I Was Thinking of Buying a New Motorcycle!

At the moment I am off the road and therefore so is my motorcycle (on a SORN*).

Motorcycle off the road in the garage

On a Battery Charger plugged into the primary Aux Power Port.

Aux Power Port

Auto Charger

I have spent much of the last 6 months adventure riding vicariously and also researching new motorcycles. www.rtw-adventures.com has been very helpful in both of the above. I have travelled with Pavel on his Yamaha 660Z Tenere all over the place - Ireland, Germany, Mongolia, Poland and many other countries.

In addition to the moto adventure rides there is a lot of very good information regarding motorcycle equipment, riding techniques, motorcycle gear and motorcycle reviews.

My trusty 2005 BMW R1150GS-ADV records 53,106 miles on the odometer. 314 miles since the previous fill up.

Odometer

I have owned the motorcycle from new. It has been a brilliant machine. Mostly it has been used for touring - Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Isle of Man, Scotland and England. I have also toured South Africa and Namibia on rented motorcycles: A BMW R1200GS and a Yamaha 660Z Tenere. Click South Africa and South Africa and Namibia for those specific moto adventures. Watch this space for more.

During my 'off-road' recuperation I have been contemplating selling my BMW and buying a lighter, more up to date machine for when I get back on the road. BUT it appears that there is no light but big motorbike available. I am 6'2" and 100kgs (16st 220lbs). There are big bikes out there of course, but none of them are light. The light motorcycles are just too darn small. The big bikes like the Triumph Explorer, Yamaha Super Tenere, Suzuki V-Strom 1000 are all good motorbikes in their own way, but just about as heavy as my 1150 BMW GSA. The Ducati Multistrada Enduro 1200 is a beautiful motorcycle, but it is €20,000 and heavy. The Honda Africa Twin would be a contender, but, again, expensive.

Here are some pics of the motorcycles that I have considered:

Ducati Multistrada Enduro 1200 - BEAUTIFUL

KTM 1290 Super Adventure R - also beautiful

Honda Africa Twin 1000 - Excellent Moto

Triumph Explorer 1200 - Good Moto

Suzuki Vstrom 1000 - Excellent Value

SWM - Interesting Moto

MotGuzzi STELVIO 1200NTX - W.N.T.L?

A big factor for me is the switch gear. The 'old' BMW switch gear is so functional, intuitive, and safe.

Left Turn and Horn

The original turn indicator switches - thumb the left switch for left turn and thumb the right switch for right turn. Right thumb the cancel switch to cancel. Intuitive, easy, ergonomic and very robust. This is a reason that I would not consider a new BMW 1250 GSA with Mickey Mouse turn indicators and OTT riding modes.

Right Turn and Cancel Left or Right Turn

So I have decided to keep my old BMW. The Touring panniers work well as does the soft luggage. The bike can carry a load of camping gear and after 13 years with this motorbike I have had a lot of experience with configuring the gear. Another factor is insurance premiums are relatively reasonable AND I don't even think about losing the motorcycle through theft when it is parked outside a hotel somewhere for the night. Click here maybe?

Ibis Hotel Rotterdam

*Statutory Off-Road Notice (UK untaxed vehicle kept off public roads)