I'm 70 and taking up trials again after a 50 year break, during which time I did drag racing, sprints, road racing solos and sidecars, and enduros. I'm doing my first practice day next Sunday on my 1976 Montesa, that I've rebuilt.
I test rode an old gas gas and felt it was horrible ! Snatchy and not user friendly - tried a Beta Evo and it was lovely - that’s what I am now looking for - also tried a Sherco and that was lovely and smooth too - Beta or Sherco for me
Great video, would have been good added on the end of the last one. If you get the chance again would be good to see the section set out and then how it is ridden 👍🏻
I want this bike in the worst possible way...ticks all the boxes for me. Not many in the States it seems, very few dealers, etc. Gonna get one in late winter, early spring one way or another.
Have recently just found this channel after getting into trials , after watching a few of your videos I got myself a gas gas txt pro 125 and can’t wait to get out and ride my local tracks in santon downham, love the videos keep it up
Awesome looking Bobber. Have you considered the forward foot controls, either ORN or Wunderkind, as you mentioned previously that it was a tad uncomfortable?
Well, that's sealed it - I'm doing that trip up the west coast I'd been planning on doing for so long (before the NC500 was even a thing). Going to take in Mull, Skye and up to Tongue, looping back via the Cairngorms. Planned for this Sept., but other factors may yet put a block on that. Perhaps spring '25 if not this month...
Great Video. Having done trials up to 10 years old I have now got the bug again… 34 years later. For me this means dusting off Dad’s old twin shock and looking to buy my kid an Oset. A brilliant sport. Up in North Yorkshire we are spoilt for choice pure Lampkin country.
I spent 30 years and tens of thousands of pounds desperately avoiding the GS and it's retired dentist in grey pyjamas at Starbucks image. Then I made the fatal error. I had a courtesy bike whilst my AT was being serviced. A 1250 GS. Within 200 yards I knew what all the fuss was about and just saw 30 years of trial and error aswell as enough wasted money to buy a house flash before my eyes. Within 48 hours I had swapped for a 1250 GS and after 2 years have just about swallowed my pride. Yes I've still tried out other bikes of this type since, KTM and Multistrada, but once the 15 minute novelty period wears off I'm always relieved to get back on my GS.
Such awesome bikes a few bikes before the 1150gsa I had a te Rallye :) they really moved the game on from the 2014 gsa te I had. The puig touring screen with the built in visor was really good on it,had to part with mine Rallye for funds at the time happy rides my friend :)
The engine is the 2013 Husqvarna TE 630, 55 Hp. SWM bought the designs after KTM bought the name but not the designs, it's now the SWM 650 64 hp. You can find the SWM Superdual T for 6500€ in the SWM Italia site with the same engine except the ECU, but with 170 kg, simple suspensions and legal Euro 5 48hp engine. The engine has been improved by AJP using an Athena ECU, that gives an easier engine. The engine, which is of very modern design, has a long record of service. It's the engine that Honda could have made from the 2000-2008 XR650R liquid cooled 61hp, but no electric starter, carbureted, only 5 speeds, but they no more interested by this market segment. I've tried the two, the SWM engine is better. About reliability. A lot of people has now more than 30000 km. One French guy has 60000 km with a 2021 model, after a little voyage of 40000 km from France to Pakistan, and back, by Central Asia. Coming back he made Zagreb to Toulouse 1500 km at 110 km/h straight in the day. One video with English CC after 34000 km ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JWvFlIn2VO8.html But some have had problems. I would point that a lot of KTM owners have their share of problems, from failing electronics to valve trains worn at 20 to 30000 km. The forums are full of posts complaining about the KTM mistreatment of the customers. Ah the German attitude ! It's funny because Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche have the same politics with the customers. Nobody would accept that from a Chinese brand. I love also that these German brands buy a lot lot in China but sell it at German price, while they are dismantling industries in Europe. You have also the example of Triumph relocated in Thailand using Chinese spares... Happily for us AJP is a small structure, easy to contact, ready to react, and very helpful to help you even at the end of Mongolia. The engine is Italian designed, Italian made. The suspensions are Sachs. In short it's local European, made by European. The money goes to pay European workers with social security, and retirement. The taxes are paid in their respective countries. As I know the guarantee works if the revisions are made at time, even by yourself or by any qualified mechanic. Better to ask confirmation to the local importer, it's the experience of the French owners. In France the importer is Marc Morales, a former high level pilot, with enduro, ISDT, rally and Dakar, he knows the thing. A few words of caution. It's a hand made bike by a small enterprise, there will never be a big net of dealers. So you'll have to do the maintenance by yourself or by an able mechanic, happily the maintenance is a breeze. If you do not make the difference between a screwdriver and a pipe wrench forget it. It's not a bike for total beginners. It's tall, the engine is a big mono, the suspensions are 300 mm. It's a bike which needs some knowledge of dynamic off road riding to get all its capacities. There is no ABS, you have to know how to use brakes without killing yourself. If you're a total beginner buy a cheap very able bike the Voge 300 Rally, learn with it as the Voge survives to any abuse, style 200 km WOT in a rally. When you have learnt enough go to the AJP. It's a big mono with strong character but very civilized, I've known far brutal ones. Some hate, some love. I love to death for its efficiency and relative easiness. A modern 300 has half the power, half the torque for a similar weight. A DR650SE is a bike for children compared to that, and needs plenty of work as suspensions, 750 GSXR exhaust, fine tuning of the carburation after opening the air filter to get a good bike and it's an almost 30 years old beast. It seems expensive but it has first rate suspensions, a superb chassis, and magnificent handling, and very little to do. When you know the price of good suspensions you appreciate it. So it's a bike for connoisseur who knows the true cost in work, time, and money to get decent suspensions and a good handling and likes the big mono peculiarities. If it's too much, there are some alternatives for adventure like the CF Moto 450 MT, a sweet rather able bike for 6500€ in France. A true bang for the buck. It's now my geriatric bike, I'm to old for so strong bikes as the AJP. The 450 will be perfect for a beginner, but good enough for a seasoned guy.
Done the same with my honda cb300r, sold it had a z650, 675r x 2 and a trident 660 and ive gone back to a cb300r as i just like the bike and does everything I want, ive realised buy the bike i want bot the bike everyone else thinks you should buy.
Like you, I've tried all sort of bikes, from sports, naked, tourer, you name it. I always go back to the GS. At 41, I'm more than fitting for it... I also happen to have the 18' Rallye... for the real life roads and for real life average rider, the GS is all the bike you'll ever need. Perfect amount of power, comfortable, agile, what else would you want?
Wales is great riding. Been green laning at Brecon for 2 day on my crf and road riding on my Kawasaki Versys. Looking to get back there again both on and off road. Highly recommend
People can say what they want. I am apparently 'smug' because like tens of thousands of others, I know something they don't. I can't explain why I've had three over the last eight years. I nod at other riders. I don't like Starbucks coffee. I don't care that it's very common (like iPhones? - never hear anything about them). You will never know what it's like until you own one and ride it.
Your standing shot from the pegs says it all and why I miss my 2014 GSA. The perfect riding position for me (and I’m a shortarse). I’m doing exactly you’ve been doing combing through the adds. I keep homing on the GS/GSA. TFT a must so late 1200 or maybe 1250 for a bit more….. Not the 1300 or the pig ugly new GSA. Oh, and I’m 65 and you’re not close to middle age! My first BMW was an R100RT when I was 25. Superb and that really was an old man’s bike.
Like you i have a gsa 2018 1200 with tft and imo it’s better than a new 1250/1300 because firstly it dose not cost 20 plus grand and will do everything that the newer ones do so what for bragging rights i have the Spare money to enjoy the europ tours that i want to do
@@James_Rides like last year i spent a week in the Pyrenees playing around and really enjoyed the whole trip apart from Andorra my wallet took a hammering mind you petrol was cheap What i dont get is the people who just buy a bike and only ride it i the summer and do 3k or less miles Like dating a super model and not having s*x with her so as to get the maximum in return when they want to replace her in 2/3 years What plans and trips to Europe do you have
