Comparison / Varadero / BMW 1150 GS / Capo rally raid

[univet]

AT Comparison versus Varadero and BMW GS 1150 or Caponord Rally-Raid. Anyway is Cano so bad?
I own a AT from 2000 and I love it

[landyandy]

Tricky one, that. Depends on lots of things. In my mini shortlist of bikes, I thought about a Beemer, but they are way too expensive for what I want to pay (and my bikes get driven into the ground, so I lose alot in depreciation during ownership), the Caponard thing I wouldn't even know where to get one, and so the choice was made by default: Varadero - right money, sufficient dealers, and I'd rather stick to Honda.

Gone off the BMW a bit - might be something to do with the fact that the World and his wife seem to own one ever since Obi wan kenobi (I'm sure someone will correct the spelling) went for a spin on one; still Touratech must be pleased (assuming they make the 'de rigeur' metal panniers).

Actually, I think they're made by someone else, but I'm too knackered to look it up now...

[rob7]

there is also the ktm 640 adventure and the 950 adventure to think about as well (i had the 950 but was not impressed) then towards the end of this year ktm will be releasing their 950 enduro, which by all accounts took bmw's 1200gs apart in some rally or other, so i was reading in the mcn (whats happened to angus and the AT mcn were gonna test) i think i'll see what this new ktm looks like.

rob

[robelst]

The BMW offers the best ride imho. A pity though BMW has fallen so far behind the competition when it comes to build quality and reliability, whatever its image might be. Especially when driven hard regularly the 4 valve boxer engine and especially the transmission will prooves to be rather fragile, and the finish is dubious which is especially obvious if you use them in winter. BMW quality was definitely better before BMW became "main-stream" (I have owned 9 BMWs in 21 years, ridden almost 380.000 miles in total on them so I take the liberty to pretend to be a bit of a BMW-expert ).
Still, if I had the choice from this list I would still go for the Beemer, get 3 years of extended warranty and a platinum AA membership.
..or try the KTM :P

[Maverick]

Well I have had 3 bwm's in the last 4 years and still own an airhead in South-Africa which I absolutely love. My stint with two 1100GS's was really disappointing as they cost me a fortune to keep running. I would suggest moving on to a later 1150 model if you would go that way.

Went to Bracken in London on Saturday and looked at the 640 and 950 KTM adventurers. Now never been on a KTM and don't know much about them but they sure as hell look the part. Going to book a ride on both very soon and see if I like it. At £8400 OTR for the 950 it is a fair chunk of money and would definitely need to spend some time in Africa on it to make the purchase worth while. The fuel consumption sounded pretty horific as the sales guy was talking 140 miles to reserve with a 24 liter tank Then again it is 100bhp at the rear wheel that could make the extra cost all worth while

If I was faced with the choice (and had the money) it would be a hard desision between the GS ADV and the KTM for me. The capanord and varadero is not my style but would go for the Varadero.