For some people it might be smart to buy a finished kitted bike because it would be easier to get your money back when you sell it and you don't have to buy things twice (shock, fork, tank etc).

Personally I don't care. Usually I don't sell bikes so the second-hand value doesn't mean much and my expenses are divided by many years and kms.

In my opinion, a bike has to grow and evolve with the rider.
When I buy a bike, I start riding it. Then I find things I don't like or that I think can be improved so I change it. Then I go riding again until I find something else and after some time, I have grown the (almost) perfect bike for me.

For that reason, I think you should always do some shorter trips on a bike before you take it for the real long ride.

__________________
Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl

I would have to agree with this. Virtually all of my 'Adventurising' has been due to preparation for forthcoming trips; they are therefore intrinsic to my memories for the trip. I also agree with the comment about suspension. This is the best mod I've made BY FAR! It's also the biggest talking point when I meet others who know what they're talking about, as opposed to the Starbuck's crowd.

My first thought when I read he OP was whether Ted was thinking of a career change?!

Career change.... No. I'm happy wrenching for a decent stable salary at the moment..

As for building bikes, It's always something I've considered in the past. And now I've got all the fabrication equipment, the workshop and a lot more experience with motorcycle repairs/restorations/preparations, I be honest.... I was pondering it..

However, as a business.... Nope ! The numbers just do not add up.

Tailor making bikes to order 'could' work but I think there are already enough people struggling to scratch a living out of that for me to have a go...

However........I knew the poll would get that response on this forum as it's a good bunch of home wrenching overlanders. There's a whole lot of 'Been there, done that' on the HUBB...

But if that question was asked elsewhere, I wonder what the response would be.... !!! ????

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

This is my overland ready KLR

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https://www.facebook.com/motofeirme
http://motofeirme.com/

What Tyres have you fitted and do they last long?

Nice looking bike also

I think ! no 1 is reliability ! and should be for anyone ! if it aint going to go ! all your flashy bits arnt going ither !
as to getting your money back , I think if you can sit around till the right persons comes along, then you will be ok, but ! it can be hard to get your money back, as most people will not understand how much time and effort it takes to get it right.
having ran my own MC shop and work shops years ago, I tend to manufacture most of my bits my self, or spend much time in and trolling EBAY !!!
as to running a specialised shop for overland ,in my opinion its down to the personal skills, being a good marketer and having a lot of cash ! as the banks don't have any at the moment as the government Stoll it all !!

How much extra?

Absolutely nothing! Why would you? Money saved is more funds for trip.

Do you need gps? Large tank? Alloy boxes? Really?

Nice to have but not essential. I'm now back in Delhi having just ridden all around india for over 4 months and 10,000 miles on a 150 locally produced hero Honda (800 ukp). Link on here to blog (my first ever) but suffice to say, snow, ice, extreme heat, monsoon, sand and water etc etc and it made it. Ride what you have - you really don't need the extras.

A map, compass and a 5 litre can on the back (if you must) and you're good to go.

I've ridden in many countries using this simple approach and I've always been okay. Getting 'lost' is part of the fun.

Save your cash and have more away time - perfect!

I did have a multi purpose top box though - it's also my plane hand luggage

Aye... We 'could' all just ride around on C90's.. Or we could just get the bus... Or, feck it.. Let's just walk.. It will make me feel like I should be wearing hemp undies

However, a lot of people are enjoying the riding as much as the travelling. And there are lots of types of motorcycle enjoyment avenues to explore as I'm sure you know....

I've ridden scooters and rat bikes for years and they're alright, but I know I'll have far more FUN on a more sorted, powerful and better handling bike with just a little bit more piece mind so I can push my riding knowing that my wheel won't fall off.

And isn't 'FUN' what it's all about. ???

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

I couldn't agree more - fun and enjoyment is what it's about and it's good to see people out and about riding.

If however, as I expect is the case for many, people are put off bike travels because they don't have a Charlie equipped BMW surely that's a bad thing? GS sales figures post tv shows? How many bought into that silliness?

My point - as always - ride what you have when you can, not what the current media advertisements (and fashion) tells us we need.

Gps or a map and an extra 4 weeks on the road?

I know what I'd choose.

And some may say with that GPS, you won't waste hours going around in circles in a North African City as the sun is coming down... Wasting expensive fuel and ending up in an expensive hotel instead of the budget hostel they were looking for..

But everyone's different. I'm the long term budget traveller too but I've got my luxuries also.

Where every individual draws that line is up to them...

Swap the Ipod for a Kazoo , wear bin bags instead of clothes and eat out of the bin.. Then you can have an extra four months instead of four weeks.

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

Hi Ted,

Without wishing to turn this into a pros and cons thread I will offer my reasons for my opinions. My point in respect of accessories is a simple one - if the ever increasing list of 'must haves' prevent people from realising their dream surely that's not good?

People can, have and will ride all over on the most basic of bikes and it's refreshing to see C90s in and amongst the well equipped - and often low mileage - dream bikes.

Using the gps as an example. I have been living this lifestyle for a number of years and have met various kindly folks all over.

I have met Spanish gps equipped over landers in Iran that had their equipment stolen (during a police road check incidentally), riders in the himalaya where it clearly didn't work and more people than I care to think of who couldn't just get off the bike - for that unexpected impromptu invite - without securing their gps first.

Your example of North Africa is a good one - some very poor people in some very remote areas and suddenly this bright shiny thing pulls up. Do you step off and get involved or in the back of your mind will you worry about possessions? The more you have the more you have to think about - that was my point.

I'm not targeting individuals just trying to offer an opinion that maybe - in a small way - might help redress the balance.

A good map, compass and an awareness on the position of the sun - and in my opinion - you're good to go.

As for directions? Ask a local - isn't that all part of it? Human contact with people on the road?

If you've a specific overnight place to stay and you're very close but just can't find it - ask for directions, give your helmet to a child on a bike, auto or taxi and follow to your chosen destination. You could do this a 100 times and still have change from the gps expense.

In all my years of riding I've never had anything stolen nor do I worry too much about my kit and whilst riding along I'm looking at - and hopefully fully appreciating - the passing scenery and not continually bobbing my head up and down looking at a gps screen.

Who knows, looking where I'm going is also probably safer, another plus reason not to have one I guess?

As individuals we are all entitled to our opinions and make our own personal informed decisions.

My reason for posting a reply was to reinforce what is already known - yes you can have these things - but you don't HAVE to have these things.

I think we're arguing the same point here



Anyone could throw an old rucksack over the back of any old bike in the world and be guaranteed an adventure and a good time.

The point of the thread was to determine how much (if anything) people would be prepared to pay for a bike which was more 'sorted'... If really necessary or not.

Like yourself, I've done a fair bit of motorcycle travel.

And as a Motorcycle tech, I pay a lot of interest in the machines people are riding (geek I know)...

I would say that 99% of those bikes have been modified, upgraded, tuned, fettled with etc. Not because they HAD to be, but because the owner wanted to.. And I know how much they've spent because I can add the part costs up In my head from experience (even bigger geek).

I was just curios if people would of liked to be able to buy their bike like that in the first place.


Like I mentioned earlier, I KNEW the reaction it would get on the HUBB. And that's a good thing. That's why this is a great forum with a great member base...


I have asked this question a few places and the results are VERY different.

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

Many people here want to buy petrol and will grudgingly pay extra to have dry underwear when they get somewhere.

People on other sites don't have the time or inclination to use the petrol and want to buy an image or gain some sort of piece of mind having an "upgraded" bit.

As the likes of Touratech possibly show, if you impress in the "using it" market the "having it" one might follow but is horribly fickle. This is definitely true of the sports origin brands too.

Andy

It's not always a bad thing having all the gear and no idea...

Having a expensive, kitted out adventure bike and never going on any trips or adventures isn't always folly.

I mean, when the zombie apocalypse or Armageddon finally hits us, the Overland specials will be a real use . Mad Max style.

Sump guards are great for ramming through hoards of the un-dead.

And my 12V sockets will power all types of automatic machine gun triggers etc..

Having uprated suspension means you can throw a beautiful young damsel in distress over your back seat without messing up your handing and crashing into a burning petrol station...


Right ???

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