Hairy

is this due to the 1300's being on the market?

a moral dilemma I am sitting with is, will little kids and their mothers still smile and wave at me if I am NOT on a Harley

interesting and I am sure more maneuverable with the narrower tyres but then the xt250 would be more capable again?

Thanks ... I am more confused now

I like the TW200 Did my k53 on one .... they just bloody expensive second hand for what you are getting ... but should be a blast to play with in the bush

I know we discussed ST's the other day, but this looks decent https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/735812605154760/

Looking to test this bike out today or tomorrow. https://www.gsbiketraders.co.za/bikes/arriving-soon-2011-bmw-gsa-1200,-top-box-and-panniers I have been sent a full set of good pics, and she looks to be in good condition and is meant to have a full BMW service record....given the mileage that would be key.

He said the bike turns in very suddenly where he (Had a GS before) found the GS to handle better a slower speeds on the trail ... so I understood it. Loves his bike though, and it sounds like he takes her on many a romantic dirt adventure. EDIT: The other factor in my mind is that there are a gazillion GS bikes out on the trails, with the service centers and spares to sustain this mass of vehicles vs far less numbers of ST bikes. Following the hitches to get spares for the HD, my logic leans towards a simpler life with the GS from a maintenance and accessories point of view.

I think with me looking at the older GS models for a first stab at this bike format, the resale on the GS should be good in a year or two when I would then be certain as to investing in it with a new or demo model bike, or if I will move to another genre of motorcycling. With the above in mind, I think a BMW will sell again faster than the Super Tenere.

LOL .. thanks for the links. Went to builders over the weekend and saw a older guy walking to a ST, so I stopped him to have a quick 30min chat (My was not amused) and left with mixed feelings about it. Need to do a little more homework on my side.

Swartberg looks cool

Shotto ... it will be a daily ride wherever bike ... and maybe go explore the odd gravel road to start with when I go for a ride out. I like picking a direction and going that way to see where the road takes me, on some of those roads there have been a gravel road or two that I wondered where it went to. Some gravel roads the Harley has done already, even with a pillion

What I do know I do not want is a bike with a chain that need to cleaned and maintained ... to much PTSD from cycle commuting for many years in any weather in CT

I recon this could still come down to 80K https://wilddog.net.za/threads/2012-bmw-r1200gs-abs-esa-h-grips-price-drop-to-r88k.278603/#post-5146423

I am / was reasonably proficient on a hardtail to a big travel enduro MTB on rather very tech trails with many a years under my chamois if this helps in any way. It would be a slow progression into dirt on a motorbike though

There is a 2012 GS1200 on WD that is well priced, with some higher mileage that I could prob still get to a lower price point. This makes a little more sense for me as I then do some dirt roads on it and get a feel for this adventure thing without breaking the bank or worrying too much about the bike, and when I am ready I should be able to sell the bike without making a loss. It would be a private purchase though, so not sure RE the admin involved in getting it registered into my name, etc.

Replace the GS with an Enduro E-Bike and you have the same result

I see the GS as a more capable sports touring bike that will predominantly be used on the road. The dirt road aspect would be tentatively be approached on the GS, but ideally I would want to first try a small CC trail ripper on trails. Yesterday I had to head out to Kalkbay again, and arranged for a 2028 GS1200 from the BMW boys and girls. Took the loop from the CT CBD, along the coast to Houtbay, over the neck to Constantia and then along Boyes for a great coffee at Olympia Cafe, site and back to town via Boyes again, M3 and along the mountain on Philip Kgosana drive. Total loop 80km. The bike is refreshingly light to maneuver and track standing is just a breeze. I had some thoughts before on how the hydraulic clutch would feel, but this was easily accustomed to and nice to use. Seated position feels natural and the bike responds well to input. For me, acceleration was great when you twist the throttle (And you still get a bit of vibes which I was hoping for, as this is a big feature to me on the Harley) yet slow speed riding is really civilised. Brakes .... so this is what brakes are meant to feel like The bike feels small to me compared to how the HD feels. What I did find was that two cars shifted lanes while I was next to them, on the HD they would have heard me and not done so ... this bike needs a slip on with a bit of a growl. Going to test ride a 2011 Air Head Adventure spec on this weekend to see how that feels vs the liquid cooled one I took out. This is what she looks like

like this hey .

Not sure if I have posted this here before, but if you are using your Bialetti (Or knock off) pot on a gas burner, and the stand is too wide to accommodate the pot ... just whip out an old rotor as a rack to cover the gap.

Rock can break scissors/micro layer of anodised alum, but Chuck can break anything

not as hard as ............

K@K hot and sunny in CT today, so certainly not a weather issue for us