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Just back from 3500mile trip -problems

31575 Views 30 Replies 24 Participants Last post by  Komine, 
Hub Architecture
Just been to Romania from the Uk over two weeks, putting in big days fully loaded and unloaded trail riding over a few days and the following things have broken or been noticed...

1. The SET button on the computer got stuck and wouldn't come back out -warranty
2. Rear spokes are screwed with corrosion
3. The GIVI panniers are shite ( I use TT Vega on the GS for everything they are 9 years old and have only been scratched despite heavy duty off roading for years). I rolled the bike over in a petrol station in Hungary and the offside pannier is Buggered, the corner has totally collapsed and the riveted leading edge has folded in on itself and the pannier wouldn't go back on. ****.
4. Puncture to rear tyre (just an ally rivet) tube out and fixed in 30 mins, nice rear wheel removal without any need to loosen the adjusters (sweet)
5. 52 mpg over 2 weeks and 3500 miles
6. Bike hates headwinds at 80 mph plus - the fuel consumption drops to 40mpg.
7. Bike stable up to 100mph (not gone over)
8. Front suspension **** - cant stiffen it up enough (oil change and air increase ahoy)
9. love the DCT box on the motorway and even more off road (and I race enduro!)
10. the bars are 15mm too low for me.
11. the crash guards on the bars are ok, they work :)
12. Not enough tie down flexibility on the back
13. the standard screen is bloody good
14. the bike is very hot to ride - we were at mainly 36degrees and my knees / thighs were toast after ten mins avery day, no matter the speed or on road/off road
15. it back fired once (loud)
16. **** display brightness in bright light conditions
17. **** indicator controls
18. brilliant seat as standard
19. Karoo 3 tyres let me touch my feet down on tarmac bends on the transfagarasan highway.
20. KAroo 3 tyres have **** side traction to the rear off road
21. The Traction control is brutal and forces too much weight movement when it comes in - subtle it is not
22. the bike is a bitch to clean properly :)
23. brake power is perfect
24. Its 3rd acc connection point is very handy ( the one beside the fog plug) :)

Lovely bike, pleased I got one - it eats up off road and is easy to get the pegs down on tarmac.
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DeathDuck69
black99S said:
I too am on the fence as well between the 1200GS and AT. Time to change up from my 1200RT and DR650.
The RT has been to Baja and Chicken Alaska but is not happy on gravel. I love the heated grips, factory waterproof luggage and long range comfort.
The DR is a blast on gravel and forest service roads but a pig on single track and not something I'd ride to Alaska. Wolfman luggage is OK but fiddley.
I intend to explore more of the gravel roads / FSR's here in BC. I've ridden the 1200GS but I'm leery of the spoked rims guys have bent on stuff my DR bashed over. They sit on the Cylinder head when down so are pretty easy to pick up.
There is no AT to test ride and dealers keep saying most of their 2017's are pre-sold. Hard to commit to something I can't test ride. And I can't lay one down on the Dealer's floor to try and pick it up.

Can one really travel long distance comfort on the AT and next weekend head to Squamish and keep up with guys riding KTM 990's on rough gravel through river beds?
Click to expand...
I will tell you when I get my red 2017 DCT at the end of January.
Sold my '06 VFR800 and will be selling my '06 DRZ400s.
I think the AT will have no problem keeping up to my riding buddies where we ride in the Squamish & Whistler/Pemberton off-road areas.
And then ride up to Alaska with my road riding buddies.

I looked at the BMW's and the Triumph 800, and have decided on the AT.
Now I have to figure out what tires I'm going to put on it.........
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6986
black99S said:
I too am on the fence as well between the 1200GS and AT. Time to change up from my 1200RT and DR650.
The RT has been to Baja and Chicken Alaska but is not happy on gravel. I love the heated grips, factory waterproof luggage and long range comfort.
The DR is a blast on gravel and forest service roads but a pig on single track and not something I'd ride to Alaska. Wolfman luggage is OK but fiddley.
I intend to explore more of the gravel roads / FSR's here in BC. I've ridden the 1200GS but I'm leery of the spoked rims guys have bent on stuff my DR bashed over. They sit on the Cylinder head when down so are pretty easy to pick up.
There is no AT to test ride and dealers keep saying most of their 2017's are pre-sold. Hard to commit to something I can't test ride. And I can't lay one down on the Dealer's floor to try and pick it up.

Can one really travel long distance comfort on the AT and next weekend head to Squamish and keep up with guys riding KTM 990's on rough gravel through river beds?
Click to expand...

I previously owned a KTM 950 Adventure. One thing is sure. It was a far better bike than a GS offroad, and on a good day I could ride over and through stuff that my mates on GS's struggled with.

The AT is a better bike than the KTM 990, not by a huge amount, but still better. It has a more refined and more user friendly motor. It carries its weight a little better and requires less rider input to go quick.


A midrange single is easier to ride offroad however and that will always be the case vis a vis large offroaders.
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JohnG
black99S said:
I too am on the fence as well between the 1200GS and AT. Time to change up from my 1200RT and DR650.
Click to expand...
Somewhere, in a previous post I listed all my reasons for changing from BM Adventures to the AT. I can find it right now!

Now, after a few thousand kilometers, I am sure I made the right choice. The AT is a proper 'Dual Purpose' bike that does both sides on the spectrum very well. It is comfortable on long sections of tarmac, great on dirt roads, if set up properly, and a LOT easier on more technical sections. This is primarily due to the 21" front and 18" rear.

I ride solo and I think the only time I would miss my adventure is if I was on a long trip with a passenger. I have no experience on riding the AT with a passenger.

Don't be put off by the fact that it is down on HP when compared to the new big 'adventure' bikes, just choose your battleground carefully!
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rbw
"14. the bike is very hot to ride - we were at mainly 36degrees and my knees / thighs were toast after ten mins every day, no matter the speed or on road/off road"

I currently own a Triumph Tiger 800 and am on the verge of ordering a '17 AT because it has quite a bit more torque. When I bought the Tiger, I also considered a KTM 1190 Adv, but went for the Tiger because the KTMs are known to cook the rider. After reading item 14 on this ride report, I'm now wondering if the AT suffers the same problem with excessive heat transferring to the rider. Is this a significant problem with these bikes?
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D
rbw said:
I'm now wondering if the AT suffers the same problem with excessive heat transferring to the rider. Is this a significant problem with these bikes?
Click to expand...
No worse than any other IMO, and better than many I've had. My Street Triple, for example, runs way hotter. I'd guess that the heat issue might be a problem for the taller rider due to the fact that their legs would be closer to the fan exit, but you can buy Honda "Exit Duct Deflectors" for that. I ride in the Australian bush btw where summer temperatures are regularly above 35 deg C, and often reach the 40s.
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W
Mr Muscles window cleaner best bike cleaning agent I have found in 50 years of getting dirty.
Try it and see. Its also very inexpensive and easy to get.
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S
Thank God for good reports, I just paid for a 2017 model, can't f^#[email protected] wait, love the feed back thanks.

Snowy River Rider, Victoria, Australia.
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S
Hi Cappy,

Where did you purchase the Batzen screen adjuster ? I've been trawling online and cannot seem to find a link to buy one. Could be the answer to my screen issues ?

Many thanks
Smartr
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W
Here are the details from another post. Just email Batzen and he will promptly arrange the order. I can't rave enough about his efficient service and his product is top quality and "really" works!! No more vibrating peak on my Arai XD4 helmet. Use the blue link to email.

Price calculated now:
standard version 79 Euro inkl. VAT and all mounting parts,
with included GPS bracket 129 Euro inkl. VAT.

insured shipping with DHL:

5 Euro inside Germany
11 Euro inside EU
19 Euro to the rest of the world,

For payment I´ll offer PayPal or bank transfer.

As the part is not available yet, for non-binding pre-orders send a mail to " [email protected] " and I keep everybody informed as soon as parts are available. Please let me know which version you´d like to order.
As the parts go to powder coater next Tuesday, it will take about 2-3 weeks to receive them back for sale, out of my influence.
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J
yep. agree with all of that
in fact I get a big knot in my shoulders so I might try higher bar posn. and taller screen
good post
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Komine
I've also been bitten by the bad set switch. Need to take it over to Motoport and see about getting it fixed.
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