I too have been riding for a year. I was advised to do 5000 miles before doing any serious touring 2 up. I agree with this 100% in retrospect having now done 10,000 miles and feel it would have restricted my learning having lots of luggage and a passenger. My wife and I are now about to cross Africa this winter. I still feel inexperienced but able to do it. The trips you have planned sound excellent and similair to my first longish trips. Get on the road and enjoy!

A while back, before I reached the grand old age of 50, I laid my hands on my first bike that was really up to going a good distance - a Guzzi Le Mans 2 and set off, without a second thought, to the Bol D'Or. I lived in the UK at the time and the Bol was still at Paul Ricard near Toulon. It was quite an adventure - especially as I didn't speak much French but I had a great time. I took three days to get down there (1400km) but had to ride back in one go to get back to work - I arrived home at 8.30am soaking wet but got into work for 9 having already been awake for 36hrs.

Since then I've done dozens of European tours and a year long trip to Cape Town so my original mis-adventures obviously didn't put me off.

Two up riding is a bit of an acquired skill and involves a fair bit more organisation in terms of carrying the luggage etc.. But I always think the most important thing about taking a passenger is ensuring that they have full confidence in you. One of my first trips with my wife on the Guzzi was a complete disaster because the bike was so poor for a pillion> We tried the XT500 next which was even worse and nearly put her off for life but she has since covered a good few hundred thousand kms on our European trips and down through Africa (mostly on BMWs and Guzzis).

In summary, what I'm trying to say is if you want go on a long trip on your own don't over-organise it, just go and see how it works out. If you going 2 up you need to be more responsible.

Hi guys, thanks a lot for the encouraging messages, and for sharing your experiences!

garmei - thanks for the welcome, and your trips sound amazing. Hopefully someday I'll have the guts+time to go so far as South America! Your reply is definitely encouraging Best of luck to you and your girlfriend on your trip out there, enjoy!

robinhelen - thanks, it's good to hear from someone with a little more experience than me. Thankfully I won't have to take a passenger and luggage will be minimal, I don't think I would be too comfortable otherwise. The bike is a little small. I hope you and your wife have a blast in Africa!

Magnon - 1400km in one go is quite a feat, I don't think I could manage going for that long. Ever considered joining the Iron Butt rally? I'll be going on my own for both trips, I think my 250 will die carrying two people for such a long time. And with the (pretty but) rubbish pillion seat, it would mean any poor sap that comes along with me will hate me forever for breaking their bum. Thanks for the advice though, when I do have another half come along on the trip, I'll definitely consider what you've mentioned!
PocketHead - that was my reaction too

Most of my thoughts have been said.

What you have not said is the size of your bike - ie. comfortable touring speeds and attainable distances.

It really depends if you consider the journey is part of the holiday or a means of getting to/from it - and have a bke there.

I prefer to just get it done with, so longer distances just involve griting teeth and getting on with it. The faster the bike, potentially the sooner it is over. Others prefer to meander and stop regularly.

Paris has taught you much of traffic awareness and anticipation, but a new experience could be the higher speeds on Autoroutes - particularly the unlimited speeds permitted on some Autobahns. You learn pretty quickly to keep to the nearside and use mirrors looking far further back when contemplating overtaking.
Be assured, even doing 200kph, cars will regularly come up behind far faster than you expect

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