There are bikes that can handle any given condition better than the GS, but there isn't one that can do all conditions as well.
I can't explain why I like that bike so much, maybe it's that belief of ultimate freedom on it, with a dash of character lacking in most modern bikes , but I know I do
The KTM990Adv owners might have something to say about that...
"If you're going to be on top, you better be prepared for the inevitable criticism.
Goes for everything from sports to politics to sex."
Seamus.
The KTM990Adv owners might have something to say about that...
Pshaw. And what do they know?
"It's not debt per se that overwhelms an individual, corporation, or country. Rather, it is the continuous increase in debt in relation to income that causes trouble." --Warren Buffett
You need to add FJR owners to that group as well..
Took my feej off road a couple of times down some dirt roads. NO THANKS. She stays on the pavement now. My biggest fear was dropping my pretty pretty baby...
The KTM990Adv owners might have something to say about that...
The KTM IMO is more DIRT BIKE oriented and that is fine. WE looked at both of them, even had them side by side. If you are in a shop where you can do that, hop off one, then on the other, walk around them both no more than 2 fee apart, odd are you will walk out of there with the GS. The comfort and "style" of the GS can't be beat. PLUS, when it comes time to do basic maintenace on the timing chains, plugs and stuff you don't have to RIP THE BIKE APART. Man that sucks.
Took my feej off road a couple of times down some dirt roads. NO THANKS. She stays on the pavement now. My biggest fear was dropping my pretty pretty baby...
Well mine ain't so pretty anymore but thats do to pavement indused re-constructive surgery oh.. and if you do find yourself on unimproved roads just let 5-15lbs of pressure out of the tires and it will do A LOT for the stability and your confidence on such a big top heavy bike.
So far, in my own experience, it's been three years of outstanding customer service and no-questions asked handling of warranty repair (compared to Honda and my RC-51 saga.)
After years on many other machines, I was looking for something that "did it all."
I looked hard at the Feej and the ST-1300 before buying the GSAdv. They may have been a little closer in the running intially if they offered something else that BMW is great at: TEST RIDES.
The wife and I test rode just about every two-up BMW, on back roads and highway, some more than once. I went into the BMW shop thinking K1200GT and fell in love with the Adv.
The more time I spend on it, the more I find it can do and the more I love riding it.
Best solo day I've had so far:
- Leave the house in 45 degree weather. Overcast and drizzling.
- Ride 40 miles of straight, flat, highway at 65-70mph warmed by the heated grips and protected from the weather by the bike.
- Get to the dirt trails and spend an hour or so exploring the switchbacks and buzzing the canal on a rock/dirt road at 30-40mph without a care in the world for all the pebbles getting kicked up into the bike. Also, hit every mud puddle I can find...laughing just like when I was a kid on a BMX bike.
- Pull off the trails onto the secondary roads and ride to the local powersports dealer.
- See the look on the other bikers faces as I park the mud-covered bike and climb off in full-protective gear, also covered in mud-splatter.
- The weather clears as I leave the dealer and the roads dry quickly.
- Take the back-road twists home, smoother and quicker through the turns than I've ever been on a sport-bike.
Two-up the bike will do everything above. The wife and I have toured long-distance, explored dirt roads and trails, run through the twists, etc...
Can other bikes do this stuff? Absolutely. Adv riders have toured the world on GoldWings and R-1's.
All I can say is that it's taken me 20+yrs of riding to find what I want in a bike, and the GSAdv is it hands-down.
If you think that loud pipes save lives, imagine what learning to really ride that thing could do.
There are bikes that can handle any given condition better than the GS, but there isn't one that can do all conditions as well.
I can't explain why I like that bike so much, maybe it's that belief of ultimate freedom on it, with a dash of character lacking in most modern bikes , but I know I do
you can't explain it but I know what you mean. I've never ridden one and don't really have any aspirations to do any adventure touring but I've still always wanted one since they came out. I bet if I had one I'd probably ride further and on roads I wouldn't normally go down. and I've always thought people who said its an ugly bike are out of their minds. The thing just looks like it wants to go off the beaten path.
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough" - Mario Andretti
All I can say is that it's taken me 20+yrs of riding to find what I want in a bike, and the GSAdv is it hands-down.
Yeah, I've owned street legal bikes for 15 years off and on now, and I feel the same way.
"It's not debt per se that overwhelms an individual, corporation, or country. Rather, it is the continuous increase in debt in relation to income that causes trouble." --Warren Buffett
As intimately as GS owners are familiar with final drives?
Originally Posted by G-ForceJunkie
Perhaps, my 1150 is on drive #2.
How many chain/sprocket combos would the KTM have gone through in 50,000+ miles though?
"It's not debt per se that overwhelms an individual, corporation, or country. Rather, it is the continuous increase in debt in relation to income that causes trouble." --Warren Buffett
"It's not debt per se that overwhelms an individual, corporation, or country. Rather, it is the continuous increase in debt in relation to income that causes trouble." --Warren Buffett
...
I can't explain why I like that bike so much, maybe it's that belief of ultimate freedom on it, with a dash of character lacking in most modern bikes , but I know I do
I think you're experiencing the same sense of euphoria that thousands of beaming Hummer H2 owners must have felt.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
I think you're experiencing the same sense of euphoria that thousands of beaming Hummer H2 owners must have felt.
Possible.
Quit harshing my high.
"It's not debt per se that overwhelms an individual, corporation, or country. Rather, it is the continuous increase in debt in relation to income that causes trouble." --Warren Buffett
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Originally Posted by ONEvcs
The KTM990Adv owners might have something to say about that...
. Really doesn't roll off your tongue the same does it?
oh.. and if you do find yourself on unimproved roads just let 5-15lbs of pressure out of the tires and it will do A LOT for the stability and your confidence on such a big top heavy bike.
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