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What bike journey brought you to your current bike


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Not sure if this is the best place for it, but it is related to bike selection.  

What's you bike history?  What bikes have you had in the past that molded you, or beat you into submission, and brought you to your current ride?

Ive had my fair share and now I've doubled back and on a bike I've already owned once before.

 

My rides over the years.

1971 Honda CL350

1974 YZ125A - yup, still own this one.  Actually my dad's old bike.

2001 YZ250F

1984 YZ250

1986 YZ250

1989 KTM 500 DXC, beast of a bike.  64hp, less then 250 lbs  

2001 YZ426F

1979 Husqvarna OR390

1971 Yamaha SC500, all the rumors are true.

1987 Husqvarna 430XC, plated, vibrated worse then a paint shaker  

1994 ATK 605, plated 

2003 YZ125

2003 KX500, awesome desert monster.

1996 ATK 605, plated

2006 YZ250F

1989 ATK 604 MX, plated

2007 KTM 450XC, plated

1997 ATK 605, plated

2001 XR650R, plated

2005 YZ250

2004 KLR650

2015 KTM 250SX, current

2000 XR650R, plated, current.   

I vintage raced a few seasons and the last couple years I've been beating on mid sized 600ish dual sports. 

Edited by AdvRob
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I had some Honda 50cc scooter in high school and I don't even know the model.  Then a Vespa 90 then a Vespa 110 that was stolen my freshman year of college.

Fast forward to 2011 and got my first real motorcycle, a 2011 BMW GSA and learned to ride it in the dirt.

I got a 2013 KTM 500 EXC but with no truck/trailer, I wasn't riding it enough so I sold it.

Now I have a 2011 KTM 990 ADV :)

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8 hours ago, Eric Hall said:

I had some Honda 50cc scooter in high school and I don't even know the model.  Then a Vespa 90 then a Vespa 110 that was stolen my freshman year of college.

Fast forward to 2011 and got my first real motorcycle, a 2011 BMW GSA and learned to ride it in the dirt.

I got a 2013 KTM 500 EXC but with no truck/trailer, I wasn't riding it enough so I sold it.

Now I have a 2011 KTM 990 ADV :)

how does the GSA compare to the 990 in the dirt?  Feel as heavy as it looks?  How about price of ownership?  basic stuff like armor, tanks, stabilizers, body work more or less same price?  I already know big bikes demand premiums on that stuff, $300+ skid plates, $1000 tanks, etc.  Any drastic difference between the brands?

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They are dramatically different.  The GSA will do a lot... if you bulk it up (and lighten your wallet).  I had a 21" front wheel and suspension from TFX that made it handle pretty well but still not close to the 990 off road.  Of course the GSA was better on the highway but I did a 14 day trip to Idaho and back and really had no complaints of the 990 on the road.

The GSA just doesn't represent the kind of off road capabilities I want in a big bike.  I do miss it but if I still had it would reserve for touring, two up and very light off road.

We had a garage feature here on the forum before the switch to the upgraded software and we expect to get that back eventually but I have the GSA in my "garage" and you can see all the stuff I added to it to get it off road-worthy.

Actually, I made a video that has nearly 64k views:

I also wrote a blog article about it here

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Eric Hall - thats what I was afraid of.  I see a lot of used GSAs out there for good prices with higher mileage.  Then I see all that needs to be done to them to get them to a point where you can charge offroad and just cant pull the trigger.  990/950 are coming down in price since the new generations are taking off.  I just missed a deal on a clean 950 for 3600 bucks on a local dual sport club page.  Some good deals to be had if your patient.  I see a LC8 in my future.

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 Wow! Talk about bringing back memories from my blurry past being a teenager through the '70's !

When not yet a preteen my family moved to a still under construction major housing subdivision in rural northern NY USA. As this was a huge development there were dirt roads being roughed in for miles! Didn't  take long for my brother and I convinced Dad we needed a mini bike instead of messing around with soap box derby carts we had been building. That's how it started. Before long we had a whole group of young punk ruffians riding mini bikes around the new under construction area driving the job managers nuts. Dad also through his work new a local motorcycle shop owner. What more could a bunch of kids with only three channels of t.v. ask for? And it was also sweet that several miles away out through farmland was a huge county owned forest area riddled with a network of dirt roads and trails with several fire towers. It wasn't long before we all went through a progression of various mini bikes to mini trails to 125's , 175's 200's which is where my dirt bike history stopped at for displacement. Big brother got a 250 where he wound up. 

Into highschool, the "crew" started focusing on sports and girls so the scourge of the local dirt trails faded out.

Aaahhh , the 1970's !

As a kid: homemade carts, choppered schwinns, butchered 10 speeds, mini bikes , mini trails , Honda xl's , Kawi kx's , Yamaha xt's. The art of the deal had us all swapping between our rides much to the confusion of the parents ,lol. 

After highschool/college: '75 cb400 , '81 gs550es , '75 r90s , '85 k100rs , '76 r90s  '81 gl 1100 interstate

After children are grown: '08 KLR 650 , '12 990R Adv. 

This has been my journey with many more dreams still being chased!

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  • 1 month later...
  • KTM 640 Adventure MY2005, loved her, spent some quality time with her;
  • Then a bit of biking hiatus for various reasons;
  • KTM 1190 Adventure R MY2014; amazing bike that does a ton of stuff; enjoyed it immensely on street and light unpaved roads; also (as a follow-up to the 640 Adv) made it very clear that for me, adventure bike means thumper and that I'm certainly not into the "big bike taken offroad" thing. So after 3 years of travel, including offroad with luggage and passenger, it's gone and replaced with
  • KTM 690 Enduro R MY2016; which I'm enjoying a lot currently. 

 

Edited by Dragos Stefan
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I had very limited off road riding as a kid.  I borrowed bikes from time to time but that was not often.  I started on the streets in my 20's after years of riding on the back of my dad's bikes.  My "entry" in the ADV life was an '05 KLR, then a second '05 KLR and I found I really enjoyed going anywhere.  After that I decided to get a GSA and went to Alaska last year with a buddy.  Since I've picked up a twin cam GSA and am looking where else to go.  Colorado next month, working on the route currently.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I always knew I wanted to ride motorcycles, had some 50cc mopeds and scooters during my teenage years (officially they're limited at 50km/h here in the Netherlands but I had a Hyosung Rush which was already modified to run about 85).

So anyways, I waited fairly long getting my motorcycle license pretty much as a courtesy to my mom who in here younger years lost 3 friends in separate motorcycle accidents. Needless to say she wasn't to happy with me getting my license but when I was 24 she figured I was resposible enough 🙄.

So here's the list:

1996 Kawasaki ZZR600E. Lost it in a corner because of freshly mowed grass on the road and ended up with half the bike in a small stream. The bike had only cosmetic damage, but never felt comfortable after that.

2002 Honda X-Eleven (CB1100SF Y). Got damaged february 2016 when a car it was parked next to was lit on fire. It was repairable, but decided to sell it to the dealer.

2003 Ducati Multistrada 1000DS. My first official company motorcycle (one of the reasons for selling the X-11 was wanting a more upright ride due to the amount of km's I spend on the road visiting clients). The Duc got stolen after about 9 months of ownership.

2002 BMW R1150GS Adventure Touratech Revamp (current). Doubled up on the locks. Planning to keep this one for a while (but didn't intend to Duc to leave so soon either).

KTM 990 Adventure / Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L. If I get the chance to buy any of these two within budget the Beemer will probably have to leave. Liking the GSA a lot though, so might change my mind on this...

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 so here goes...

april 2010 - 2010 harley davidson 883 iron (new) - SOLD AFTER 7 MONTHS, DEFINITELY NOT FOR ME - nickname: the anvil

september 2010 - 2010 triumph speed triple SE 1050 (new), with which i passed my rider's test - EXCHANGED IN 2013 FOR A GRAY 1200 GSA - nickname: the bitch

december 2010 - 1999 honda pan european 1100 (used) - DEFINITELY NOT FOR ME AND TAKEN BY BMW WHEN I BOUGHT THE R 1200 R - nickname: das boot

september 2011 - 2011 BMW R 1200 R Classic (new) - BOUGHT BECAUSE BMW DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO SELL ME A 1200 GSA - SOLD IN 2014 - nickname: the kraut

april 2013 - 2008 gray 1200 GSA (used with 59'000 kms) - SOLD IN POLAND IN DECEMBER 2016 WITH 155'000 KILOMETERS - nickname: apocalypse cow

march 2014 - 1992 ducati 900SS (used) - SOLD AFTER NARROWLY AVOIDING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INTERESTING ACCIDENT - nickname: little red riding hood

august 2014 - 2008 red 1200 GSA (used with 75'000kms) - 112'000 KILOMETERS AND STILL MINE. MY LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL PARTNER ^^ - nickname: panda

march 2017 - 2002 gray 1150 GSA (used with 78'000kms) - 83'000 KILOMETERS AND STILL MINE. MY DAILY MULE ^^ nickname: duck

Edited by beemer bunny
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On ‎07‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 3:06 PM, Motopreneur said:

You will definitely need to elaborate on why BMW didn't want to sell you a GSA, and why you actually agreed to that @beemer bunny

they refused to sell me the bike (it was the 90th anniversary edition of the 1200 GSA), because i was a girl, not strong enough and not tall enough - exact words of the owner. at the time, they were the only bmw dealership i was willing to do business with, hence why i didn't go to any other at the time.

eventually got my 1st 1200 GSA in exchange for the Triumph Speed Triple i had.

and i bought my second 1200 GSA through this particular dealership, though it was a direct transaction with her previous owner.

he had problems selling her due to her mileage, the fact she was too "personalized" and because she was not cosmetically impeccable - riding from london to china will do that to a bike. BMW wouldn't take her either for the same reasons. he hoped that by leaving her at the BMW dealership, more people would see her and want to buy her. but there was ever only me ^^

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2 minutes ago, beemer bunny said:

they refused to sell me the bike (it was the 90th anniversary edition of the 1200 GSA), because i was a girl, not strong enough and not tall enough - exact words of the owner.

I could quite easily have a very strong opinion about this (and I probably don't even have to tell you what that would be), but since it was years ago and you got your GSA eventually I won't waste the energy ;) ... 

By the way, in terms of GS's I would hardly call 75.000km 'high mileage'.

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yes, not worth commenting ^^ when i got my 1st GSA, i went there and told the owner: "see, i got my 1200 GSA finally..." grinning from ear to ear.

my bikes don't go to BMW anymore for services or else. i occasionnaly just order parts i need through them, if it can't wait.

here in switzerland, bikes with over 30'000 kilometers are hard to sell. or you stand to lose a lot of $$$

my red GSA, the one with 75'000 when i bought her, was first advertised at CHF11'400 (EUR10'350). i got her at CHF9'900 (EUR8'988) - didn't even have to negotiate.

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Dad had Harleys and Indians that just never appealed to me.  Neighborhood dads and sons had DS bikes which guided me for a very long time until I made sport bike friends.  My sport bikes never really lasted very long though so time will tell w/my current ride which I freaking love.

1980 Yamaha IT-175

1974 Bultaco 360 (first bike I ever rode and bought from my friends dad.  Never should have gotten rid of that beast)

1984 Honda XR350R

1986 Suzuki 1000 GSXR (bought just to ride across country from TN to CA when I joined the Navy w/a buddy).  Sold later to buy a Jeep. Gotta have a Jeep!

1990 Honda XR600R

1992 yamaha Vmax 1200

1996 Honda XR600R (bought totally tricked out for Baja)

1996 Ducati monster 900 (fun arse hooligan ride)

2001 BMW F650GS Dakar (Built and gave later to my GF)

2002 BMW F650GS Dakar (built and sold to my brother)

2002 BMW R1150GSA (just sold for my R1200RS.  I really want the new 1200GS Rallye but want the telelever dropped and a 21" as stock)

2003 BMW F650GS Dakar (built just the way I want her and still own – still deciding on moving up to the 800/900 - 1190/1200 cc BMW/KTM )

2016 BMW R1200RS (Love this ride. I've had boxer engines since a kid in my VW's, Subaru's, Porsche's and GS's so the tractor power really appeals to me)

Edited by Hugh Michaels
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Thanks to my father, I spent every waking hour on my bicycle as a kid.  The joke was I was born riding, but in reality, the first year of my life I lived above a bicycle shop.  My Grandfather (Mother's Father) rode back in the late 40's, early 50's until he was killed in a collision with a car.  I never knew him as my future mother was only a child at the time.  My father rode for commuting and my uncle (his brother) always talked about riding and scrambles but I never once saw him ride though he did own a 650XS.  My mother finally let me get the XL125 but I was forbidden to ride on the street for fear of me becoming like my grandfather, dead.  In some ways my uncles tales of others racing (not him) got me interested in competition.  He said he'd come to my race if I did one so I entered the 1982 Bear Creek 100 on that XL125, minus the lights, he never showed up.  Sadly, I can never get two words out of him any more.  I did 2 more scrambles before buying the XR350R, it's been all downhill ever since.

’79 Honda XL125S

’83 Honda XR350R

’79 KTM 420

’84 Honda XR200R

’82 KTM 495

’84 Husky 250CR

’81 XL185S

’86 Can-Am 560 Sonic

’87 KTM 250 MXC

’89 KTM 250 EXC

’73-’79 XL-TL-SL125-185 Frankentumper**

’84 Honda FT500 Ascot

’89 Honda XL600V Transalp (64k miles)**

’87 Can-Am 250 ASE

’93 KTM 300 MXC

’81 XL185S (bought back for wife approx. 5 years later)

’95 Honda XR250R

’96 Honda XR400R

’84 XR200R (kid got arrested and bike given back by father)

’99 Honda XR250R

’74 Ossa Plonker

’00 Husky TE410

’04 KTM 950 Adv (126k miles)**

’89 Honda VT1100C3 Aero (23k miles)**

’84 FT500 Ascot Basket Case **

’08 KTM 250XCF-W (Sold then bought back as a basket case)

’03 KTM 640 Adventure (sold then bought back 12 months later, 24k miles)**

’73 TL125 **

’97 Beta 250 Techno

’11 KTM 350 XC-F

’11 KTM 250 XC **

’06 KTM 950 Adventure S (9,600 miles)**

’11 Sherco 2.9 **

** Bikes I still have

I think that is all.  The 640 may go soon in exchange for a 350-530 XC-W

I only compete a couple times a year anymore so my riding from now on will probably lean more towards dual sport, travel and exploration

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  • 3 weeks later...

I started riding at 13 on a brand new 1st year for "Prolink" 1981 Honda XR200R.

'84 XR350R

'87 Kawasaki EX500

'79 Honda CX500

'79 Honda CB900F

'95 BMW K75s

'94 BMW R1100rs

'99 Ducati ST4

2013 KTM 990 Baja

I think I have covered most of the engine configurations, I seem to be going back to by dirt bike roots now with the KTM, and find myself looking at big thumpers again more and more.

RPM

 

 

 

 

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