker for gadgets as well as someone who does rack up the highway miles on his bike... That means that stuff like (adaptive) cruise control are very welcome extra's. I really liked the T700, but it is very limited in the tech department. And the seat... Oh, man, that seat. :(
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on July 11, 2021, 10:54:14 PM
Not one to rush a decision, are you?  :ImaPoser
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on July 12, 2021, 04:55:44 PM
Hahahaha, well, I brought it down to either the BMW R1250GS or the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. I had hoped to spend a bit more time on the KTM than I did, so I thought I'd get another ride scheduled. And then the released those spy pictures of what most probably will become the BMW 1300GS and then the Triumph Tiger leaks (http://tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,17139.msg133369.html#new) didn't help either. (Though nobody else on the forum seems to be interested at 0 comments.)

(Plus, businesswise, we are actually in a discussion to possibly buy a building, which would put a dent in the bike budget...)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on July 12, 2021, 10:53:10 PM
Ah the perils of mixing bike finances with anything else!

I'm in a similar position... thinking about buying an office building for work.  Never a better time.

I bet the BMW 1300 turns out to be the best option.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on July 13, 2021, 07:28:58 AM
Yep, that's the thing Nick. At 1% interest and 2% inflation, money is practically free. Plus, it would give me more space to store toys as well. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on July 13, 2021, 01:37:21 PM
And commercial property prices set to rise...

Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on July 13, 2021, 04:20:34 PM
That's been on the rise for a while here...
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on August 21, 2021, 05:09:34 PM
Being on holiday has triggered my thinking again, and so have rising bike prices. There is no 800XC in the Netherlands for sale under € 6,000. That's more that I paid for mine 2 years ago. I might consider selling it to bag a profit and then see. There's a nice 2010 GS for sale close to me, from a guy from the GS forum, or I might just go for that 900 Rally Pro. Time to ride some more. I still have a week off next week. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on August 22, 2021, 09:28:07 AM
Next week: Ghulst buys a ktm!  :ImaPoser
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on August 22, 2021, 05:55:59 PM
In the next episode ............ will Ghulst ride a Benelli Trek  ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: London_Phil on August 22, 2021, 06:44:05 PM
Or Even

Ghulst buys a Goldwing....


Watch these guys Moto crossing some Gl1100's....

https://youtu.be/EMrxee_fazo
Title: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on August 23, 2021, 04:19:24 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on August 22, 2021, 09:28:07 AM
Next week: Ghulst buys a ktm!  :ImaPoser

Well, did I talk about that 1290 Super Adventure S yet?



Such a fun machine. But when I load it up to the specs that I would want to have, I'd end up at 28K and that is just 1.5K under a fully loaded GS on a bike that depreciates a lot faster...


Quote from: Sin_Tiger on August 22, 2021, 05:55:59 PM
In the next episode ............ will Ghulst ride a Benelli Trek  ;)

Hahahaha, no dealers anywhere close to me, so, no. :)

Quote from: London_Phil on August 22, 2021, 06:44:05 PM
Or Even

Ghulst buys a Goldwing....

Thanks Phil. I know the title asks whether I have gone mad, but I have definitely not gone that bonkers. And I already own two couches. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 02, 2021, 12:25:00 AM
Yes, update time!

Yesterday was the last day of my holidays, so an excellent opportunity to ride a couple of motorcycles. Which meant that I fueled up the Tiger and headed north to my first dealer where they had an African Twin 1100 Adventure Sport waiting for me.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210901/38f9b8d1bd638c049a3b4563ba8392e4.jpg)

Honestly, this was a much better bike than the AT I rode earlier in this thread. The 1100 has much more power and keeps on pulling. Mind you, there are no spectacular outbursts of power on this engine, but you can get your photograph taken by the police at the other side of the crossing if you really give it the beans. Don't ask. The seating position was a lot better than the other Africa Twin I rode, even though I would consider chancing the seat for something that is a bit more comfortable. But this really was a very, very nice machine. A machine I would actually consider putting in my garage. Which is a great improvement over the previous AT I rode. ;)

So, then I turned the Tiger west and ended up on another orange bike.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210901/81aeafbb783c87d529bf70e0c79d9f54.jpg)

So, back on the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. I admit that I had already tried it at the KTM Test Days, but at the time I was in a group with someone who rode her bike as if she was on ice. Needless to say that you don't really get to experience the whole dynamic spectrum of the bike in that way. So, as I was back doing my comparisons, I decided that a 'free' round would be a much better option to really get to know this bike. So, I took it along the same route I had taken with the T700 and the 890 Adventure R and what a bike this is. Honestly, it is quite insane. On the one hand it awakes the hidden hooligan within you, but when I was stuck behind some old people on bicycles, it would happily plod along at 10 miles an hour. And then when you pass them, you open the throttle and the scenery becomes a blur and you are off. Man, this thing is QUICK. It could do with a comfort saddle and you have to order it with the tech pack, but man, is this an awesome machine. Would I buy this? Yes. I would love to ride it side by side with a new 1250GS, which makes everything feel really easy though. Not sure which one I would prefer. And before you say it, no, I am not buying two. ;) (However, if Triumph claims their new 1200 Tiger has a better power to weight ratio than the 1290... I am all ears. ;) )

But anyway, I returned both bikes to their rightful owners and then swung my leg over a third one. Something a bit different, but as I already mentioned the considerations around real estate, it did make sense to check this out. So, we had a nice ride, I enjoyed the third bike and rode home. Two hours ago, I phoned the owner to tell him that his bike is going to live in my garage. I know I am going to get into a lot of trouble selling the Tiger for this bike, but I really did enjoy it. Which means that it will be here in a week and a half.

So, if anyone in the Netherlands is looking for an honest Tiger. I have one for sale right now...
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: London_Phil on September 02, 2021, 10:41:54 AM
What did you do.......
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Bixxer Bob on September 02, 2021, 11:42:44 AM
 :new_popcornsmiley
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 02, 2021, 11:49:22 AM
The pick-up date is on the 11th of September... I honestly am not 100% sure it was the right decision, but if it isn't then I can always get back to the search. I am going to miss my Tiger, I think. It is such a different bike. But I bought it for a good price and I have bought it with an eye on buying some new property in the near future. This means that investing in a new bike was not a priority right now. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on September 02, 2021, 02:26:11 PM
I think my reading comprehension is shot. I'm none the wiser as to what happened.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: London_Phil on September 02, 2021, 02:28:41 PM
and..............................
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 02, 2021, 02:34:01 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on September 02, 2021, 02:26:11 PM
I think my reading comprehension is shot. I'm none the wiser as to what happened.
I'm keeping you in suspense...

I have this odd thing that has happened before where private deals fall through, so I'm waiting until I get the bike here...
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on September 02, 2021, 02:35:49 PM
Mate if you ever need help choosing something more substantial, please ask one of other guys here first! :ImaPoser
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 02, 2021, 02:51:00 PM
Hahahaha, short story long, read above.

Long story short, I rode a lot of new motorcycles to determine which one I thought was best. I had a blast. In the end I bought a used bike. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: mat-tiger1 on September 02, 2021, 02:55:28 PM
Quote from: ghulst on September 02, 2021, 02:34:01 PM
I'm keeping you in suspense...

I have this odd thing that has happened before where private deals fall through, so I'm waiting until I get the bike here...

:BangHead :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on September 02, 2021, 04:35:48 PM
Admit it, it's a puch 90cc moped isn't it? :bug_eye
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: London_Phil on September 02, 2021, 05:56:13 PM
Ural with Sidecar?
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on September 02, 2021, 08:55:17 PM
Honda hero custom low 350 from India? 15bhp model?
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 02, 2021, 09:02:57 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on September 02, 2021, 04:35:48 PM
Admit it, it's a puch 90cc moped isn't it? :bug_eye


At some point I did get attracted by the Honda CT 125 Hunter Cub!  :bad  Then I was spotted next to an RE Himalayan...


But no.


Oh, and a friend has a Dnepr sidecar. Awesome bike, but doesn't fit through the garage door...  :mut
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: London_Phil on September 02, 2021, 09:53:41 PM
Sweepstake.......
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: mat-tiger1 on September 03, 2021, 12:42:26 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210902/bd14974e7f19fc1ea24565dba827c3fa.jpg)




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 03, 2021, 01:14:32 AM
Ah, I did try the Livewire, but at € 34,000 it just didn't make sense to me. Especially if you can get a Zero SR/S for 25. However, the range is not at the point where I want it. If I can do a round trip to Rotterdam on it (200km mostly highway), then I am in. :)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on September 03, 2021, 01:28:38 AM
Quote from: ghulst on September 03, 2021, 01:14:32 AM
Ah, I did try the Livewire,

You kept that quiet  :augie I think you need to give up your day job and start writing for a Bike Mag  :mut
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 03, 2021, 04:01:11 PM
Hahahaha, I didn't ride it in this series, but...

(https://i.ibb.co/mDFfQw6/IMG-9853.jpg)

And I doubt writing for a bike mag pays as well as I enjoy now. ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 04, 2021, 08:05:52 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210904/cfcef6a4339bf61a685972b3cddfb421.jpg)

Parked the Tiger at my in-laws today to have room to park the 'new' bike next week. A friend who's going to take his test for his license in two weeks is going to buy it.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on September 06, 2021, 12:50:16 AM
 :eusa_clap
Title: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 11, 2021, 04:37:54 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210911/026b5b97a3db5080f915c9dcb7fc69a0.jpg)

And there it is. My new to me 2010 BMW R1200GS with ESA, ABS, Hyperpro suspension etcetera.
Yes, it is a year older than my Tiger, it has exactly the same mileage, but it does have more power and grunt.

(And I can now make this a company bike.)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210911/850a403081c6dc9d96f7820ec14da78b.jpg)

I'm happy with it.


For now... ;)
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Sin_Tiger on September 11, 2021, 05:09:58 PM
If it works (no pun intended) for you  :thumbsup

I tried but I just never felt comfortable with them.
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Nick Calne on September 11, 2021, 05:44:30 PM
Happy new bike day!
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: Lee337 on September 12, 2021, 12:19:57 PM
At long last  :icon_mrgreen: A good choice there Ghulst

I'm gonna look at a RE Himalaya in the next few weeks.

Not really looking to get rid of my Tiger but there's a RE dealer not far from me & I fancy taking a look at one in the flesh.

Who knows?   :m
Title: Re: Have I gone mad?
Post by: ghulst on September 12, 2021, 02:37:52 PM

Thanks Nick!

Quote from: Sin_Tiger on September 11, 2021, 05:09:58 PM
I tried but I just never felt comfortable with them.
They honestly are an acquired taste. However, I have always found them to be well balanced and really relaxed to ride. I know that at times I will miss the more aggressive profile of the three cilinder of the Tiger at times. However, this has 20hp more on less than 20kg more. Also, the modified ESA suspension does make it handle better. I have always liked the GS's ever since Ewan and Charlie. (Sorry, I am one of those LWR, LWD fans...) In fact, it was their trip that got me to finally get my license. I longed after a 1200 for a long time, until I got the Tiger. But I could not pass on this opportunity as I am effectively paying less for this GS than I sold the Tiger for. (Thanks to the taxman.) And GS's are know here to keep their value quite well. So, that makes it a better investment until I get my next company bike somewhere in the future. ;)




Quote from: Lee337 on September 12, 2021, 12:19:57 PM
At long last  :icon_mrgreen: A good choice there Ghulst

I'm gonna look at a RE Himalaya in the next few weeks.

Not really looking to get rid of my Tiger but there's a RE dealer not far from me & I fancy taking a look at one in the flesh.

Who knows?   :m
Thanks! I love the look of the RE Himalayan, but you really have to not be in a hurry and not be on motorways... I looked at one when I was on holiday. Granted, you can get a new one for less than I paid for this GS. That does put it in perspective.
Really looking forward to hearing how you liked it.
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