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Do the Central Asia and Pamir with more road oriented bike Do the Central Asia and Pamir with more road oriented bike
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 4 Nov 2019
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Do the Central Asia and Pamir with more road oriented bike
Hi,

Have one question and really could use some help.

I'm planing to travel to Central Asia and Pamir highway, but I have more road oriented bike: Kawasaki Versys 1000.

I'm trying to sell it and buy something more dual purpose, but if i don't make it and sell my bike, is it possible to do all this with Versys 1000?

It had 17' wheels and it's to light, but can i make it? Pamir?

I'll be traveling alone. Starting from Central Europe and back trough Russia.

Thanks for answer.

Cheers!

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Old 5 Nov 2019
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There was a guy on here just recently who did it on a GSX-R, so I think your Versys will be fine. Just needs the right tires.
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Old 5 Nov 2019
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Yes, i'm planing to do some changes on my bike to increase ground clearance and adjust suspension.

Add better dual sport tyres, maybw 120/90..

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Old 5 Nov 2019
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Originally Posted by AnTyx View Post
There was a guy on here just recently who did it on a GSX-R, so I think your Versys will be fine. Just needs the right tires.
Depends on your definition of "fine," I'd say. He sure spent a lot of time fretting about stuff that would have been beneath notice on any 20 year old dual sport. Maybe I read with a jaundiced eye, but to me it seemed like the theme of his trip was not what fun he was having, but instead that it could be done at all on a sport bike. Seems to me he also found the riding position limiting, although that wouldn't be so much of a problem on a Versys.

So of course this trip will be possible on a Versys. The question is how much fun it'll end up being. Since riding season in the Pamirs is now over, OP has at least 6 months--probably 8 or 10--to sell his Versys and buy a dual sport. This doesn't seem like an insurmountable problem.

Maybe we can meet up and compare notes. I'm planning to be there late next summer on a (rented) 20-year-old dual sport, and I'm always happy to eat crow when shown to be incorrect or delusional.

Mark
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Old 5 Nov 2019
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Depends on your definition of "fine," I'd say. He sure spent a lot of time fretting about stuff that would have been beneath notice on any 20 year old dual sport. Maybe I read with a jaundiced eye, but to me it seemed like the theme of his trip was not what fun he was having, but instead that it could be done at all on a sport bike. Seems to me he also found the riding position limiting, although that wouldn't be so much of a problem on a Versys.



So of course this trip will be possible on a Versys. The question is how much fun it'll end up being. Since riding season in the Pamirs is now over, OP has at least 6 months--probably 8 or 10--to sell his Versys and buy a dual sport. This doesn't seem like an insurmountable problem.



Maybe we can meet up and compare notes. I'm planning to be there late next summer on a (rented) 20-year-old dual sport, and I'm always happy to eat crow when shown to be incorrect or delusional.



Mark
Hi, good points. Yes, it won't be easy with Versys, but i think it's doable.

I'm still selling my bike, but If i don't sell it by next april then i'm starting preparing Versys for trip.

If I manage to sell then i would search for V-strom 1000, GS 800 or Africa Twin.

Plan is to start in june 2020.

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Old 5 Nov 2019
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Yes, doable.

Hard to make a case for going to a lot of trouble only to end up with a Vstrom 1000--couple of pounds/kilos lighter, an added half-inch/cm of ground clearance, but definitely a struggle off-road. And while I found the big Africa Twin surprisingly capable (and reasonably fun on the highway), it's still a big, top-heavy behemoth and did not inspire me to search out off-road alternatives to the paved highways--and I wasn't riding anything particularly gnarly. Smaller bikes with greater clearance and much lighter weight (800 GS, along with one or two others) are an easy call.

Naturally, YMMV. There appear to be a lot of long, straight, not-so-gnarly paved roads where you're going, and maybe that matters more to you than maneuverability, ground clearance, and the ability to explore freely in the mountains.

Mark
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Old 5 Nov 2019
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Yes, doable.

Hard to make a case for going to a lot of trouble only to end up with a Vstrom 1000--couple of pounds/kilos lighter, an added half-inch/cm of ground clearance, but definitely a struggle off-road. And while I found the big Africa Twin surprisingly capable (and reasonably fun on the highway), it's still a big, top-heavy behemoth and did not inspire me to search out off-road alternatives to the paved highways--and I wasn't riding anything particularly gnarly. Smaller bikes with greater clearance and much lighter weight (800 GS, along with one or two others) are an easy call.

Naturally, YMMV. There appear to be a lot of long, straight, not-so-gnarly paved roads where you're going, and maybe that matters more to you than maneuverability, ground clearance, and the ability to explore freely in the mountains.

Mark
Yes, agree with you. Lighter bike with bigger wheels and better suspension could provide me with peace on mind on bad roads and opportunity to go beyond main roads and explore better.

I know that with big heavy bike and small 17' wheels i would need to stay on main roads and drive slow on bad roads.

But, from all of 15-17000 km, most will be good or less good tamrac or paved roads.

If i would fly to Kyrgyzstan and rent bike there just for Pamir then i would take small Suzuki DR or Yamahu tenere or similiar small bike.

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