If you take the R you would need to travel very slow which will be very tiring. It's not too late to send the Mrs to riding school and get 2 small trail bikes.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Just I would suggest you to put a stronger rear spring and maybe in the front as well, be most important is the back, because you will have a lot of weight. Have everything you need with you to repair a puncture.

take a less luggage as possible. I had no cooking gear, you can eat everywhere there are gers. You can camp, but again, there are gers along the way, so it's not a must. Of 3 weeks, I camped only 3-4 nights. Not bad to make the local economy work a little bit.

Otherwise, I can tell you that you are about to go in the most beautiful country I have ever been!

Enjoy!!

Zimi

Neither... XT660Z I reckon.

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

Just to be clean, you can travel all teh way accross Mongolia on any many different bikes. I have seen plenty to GS 1200, I know a couple that crossed the whole Mongolia 2 up on a GSA with 40kg orf luggage without any problems, I've seen some F800GS performing perfectly, guys with Africa Twin, last year a German guy with a super overloaded Transalp...

I did it with a R100GS PD, 2up. So it depend on your skills, and on the preparation of the bike as well.

Most important! Suspension!!!!!!!!! Don't save bucks on a harder spring, you will regret it, especially when travelling 2 up.

The Tenere 660Z is not lighter than then F650GS. I dont see a big advantage here in favour of the Tenere. This bike has quite crappy suspension from stock.

I would do it again with my 640 Adventure, what a blast it would be, but solo only.

To travel 2 up, you need some comfort, otherwise your wife gonna hate you!

Yeah, but this guy did not make it, he turned around on the southern route and had some Mongolian guy who rode the bike back for him !!!!!

If you mean this guy :
http://www.transalpfahrer.de/46701.html

That is a good point !!!!

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www.klausmotorreise.com

Okay, if you have plenty of cash in the bank, the 1200 will do it. Any bike can do anything if you're prepared to spend money to make it.

I know a few people who have done big two up off road based trips on the tenere for realistic money for most folk...

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

tmotten:

I did try to make my Mrs. ride her own bike. That was almost thirty years ago. Since then she became one of best riders, but only at the rear seat.

zimi:

Your comments make me want to start the trip immediately. We enjoyed Causasus and Tian Shan, and can't wait to see the Altai.

I am going to upgrade the suspension, put the new clutch, chain and sprockets, wheel, steering head and rear swingarm bearings, waterpump seals and replace everything that is even a little bit worn. Bike has now a bit less than 40000 kms.

Touring Ted:

I am sure that XTZ is a very fine bike, it is just that I am riding BMWs since 1981, and I am quite familiar with them, and I know the weak points and how to fix them. Even better, I know how to prep the bike so everything should run smoothly for the duration of the trip. If something goes wrong it is more likely going to be me than the bike :-)

Klausmong:

I hope that we would not have to turn back like the guy you are referring to, but if that eventually happens... it is not the end of the world. I allways see our home as the final destination of any trip...


Just a few pics, Georgia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, and a road from Ukraine. That road was really bad.The last pic is Dakar at the Croatian coast.

I know that was nothing compared to Mongolia, but I hope that F650Dakar will be a more suitable tool for that trip.

We will do what we can to live another dream.

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So what bike are you taking ? An 80s BMW is a fine bike., in it's own way. But, you can't compare the brand from then to now as its like comparing steel to plastic, hands on engineering to Laptop users without bike licences and enthusiasts to accountants.

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

Touring Ted:


I'll take the Dakar, it seems definitely more suitable than R1200R. I have enough time to do the necessary upgrades, and comfortwise we'll probably get used to less space in a few days.

By the way, I know that the last really well made BMWs were made in WESTERN Germany, before The Wall fell.

Still, I have faith in my Dakar and its Rotax-made engine. Water pump is practically the only regular weak point.

I replaced mine when I bought the bike, some 25000 kms ago, and it is still ok. Nevertheless I will replace it again before the trip and take another repair set with us, together with GS-911, fork seals, filters, spark plug and a handfull of screws, nuts, chain links and a duckt tape. That will have to be enough spare parts.

I hope.

Have a look on my blog. I've summarized the most critical things. Bring spare subframe bolts. No need for gotten deals if your girls are in good shape. Just protect then with neoprene gaiters. Aussie made uni filters are awesome. Just make sure it's the Aussie one. There's an American one too which is not the same. With a fresh spark plug you won't need a spare but it won't hurt

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Hi Boris!
Good choice I think.. Suspension travel will be more inportant than hp or Nm...
Just the comfort. But i met ppl who never camped, i would however take the lightest 2ppl tent just in case. Oh, and gear down the front sprocket, especially 2 up.
Enjoy the trip and hope to meet you again!
Cheers
A.

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Where and Back Again
http://www.antoniovanderelst.wordpress.com

Hi Antonio :-)

Nice to hear from you. I wanted to keep you as a hidden joker for final questions, but you saw this topic before I emailed you. We had nice time on the road together with you. It is a pity that we passed by you in Iran, but those days in Uzb were very nice. As you can see, it looks like we will be able to get enough weeks this summer for another Asian ride, and Iceland will have to wait. Again.

Best regards,

Boris

Any bike can make it. This monstrosity crossed Mongolia in 2012



His 2 mates had to do a lot of pushing along the south route, apparently.

Assuming you're a competent rider, for 2 up I would take the bigger bike. Riding a 650 single 2 up is possible, but it depends on your and your wife's dimensions and tolerance of discomfort. And again your riding ability and the weather.

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CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

Southern route will be fine on a road bike. Its now about 80% asphalt and rising ... 2000 km, most on asphalt .... you could knock that off in 3 days.

Will be nowhere near as interesting as riding cross country, but hey, thats not what the man asked. He didnt want an interesting route, he asked for the easiest.

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Me and my wife, also plan drive through Mongolia 2up and southern road. Regarding more interesting road- I guess it will be a lot of impressions for us since we never been in Mongolia before.
For to make excellent adventure is not necessary bent rims or broken motorcycle frame in middle of nowhere, specially if you are responsible for your passenger and have time frame. ( But no one is secured from that)