| Author |
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Dr_greg
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 10:03 am: | 
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Interesting that no one has mentioned the F800GS. That's my next test ride, although the dealer (who gave me the whole day on the R1200GS LE) says only 20 miles on the demo F800.
Maybe it's the "no chain, no water" thing. Which I can understand, although of all the bikes I've owned over the years...the two areas which never gave me trouble were the liquid-cooling (on those that had it) and the drive chain.
When I do the F800GS ride, I'll document it here if there is any interest. Heck, I'll document it anyway...gotta have some fun with you fellas...
--Doc
P.S. Myself, I'm lookin' at the Ducati MTS 1200 in a coupla years, pension permitting  |
Babired
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 10:22 am: |
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I'm keeping my ULY and the X1 but next bike purchase might be Triumph ST or BMW RR, or the K1200R and I like the little BMW 800 ST too, with a suspension upgrade on it. K |
Union_man
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 10:48 am: |
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This looks interesting.
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Thesmaz
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 11:26 am: |
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The new Multistrada. I've seen it in person and it is damn sexy! Well thought out too. If the weather is good this weekend I may have to go down to the dealer and take it for a spin. I was told by someone that works at the factory that the dealers here in Italy would have test bikes at the end of Mar - beginning of Apr. |
Towpro
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 11:39 am: |
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Dr Greg, I watched all the videos on the 800GS. I would probably love the bike.
My buddy (who owns a wee strom) and his co-worker went to California for some training. They flew out a couple days before the training event and rented a GS1200 and a GS800. He said the 800 seat was "to dirt bike like" and he suffered when it was his turn to ride it.
All the threads on ADVrider about stuff breaking scares me. |
Rightpecial
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 01:30 pm: |
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I love the GS800, but after sifting through all the threads on other forums, they seem to have more potential teething issues than either the Buells or KTMs. |
Buewulf
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 01:41 pm: |
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I like the little BMW 800 ST too, with a suspension upgrade on it.
I had a good bit of time on a F800S. The reason the F800s are off my list is that I feel anything that costs that much shouldn't need a suspension upgrade. And it does need one badly. Not sure if that applies to the F800GS though. |
Strokizator
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 01:47 pm: |
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After I lost the Uly I replaced it with a KTM 990Adv. The engine doesn't have as much character but the suspension is sweet and it can be fitted with proper tires (21" knobby up front and 18" Mefo Super Explorer on the rear). |
Mnrider
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 01:53 pm: |
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Eulysses
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 02:58 pm: |
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Keeping my DR 650 for real off road and Uly for cooking the blacktop...with occasional dirt road. |
Luftkoph
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 07:41 pm: |
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I've been pondering this dilemma since the bastards in milwaukee killed my all time favorite brand.And because of my location and the proximity of a dealer it will be a honda yamaha or triumph,at the fringe of my range a kawasaki or suzuki.
Even though none of these co. have anything right now that I like enough to buy,who knows what the might have in the future. |
Discochris
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 08:49 pm: |
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and actually, even though I mentioned the Strom, had I known that Honda was finally going to bring the NT700 (Deauville) to the US last fall, there's a very good chance I would have bought one of those instead of the Uly. I wanted one for a very long time. |
Union_man
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 09:24 pm: |
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NT 700 Deauville
You choose this BEFORE a Ulysses.......Really?
Sorry I couldn't resist |
Highlander51
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 09:52 pm: |
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Dr. Greg,
I always look forward to your reviews and I'm looking at the F800GS. I had a 06 1200GS that I loved but sold to pay off some debt and then purchased a 06 Uly, which has been a good bike. I just want something more dirt oriented with a 21 front wheel. Also have some wood for a KTM adventure, have you looked at those at all?
(Message edited by highlander51 on March 30, 2010) |
Discochris
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 10:08 pm: |
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I first saw the NT700 on a trip to Spain, where they're really common (probably because they're made there). I really liked it then, and I like it now.
It's a lightweight (like the Uly), shaft-drive tourer (no chain, like the Uly) with full luggage standard (like my XT), so yeah, it would have been near the top of the list of bikes I was looking at (and there were about ten.)
The Uly beats it out in fun factor, and the lack of need for valve adjustments. |
F_skinner
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 10:23 pm: |
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Tstone
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 10:47 pm: |
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By the time my Uly becomes un-serviceable Erik Buell will be building bikes again. I'm gonna buy one. |
Swampy
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 10:48 pm: |
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Yeah, and S2T or an S3T, cheaper that a Ulysses.
Tonight I went to my kids shop for an entirely different reason, but I needed a cover so I asked him about getting a test drive on a Versseys, two up with the girlfriend(She loves to ride) The salesman was all appoligetic and said I would get employee pricing but due to insurance they cannot give test rides. Not that I was asking, I was only there for a non-bike reason and when the Big Kid saw me I needed an alibi.
So my question is, do Jap bike retailers usually not give test rides?
I remember Daves when I was apologizing for the Big Kid popping a wheely on a test drive, his response was something like, How come he didn't go farther? |
Wesman
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 11:20 pm: |
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Till used Ulys become a pricy as Vincents I think I can keep riding them till I'm to old to care  |
Discochris
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 11:42 pm: |
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No, really only H-D and BMW (and possibly some other Euro brands) generally allow test rides from my experience, with the exception of demo days.
You wouldn't buy a car without driving it, so why would you drop $10k or more on a bike. |
Paul56
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 11:44 pm: |
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Swampy- In my experience they don't allow test rides. Before I bought the Uly I was interested in the V-Strom and, casually, in the FJR. I asked 2 local dealers what it would take to get a test ride. Both essentially said "buy it and you can ride it". Just another reason I got the Buell. |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - 09:14 am: |
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The other day I had a student ask what my top 2 picks for bikes would be. Told him I already had my # 1 choice (pointed at the XT), and couldn't narrow it down to less than 4 others. In no particular order, those are:
Triumph Tiger
Ducati Multistrada (In red, of course)
Honda ST1300
BMW K1200RS
I've ridden all of them except the new Multistrada.
He asked why there were no Harley's on the list. I replied I'm not a cruiser type of chick, I ride in crazy Orlando traffic, and need something more nimble and responsive to help get me out of a pickle if need be, and the Uly was one bike that does it all, and does it well.
Besides, mama taught me, if you can't say anything nice.... |
Xbeau12s
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2010 - 10:58 am: |
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If I had to chose something besides the Uly it would be a XB12SCG or a City Cross. I agree with Fltwistygirl. I need something flickable for the traffic and maybe something that hops curbs every once in a while. Tried that on a 85 FXRS. oops! |
Sprintex
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2010 - 02:03 pm: |
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Lets see it needs a simple motor so a Guzzi. No chain. Guzzi and lousy resale value again Guzzi.
But as long as I can get parts for it I'll keep the Uly. |
Hangetsu
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2010 - 03:31 pm: |
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Unless Erik puts something new and interesting on the road before my Uly gets retired, the New Multistrada or the KTM 990 are at the top of my list. The next 80K miles I put on the Uly should give ample time for any bugs in the Multi to work themselves out and if it doesn't prove to b a worthy and reliable adventure bike, the KTM will get the green light. |
Cyclonedon
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2010 - 04:28 pm: |
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So, if you were going to ride something else...
it would be another person's motorcycle because I'm a Buell owner for life! |
Swampy
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2010 - 09:48 pm: |
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I think I will wait around and see what happens with EBR and the Canadians.
I let...er...my girlfriend told my oldest son he could have the Ulysses for the weekend as we are going to the lake. I'm not pleased, this is the kid that when Daves let him take a Ulysses for a test ride, I had to appologise to Daves because the kid popped a wheelie through town.
I may be looking for a replacement sooner than I expected.... |
Wildmonkey
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 12:30 am: |
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Hmmmm Good Question... But since I also own an '08 Hayabusa, and an '08 Victory Vision, the only bike that comes to mind is possibly trading the 'Busa for the new Honda VFR1200... I hope I can find one to test ride when I am home for mid-tour leave !!!
Steve. |
Rightpecial
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 04:39 pm: |
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Well, I would also give Yamaha's super tenere a serious look if they brought it to the US. |
Ulyranger
| | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2010 - 08:36 am: |
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Gee, I don't honestly know. The Uly was the first bike that forced me to buy a brand new bike!! Guess I will run it into the ground, look for a used one after that. That should give plenty of time for Erik to come up with a replacement.........
Too far in the future for me to even speculate........ |
Idaho_buelly
| | Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 12:04 am: |
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I've never had any issues test riding any Jap bikes..... |
Skifastbadly
| | Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 03:02 am: |
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Thanks everyone for your response. I think if I had to buy something today I'd go with an F800GS. The R is just too damned big. But since I have a few years before I have to decide, let's hope the elves get the band back together. |
Paralegalpete
| | Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 05:54 am: |
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My next bike will be lighter and a little more off road cabable then the Uly, but that won't be for a while, and by then I'll be getting a seniors discount |
