So I really want to get into more adventure riding, and I think the gs would be a pretty good bike to do it with. Just change a few things and it would be perfect. I would imagine it would cruise like a dr650 on the highway or alittle better and the frame is steel also the engine is really simple, and the bike has been around since 89. When I had the gs it was rock solid, and was awesome. THe things I would change would be putting on spoked rims, rm250 forks, I think thats it and some wind protection. I am talking about using a non faired model or possible a faired model doesnt really matter. The bike gets great gas mileage and is really tough. I was thinking of an sv 650 but it hasnt been around as long and it is liquid cooled and I know the gs is tough dont know much about the sv. But I think the gs would be a good platform for an adventure type bike, it would ride the highways and also get down and dirty and still perform well. What do yall think about this? I know people say go buy a v-strom, but I rode one for 10000 miles in 16 days, dont like them, the bike is great in the twisties even with tons of gear on the back (scraped pegs) but its too top heavy and big for offroad. Any thoughts?
Bad Idea Jeans.
Owning a GS is an adventure in itself. :icon_mrgreen:
I think it would be great!
the fact that you've rode anything 10000 miles in 16 days makes you way more quailified to answer this question than me :bowdown:
But compaired to other bikes like a DR650, the GS is top heavy and big too... Depends on how knarly the offroad i guess.
It crossed my mind once.
Since an adventure bike is not a true offroad bike, you don't need it with 12" suspension travel.
Start with a naked, make the usual suspension upgrades and case guards, get some soft terrain supermoto tires.
It wouldn't have to cost too much.
There was an old thread somewhere on offroad tires for the GS.
You could always just use the GS as is...like this guy...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109220
Found the post with that link in it (searched for volkswagen tire to find it lol) the day I joined :laugh:
I remember reading about a SV650 converted for off-road. I believe he ran it in a Dakar type race. Kits were available but it was 5 years when I saw them.
If you do this with a GS, better make sure you protect both side case covers. They will be very vulnerable off-road.
eh spoked wheels are trouble.
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 05:06:33 PM
eh spoked wheels are trouble.
Uhh, care to back that up at all, or is this just you showing your ignorance yet again?
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on January 16, 2007, 06:00:43 PM
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 05:06:33 PM
eh spoked wheels are trouble.
Uhh, care to back that up at all, or is this just you showing your ignorance yet again?
wtf is your problem dude? first off get a freeken life.
here is the reason behind it. on older spoked wheels the spokes tend to come loose. they require more care and responsability I guess you could say. Now ofcourse just like everything im sure people have riddin and nothing has happend or gone wrong but it is a problem that has come up in spoke wheels before its not somthing Im maiking up so go back to skimming your computer to find post that you can add to, to get your glorious post number up. Do you get a medal at 10k post?
Just because something requires maintenance doesn't mean that its bad. Thats like saying ooops my engine requires oil changes...its trouble. :icon_rolleyes:
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 06:13:52 PM
here is the reason behind it. on older spoked wheels the spokes tend to come loose. they require more care and responsability I guess you could say. Now ofcourse just like everything im sure people have riddin and nothing has happend or gone wrong but it is a problem that has come up in spoke wheels before its not somthing Im maiking up
So because you need to maintain proper spoke tension, that makes them junk? That's like saying "my tires need to be properly inflated, they must be junk!"
Quote from: Onlypastrana199 on January 16, 2007, 06:27:22 PM
Just because something requires maintenance doesn't mean that its bad. Thats like saying ooops my engine requires oil changes...its trouble. :icon_rolleyes:
Well it is a little different. most people when they think of wheels is ...... cleaning them and that is usually to the farthest extent. You gotta check those little spokes from time to time and not everyone is that teadious.. I could care less if you want to have spoke wheels I was just pointing it out. and you used a bad analogy.
did I say spoke wheels were junk? no so please refrain from your interperatation of my post. everyone can read for themselves what I wrote. and seriously stop with the personal attacks I had an opinion to share just like everyone else on the board but no matter where I go I get these little flies following me . its a motorcycle forum not highschool . please get back to the subject of this topic.
do you think you would be comfortable riding the GS on such long ride? its a comfy bike but my butt gets to hurting after awhile haha. but it would be very cool to take long distance adventures on the gs. Fed Ex Mike and I want to ride to cali one summer on our bikes. maybe not on the gs though . probly gsxr's ... cause if mike buys one I gottta buy one haha thats just how we roll
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 06:35:00 PM
Well it is a little different. most people when they think of wheels is ...... cleaning them and that is usually to the farthest extent. You gotta check those little spokes from time to time and not everyone is that teadious.. I could care less if you want to have spoke wheels I was just pointing it out. and you used a bad analogy.
How is it different? Spokes require you to keep proper tension in them, which is part of basic maintenance. If you don't do your basic maintenance you end up with problems, meaning her analogy to oil changes is perfectly reasonable.
In fact, spoked wheels are superior to cast wheels in a lot of applications.
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 06:35:00 PM
Well it is a little different. most people when they think of wheels is ...... cleaning them and that is usually to the farthest extent. You gotta check those little spokes from time to time and not everyone is that teadious..
so you're saying... people that don't maintain their equipment, are going to have problems? Isn't that true across all machines?
I wasn't personally attacking you, I was just pointing out that spokes aren't necessarily bad. They're good for bikes that take alot of abuse because if a spoke bends or something its easy to replace. Plus, they tend to be lighter and cheaper...unless they're Harley rims.
cast or machined wheels are almost mantinance free vs spoke wheels. thats all im saying nothing more nothing less.
alpha explain the superiority because you are the first person to ever say that . that I know of atleast.
and we all know that a lot of people do not properly maintain their vehicles or motorcycles . For the few of us that do take care of them 100% of the time we can not speek for the other 75% of the world that doesnt.
Quote from: Onlypastrana199 on January 16, 2007, 06:44:48 PM
I wasn't personally attacking you, I was just pointing out that spokes aren't necessarily bad. They're good for bikes that take alot of abuse because if a spoke bends or something its easy to replace. Plus, they tend to be lighter and cheaper...unless they're Harley rims.
I was directing that towards alpha. the only reason I said the analogy was bad because you have the option of purchasing wheels that do not require such maintainance. we really dont have the option to put a engine that never requires oil lol. Although Im sure someone will dig up some story on that lol.
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 06:47:59 PM
alpha explain the superiority because you are the first person to ever say that . that I know of atleast.
Spokes have the ability to flex and bend when under stress. This means when a bike comes off of a jump or hits a big boulder the spokes will flex and distribute the force through them rather than being exceptionally rigid causing potential damage to the wheel. Not only that, but spoke wheels are typically lighter than cast wheels, and can be easily switched between bikes, provided you have the proper carriers. Spoked wheels are easier to repair if something does happen, and they are cheaper than cast wheels too.
The main point though, is that they are much better suited for off road terrain and jumps due to their ability to flex.
Exactly Brian! Check out these airless wheels by Michelin. Modern design based on spokes:
(http://www.michelinman.com/images/promo/2005_tweel_gallery/tweel_007.JPG)
Now if we could only get these into everyday production for offroading! :thumb:
:icon_confused:
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on January 16, 2007, 07:03:15 PM
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 06:47:59 PM
alpha explain the superiority because you are the first person to ever say that . that I know of atleast.
Spokes have the ability to flex and bend when under stress. This means when a bike comes off of a jump or hits a big boulder the spokes will flex and distribute the force through them rather than being exceptionally rigid causing potential damage to the wheel. Not only that, but spoke wheels are typically lighter than cast wheels, and can be easily switched between bikes, provided you have the proper carriers. Spoked wheels are easier to repair if something does happen, and they are cheaper than cast wheels too.
The main point though, is that they are much better suited for off road terrain and jumps due to their ability to flex.
well I Understand that for offroad applications , I was under the impression that we were talking about strictly st. riding. seriously I didnt think twice about riding the GS offroad. when I was reading adventure riding I really didnt think he was talking about anything offroad. I guess I was mistaken. I personaly am still not a fan of them , although I see why some people would be. Now a dirt bike would be a different story if I ever got a hold of one.
(http://buell.com/common/07/ulysses/xb12x/featuresimage.jpg) this thing comes with gps and everything. that seems to be top of line in adventure riding
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 07:31:19 PM
well I Understand that for offroad applications , I was under the impression that we were talking about strictly st. riding. seriously I didnt think twice about riding the GS offroad. when I was reading adventure riding I really didnt think he was talking about anything offroad. I guess I was mistaken. I personaly am still not a fan of them , although I see why some people might be.
There are two reasons that they aren't used on street bikes nowadays. Power and weight. Too much power applied to the wheels will bend the spokes. Also, if a bike is too heavy then it can cause undue stress on the spokes. Modern spoke wheels can handle more power than the GS can make, and should be okay with the weight, although they are better suited to things a number of pounds lighter.
top of the line?
no, its a buell... you must be thinking of something different.
Quote from: TragicImage on January 16, 2007, 07:41:29 PM
top of the line?
no, its a buell... you must be thinking of something different.
well we all have our opinions lol. I tend to like the buell.
I think they market it well. but I know there are plenty of bikes to choose from
Top of the line??
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Maybe the Beemer:
(http://www.moto-station.com/ttesimages/motodivers/nouveautes2006/BMW_R1200GS_Adventure_st4pz.jpg)
Or the KTM 950 Adventure:
(http://www.motorsports-network.com/ktm/KTM04/Adven950/scadv950b.jpg)
KTM..... FTW.
K THNX BYE
that BMW looks hideous .. might ride well and last for ever but its straight up ugly lol
Notice that those two PROPER adventure bikes (not the fakey Buell wannabe-adventure-bike) use *GASP!* spoke wheels!
Spoke wheels also have the advantage of allowing you to run tubes, which makes patching flats (even sidewall punctures) much cheaper. Instead of replacing a tire when it is punctured, you simply patch or replace your tube. Tubes are cheap.
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 08:11:29 PM
that BMW looks hideous .. might ride well and last for ever but its straight up ugly lol
You are allowed to leave.
Spokes are lighter and more durable, lets hear your arguement when you hit a rock from adventure riding...alpha is right, and you are not very smart. Lets look at any serious adventure or off road bike, it has spokes. Thankyou please leave.
ok getting back on subject, I think i might just have to buy another gs and use it for some trips. It low on power but for this type of riding it wouldnt matter and also I just like the idea of it. I could spend 15000 on a BMW GS or I could spend 2000 on a suzuki and have a pretty good bike that wouldnt hurt to see laying on its side in the dirt.
If you swapped out with long travel suspension (front and rear), spoke wheels, and added a heavy duty skid plate (gotta protect that oil pan) you'd have a pretty decent adventure tourer.
To be honest, you'd probably be better off investing in a DR650.
i love it when ppl attack or praise a bike based on opinions :laugh: everyone here does it, sometimes it gets quite funny :laugh:
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on January 16, 2007, 09:09:09 PM
If you swapped out with long travel suspension (front and rear), spoke wheels, and added a heavy duty skid plate (gotta protect that oil pan) you'd have a pretty decent adventure tourer.
To be honest, you'd probably be better off investing in a DR650.
I was thinking about a DR650, its a toss up, the DR is better for the offroad and the GS is better than the onroad. Since I would be doing mild off road with the bike I think the slightly modded GS would be better since I would be riding alittle more road and wouldnt need the all out off roadness of the DR. Ill just have to look into each alittle more and see what would be best for me. Thanks for the input.
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on January 17, 2007, 12:27:31 PM
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on January 16, 2007, 09:09:09 PM
If you swapped out with long travel suspension (front and rear), spoke wheels, and added a heavy duty skid plate (gotta protect that oil pan) you'd have a pretty decent adventure tourer.
To be honest, you'd probably be better off investing in a DR650.
I was thinking about a DR650, its a toss up, the DR is better for the offroad and the GS is better than the onroad. Since I would be doing mild off road with the bike I think the slightly modded GS would be better since I would be riding alittle more road and wouldnt need the all out off roadness of the DR. Ill just have to look into each alittle more and see what would be best for me. Thanks for the input.
Really, it just sounds like you want a V-Strom, then. :laugh: :laugh:
I've ridden the GS and DR on and off-road. While off-rad certainly doable on the GS it's a pain! At the minimum the suspension needs to be reworked (even more so than for street duty alone) and decent 17' DS tires (thanks to SM they exist now!) with tubes.
GS500:
a) The short suspension travel / cast wheel keeps the pace slow on fire-roads (<30km).
b) Combine that with little 17 inch wheel that falls into every hole you will end up concentrating more on dodging holes than enjoying the ride; it gets annoying.
c) The inability to ride standing up comfortably means that you take more beating than necessary, and having to stand up and sitting down for every whoop will also make it more stressful (can't really unload the front effectively either... by power nor body english)
d) The street gearing means liberal use of clutch when the going gets bad, and things heat up real quick in the summer (especially you).
e) Street tyres are useless in mud/wet clay (easily remedied).
f) Constantly worrying about flat and denting the rim (have done) and everytime a gravel dings off your exhaust or frame.
g) Bloody heavy to muscle around especially at low speed dodging holes etc...
and so on...
It's my opion that the DR650 slays corner just as well as the GS (you can always tard it out... SM wheels are ~$1000 a pair). Throw on a decent bash plate and a larger tank (IMS , Clark, or Acerbis) and you are set (maybe springs... but I'm happy with stock for now)! The ability to power the wheel up in first is extremely useful when the going gets tough...(might still want to go one teeth down in the front though)...
My $0.02.
Quote from: Dr. Love on January 17, 2007, 01:04:49 PM
I've ridden the GS and DR on and off-road. While off-rad certainly doable on the GS it's a pain! At the minimum the suspension needs to be reworked (even more so than for street duty alone) and decent 17' DS tires (thanks to SM they exist now!) with tubes.
GS500:
a) The short suspension travel / cast wheel keeps the pace slow on fire-roads (<30km).
b) Combine that with little 17 inch wheel that falls into every hole you will end up concentrating more on dodging holes than enjoying the ride; it gets annoying.
c) The inability to ride standing up comfortably means that you take more beating than necessary, and having to stand up and sitting down for every whoop will also make it more stressful (can't really unload the front effectively either... by power nor body english)
d) The street gearing means liberal use of clutch when the going gets bad, and things heat up real quick in the summer (especially you).
e) Street tyres are useless in mud/wet clay (easily remedied).
f) Constantly worrying about flat and denting the rim (have done) and everytime a gravel dings off your exhaust or frame.
g) Bloody heavy to muscle around especially at low speed dodging holes etc...
and so on...
It's my opion that the DR650 slays corner just as well as the GS (you can always tard it out... SM wheels are ~$1000 a pair). Throw on a decent bash plate and a larger tank (IMS , Clark, or Acerbis) and you are set (maybe springs... but I'm happy with stock for now)! The ability to power the wheel up in first is extremely useful when the going gets tough...(might still want to go one teeth down in the front though)...
My $0.02.
We also took a Hayabusa on the Haul Road, Look up James Dalton Highway, its a 450 mile road that is 90% dirt and heavy construction. We were riding about 60mph on gravel sections with rocks ranging from golf ball to base ball. It was alittle sketchy but very doable. If a heavy pig like the Hayabusa can do it then I am sure a little bike like the gs can too.
Alpha, the v-strom is really tall and top heavy and also just alot bigger than the gs. The gs even though it is heavy would be alot better than the v-strom. My dad said the same thing about sounding like I want a v-strom, he has ridden that bike about 2 times on the rode and that was for about 15 minutes each time. But once it hits off road it tucks it tail and sucks, well at least with the street tires anyway. THe Busa actually did better on the James Dalton as its weight is lower and wouldnt get its "legs" kicked out from under it like the v-strom did.
Is it just me, or does everyone that I talk to that has a BMW say, "It is an awsome bike, but I can't keep the damn thing running. Breaks every time I ride it."
WTF? Seemed pretty good in Long Way Around. The spoke wheels held up brilliantly. But the subframes kept cracking from the weight of the saddle bags. Other than that , they seemed tip top. And there seems to be a lot to the fact that you need to be able to comfortably stand up on a bike while riding off road. I haven't ridden off road since i was a kid, but I remember standing a lot. I don't recall ever trying to stand up on my GS, but maybe you could do it. Still seems like a bad idea to try and adventure a GS.
The mere fact of having a BMW makes it an adventure... (in ownership) :icon_mrgreen:
And baseball size rocks are fine so long as you don't hit them at 60mph :laugh:
I think there's a discrepancy here about what mild off-road is. A quick Google image search for James Dalton highway yields a few pictures... looks like a well maintained graded gravel road. If this is what you mean by mild off road, then our perspective certainly differs...!
This is my definition of mild:
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=3447&size=big&sort=1&cat=619 (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=3447&size=big&sort=1&cat=619)
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=4008&sort=1&size=medium&cat=618&page=1 (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=4008&sort=1&size=medium&cat=618&page=1)
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on January 16, 2007, 08:55:27 PM
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 16, 2007, 08:11:29 PM
that BMW looks hideous .. might ride well and last for ever but its straight up ugly lol
You are allowed to leave.
Spokes are lighter and more durable, lets hear your arguement when you hit a rock from adventure riding...alpha is right, and you are not very smart. Lets look at any serious adventure or off road bike, it has spokes. Thankyou please leave.
there was no argument only opinions. the BMW is ugly to me oh well get over it. I just have to laugh at you dude. HAHAHA the buell is a serious adventure bike it does not have spokes. thank you please stop thinking your opinions ar the only considered here.
but I choose to take my adventures on the flightline of the USAF so i dont need to ride a simple little BMW to feel like I have big balls.
sorry im just not a BMW fan in there st bikes or off road bike. I have heard that bmws last a long time and are great bikes but I just never liked the looks of them . whats to say the buell isnt a real adventure bike. infact buell is way more innovative with there design than the bmw you pictured. but then again I like harleys and guns..who works on some of the world most sophisticated creations... and im not a snob or yuppy so I guess that puts me in a completely different class.
Quote from: Dr. Love on January 17, 2007, 02:06:53 PM
The mere fact of having a BMW makes it an adventure... (in ownership) :icon_mrgreen:
And baseball size rocks are fine so long as you don't hit them at 60mph :laugh:
I think there's a discrepancy here about what mild off-road is. A quick Google image search for James Dalton highway yields a few pictures... looks like a well maintained graded gravel road. If this is what you mean by mild off road, then our perspective certainly differs...!
This is my definition of mild:
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=3447&size=big&sort=1&cat=619 (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=3447&size=big&sort=1&cat=619)
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=4008&sort=1&size=medium&cat=618&page=1 (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=4008&sort=1&size=medium&cat=618&page=1)
Well you have obviously not ridden it, the mud was about 6 inches in some spots and a large section after the construction was a bed of rocks that we rode on at 60 mph. The James Dalton has section that are only passable going 10 mph or less and the lane going up is totally trashed due too the fact that heavy trucks cause big pot holes. Ask anyone that has ridden the James Dalton if it is well maintained, its not, some sections are smooth dirt but other sections are totally potholed up and when riding 60+ it would shake the so bad that the bike felt like it was going to fall apart. Riding these sections at that speed worried me because the fairing seemed like it was about to fall off. The James Dalton is a road so its not going to be an unpredictable trail, but it sure isnt a nice smooth road the whole way.
Quote from: Susuki_Jah on January 17, 2007, 07:23:04 PM
sorry im just not a BMW fan in there st bikes or off road bike. I have heard that bmws last a long time and are great bikes but I just never liked the looks of them . whats to say the buell isnt a real adventure bike. infact buell is way more innovative with there design than the bmw you pictured. but then again I like harleys and guns..who works on some of the world most sophisticated creations... and im not a snob or yuppy so I guess that puts me in a completely different class.
How is that Buell innovative compared to the Beemer?
The Ulysses is just an XB12S Long with:
I. Different suspension that gave
a) More ground clearance and a taller seat height, which Buell had to correct later on
b) 6.5" of travel, which isn't that much when you're talking off road capability
II. Handguards
a) These handguards are just sheets of plastic that won't do much to protect your lever in case of a tip over, which is the point of handguards. REAL handguards have an aluminum reinforcing bar that wraps around the entire handlebar.
III. Different front fender
a) This fender doesn't even wrap around towards the back of the engine like real dirt bike fenders should, which means that dirt can still be easily kicked up on the engine and oil cooler.
The wheels on the Ulysses are 17", which are not exactly good for off road terrain. Plus, they are shod with STREET rubber!
I guess the BMW's and KTM's Dakar wins mean nothing when you compare it to something as
amazingly innovative as a Buell Ulysses
The adventure buell is set up abit different I think. The forks are supposedly kicked out alittle more and some other things like that. But I didnt read it on the buell site but rather on advrider so I am not sure of the credibility. Either way though, the buell is very inferior to the beemer.
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on January 17, 2007, 08:14:21 PM
Quote from: Dr. Love on January 17, 2007, 02:06:53 PM
The mere fact of having a BMW makes it an adventure... (in ownership) :icon_mrgreen:
And baseball size rocks are fine so long as you don't hit them at 60mph :laugh:
I think there's a discrepancy here about what mild off-road is. A quick Google image search for James Dalton highway yields a few pictures... looks like a well maintained graded gravel road. If this is what you mean by mild off road, then our perspective certainly differs...!
This is my definition of mild:
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=3447&size=big&sort=1&cat=619 (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=3447&size=big&sort=1&cat=619)
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=4008&sort=1&size=medium&cat=618&page=1 (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=4008&sort=1&size=medium&cat=618&page=1)
Well you have obviously not ridden it, the mud was about 6 inches in some spots and a large section after the construction was a bed of rocks that we rode on at 60 mph. The James Dalton has section that are only passable going 10 mph or less and the lane going up is totally trashed due too the fact that heavy trucks cause big pot holes. Ask anyone that has ridden the James Dalton if it is well maintained, its not, some sections are smooth dirt but other sections are totally potholed up and when riding 60+ it would shake the so bad that the bike felt like it was going to fall apart. Riding these sections at that speed worried me because the fairing seemed like it was about to fall off. The James Dalton is a road so its not going to be an unpredictable trail, but it sure isn't a nice smooth road the whole way.
Be this you? http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196924&highlight=james+dalton+highway (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196924&highlight=james+dalton+highway)
Ok nvm.. it is, didn't know you posted it on gstwin too... Awesome write up :cheers: Noticed you were on a DL1000, have you considered the 650? The Wee-Strom is shorter and lighter at ~40lb down with much lower centre of gravity... still not as light as GS but miles better when pavement ends. Packing light also helps.
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on January 17, 2007, 10:20:06 PM
Either way though, the buell is very inferior to the beemer.
And Suzuki_Jah is very inferior to my left shoe.
:laugh:
BURRRRRNNNN!!!
-T.