First Post

[SimonH]

Hi my name is Simon, I live near Cirencester in Gloucestershire and I ride a BMW R1200GS.I've just bought this after owning a Honda ST1100 for a few years. I'd like to use the Beemer to explore our great countryside along B roads and tracks.

Alun , I dont know if you remember but we met in Fort William,my brother and me were on a BMW R1200RT and my Honda (so I plumped for the bmw after all,the Honda is currently on ebay!)

[Alun]

Hi Simon, good to see you on the site. And yes, sure do remember meeting up with you and your brother in Fort William - we've quite a few pics of your bikes too - it was an entertaining breakfast.

Congrats on the new GS, how are you finding it so far? And what's the spec on the Pan, you never know I may have another rush of blood to the head or someone passing through here could be interested.

Speaking of buying new bikes, Jason, the guy with me in Fort William, has just bought a KTM990 Adventure. I had a ride on it today, and, I've a big case of bike envy going on right now.

As you're only down the road if you fancy a ride out in the Cotswolds sometime let me know.

[SimonH]

Hi Alun, I can confirm that what you read about the GS is true! It does look weird ,it does shake and is a bit vibey but once its rolling it is just bloody good fun!
The GS just gives you confidence with its roadholding but thats compared to a 13 year old Pan.
The details for the Pan are on Ebay and I gotta say it does look good.I might bid for it myself ! Just search Honda ST1100 Pan European.
Anyway I better go and do some work.
All the best . Simon.

[Alun]

Found it - and the Spec of that Pan looks tempting. Quick question - how would you rate the comfort of the GS against the Pan i.e. wind buffeting, wind noise. Is it a less or more stressful ride?

[SimonH]

A totally different experience.The Pan encloses you with a big fairing but it does take a lot of fiddling around with screens to dial out wind buffeting-it took 3 different screens before I was happy, it has loads of turbine power but is a heavy beast.
The GS is agile,torquey and is more like riding a naked bike ; youre out in the fresh air.I went out on it tonight and got covered in flies , that wouldnt happen on the Pan. BTW loads of interest on Ebay so be quick ! seriously if you want to try it out let me know.

[Alun]

In all seriousness if I wasn't spending so much right now on both the Tiger (engine re-build) and the Sprint (chain, sporockets, new seat) I'd probably be bidding. I've always fancied picking up an older well looked after Pan for it's mile munching prowess and protection. At least four/five times a month I do a 300 mile motorway round trip and I reckon that (apart from my addiction to owning multiple bikes) it would make that journey a pleasure in all weathers – if motorway riding in the UK could ever be termed 'a pleasure'.

I've bookmarked it and, well, you never know. Good luck with getting the price you're after.

[SimonH]

Thanks.I'd be keeping it myself if I had a shed big enough.Just been emailed by a guy in Yorkshire,he wants to come and have a look at it !!

[Alun]

Hi Simon - has the Pan gone to a new home?

[SimonH]

Yes,it has sold on eBay and the chap has paid for it but its still in my shed awaiting collection,he didnt much fancy riding it home to Poole yesterday in that foul weather,I dont blame him!
Have you found any green lanes to explore yet? I quite fancy a bit of off roading on the GS ( til I fall off and bend the bike! )

[Alun]

Good news about the bike sale Simon - and even better than you've been paid. Remember to tell the new owner about this site when he picks it up....

Green Lanes - I'm going to start posting up all the Green Lanes I find in the Warks/Worcs/Glouc region here and maybe work out a route linking a few together that can be done in a day. If you want to add to the list please do. As I've now got the Tiger back, I'm itching to get some mud under the wheels.

There's a guy who works next door to me who knows of quite a few but he's not on line - I'll sit him dowm with an OS map soon and post up the results.