Hi,
I'm new to the site and I love it! I am currently working on a plan for a big trip but since it has to be at least a year away, I am still busy researching most of the variables.
My question to anyone with an opinion:

I have been riding a 1977 R75/7 for the past three years. It is due for a major tune up and new shocks, brakes, and maybe a new clutch.
Would I be able to give this bike a workover to set it up for a really long tour that would include some dirt roads and maybe even some desert riding.

I haven't seen anyone talking about taking a bike like this overland on long journeys. Why is that? It handles aweful on dirt roads now but I think a lot of that is the road tires and poor shocks. But maybe not...?

I don't want to kill this bike...I waited years for this exact one to come to me and it's very dear to my heart but I would rather ride this into the ground somewhere in Asia, than into the back of truck in a Vancouver traffic jam. (I'd rather have it die with its boots on so to speak) I'd rather not have it die at all though!

Another factor would be the price to ship it across the Ocean. It's in storage in Vancouver now and I had thought about starting in Europe, though that could easily change.

Price is one of my main considerations. I couldn't afford to pay more than $4000 cdn. for a touring bike.

So, should I just buy a bike in Europe that's built for the job or is it worth thinking about getting my R75/7 set up for travelling. I have to put about $1500 into it either way, and could bump that way up if it was for a year long journey.

Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the help,
Jason

[This message has been edited by j-bird (edited 04 November 2003).]