I always hear that no one ever wishes that they would have brought a larger/heavier bike once on a RTW/long distance journey.


But has anyone actually taken a small bike and wished they'd gone bigger?

Just returned from Peru and crossed paths with about 6 travelers on big motos. I noticed most did not explore the dirt roads where the ruins and fun stuff are. In addition, I heard of the constant concern of tipping over and the difficulty to right the moto.

The only time I wished I had a bigger moto was on the PanAm Hwy in the head wind. Other than that, I am glad to have a 250cc moto. You stop more often, and therefore meet more people and see more things. Much easier to find parking for a small moto at night.

If you want to make miles, the bigger moto is better. It's more comfortable. It's better on the faster roads. If you have the inclination to go on rutted switchbacks and explore the back roads, then smaller is better. Even on a narrow, blacktop road; meeting a fast car or bus on a sharp and narrow mountain curve can force you in to the ditch (done that more than once), and a smaller moto is more nimble. It comes down to what your travel style is, where you like to ride, and the roads at your destination. No moto is perfect, so you have to make choices.

Do some travel on a small moto in Mexico or farther south and see how you do. Ride in to Copper Canyon; Urique, Bato, and take one of the canyon roads between them. Ride the blacktop libre roads farther south and visit the sights along the way. You'll answer your own question eventually.

Damn good summation of things LD. I've not travelled that far on small bikes but done enough to confirm what you're saying is true.

It really is a compromise and sometimes travelers aren't even sure WHAT sort of roads they are looking for and some change their mind once out there traveling ... some get out on rough off road and HATE IT!
Even on a small bike.

Others get too bored on fast highways and long for tiny back roads. There is no "Right Answer" in the end.

So, IMO, doing what LD mentions is good advice: Go down to Mexico or wherever on some shorter tours and see how you do. Go off road on your favorite big bike, now try it on a small bike. Now try a few days of highways at 70 mph.

Oddly enough, I just sold my brand new KTM Duke 690 which is actually a very small bike. It has "250 like" weight and dimensions with Big Bike power and FUN. It's not the off road version but is fine on easy dirt roads. It had everything.

But guess what? It just didn't work for me. Hard to explain why.

On a tour of 4 days (I know, nothing for RTW guys!) The little KTM grew uncomfortable on any sort of faster highway. It was good on the twisty roads but the inevitable LONG highway run came along and ruined my day.

It somehow just did not fit me and has far less wind protection than my old DR650 ... which had NO wind shield ... but some how does not need one.

I loved the KTM's power and handling but just not a practical bike for travel.
A great Day Ride bike but not an ALL DAY, EVERYDAY bike.

But IMO, a nicely set up 250 would be nearly ideal for doing Peruvian Andes dirt back roads or Baja or the Salar de Uyuni. But if you had to ride the long coast road to Lima, that would be a drag on most 250's ... where a big GS or other big bike would make it easy. But try to lift the GS solo ... well, here we go, round and round on this endless debate.

The smallest bike I travelled on was a DRZ400 from UK-Capetown. And it's not even that small.

MANY times I wished I had more power and more speed.

Smaller bikes generally top out around the 55-60mph for a comfrotable touring speed. Which for the most time, is just fine.

But when the road is long and almost never ending, 5-10mph more over a day adds up A LOT when you're trying to make progress. Overtaking can become perilous without the power to make it through and working the gearbox hard to make the most of your small engine can become tiresome too.

Having a small bike can also limit you to finding riding partners. On the road, you will meet many people. And most of them will have larger bikes and can move quickly. If you can't keep up, it makes it challenging to ride together without irritation.

A smaller bike is generally more uncomfortable too. Narrow seats, little wind protection and more 'buzzy'. Their suspension isn't made for luggage and their subframes can break. They can't handle luggage like a large bike. Their balance is thrown off. This can be all be addressed if you're willing to spend the time and money when prepping though.

You must also take into a account that 95% of the world seems to be paved. And 95% or more of any trip is generally on tarmac.

Unless you go off looking for trails and wildernesss, you might not find any.

Would you prefer to spend all day suffering on a small bike just so you can more comfortably handle a 2km sandy track to your campsite ??

It all really depends on your trip and if you're looking for offroad tracks. And also your physical size and capabilties.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

that exactly what I think, the hard off-road part on longer trips is usually very short, unless you're riding Dakar Rally. In addition even on smaller bike you don't want to risk injury in wild places so your off-roading is very limited anyway. Making miles on small bikes is a pain in an arse and you have to make miles if you want to get somewhere eventually.

IMO, it's far better to get required skills to be able to handle big bikes in off-road condition with confidence. What you can do on dirtbike you can usually do on good adventure bike as well if you practice enough.
You won't be willing to risk much either way on long trips.

.................. which is why some of us own multiple bikes that each has its uses.

Perhaps, eventually, the optimum will be the new generation of parallel twins with an engine capacity of about 700cc, such as the Yamaha and KTM that may come along any day soon
("soon" a relative term in engineering and marketing).

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Dave

I have made a couple of trips on a smaller bike, enjoyed them both and would use one again. I am currently in the US on an BMW 800 which is a good choice here but in other parts such as Southern Europe and Asia have found a Honda 125 to be a good way to travel and a step up from the bicycle I had used previously.

On shorter trips in specific areas I've enjoyed small bikes and (usually) not wished for a bigger bike. In Vietnam for a couple of weeks I rode a 250, which was a good size for me--aside from the seat, which was torturous. For scooting around in West Africa I've had everything from 125 to 650, with the former well-suited for little dirt tracks and the latter much preferable on major highways. Usually, both leave me dissatisfied at times, and when roads are hilly and clogged with belching trucks and buses I get really, really frustrated on a smaller bike. That's the answer to OP's query.

On a longer and more typical trip, where I'm racing the seasons to get to place with short summers and long winters or across large countries and continents, I'm happiest with a 650. Of course there are lots of places I can go only with great difficulty, and of course I don't like that. But it sure is nice to watch the miles scroll by on any sort of decently-paved highway. That was true even in Vietnam, when my little 250 prevented taking full advantage of the stretches of good roads when I really just wanted to get somewhere quickly.

Still waiting for the perfect compromise, with sufficient power, appropriate gearing, comfortable seating, generous luggage capacity, adequate handling and light weight. I'm not holding my breath.

Mark

.. twin.

The perfect compromise IMHO, solo or 2-up. Smoother and powerful (fast) enough on sealed roads. Can do off-road too .. even 2-up, with a little bit of struggling. Robust enough for luggage requirements for both rider and pillion. 650 twin .. all the way.

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Right Way Round ...

I don't regret taking a small (well 400cc) bike, but I do regret certain aspects of the choice. The problem is the majority of "small bikes" to choose from on this trip are dirt bikes, and dirt bikes tend to share some commonalities that can be really annoying when you're packing in the miles - they're tall, wobbly at speed, have the entirely wrong gearing, shitty maintenance schedules, and a torture device for a seat.

I get passed on the regular by guys with half the capacity I have, who are often incredulous that I'm so slow. I'm definitely going to change the gearing next time I change the sprockets but I suspect that's only a part of the problem.

There are days when I get stuck on a road that's WAY worse than I initially expected where I LOVE my bike, but there's also days where I wish I had gone with a cb500x or given the versys 300 more of a chance.

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2018: Indo to UK, 2020: ???
Instagram @improbablyadventuring

Cool, that formula works pretty well! So which one do you like best?

I know both Yam and KTM have 700 twins coming in. Can't say what the weights will be ... yet ... or the cost. I'd guess maybe $15K USD on the KTM 790, $12K on the T7.

You must ride a Husky or a KTM?
You didn't say which 400cc "dirt bike" you're traveling on, so above is just a guess.

Some smaller bikes certainly are real dirt bikes, others simply dual sport bikes that need modification to suit touring. Some can be modified, some aren't worth the effort/cost. But as you say, the pay off is when things get nasty. But of course a two way street on that front.

Even my brand new 125cc Honda two stroke CRM rental got bogged down in nasty red clay mud in N. Thailand. Can't imagine something heavier.

Historically, one of the most popular 400cc "dirt bikes" is not really a dirt bike at all. Talking Suzuki's DRZ400S. (include DRZ400E which used to be sold in UK.) E model was Better dirt bike, less good travel bike than S model. (I owned the "E" model, never went beyond Baja and California, great dirt bike!)

Many have done extensive mods on the DRZ400S and done RTW travel. Wide seat, proper tires for road work, small screen. I found stock gearing on that DRZ-S was good for 85 mph measured. Not bad.

Most of the guys who rode the Suzuki's have sold them on and bought either Husky or KTM 350's or 500's EXC's.

They have their own set of problems ... like longevity. Those old DRZ's could easily rack up 30K to 40K miles ... the Austrians are usually in need of service by 15 to 20K miles. More compromises.

And the Euro bikes are SUPER tall, whereas the old DRZ is reasonable for most.

I'm guessing you have signatures toggled to not show - his sig says he has a DRZ400.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Yeah sorry I have a DRZ400S. I've goten used to the fact that nobody in India has seen anything remotely like my bike so I've taken to calling it a "dirt bike" just because it makes more sense to most than trying to explain what a dual sport is.

I have a modified stock seat and a sheepskin (didn't want to pay to ship a Corbin from the US on top of the crazy high price) and a screen but it's still damn uncomfortable and even with a lowered seat very tall (I'm 5'7/170 - I'm female btw). Overall service interval is fine but it burns through oil very fast with the heat and sustained RPMs. With stock gearing and luggage I can't get it much past 60 MPH except with difficulty. (I have no performance mods) It doesn't help that most of India doesn't really have side roads in the sense that the bike would excel, so I'm mostly just been pounding the motorway for the last month.

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2018: Indo to UK, 2020: ???
Instagram @improbablyadventuring

No ... I'm sorry! I missed your sig! My mistake.
Sounds like a rough trip! Sadly, often non pro seat mods may not work ... and IMO, sheep skins are useless for LD comfort, even though Aussies and Kiwi's swear by them. Yea, Corbin is expensive ... but I can ride 10 hours on mine.
Stock seat was only good for an hour or so. Crippling!

Cheaper option would be a Seat Concepts Kit. Or find good foam and have your own built by a real seat maker in India.

A WIDE seat is key to comfort, IMO. That and high quality, firm foam that won't break down in a few months in high heat and wet.

Sounds like your DRZ has some serious issues. It shouldn't be using much oil and 60 mph should be a doodle if running well. I'm sure it's an Odd Ball Bike in India and I have NO ADVICE as to where or who you could take it to for sorting. Sorry. But I bet someone here could help!

All the guys I know who've done India have rented or bought bikes there as shipping in their own bike too costly and famous Indian bureaucracy was too much to cope with. (that I DO know!)

I've never ridden in India but visited twice for work. A nightmare.

Sounds like you need to head for the Hills and away from the motorways?
Do be careful, but by now you could probably teach a course in MC survival on
Indian roads. It's nuts there (thank gawd I never drove there!)

To stay on topic, I guess your DRZ is considered a BIG bike there? Seems the pace in some areas is slow enough that 60 mph would be risky?

Any way, good luck getting things fixed up ... and safe travels.
(PS I'm only 5'6". Do OK on DRZ400S ... one butt check hang off to one side to get foot down is the ticket. DRZ is LOW vs. real dirt bike! (like 37" seat)