Struggling to find a big enough bike.

Hi, I'm after something like the BMW GS 650 Dakar, the seat is too low making it impossible to use the
rear brake effectively, due to the angle of my ankle. I have tried the Transalp, Varadero & something I
can't remember the name of, but it was a Suzuki. I am 6 foot 3, but a lot of my height is in my legs, a
stunning 35inch inside leg! It's not the seat to floor that's the problem, it's the seat to peg that kill
me.

The only bike I have found so far is a KTM 950 Adventure, but it is silly money & bigger engine wise than
ai want, but if it's gotta be that, it's gotta be that! Nowhere has got the 650 to try, it looks quite
different.

Can any of you kind chaps & lady chaps think of something as you all have more experience than myself.

It's gonna get used on & off road, but mainly on.

I'm thinking of converting the KTM 520 SX I have for road use, but as it's a big 4 stroke with no leccy
starter it';s a bastard to start hot, especially as the hot start valve does jack shit!

--
Ta!

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
KTM 520 SX

 

Triumph Tiger, BMW R1150GS, Moto Guzzi Quota?

 

Triumph Tiger, BMW R1150GS, Moto Guzzi Quota?[/QUOTE]

I was going to suggest a Quota, but the "offroad" bit made me pause.
Easy tracks, maybe, but Quotas are fucking heavy and though the
plastics are robust (but not the finish _on_ the plastics), spares are
unlikely to be easy to come by.

 

I was going to suggest a Quota, but the "offroad" bit made me pause.
Easy tracks, maybe, but Quotas are fucking heavy and though the
plastics are robust (but not the finish _on_ the plastics), spares are
unlikely to be easy to come by.
[/QUOTE]

<puts hand over ears> Stop it you voices, STOP IT.

TYVM

 

Tried a KTM Duke-II?

 

Tim, I kind of dismissed it due to the 'supermoto' nature of the thing, but, with some decent on/off road
tyres it might hit the mark, It's certainly big enough!! Had a go on a superduke the other day, nuttier
than sqiurrel shit! The main thing for me is the fact it will be going off road at some point.

 

Ah seeing the other names you tried I wasn't sure if "off-road" meant
the superstore car park or green lanes up the side of Ben Nevis.

 

Bit of laning, bit of trailing, bit of roading!

--
Ta!

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
KTM 520 SX

 

R1150GS Adventure.
Ténéré.

I'm 6'6" with an inside leg slightly longer than yours and find I can
fit on quite small bikes. Have you considered adjusting the rear
brake so it's angled further down?

 

Well, there's the rub, i can't see how it can be done on the BMW 650 Dakar, the gears yes, but brake not
that I can see. Shame as it really does tick all the right boxes. I'll have a feel for the GS Adventure,
but it's too much money, I would rather have the KTM 990 or 950 Adventure for that money to be honest,
much lighter & cheaper.

If anyone knows how to lower the brake pedal on the Dakar, please let me know asap!!


--
Ta!

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
KTM 520 SX

 

NABD.

 

Sorry matey? You got me there!!! Acronyms are cool, but thats ones got my dumb ass!!

--
Ta!

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
KTM 520 SX

 

First hit on Google.

 

http://www.nabd.org.uk/
--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

ZX9R
keeper of the FAQ for my sins
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

 

Freak!

 

Peg lowering kits are available for the type of bike you are interested in.
Quite a few people have fitted them to R1150GSs. This increases the
distance from seat to peg. Mainly used by people with knee problems but the
greater freedom of movement might help your issues.

Search ukgser.com and www.f650.co.uk for makers of the kits.

Have you tried an Africa Twin yet? Not easy to find a decent one at a
sensible price but a very good bike. Much better than a Val Doonican.

 

Africa twins are rare as owt!! Whats a Val Doonican?

Do peg lowering kits decrease break over angle etc?

Cheers for your help matey.
--
Ta!

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
KTM 520 SX

 

Yes. They were never sold in huge numbers and people tend to hang onto
them. Consequently, any bike coming onto the market is at least 6 years old
and likely to have some issues. Honda made a huge mistake discontinuing
them just as the whole adventure bike thing took off.

VD = varadero i.e. competent but dull as ****. Too biased towards a touring
bike compared to its main competitors.

**** knows. That's why I said "search the forums" that I named, where
people with mutant legs like yours might have posted. You might even be
able to arrange to meet with someone who has a modified bike.

 

hehehe - mutant legs, i like it! John Cleese a like! I can only find one Africaa twin for sale on eBay &
it's a shed, gonna have a poke around to see whats out there. Isn't it a bigger engined Transalp though?

--
Ta!

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
KTM 520 SX

 

The engine has the same root I believe. I think the V twin was 500cc
originally. Ergonomically, the bikes are very different though.