Denver to Alaska....which bike to buy!?
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
In my own admittadly anecdotal experience, I would steer towards the japanes bikes for ease of ownership. I myself wouldnt trust a triump out in the tundra. The ktm is based on the rc8 motor TMK and is super sporty but that doesnt translate to useable.
I think a vstrom is based on a tried and true suzuki motor. That would be my choice for a reliable real world steed that can do it all.
I think a vstrom is based on a tried and true suzuki motor. That would be my choice for a reliable real world steed that can do it all.
Seasoned tech
SuperSport
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 576
From: Issaquah, WA
Couldn't agree more.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
Yeah, either that or a puch moped.
I just now read a letter in BIKE magazine (Brit mag) where a guy was telling of all the times that GS1200s broke down on him and all the repairs (including many final drives) that they needed. He said he liked the bike but reliability is not its strongsuit.
I just now read a letter in BIKE magazine (Brit mag) where a guy was telling of all the times that GS1200s broke down on him and all the repairs (including many final drives) that they needed. He said he liked the bike but reliability is not its strongsuit.
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4
From: Denver
If I were you, I would go to advrider.com and do some searches or pose the same question there.
Another good resource is Motorcycle Consumer News. They do all their own independent tests (hp, torque, top speed, breaking, etc is all what they measured, and not what was claimed by the mfgr), and they do not accept any external advertising $$, so I feel they are fairly unbiased and usually spot on with their reviews. Here is a listing of some model evaluations they have available online:
Motorcycle Consumer News - MCNews.com - The most complete, most detailed and most accurate information about every aspect of motorcycling.
Looks like all the bikes you've listed are on there (BMW GS, Triumph Explorer, KTM Adventure). Good luck with your hunt and have a great trip to AK! Also, if you ever want get together for a Hawk cruise through the canyons hit me up.
Another good resource is Motorcycle Consumer News. They do all their own independent tests (hp, torque, top speed, breaking, etc is all what they measured, and not what was claimed by the mfgr), and they do not accept any external advertising $$, so I feel they are fairly unbiased and usually spot on with their reviews. Here is a listing of some model evaluations they have available online:
Motorcycle Consumer News - MCNews.com - The most complete, most detailed and most accurate information about every aspect of motorcycling.
Looks like all the bikes you've listed are on there (BMW GS, Triumph Explorer, KTM Adventure). Good luck with your hunt and have a great trip to AK! Also, if you ever want get together for a Hawk cruise through the canyons hit me up.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 344
In my (also anecdotal) experience, BMW motorcycle owners, particularly GS bikes are essentially apologists..."I'm on my 3rd rear drive, but I should have changed the fluid every 1000 miles instead of 1500 miles...it's my own fault, but hey...gotta pay to have the BEST BIKE EVER MADE"
Thread Starter
mildly retarded
SuperBike
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,278
From: Denver, CO
If I were you, I would go to advrider.com and do some searches or pose the same question there.
Another good resource is Motorcycle Consumer News. They do all their own independent tests (hp, torque, top speed, breaking, etc is all what they measured, and not what was claimed by the mfgr), and they do not accept any external advertising $$, so I feel they are fairly unbiased and usually spot on with their reviews. Here is a listing of some model evaluations they have available online:
Motorcycle Consumer News - MCNews.com - The most complete, most detailed and most accurate information about every aspect of motorcycling.
Looks like all the bikes you've listed are on there (BMW GS, Triumph Explorer, KTM Adventure). Good luck with your hunt and have a great trip to AK! Also, if you ever want get together for a Hawk cruise through the canyons hit me up.
Another good resource is Motorcycle Consumer News. They do all their own independent tests (hp, torque, top speed, breaking, etc is all what they measured, and not what was claimed by the mfgr), and they do not accept any external advertising $$, so I feel they are fairly unbiased and usually spot on with their reviews. Here is a listing of some model evaluations they have available online:
Motorcycle Consumer News - MCNews.com - The most complete, most detailed and most accurate information about every aspect of motorcycling.
Looks like all the bikes you've listed are on there (BMW GS, Triumph Explorer, KTM Adventure). Good luck with your hunt and have a great trip to AK! Also, if you ever want get together for a Hawk cruise through the canyons hit me up.
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