You're dead right looking back at your hiking list. Take what you would carry and add a few things for the bike. Multiple purpose stuff if possible. Jeans etc are a luxury. Depending on your trip, if it's in the backcountry of some far flung place you'll likely wear the same sweaty t-shirt for days, possibly dunk it in a river to get some cooling and wear your town shirt on your next town visit after a shower, whilst your riding shirt is drying from washing it in said shower. Packing light with that mindset is easy. But most people haven't done that type of travelling, or think a bike provides an opportunity to include luxury items and take too much stuff. Most end up ditching it or sending it back.

Better bring less and if you feel you need more buy it. Best souvenir!

I would take things that I can't buy on the way.
I would take spares like Brake pads, chain and sprockets, light bulbs, clutch cable, tools, inner tubes or spare tires, puncture kit, tyre levers, clutch and brake levers, fuses, etc
also take camping gear and some first aid kit.
clothing: two of each item
and most importantly (two credit cards, a debit card and some cash).

Good luck

All good. bier

Good luck with your continuing recovery and PT (physical therapy). PT makes a HUGE difference to how you will end up the rest of your life living with your injuries. Work hard, will pay big dividends after a year or two more of work.

If you really intend to focus on OFF ROAD then light weight is important. Given your previous injuries, you'll need to protect those limbs best you can.
I have a large Ti plate along my Tibia (compound fracture) ... and a plate in
other ankle, so I get what you're saying. I nearly lost my leg.

You may even consider a 250cc dual sport. The latest CRF250L Honda is looking really good. Check out this Dutch couple, both riding CRF250's.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...anywhere-77588
If buying new, that Honda is one I'd consider. :thumbup1:

But bike choice comes down to personal preference, experience and travel style. I've traveled on 250's and 400's in years past. I love light bikes (former AMA Enduro racer) but I also realize I spend about 85% of riding on paved roads.

My Suzuki DR650 can cruise easily all day at 70 mph and is really not bad off road or in deep sand. I've made many good mods to get it up to snuff, far better than standard DR650. It gets 50+ MPG, so not great but not bad. It's easy to load, can carry WAY more than I need. I like that. And ... it's comfortable!

Even at 66, I can still pick it up with ALL luggage on board. Since you're a young man and a Hiker, my guess is you're in twice the condition I am.
I'd think closely about what terrain you will mostly be riding and about how far afield into wilderness areas you want to go. There are hundreds of dirt options where a 650 class dual sport will do fine, even a R12GS could make it.

It's more remote areas where questions are raised. I've had to turn round at a few junctures ... no shame in that.

Anyway, keep us posted about what bike you choose.
All the best!
bier

Bike is chosen!
 

Thanks, I have been quite lucky really with regards to the PT as my cousin is a pro PT therapist for a large football (as you're state side I supposes I should say soccer) team so I had him along with 2 others help with that but my main limit was the way the bones healed (blocking part movement) but we work with what we got!


Unfortunately I struggling to find much to protect my wrist due to how much movement is needed ridding but I think I will have a little wrist support just incase!

The CRF was one of my potential choice before I had even saw the Dutch couples trip stuff. I went over to Honda dealer the other week and had a play didn't really get along with the bike felt it was heavier than it needed to be (weighing about the same as a DRZ400 I think!). I also was thinking about a used CCM 404 or DRZ 400. After a bit of thinking I decided that picking a bike I have a passion for is more important than cost or weight of the bike, so I decided it had to be a CCM! (I was ridding my old CCM when I was hit by the car!)

I have a passion for CCM and was thinking either a 404 or the new 450 Adv', I arranged to got over to CCM's factory and test ride one of the new 450 Adv'. After heading over there and going for a road testing it was clear to me it had to be this bike, so now my bank account is somewhat lighter! My bike is ordered and I shall be picking it up my CCM 450 Adv mid/late February ready for ridding to Aus! :mchappy:

Congrats on the CCM! Looks to be a stunning bike from reports I've read here and elsewhere from riders who've done test rides. The only question will be how will it do on a 20,000 mile cross continent ride. :innocent:

With a bit of luck and good maintenance I'm sure you'll have a ball on that bike. For Mongolia I'd bring either water wings or a raft. About 40 major and very deep water crossings ... according to Colebatch's reports.

Under water excursions can RUIN motorcycles, so take care.

I think you're the first on this forum to buy the new CCM ADV 450. I hope you will do all us "moto junkies" here the BIG favor and do a few long term "performance reports" from the road. I would love to hear your thoughts ... and I'm quite sure CCM would too ... as you are really a BETA tester for them!

We all are GREEN with envy. bierbierbier

I think you're thinking of the crossings in Russia? It's not that bad in Mongolia.