Recent content by Nick V

Jaco, valid points. Every one of them. We live in a world where people often feel a need to justify their purchases - sometimes to the point of "My Brand X is better than your Brand Y". If that justification builds enough momentum, it starts to become a legend. But most people who hear a legend...

:D If you haven't yet ridden a 690, and I could only give one piece of advice, I'd say: don't test-ride one until you know you're ready to buy. I was lucky enough to have a friend who lent me his. Out on that test ride, I had already resolved that if I couldn't afford a 690 right there, I was...

I think it already has. :D I'm still tweaking it, but even in its current, hardly perfect spec, it's already done more for me than the XR650L ever could. Never mind being made by different manufacturers - the two bikes feel like they're from different planets. (The XR650R at GRM is a 2006 model...

I gave up my plan to buy an XR650R; couldn't find one. After soem looking around, I bought a 2015 690 Enduro R with 14 000 Km on the clock. My only regret so far is that I can't pull myself away from work for long enough to ride it as often as I want to. :D Looks like Garden Route Motorcycles...

🥳 Well, as of Saturday, I now own this: A hell of a drive from De Rust to Potch to collect it... but worth it. :)

@Ejay : I'm trying to get hold of you re. your bike. Won't you get in touch? My E-mail is n i k a t r e u s @ g m a i l . c o m.

Hi again all! Thanks for all your responses to this. Work has been crazy, but I'm getting in touch with people - slowly.

Hi again, all. As per the subject line. :) Details re. year model, how much to spend, and so on will be sorted out as I go. Right now, I'm interested in establishing what's out there, as two things have become clear: it's hard to find private bikes going up for sale, and if you buy one from a...

Thanks for the advice, all! It's really appreciated. I'm dropping my plan to test/buy an XR650R, as they are seem to made from 100% pure Unobtainium. I don't think the 500 EX-C is really the right bike for me; it's a little too enduro-focussed. But on paper, a 690/701 sounds like just the...

I'll be blunt: the only reason I'm considering the 690/701 is because it's literally the only bike out there that looks like it fills all my needs, AND is available. Unfortunately, it ticks two other boxes as well: high cost, and questionable reliability. A riding buddy of mine has a 690, and...

@EssBee : Thanks! I'll check it out.

I really want one bike that can do both jobs. If I can't find an R, I might well sell the X and the L, and invest in a 690 Adventure...

Hi, all. As the title says. :) My mistake was buying, then getting used to, a BMW G450X for trail riding (even taken it from De Rust to die Hel and back) - then getting tired of how I was always looking over my shoulder for spietkops cos the X had no lights, mirrors or license plate, and buying...

So... all done. See the piccy for details. WER eventually made two prototypes from the sample I supplied. The first was made in 3mm acrylic, with a light tint. The second was in 5mm acrylic with no tint. I was given a choice of either one, so I tried out the light-tinted screen. The tint was...

That's definitely something to consider... I'll take mine in for them to have a look this Saturday. Thanks for the suggestion! I'll let you know how it panned out.