Hi everyone.
Just thought I'd pop a new thread in here to introduce myself. I've been floating around here for quite a few months whilst deciding to buy a new adventure bike. It was narrowed down between a BMW GS1150A or a XT660z (very different bikes, I know!) . After much research and umming and arring I decided the Ten . For reasons?.....it'll be too long to explain here ( and it's very late haha). I've test ridden a few Tens, one nearly new and a well used/neglected one. So both ends of the spectrum.

I should be picking her up in a few weeks...unfortunately from a dealer. But it has 6.3k miles on the clock and is a white 2010 model. I managed to get a centre stand, a new battery and a new rear tyre in the price with some money knocked off too. So can't complain too much.

About me

Did my CBT on a whim in 2013 to see what it's all about and got myself a Kawasaki KMX125. Had good fun on that with the old man. Chucking some green laneing in there too. Passed my big bike test March 2014 aged 24 ( and also the same day my KMX got nicked), bought a 2001 Fazer with an updated front fairing and other mod cons and never looked back. Went on my first France trip on the bike that May for a week, to be in Normandy for the 70th D-day celebrations with the old man and went solo to Belgium 4 months later. Both fantastic trips and the France trip still brings a smile to me and my dads face. It's kind of got me hooked on touring and at some point, travel the world ( watching Long way round and Mondo Enduro, reading Ted Simons books and the Hapless biker series too...oh and Spencer Conways African Motorcycle Diaries (which convinced me on the tenere) has only sparked the feeling.

I commute 70miles a day, country "A" roads and a 14mile stint on the M1 (one way) Spring to Autumn on the bike (on night shifts).
The fazer has been superb, i love it to bits. I'll be storing it for a few months to see how I get on with XTZ. Don't worry, i'm expecting the culture shock...

Anyways. Sorry for the long introduction (even though I've skimmed the surface), I didn't mean it to be this long!

The forum has been fantastic so far!

I look forward to contributing to the forum and saying hi

James

Just a quick edit, here's the old bike.