Tag Archives: Bikes

BMW R1150 GS Adventure: The Ultimate Adventure Bike

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The BMW R1150 GS Adventure (GSA) isn’t just a motorcycle—it’s a legend in the adventure biking world. Built tough, designed for long-distance journeys, and with a look that never gets old, this bike has earned its iconic status. This is one of our workshop favourites, now in Portugal.

At the heart of the R1150 GSA is its air/oil-cooled 1130cc boxer engine. This thing is rock solid. I love it for its reliability, with my silver one presently at over 180,000 miles without any major fuss. It’s the kind of bike you can take on a cross-country trip without worrying about whether it’ll hold up. But it’s not just about reliability. The R1150 GSA is built to go anywhere. Its long-travel suspension and BMW’s clever Telelever front end mean it handles rough terrain like a pro. Dirt roads, mountain passes, you name it—this bike can tackle it. Plus, with its massive 30-litre fuel tank, you can ride for ages without needing to stop for fuel, which is a big win if you’re out in the wild.

And then there’s the look. The R1150 GSA has a design that turns heads. Its asymmetric headlights and rugged frame give it an unmistakable presence on the road. Even now, years after its debut, it’s still one of the most recognisable and admired adventure bikes around. If you want a bike with serious character, this one’s hard to beat.

Time for a change?

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Running any older vehicle in the UK gets more expensive and more challenging year on year. I am in favour of air quality and vehicle safety improvements but I sometimes think regulators miss the whole life carbon cost of cars and bikes. With that in mind and now considering the Defender 90, Mary’s Vauxhall and one of my old bikes is now not allowed into London without paying the ULEZ or LEZ or congestion charge it was time for a change. With the R1150GSA tucked up in the workshop the XT660Z moved onto a new owner… enter a Moto Guzzi V85TT. 850cc, shaft drive, tubeless, all LED, cruse control and importantly E5 approved. With more and more cities imposing emissions regulations this bike should keep me free of charges for a few more years.

Teithiau Dydd XT660Z yng Nghanolbarth Cymru

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Or “Day Trips on the XT660Z in Mid Wales”… Just down the road from the Overland Workshop is Llyn Brianne, test rides and day trips over the Epynt Army Range will lead inevitable to the circular route round Brianne, and in all honesty it is possible to ride a few hundred miles in 7 or 8 hours and avoid most of the traffic on the coastal roads running south from Aberstwyth. I have like many, missed the opportunity for overseas tours so have been making the most of what we have to offer here in the UK, which to be honest, is quite a lot. I dragged the XT660Z out of the workshop and loaded up the MetalMules with lunch and randomly set off on a back road bumble – 7 hours later I was back home… time flies for me on the bike – its a great mental health reset.