Long Way Round

BMW weren't second best, they just weren't his first preference, and he
was in no position to know whether one would have out performed the
other in the conditions they would encounter... and I'm sure KTM are
regretting their decision over and over and over...

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

So, they started without a clue about off-road bikes, and finished
that way too. Hurrah!

-----sharks

 

*Stoic* suffering always used to be, has something changed in the last
generation then ?

JL
(thousands of years of testosterone led thinking can't possibly be wrong)

 

Why? Do you know anyone who went out and bought a BMW after reading the
book. I'd be thinking KTM but don't value Charlie's opinion that much either
way.

Theo

 

After the tv show aired in the UK, BMW dealers are supposed to have seen
such a massive spike in yuppies wafting in and plonking down deposits on
R1200GS's that it outsold R1's for a while earlier this year.

 

It's not really a case of whether anyone went out and bought a
particular bike after reading the book or rather the lasting impression
that people get from reading the book/watching the tv series/DVD which
may be bearing on future spending decisions. I'm sure that there was a
certain amount of spite in the way the whole topic was presented by
Charley but it certainly left the audience with the view that KTM did
not have the same sort of faith in the reliability and/or capability of
their product which BMW do (although it must be said that KTM's decision
was based on information which is now known to be flawed).

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

The impression I got from the book (haven't seen the movie) was that KTM
didn't see enough economic value for them to give away two bikes to an
actor/journalist pair for an all expenses paid jaunt across the world.

Theo

 

Ruben Xaus gets a new bike and a paycheck every year. Can't be much
economical value in giving him a quarter mil bike to crash every fortnight.
/8-P

justAL

 

There was a journalist? I thought Charlie and Hugh were both acteurs
accompli.
- sanbar

 

Any advertising is supposedly good advertising. Even a local wild-card rider
gets air-time when he falls off.

Theo

 

You're right, except for the Ewan spelling.

Theo

 

I just started watching the series and its hilarious. claudio's bmw
bites the dust after a russian welder zapps the abs. they buy a russian
version of an rd350. as the ride continues the bmws keep crashing and
ewen goes to claudio "you haven't crashed once" and claudio goes "its
great if it wobbles it sorts itself out where as with the bmw a wobble
means you will crash"

watching them fall off over and over is not a great ad for bmw off road
practicality. the russian bike dies in the next episode. keep wondering
if they had xr400's how easy they would have made it look.

JD

 

Aha! You might be on to something there ... wouldn't have made
for good television.

-----sharks

 

XR400s likely wouldn't have carried the gear they were carrying or powered
there cameras, comms etc. If they were only carrying a backpack, sure.

Al

 

they had 2 4WD's full of stuff. the funny thing was the Russian 2stroker
worked better than the bmw and it was really loaded up. gs's just looked
too big for 6 pack jo's trying to ride offroad.

 

it is funny watching a big bmw just fall over but only because they are
bmw's and the guys are 2 rich English actors. didn't bmw tell them that
300Kg of bike on gravel is an accident waiting to happen.

 

The GSA is pretty capable, but it needs a somewhat more
experienced hand ... and sadly, you can't just make lightsaber
noises and have it do what you want.

-----sharks

 

You should have put "spoiler" in the subject.

--
Conehead
"Every day I think about dying.
About disease, starvation, violence,
terrorism, war, and the end of the world.
It helps keep my mind off things."
McGough

 

X-No-archive: yes

~
Huh; it it?!!?
Why wasn't I told?
Clem

 

No surprises about the russian 2 stroke. Smaller is better in some
situation and R1150GSs no matter how tough people think they are, are very
porky bikes, F650GS would have done it much easier. Jap enduros are tough
enough, but don't have the rear subframe strength for carrying gear, simple
as they arent made for travelling they're made for weekend squirts.

Al