Introducing myself

[dogwheel]

Hi folks, I'm Dogwheel, mainly because my house is called The Dogwheel, as it has a dogwheel, which is like a great big hamster wheel and was used to turn meat on a spit, many years ago, driven by 1 dogpower.
I am of advanced years and therefore have too many motorbikes, mostly of little value, including a slightly "trialised" XL 185, and an XL250RC. One of my interests is Observing, mainly on Pre'65 Trials , so these bikes are ideal transport to fairly local trials and then getting down into the Sections where I am to observe, and having a bit of legit off-road fun as well. I'm happy with the little trailies, especially the comfort of the 250, but road work gets a bit of a drag after 30 miles or so.
I have an old BMW R100RS road bike which has done well over 100,000 miles so is getting a bit weary, I'm hoping to repace the BM and perhaps the XL250 with a bigger 50/50 trail bike that could do both jobs, I've tried a Transalp, found it great, but feel all that expensive plastic is very vulnerable (offroad), I know just how excellent XR400's are, but I'm looking for Electric Start and the ability to hang some luggage on the bike.
Any ideas? yes I do fancy an AT.
Keep safe,
Dogwheel.

[Lutin]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Yep, the plastics on a Transalp can be very expensive to replace - hence the many and varied types of crash-bars that can be had for these bikes.

Hope that you find something to your liking soon.

[StumpyFingers]

Welcome to the forum,
The only solution with the Transalp is a decent set of crashbars.

[Treadtrader]

Welcome Dogwheel, get the Africa twin you'll love it! I used to ride a lot of pre-65 round the area mainly on a BSA C15 or sometimes a RE bullet. Bound to have bumped in to each other at sometime.

[Meesh]

Welcome to the forum Dogwheel.

[Sohoeasy]

Hi Dogwheel and welcome ! If you have any photo's of pre '65 Trials events. You could well have a few of us here drooling over them ? ( Do you mostly attend events in the Midlands )

[DaveS]

Hello mate and welcome.

[dogwheel]

Hi Folks, and many thanks to all who posted a welcome----still dreamin of the right AT, somehow I feel it's going to be an Alp---"crash bars" advice certainly makes sense, the Touratech ones seem to give the most protection, but, aren't they a price!
I try to get to (Mostly pre'65) trials in the West Mids/Shropshire/Border area, and will try to get some pics.
Cheers, Dogwheel.

[digitalcaptive]

Welcome to the madhouse dogwheel