If you could have any bike to ride in china ???

[chinabiker]

If you could chose any bike from around the world to ride in china what would it be.

I made my choice already.






+ air cooled engine / no messing around with coolant or water pump
+ shaft drive / no worries in mud, sand, water, maintenance
+ rugged and reliable
+ fuel efficient / rated at power and weight

- difficult to handle in deep mud or sandy ruts
- $$$


Andy

[chinabiker]

Plus I would like to compete in the Raid De Himalaya while I'm there.

Thought you're going to China. The RdH is taking place in India (Himachal Pradesh), and it doesn't seem to be a big deal to bring a bike there.

andy

[chinabiker]

R12GS too heavy for route 219. F800GS can do it

I don't think the R1200GS is too heavy ?

dry weight:
R1200GS - 203 kg
F800GS - 185 kg

max. permissable
R1200GS - 440 kg
F800GS - 443 kg

Andy

[bigdamo]

Thought you're going to China. The RdH is taking place in India (Himachal Pradesh), and it doesn't seem to be a big deal to bring a bike there.

andy

I am going to Xinjiang, China.

My Cousin is based near the Border(xinjiang side) to there.If I am going to visit my Cousin I may as well have a shot at that rally.

[Franki]

I don't think the R1200GS is too heavy ?

dry weight:
R1200GS - 203 kg
F800GS - 185 kg

max. permissable
R1200GS - 440 kg
F800GS - 443 kg

Andy

F800GS has 21" front wheel and better power to weight ratio

[chinabiker]

F800GS has 21" front wheel and better power to weight ratio

Not that I'm seeking an argument with you but simple maths will do:

power / weight (max. permissible)

R1200GS: 105hp / 440kg = 0.23 hp for 1kg
F800GS: 85 hp / 443 kg = 0.19 hp for 1kg

in other words

R1200GS: 1 horse has to move 4.19 kg
F800GS: 1 horse is in charge of 5.21 kg

the 21" front is a definite advantage on loose terrain.


I've already noticed your opposition to the flat twins but I'd
never trade a flat twin with a single pot or V-twin when it comes to slooooow steep uphill riding, mud or worse


Andy, the flat twin guy

[bigdamo]

I don't think the R1200GS is too heavy ?

dry weight:
R1200GS - 203 kg
F800GS - 185 kg

max. permissable
R1200GS - 440 kg
F800GS - 443 kg

Andy

Wow that 950 highlander is light at 165 kg and I thought that was to heavy.

My Scorpa weights 69kg

[Franki]

Not that I'm seeking an argument with you but simple maths will do:

power / weight (max. permissible)

R1200GS: 105hp / 440kg = 0.23 hp for 1kg
F800GS: 85 hp / 443 kg = 0.19 hp for 1kg

in other words

R1200GS: 1 horse has to move 4.19 kg
F800GS: 1 horse is in charge of 5.21 kg

the 21" front is a definite advantage on loose terrain.


I've already noticed your opposition to the flat twins but I'd
never trade a flat twin with a single pot or V-twin when it comes to slooooow steep uphill riding, mud or worse


Andy, the flat twin guy

You are right there, I was think of your R1150GS with 85HP. I stand corrected.

[bigdamo]

I made my choice already.

+ air cooled engine / no messing around with coolant or water pump

Very old technology over heats to the max when some stupid Gs 1200 owner thinks they think they can take it down single track( seen it happen" Oh I'm over my head can you help me get out of here and point me to the nearest tar road"

+ shaft drive / no worries in mud, sand, water, maintena

nce

Why would you even think about taking a BMW GS 1200 near mud,sand and water i mean serious mud, sand and water not near mud ,sand and water that is over a bitumen road.

+ rugged and reliable.

Rugged maybe no more than any other bike.

Reliable I would say the Japanese bike's are more reliable and hellava lot cheaper to fix when things go wrong and yes BMW brake down then your looking for a BMW dealer who has the computer to analyze the problem.Who will then stick it up you.How many BMW dealers are in China that will service/fix your BMW.

+ fuel efficient / rated at power and weight

The 1200 gs is an over weight slug that its power could not pull the skin off a rice pudding.

- difficult to handle in deep mud or sandy ruts

BMW GS 1200 good for people who work in cubes in high rise offices dreaming of the great escape until they actually do it and realize there limitations then sell the over weight beast and get a KTM

Keep dreaming of your F15 eagle because while your riding that over weight pig your not even close to riding a good light weight bike.
- $$$


Andy

Why don't you take it up to the Takliman desert rally and see how it goes?

[chinabiker]

Why don't you take it up to the Takliman desert rally and see how it goes?

'cos I'm a coward and have no one to move my remains back to cube_office_in_the_high_rise_building after trying to bring the overweight pig with it's is outdated technology back up from a single trail to sand and water covered tarmac, just to hear my ever-present dealer say: I forgot to bring my computer.

Can't wait that you're coming to China, Motorcycle Guru, helping to choose the right bike for me and hopefully teach me how to ride it.

See you

Andy