Author Topic: New 660 Tenere or Older 1200GS ???? (Read 2254 times)

WF · « **on:** January 02, 2011, 06:40:20 pm »

Help please ! Looking for a bike for my son. Budget around 80 - 90 k. He is a big lad so weight and height is not a problem. He is a pretty experienced rider so im not too worried about too much power or speed.
He will be using the bike for commuting to school and back mostly - roughly 10 000km / year. Hopefully the odd trip with me.
So basically it comes down to a newer 660 Tenere or older used 1200 GS ?
Obviously the older bike comes with a little more risk so far as maintenance goes but which is more bike for your buck ?

Buks · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2011, 06:49:04 pm »

New is always better!

man on the moon · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2011, 06:58:43 pm »

A well chosen 1200GS will be a good choice, but overall the 660 Tenere should be cheaper from an insurance point of view and is still a good bike to gain street wise riding skills. Will he use it off road?

KobusL · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2011, 07:01:55 pm »

If I had to choose one bike to keep between my 660 Tenere and 1200GS I would keep the Tenere.

2StrokeDan · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2011, 07:03:50 pm »

Will the 660's cruising speed be ok for trips with you?

WF · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2011, 07:09:40 pm »

He may do some off-road trips with me but i dont think the heavier bike will be a disadvantage . Namibia , Baviaans etc are not really technical and as i say he is a good rider.
The 660 will manage on my trips as i often have 650's with me. Going to school each day the 660 is perfect and i love Yamaha , but personally i dont like a rattling single ! Know they are bullet proof but i just dont enjoy them.
Then there is the shaft and tubeless tyres, not a huge problem but absolutely great when you dont have to worry about puctures and chains

eikeboom · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2011, 07:27:36 pm »

Bicycle would be an excellent choice for going to school and back

philgil · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2011, 09:27:15 pm »

Can't comment on a 1200GS, but just purchased a Tenere, and am very happy with it. Sits comfortably at 140. Engine vibration is not the same as the older "thumpers". Hope this helps.

Bring It On · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2011, 09:39:00 pm »

Quote from: WF on January 02, 2011, 07:09:40 pm

He may do some off-road trips with me but i dont think the heavier bike will be a disadvantage . Namibia , Baviaans etc are not really technical and as i say he is a good rider.
The 660 will manage on my trips as i often have 650's with me. Going to school each day the 660 is perfect and i love Yamaha , but personally i dont like a rattling single ! Know they are bullet proof but i just dont enjoy them.
Then there is the shaft and tubeless tyres, not a huge problem but absolutely great when you dont have to worry about puctures and chains

Hi there Darrell,... I've switched from my Translalp (Tubes & Chain) over to my 1200GS (Shaft & Tubeless),.. & it really is a nice comforting thought of having it much easier when it comes to maintanace (chain) & punctures (Tubeless), now that I am riding the GS. Both are really Gr8 bikes in their own right & the GS is also Gr8 for my daily commuting.

GSGIXXER · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2011, 09:40:42 am »

Let him come take this one for a spin

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=62117.0

LouisXander · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2011, 10:29:45 am »

The chap will have to decide for himself. Both are great! Silly question, just strange that orange is not in the choice?

(actually glad it ain't as it will make this thread 10 times longer!)

WF · « **Reply #11 on:** January 03, 2011, 04:49:01 pm »

Actually the X Challenge and KTM 690 were both very much on the list ! My personal opinion is that the Tenere will be a better 'Road ' bike than the X challenge and 690.
He has about a 60km daily commute and if he does some trips with me i know he will suffer more on the x challenge and 690 than the Tenere.
I am quite happy with the Tenere, but as i said in the beginning , when you look at what else you can buy for the 90 k Tenere the older 1200 ' s fall into that price. It just makes me wonder which is better value ?

Wasp · « **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2011, 05:22:21 pm »

One up technical riding the 660. If he scopes longer touring with pillion the GS. Why not buying a 2ndhand 660?

Plaashaas · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2011, 06:25:51 pm »

Uhm sorry for hijack but 800gs is midway ---and logical

Off-Road-Adventures · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2011, 06:50:27 pm »

I had a 1200 GS for 2,5 years, and I now have a XT660Z Yamaha. Did about 15000 km on each, on all kinds of road and off road.

The BM is a liability on anything more than gravel, in mud or sand it just STOPS or falls over. With that Paralever front end, you HAVE to stand up when off road. I had a lot of trouble with my BM. Pages of warranty claims, and expensive to service.

The Tenere is absolutely reliable, do a Google search for BMW problems and then XT660Z problems and see what comes up.

The XT660Z is a very, very, tough, reliable bike, my only complaint is that the rear suspension is a bit hard.

So, an out of warranty BM (OR ANY BM for that matter) or a brand new Tenere with a two year unlimited mileage warranty?

I'd buy the Yamaha every time. If my Yamaha got stolen, I would be back at the Yamaha dealer the next day to get another one, to me there is just no choice at all.

WF · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2011, 08:09:19 pm »

Plaashaas, you are correct. I never expected the used 800's to be around that mark , incorrectly assumed they sold for the high 90's and above. Definitly on the 'to Ride ' list for him.
As for Off Road Adventures i must disagree. So far as a GS in sand etc it may be a little more difficult but absolutely possible with a reasonable level of riding ability. Personally , wherever i cant take a GS id probably not want to and would rather take the plastic. Maybe the 660 is just lighter to pick up ?
So far as reliability i cant argue with facts but consider this. If you took total number of GS's on the road and added the km's they have done and then the same with the 660 the numbers may not look too bad ?

Off-Road-Adventures · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2011, 08:20:37 pm »

A 1200 GSA in sand? Only for real above average expert riders!! I have seen one awesome video of a 1200GS in sand, but you have to be fully committed and on the gas all the time. I'm just an average rider, I can handle a KLR or Tenere in the sand, but no way can I ride the 1200 BM. wHEN IT SATRTS GOING WRONG, YOU GO DOWN

Like I said, some guys have had great service from BMs, but mine, no. I know of lots of other people who had lots of trouble with BMs.

Just my opinion, and if I am going to ride sand, please Lord let me have my XT500!!

WF · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2011, 08:35:31 pm »

Point taken. I ride a BM, I also own Yamaha's and love em !

This is exactly why i keep telling my wife - You cant just have 1 bike !!!

Off-Road-Adventures · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2011, 08:35:50 pm »

And now I just watched this!! Eish!!

That 1200GSA is a two wheeled TRUCK!!

Off-Road-Adventures · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2011, 08:44:33 pm »

Ja Boet!! The only reason I have 4 bikes is because I have not got 10 yet!! I have 2 XT500s, a 2010 Tenere, and a really great little TTR250, for really difficult stuff. Street leGAL, the TTR 250 does 120 on the open and about 30km/l, great suspension, weighs about 115kg

Author Topic: New 660 Tenere or Older 1200GS ???? (Read 2254 times)

Buks

KobusL