Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

2500 mile round trip down to Italy, what bike would you get if you had a 5k budget? I was down in Umbria/Tuscany and was shocked at how bad the roads are, I will never complain about Wiltshire again.

Yeah only 95 unless I go quite out my way.

Something like ktm 990 SMT, tracer 900 etc

Indo close it, so I'm guessing the fuel in it caused the issue, hence now intending to drain it.

Not sure about the DRZ but the R80 carb floats get damaged by petrol over time (bit of an oversight from the engineering dept.) It means that the carb levels can get so high that they oveflow. It's best practice to turn the petcock off when you're not riding unless the carbs have a connection to the vacuum system which only delivers fuel when the engine is running.

I do always turn the petcock off. Hence wondering if fuel sat in it caused damage

Depends how long it's in there but it usually evaporates in mine. Not sure what the timeframe for that is and I suppose it would depend on ambient temps etc.

ktm 990 SMT

Very good shout!

Might just be a mix of issues. Rebuild the bugger with genuine parts (not amazon/ebay specials). Possibly float is now sticking, might be the drain screw vibrated a bit loose, might just be hating on you leaving it sat. My fuel lines weep a little until they expand again with use. Weird huh.

Yeah weird. I've left it sat for longer and not had issues.

Got a genuine rebuild kit on the way.

I rode mine to south of France and then around Provence with my wife two up. Then did a week trip back through Alps and dolomites. Still strong in my mind. Had to get a new rear tyre in Italy!

Depends if you're motorwaying down and back or backroads...

If motorway I'd probably go for big ADV (GS or Super Tenéré maybe) or Sport Tourer (perhaps some BMW thing?)...
If backroads a super naked type like the aforementioned 990SMT would be great or maybe even a Tuono?

More back roads, possibly some easier TET sections if possible. I'm hoping to test ride some ADV style bikes over the next few months. I have short legs so want to make sure they are for me. 990SMT is right up my street and so is this https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/614254500841287/

For some reason I keep gravitating to older bikes, obviously want to make my life harder.

I've currently got my Street Scrambler up for sale at 6k, if anyone is interested send me a DM.

I've realised that with a baby I get out once a fortnight if lucky. So going to sell and do a lot of test riding and enduro days until next spring (big euro trip) and not feel bad about the bike sitting in the garage.

I'm still riding it until someone comes along to buy it, tough decision as it's fun and I can flat foot the ground..!

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Motorway tour probably a Pan European or a BMW (r series Rt) anything twisty a faux off roader or a cbx1300 (and possibly still a Pan).

However is the bike going to be just for this one trip or is one going to have to live with it after, if the latter I’d go for what suits my everyday life - most bikes can be adapted to tour (I did 1500 miles to Ireland and back on my Harley sportster in August, £40 generic screen from Amazon and it was fine).

990 adv then
or even 950 adv

if i had some cash I'd have one in a heartbeat. Nothing like the sound of a twin tearing up a mountain.

Edit: Short legs, so maybe not for you

Maybe a newer africa twin could be had at that price, won't set the world alight but do the job.

okay, dumb moment check. If i left the choke on, could it cause this? I had it running again today at home to look, and no leaking fuel...

This dude always speaks great sense. He has done enough to know what is what. He mentions the Richy Vida video that I did watch a couple of months ago and I had the same thoughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29db-21FkZQ

Could do. Choke is fuel enrichment so it’s an additional route for fuel to get through the carb. Maybe it bottlenecks and leaks out.

Thanks

It’s just the float needle sticking. Often you can give the side of the carb a sharp tap and it will stop. Sometimes, running the engine will fix it by itself.

Yeah this is solid advice. In line with if you’d have asked me years ago what camera to buy. What you have, or less than you have.
Could I do with an all bells and whistles loaded beast? Maybe. will I exploit a fraction of that on the journeys I make. Not. At. All.

mate just bought a panigale v4s

says it's a bit of a rocket ship .... no shit
i guess 215 bhp on a 174kg bike helps

Ooft

I love my Subaru outback. It's scratched and beaten on the outside but mechanically solid. I'll off road it anywhere as I cost us not much and so I'm not worried about it. I took the bumper off last week on a ditch and just zip tied it back on and kept going.
I'd love a land cruiser but at 10k EUR I'd be too scared to take it off road.