| Author | Message | ||
     Conchop |
IMHO = The ADV bike genre suffers from some of the most ghastly styling cues ever put on a bike. The GS leads the ugly-thon with a style that can induce eye damage. If you take a GS and most ALL ADV bikes to bike week and park it out front of any saloon or event, most all other bikes will be parked far away from it. These guys have made a slight improvement. Much better on the eye, BUT, typical of these Europeans, the color choices and combinations would work well in a circus. Hopefully, if EBR builds another ULY, the styling and colors will be more palatable than the current batch of ADV choices. http://www.unitgarage.com/kit_r120_gs | ||
| Xbimmer |
I agree that that GS does look pretty good, but taste is subjective IMHO. I for one think most cruisers look goofy and most choppers look ridiculous, particularly with a rider aboard wearing a wife-beater, shorts, sneakers and those stupid little Wehrmacht helmets. But then again, taste IS subjective...  | ||
| Ejbeert |
than again barstow to vegas dual sport movie part 1 | ||
| Ourdee |
MERCY that is ugly, I want to ride it. | ||
| Trojan |
The GS leads the ugly-thon with a style that can induce eye damage. You have to remember that the GS is the best selling bike in the Adventure bracket and BMW's best selling bike period. Almost every other bike we see on the UK roads is a BMW GS of some sort. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder that's for sure, and plenty of people love the GS styling  IMHO the kit looks worse than the original, and losing the screen etc is not what 'proper' advenurre or touring riders are looking for. This kit looks more like a poor mans HP2 Supermoto than anything else, and just as impractical. | ||
| Conchop |
Well, to each unto their own. I agree with a lot of your subjective observations. Since BMW has what is considered the best bike in the world [ the gs1200 ] its hard to argue with their styling. The Uly was the best looking ADV - IMHO = But the front end made it look like a praying mantis with wheels. I liked the late 60's and early 70's enduro bike styling - A quick look at a BSA 650 Lightning brings about a bit of ease on the eye as does the Honda 750 and Harley Sportster. The boat tailed Super Glide was uber cool. Seems like the 72 Husky 400 WR could do the business on street or dirt - looked the part. Once you cross the English Channel and roll into continental Europe, seems to me you get superior performance at the cost of some controversial eye candy. An American style has launched a mega billion dollar industry based on a "look" and despite the pure performance [ or lack thereof ] it brings about an opportunity. IMHO - it seems logical to me that if a high degree of superior performance and comfort can be achieved by EBR [ easy enough ] and blended with a bit of Anglo/American style that has a history of selling, then BADA BING - the sales numbers will go through the roof. Hey EBR! Got that? | ||
| Tootal |
That picture looked really retro, reminding me of the 80's Paris to Dakar models that were 800's if I remember correctly. That seven gallon gas tank was massive! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I love the look of that kit bmw bike. | ||
| Uly_man |
"Almost every other bike we see on the UK roads is a BMW GS of some sort." Thats VERY funny, Matt? "Since BMW has what is considered the best bike in the world [ the gs1200 ]" Total rubbish. It was a good bike wene they used an early version to invade Poland but today it is just a expensive heavy heap of lovey "round the world" crap. The only GSs I have seen with "DIRT ON" in the UK are those with "wind blow" from the Africas. (Message edited by Uly_man on September 03, 2012) | ||
| Conchop |
Jack Pine Triumphs looking good - running strong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unaRkye1OBk | ||
| Needs_o2 |
Hmmm,   | ||
| Trojan |
"Almost every other bike we see on the UK roads is a BMW GS of some sort." Thats VERY funny, Matt? Funny but true. I make a point of looking at bikes on motorways and long journerys, just to see what is the current 'trend' if you like. I see far more GS1200/1150 BMW's than any othe rmake or model, and on motorways they are in the majority. The only GSs I have seen with "DIRT ON" in the UK are those with "wind blow" from the Africas Why do they need dirt on? I've never personally seen a Ulysses or even a KTM Adventure with dirt on either over here. They all make superbly comfortable tourers and very very few bike riders ride off road anyway, let alone on a bike that size! How many Range Rovers/Land Rovers do yousee that have never been further off road than Sainsburys car park? People buy the GS for its huge practicality, looks/image and above all reputation rather than any real off road capability. | ||
| Conchop |
I live in rural Appalachia = we have lots of one lane paved or dirt roads for what you Brits may call 'green laning" Fantastic for ADV touring. Before I had a Uly, I did it on every bike I've owned including a Super Glide and a Tour Glide. The biggest issue I had with the Uly was its inability to go slow as some of these roads are tight and treacherous. Vibration and over gearing made the bike very unhappy until I could get on a stretch of road where I could open her up. So much for touring - we were always going like a scalded dog. It was fun BUT not always what I looked for in the out back. I would hope the new Uly/AX would be a bit better looking and a good bit smoother and flexible in slow and tight terrain. | ||
| Conchop |
BTW - The orange seat on this UNIT bike completely clashes with the color scheme on the tank. IMHO, it might be the best seat on the best bike in the world, but I don't think I'd want to be seen on it. KTM seems to have color coordination and choices issues too. All you have to do with a Ducati is paint it red and despite its wholesale plumbing department looks, its still a great bike. I have yet to see a new Triumph ADV == BUT by what I see in the pictures, I'm in no hurry. Hillbilly proverb - picky picky picky! | ||
| Uly_man |
Yup. | ||
| Jstav2012 |
There is a different color scheme on that kit that I think looks better. Dig around the site, and you'll find it. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
I tried out the triumph tiger explorer, loved it but the price and they woulden't take my uly as part of payment........so i ended up getting an X1. | ||
| Nallac |
That looks sooo much better than a standard GS... unless its a R100GS PD... | ||
| Conchop |
Exactly. Contemporary Euro styling vs American styling goes to the Americans. Function over form vs form over function. Big problem. Why work so well and look so mmmm UGLY. Why look drop dead gorgeous and not be able to go around a corner. There exists an opportunity in this issue. EBR could build a bike that brings both attributes closer. Seems like the real trick is to get the superior performance with Anglo/ mostly American styling influences - then you have a sales superstar. | ||
| Trojan |
Maybe you should look at the new KTM 1190 Adventure Styling is a lot slimmer, and not as 'far out' as the GS and it has more power + all the electronic gizmos that riders seem to need these days to stop them falling over (traction control, ABS, Adjustable mapping etc). I sometimes wonder how we ever managed to keep both wheel in line for last 100 years without all these gadgets.  | ||
| Uly_man |
"I sometimes wonder how we ever managed to keep both wheel in line for last 100 years without all these gadgets." What No GPSs on them "OLD style" invasion GS-Ponys. WHATEVER next mein biker matey. If you hand it to them on a plate these days they will still f++k it up anyway. You like the bikes style buy it or not? EBR, good luck to them in this economy. | ||
| Buewulf |
I personally like the look of just about all of the adventure bikes and imitators on the market. That kit bike looks ridiculous in my opinion like a very bad play on retro. | ||
| Rubberdown |
Here's my take on the adv bike, my R1200GS HP2  No gadgets here, just a bust yer balls adventure seeking hotrod! (I do have all the gadgets on my K1600GT and love them there ...) | ||
| Conchop |
Trojan - Glad to see the KTM - we have a local dealer that has a solar power system that is quite impressive. Waiting to see some testing. But again, there are styling issues with this bike. Kind of looks like a toaster with wheels. But I'm sure its a very good ride. | ||
| Debueller |
 | ||
| Buewulf |
my R1200GS HP2 Lucky bastard. Go away! | ||
| Rubberdown |
ok ok ....  | ||
| Conchop |
Hope to see something like this soon = PS - I bet that HP2 is a hoot to ride  | ||
| Conchop |
This is also a very good styling exercise,  | ||
| Mikef5000 |
If you take a GS and most ALL ADV bikes to bike week and park it out front of any saloon or event, most all other bikes will be parked far away from it. You mean all these guys won't want to park next to me???   Adventure bikes, by nature of their intentions, need to be function over form. They NEED to be. If you want to fit in at bike week, perhaps you're looking at the wrong type of bike. |
