102 | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2017GARAGE� IN AN ISSUE devoted to challenging
one’s limits, taking a closer look at
smart used buys that will actually help
generate those adventures makes
sense. Long-haulers and sport-tourers
can do the job, of course, but more and
more, especially with baby boomers
who revel in recalling their off -road
roots, dual-sport and adventure bikes
are the two-wheelers of choice when it
comes to getting out of town. The roots
of the adventure bough of this tree are
formed, of course, by BMW’s legendary
GS line, the fi rst of which was the 1981
R80 G/S. A shot-in-the-dark experi-
ment, that fi rst G/S ignited a movement
that today is motorcycling’s hottest
segment and singlehandedly saved
BMW’s two-wheel division from extinc-
tion. Today, one-third of BMW sales
carry the GS moniker, with more than
600,000 sold since ’81.First-generation G/Ss (1981–’87) are
functional and durable but also rare and
can be quite pricey, especially the limited
Paris-Dakar edition. The second-gen
R100GS (1987–’94) featured a revised
Paralever swingarm/suspension, which
was somewhat problem plagued. The
totally revised R1100GS (1994–’99) was
a breakthrough adventure bike featuring
BMW’s “Oilhead” engine and Telelever
front end, technology found on the GS to
this day. Well-maintained examples of
the latter are great adventure values, with
prices ranging from $3,500 to $6,000,
depending on mileage and condition. In
2000, the revised R1150GS (2000–’03)
came with a bit more power, six transmis-
sion speeds, and slightly revised styling.
Expect to pay a bit more for the 1150,
but in the end this is a great bike for not
a lot of Benjamins. (Of course, any used
R1200GS is also a superb choice.)Nothing compares to the GS line
in terms of legacy and long-standing
performance, but Suzuki’s V-Strom 650
is one example of a model that’s trying
like hell. Heralded by many as one of the
best all-around motorcycles on earth
since its introduction, the do-everything
V-Strom 650 (2004–’11) has become the
Japanese alternative to the GS, off ering
exceptional performance and value
when new and even more bang for the
buck on the used market. (A second-
generation version debuted in 2012, and
was updated again in 2017.) Prices for
even medium-mileage fi rst- and second-
gen machines in good mechanical shape
are very aff ordable, ranging from $3,000
to $5,000 depending on condition and
mileage. Fun to ride, plenty fast, and
capable of going to Alaska and back
without complaint, the V-Strom 650 is a
bona fi de adventure-class star.SMART MONEYWIDE WORLD OF ADVENTURE
Trek the world for fewer bucks and headachesMCY1017_SMART.indd 102 7/20/17 9:37 AM