Help Choose a Bike

[jwal90]

The off-roading side is a bonus and useful if I want to do a big trip at some point to more remote places.

I thought the engine sounded great personally.

Do still have concerns about the reliability of the BMW but they do include a 2 year, unlimited mileage warranty which helps.

[NellyP]

Have you checked out the current Suzuki warranty? Renewa each year its serviced at a dealer.

[jwal90]

Yeah I saw that, up to 7 years I think.

I think I'd pick the BMW if I felt more comfortable with the reliability. I can find very little information on the GS850 and long-term usage.

The only bike I haven't test rode yet which might suit the bill is the Africa Twin, tempted to book a test ride over the weekend

[NellyP]

Nice dilemma, seen a few scabby ones though, Hondas legendary build quality is juat that these days

[jwal90]

Power-wise they're the same. Reliability, same. Fuel consumption, similar.

If I don't like the AT I think the Strom 1050XT is going to be the next choice.

But ask me again in 10 minutes and I'll probably change my mind 

[Fat Rat]

Cast wheels and no daft beak, there is your ideal bike right there 

[NellyP]

No beak but spokes. And tubed tyres ?!

[Phild]

All looks good to me.😁

[Mark Shelley]

Have you considered the new Transalp?

[jwal90]

Don't add another bike into the list! Struggling to make a choice as it is!

I'm just about to head off to test the 650 and 1050 again.

[Ian T]

I got a Ural 750 outfit you can have if you want.

Now that covers every eventuality and outing imaginable

What more could a man want???

Cheers

Ian

[NellyP]

If you’re considering an outfit have a think if you want 1 or 2 wheel drive, PTO, reverse gear, and left ir right chair mount for them foreign jaunts

[TLPower]

Honda NT1100. 

[kwackboy]

Pan America.. 

[Rixington43]

^ It wasn't me for once, cheers Kwackboy, fingers were itching here ;)

[jwal90]

Back from a very patient Suzuki dealer after riding the 1050 and 650 back to back, again.

1050 is undeniably more powerful and seems to offer it from much lower down. Once you get past mid-range they both seem similar. It was almost as if the 650 didn't feel much slower, you just had to work it harder to get the power. For 90% of my riding I don't think I'd notice much difference between the two.

That said, for the sake of that other 10%, I still prefer the 1050 so think that's where I'm headed. That extra power is more useful for 2-up as well I think.

There's a really nice 2019 1000XT with 15k miles for just over £6000 which is very tempting.

One thing that I think would be really useful is cruise control. Now the dealer told me it was only the newer DE models which have this but after looking around it seems the 1050XTs do as well? Can someone clear that up for me?

[porter]

Cruise control on all the 1050 xt's but not the standard 1050.
  I've always liked the look of the 2017-19 storms the best so I'd go for this and save plus the 1000 has better low down grunt than the 1050 and a better seat. Granted it's no sofa but better than the park bench on the 1050, to my arse anyway.

[Sea-Strom]

I've never ridden a DL1000 but my 1050 is one of the best all round bikes I've ever had. Here's an early comparison on this forum - I'm sure a search will find others. But of course the older models will have high miles.
https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=39983.msg410417#msg410417

[NellyP]

1050 seat is firm but very comfortable for me

[Phild]

I did 600 miles on the final leg of my tour on a lower seat 1050XT…..  nearly 13 hours in total (tunnel crossing and breaks)…. No other bike I’ve owned would I have been able to do that. 👍