Shapecharge wrote:Since we're all bros now, kinda, I've ridden this, 'Merica's only designed, engineered, manufactured sport-touring motorcycle. It was a blast to ride btw.
Although it was great on a 45 minute ride, the Motus is having a few niggling problems that would irritate the living shit out of me if I had one. I love the whole idea and philosophy of it's development. The Multistrada however was outrageously awesome, and I'm seriously thinking of buying it.
Would stay away from the Motus for other reasons, too. Love Buells but the guy goes in and out and in and out of business.
The 'Strada was one of the best bikes on the road at introduction and has been getting better. Bit too tall for my liking and I won't be bothered with a chain anymore, otherwise the closest to the perfect method of conveyance in existence today.
Guess how I know you're old?
Guess how I know I'm old?
I swear if the bike isn't vintage doesn't have suspension to handle a decent double or triple jump, I will have a hard time going to chain drive. Sad but true.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
Yep. All that technology, all that evolution and we still get chain adjustments and chain oil. I bring up chain final drive to guys who insist their bikes are the highest form of technological advancement.
I hear what you all are saying but it is still the most simple and direct method of driving the rear wheel, no? And reasonable maintenance that the average guy can do. Standard response but still true.
It's all "what if" type stuff but you can carry a few links...hell even an entire chain and rear sprocket if need be...some of those guys that do Alaska to the southern tip of South America do that if there's any drama but have that rear drive assembly go tits up good luck. And although BMW invented the whole "adventure" bike segment they've had problems in the past with that rear assembly. I thought the belt, although a good substitute for the chain in "normal" conditions doesn't work well if mud/debris is part of the equation. And isn't there some parasitic loss, what 15-20% in the drive train in shaft vs chain along with a tad of torque steer? These aren't deal breaker things just observations. Hey I'm not arguing just sayin'.
Shapecharge wrote:It's all "what if" type stuff but you can carry a few links...hell even an entire chain and rear sprocket if need be...some of those guys that do Alaska to the southern tip of South America do that if there's any drama but have that rear drive assembly go tits up good luck. And although BMW invented the whole "adventure" bike segment they've had problems in the past with that rear assembly. I thought the belt, although a good substitute for the chain in "normal" conditions doesn't work well if mud/debris is part of the equation. And isn't there some parasitic loss, what 15-20% in the drive train in shaft vs chain along with a tad of torque steer? These aren't deal breaker things just observations. Hey I'm not arguing just sayin'.
I wish I knew the answer...At this point, for a touring EDC type of ride it and forget it bike, I'll probably opt for a shaft. For a real adv. bike, it's less about best case engineering and all about roadside maintenance. The only big ride maintenance things I have had to do (couple trips in Baja and road trips through the Sierras) have been rear wheel and chain based issues.
Sua is dead correct that it's hard to have a simpler system and small working bikes are all about simple. But if I'm using the bike like a car, I want near car style maint. schedules.
Those brits swear by a scottoiler system. I really owe it to my next DS bike to try one.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
I forgot all about that system. I've never seen one and don't know anyone who's ever used it. Looks like the electronic system is reasonably foolproof once set up. This has actually turned into a very good convo. I just read a guy's chain story on a ride to Alaska. Not cool.
Shape the reported problem son some years of shaft drive come down to an engineering screw up not a fundamental flaw. The claim was made the bearing was sealed and lubricated for a lifetime. Wasn't.
Belts do fine with gravel in my experience. Even when punctured as long as the puncture isn't right at the edge. If it is, it will eventually tear and fail over time. But there's almost always plenty of time to get that repaired before failure and the frequency is still less than a chain. Buell ran a belt onthe Ulysses for years and largely good reports. YMMV.
Sua Sponte wrote:Shape the reported problem son some years of shaft drive come down to an engineering screw up not a fundamental flaw. The claim was made the bearing was sealed and lubricated for a lifetime. Wasn't.
Belts do fine with gravel in my experience. Even when punctured as long as the puncture isn't right at the edge. If it is, it will eventually tear and fail over time. But there's almost always plenty of time to get that repaired before failure and the frequency is still less than a chain. Buell ran a belt onthe Ulysses for years and largely good reports. YMMV.
Fairly easy to carry extra belts, extra chains and specialty tools (the toolbag size ones suck) are my beef with chains.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
What I'm struggling with is finding the right bike to take on a long adventure ride. I'm going to retire in the not too distant future and I'd like to take that solo ride to Alaska that I hear people do...haven't met anyone yet who's actually done it though. And I'm not doing it on a KLR 650 or Triumph 800 Tiger. I want something of substance. I'm not down with Honda's new Africa Twin, nor the offerings from Suzuki/Yamaha so that leaves about three bikes, the GS1200A from BMW, The Multistrada Enduro, and the KTM offerings i.e. 1290SA or 1190. So I've ridden them all and enjoyed them all. They all have certain strengths and perhaps a few weaknesses. You guys got in my head a little bit with the chain business. Now I've never had an issue with chains/sprockets but I haven't ridden 12K miles in 6 weeks either on one so there's that.
Shapecharge wrote:What I'm struggling with is finding the right bike to take on a long adventure ride. I'm going to retire in the not too distant future and I'd like to take that solo ride to Alaska that I hear people do...haven't met anyone yet who's actually done it though. And I'm not doing it on a KLR 650 or Triumph 800 Tiger. I want something of substance. I'm not down with Honda's new Africa Twin, nor the offerings from Suzuki/Yamaha so that leaves about three bikes, the GS1200A from BMW, The Multistrada Enduro, and the KTM offerings i.e. 1290SA or 1190. So I've ridden them all and enjoyed them all. They all have certain strengths and perhaps a few weaknesses. You guys got in my head a little bit with the chain business. Now I've never had an issue with chains/sprockets but I haven't ridden 12K miles in 6 weeks either on one so there's that.
Fear not. The Alcan ain't nothing like it was. Roads aren't American highway class but they're not third world mountain roads either-there's little chance of a mishap that would strand you. The long travel and active suspension of the 'Strada will serve you, however. You'll see full dress Harley's and Gold Wings doing the deed. Gas is relatively abundant for anything with a 200-250+ mile range. Ride in the summer..winter's an absolute no go. If you sleep roadside get mosquito repellent, netting, and ground-to-air missiles to fend off those blood suckers.
I heard second hand from a friend that some guys he rides with rode Harley's all the way and one fellow dropping his numerous times because of gravel being laid down somewhere on the Alcan but not compacted.
I may be overthinking this...I had sorta narrowed down the choices to the Multistrada and the GSA with my personal edge going to the 'Strada with a shrug of the shoulders to the chain business but now you fuckers have me thinking.
Shapecharge wrote:I heard second hand from a friend that some guys he rides with rode Harley's all the way and one fellow dropping his numerous times because of gravel being laid down somewhere on the Alcan but not compacted.
I may be overthinking this...I had sorta narrowed down the choices to the Multistrada and the GSA with my personal edge going to the 'Strada with a shrug of the shoulders to the chain business but now you fuckers have me thinking.
Thing 1. Chalk up a big chunk of that to my tortured exp. on long rides being on built 600 singles with at least 1/3 of the ride miles being offroad. Desert bikes eat chains. A single pass up to the circle and back shouldn't be too nasty on a modern Adv Touring rig.
Why no KTM in that mix?
Thing 2. I've done 100's of miles of gravel a day on ZRX1200 with sticky street tires. It's not hard to keep it upright if you moderate your speed and stay frosty. Those rolling recliners are too easy to get complacent on and lose track of your traction. I'm sure youll hv no issue whichever bike you choose.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
Same, same. Especially the part about being able to use a standard street bike over much of the dirt and gravel roads you're likely to find. Let's face facts, a 500+lb adventure bike is till a 500+lb bike. Tires matter more than any other single factor and it's that rear tire width that screws with you the most. Don't forget to turn off the ABS.
If a bunch of Harley riders went up and one kept falling over, it's him not the bike. As said, patience is a virtue but so is being able to hold the bike up and knowing when to gas...or not...regardless of bike type.
Use your training, Marine. Plan, practice and rehearse, execute. Run some local trails, some TATs, some multi-days before going and all will fall into place.
Since this is the now defacto best moto thread currently going...I want to mention the lowly KLR. Yes...it's fugly. It's clunky. It lacks any measure of grace or even flashes of interesting tech. In fact, the motor sounds like a washing machine and the exhaust sounds like someone jingling a bag of pennies.
That said. Holy fuck those things are dead reliable, competent and freakishly comfortable to ride. If you can stow your vanity, a KLR is prbably one of the most useful third bikes you could own.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
I wonder if that last pic is that fucker that rode from Ohio to Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego and back..all on a KLR. He had some awesome youtube posts. Well you're spot on on one thing, vanity. I don't have too much but that won't work for me right now. I have to use all options open to me to compensate for a tiny dick.
Shapecharge wrote:I wonder if that last pic is that fucker that rode from Ohio to Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego and back..all on a KLR. He had some awesome youtube posts. Well you're spot on on one thing, vanity. I don't have too much but that won't work for me right now. I have to use all options open to me to compensate for a tiny dick.
I feel ya. I'd need a 10" hog to be able to own one of those dour machines....but holy shit they are easy keepers.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
