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If you have to choose between a 800 and a 1200, which one would you choose? If you have to choose between a 800 and a 1200, which one would you choose?
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Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

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  #1  
Old 15 Apr 2014
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If you have to choose between a 800 and a 1200, which one would you choose?
Nowadays, I have the personal feeling that the 800 is too understated because of the marketing strategies.
I have heard to many people easily saying that without a 1200 engined bike you can't your own way round the world.

What are your thoughts on this?

Alessandro
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  #2  
Old 15 Apr 2014
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An 800 is fine for a RTW trip, I would say that a 250 or 400 is even better unless you are carrying a passenger.

Here are three R80GS with 1,000,000 kilometres and several RTW trips between them, any idea that you need anything bigger is just marketing and uses money better spent on petrol, hotels and visas.





This R80G/S did a RTW trip with a passenger and a lot of luggage, I don't think the owner ever found it underpowered and this is a 50 BHP airhead not a modern F800 or Tiger 800.


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  #3  
Old 15 Apr 2014
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Personally I think even an 800 is too big for a solo trip. If you're planning to spend half your trip climbing the Alps and the other half in the fast lane of the autostrada buy the 1200, otherwise get the 800. If you're serious about exploring Italy get something smaller.
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  #4  
Old 15 Apr 2014
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250.


Quote:
I have heard to many people easily saying that without a 1200 engined bike you can't your own way round the world.
Considering that we see many posts on this site from guys riding around the world on bikes like CG125s or YBR125s, I'd say those folks are wrong.
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  #5  
Old 15 Apr 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SandroRoma View Post
Nowadays, I have the personal feeling that the 800 is too understated because of the marketing strategies.
I have heard to many people easily saying that without a 1200 engined bike you can't your own way round the world.

What are your thoughts on this?

Alessandro
Can you explain your "Personal feeling" about 800cc bikes? Have you traveled around the world ... or even outside of Italy on either an 800cc bike ... or a 1200cc bike? Which ones? In what way do you feel an 800 is "understated"? :confused1:

I realize you are not a native English speaker, but do the best you can (My Italian is ... Espanol ) so appreciate your effort!

As expressed in the post above ... lots of smaller bikes go happily RTW, in fact I just noticed these guys on their Vespas:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...he-world-66112
Very nice report here on HUBB.



Since you are doing a ride ONLY around Italy ... I think a Vespa would be perfect for you. I'm sure your sponsor, Motocyclismo can get you a scooter to ride ... and maybe even a helmet ...if you don't own one.



To make your story even MORE interesting ... why not ride a Vintage Vespa from 1960's or even older? You will not see many riding those!

Regards 800 vs 1200, from what I see (and just my observation here at the center of the world (San Francisco, CA), I see the trend heading SHARPLY toward smaller bikes. Both for Adventure type travel and riding in general.
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  #6  
Old 15 Apr 2014
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I chose the 800 over the 1200. Easier to man handle (although I've dropped in the garden a few times ), the mpg is better and I liked the 'more fun' attitude it gave me when I rode both back to back; I had a bigger smile with the 800! I like the more understated presence; for me, it's the better bike, and I have no ego to get in the way! When I do decide to travel RTW, I'd look to buy a smaller, lighter bike. Baring in mind the furthest I can currently travel and get back during my time off is North Africa, the 800 is the perfect bike for me.

Also, with all the 1200 japes that occur here and at the HUBB UK, I'm not too upset I never went for the larger bike!


Someone here once said that you'll never wish you had a heavier bike, but lighter . . .
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  #7  
Old 15 Apr 2014
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Lots of folks doing RTW trips on 650s!
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  #8  
Old 16 Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by mark manley View Post
An 800 is fine for a RTW trip, I would say that a 250 or 400 is even better unless you are carrying a passenger.

Here are three R80GS with 1,000,000 kilometres and several RTW trips between them, any idea that you need anything bigger is just marketing and uses money better spent on petrol, hotels and visas.





This R80G/S did a RTW trip with a passenger and a lot of luggage, I don't think the owner ever found it underpowered and this is a 50 BHP airhead not a modern F800 or Tiger 800.

Here we go!!...that's the answer i was looking for!

Alessandro
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  #9  
Old 16 Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by backofbeyond View Post
Personally I think even an 800 is too big for a solo trip. If you're planning to spend half your trip climbing the Alps and the other half in the fast lane of the autostrada buy the 1200, otherwise get the 800. If you're serious about exploring Italy get something smaller.
Hi Backofbeyond,

I know you are following me for the first days. I won't be able to choose my bike because the magazine will provide it for me, and I don't even know the itinerary but I'm sure that with a 40 thousand kilometers I will do a bit of all

Alessandro
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Old 16 Apr 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Can you explain your "Personal feeling" about 800cc bikes? Have you traveled around the world ... or even outside of Italy on either an 800cc bike ... or a 1200cc bike? Which ones? In what way do you feel an 800 is "understated"? :confused1:

I realize you are not a native English speaker, but do the best you can (My Italian is ... Espanol ) so appreciate your effort!

As expressed in the post above ... lots of smaller bikes go happily RTW, in fact I just noticed these guys on their Vespas:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...he-world-66112
Very nice report here on HUBB.

Since you are doing a ride ONLY around Italy ... I think a Vespa would be perfect for you. I'm sure your sponsor, Motocyclismo can get you a scooter to ride ... and maybe even a helmet ...if you don't own one.

To make your story even MORE interesting ... why not ride a Vintage Vespa from 1960's or even older? You will not see many riding those!

Regards 800 vs 1200, from what I see (and just my observation here at the center of the world (San Francisco, CA), I see the trend heading SHARPLY toward smaller bikes. Both for Adventure type travel and riding in general.
Hi Mollydog,

I know, I'm not a native english speaker but i'm trying to do my best and make me understood. As you have outlined that wasn't the case.
With "Personal feelings" I mean "Personal opinion"...
By the way i did some trips not long as a rtw would be and I did them with a 1200 bmw. Here in Europe, at least, I have seen just few bikers with a 800 engined bikes, so I thought many people have 1200 bikes just because of the advertising and not beacuse with a smaller engine you won't be able to to do a rtw, as shown from many forum users.

Alessandro
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  #11  
Old 16 Apr 2014
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By "understated" does he perhaps mean "underrated" as in not given due credit. Cos that is deffo the case among non-Hubber types out there
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  #12  
Old 16 Apr 2014
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With reference to the thread title, my opinion is: Neither. If you're solo, go for a 650 or smaller thumper.
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  #13  
Old 16 Apr 2014
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Capacity has become meaningless as a measure of performance. Those air cooled pushrod carbed flat twin 800's put out about the same power (HP or KW) as a racing 125 or certain brands of 1400cc V-twin cruiser. An 800cc fuel injected DOHC watercooled parallel twin BMW not only puts out twice the power as a 700cc Ural but depending on who you talk to has modern materials (like bearings) that will take the extra load or is made of Chinese toffee. The features that make the F800 put out more power than the R80 from the same capacity change the support requirements.


IMHO you want to be shopping for a proven design who's mechanical features you are happy to support in the 15-70 HP area depending on how much stuff you carry.


I can't see the point of 1200cc/100HP for anything except sidecar duty, even Germans must get bored of trying to use a 170 kph bike where most roads have 50 limits and rarely average more than 80.


Andy
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  #14  
Old 16 Apr 2014
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I don't think the difference between an 800 and a 1200 is big enough to spend much time thinking about; if you have one, use it, if not, get a good deal on either one, or think about a 650.

The real choice is between, say, a 650 and a 1200, and the best choice depends on the type of travel planned.
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  #15  
Old 16 Apr 2014
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when traveling, i found that my biggest expenditure was fuel. so i'd say go with the 800 as it would be better on fuel.
the money you save on go juice can then be spent elsewhere. like biscuits.
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