Hello James,

I am sure I read some where that there is a lowering kit for the RD07 750cc Adventurer, Africa Twin.

My brothers one is too tall for him, but just OK for me.
I am 6 foot, but I am sure you colud lower it a lot on the adjustable rear spring.

Very reliable, built for the long didtance off road stuff, but not cheap.
Also fairly heavy.

'vette

Hi James,

On the F650 you can buy a seat that will reduce the distance to the ground. (Check out f650.co.uk).

The DRZ is not a tall bike and should suit.

These two machines are great and will do Africa.

From what I read there is a fair amount of broken roads and dirt tracks to cover through Central Africa so while a road bike can cope, an off road machine is more comfortable (and reliable too perhaps). The best advice I have received is to get the smallest bike rather than the biggest. They force you to travel light which in turn reduces the stresses on the bike.
For me 400-800 would be the ideal range. Generally you need to prep your bike before a big trip and replace anything that can fail/wear out. If there are known weaknesses with a model then you replace/reinforce/ bring spares.

My concern with modern bikes is that they are generally crippled by an electronics/computer failure and there is not much you can do to fix them. So older technology is better -but I do like the advantages that FI brings!

Having said that the other advice that is given is to bring an unreliable bike and you will have lots of contact with the locals!

In short, any bike will take you where you want to go so get one that feels good, get to know it inside out, and then enjoy the trip.

I have been thinking about Africa and am planning Morocco in the Spring. I won't make it to SA on my budget though!

Hi there,

Just saw your question. I am planning a trip in April - to leave from Brussels to Mumbai (over 4 weeks). I have a Honda Transalp which is getting geared up in the garage for the trip. I was planning to go solo, which may just be the case if I cant find someone. Will post a blog shortly, asking the question to anyone out there.

Cheers

V

I don't recommend any BMW apart from the singles. I have had them, they are not reliable. They have all manner of difficulties. I currently have a G650 which is smaller, lighter and more odd version of the F650 single. That's what I'm using because it is reliable. Small tank though is why it gets called odd. I'm planning a trip in June/July. PM if interested.

go for an old f 650. until 1996 the engine was build by rotax in austria and this is far better then the bmw engine which is used from 1997 on. i have an f 650 from 1995. not a lot electronic, which is great in africa. i rode trough westafrica more than 20 000 km and belive me, there was not a single problem (even when i fell into a huge river in marocco). take it easy and it will last forever.

by the way: the world record on bike travelling in a group is still hold by 2 old f 650, with more than 100 000km!!!

indeed not a real offroad bike, but a good mixture between comfort and light handling. i did a lot offroad and still am enjoing it.

there are hundreds of them sold in germany for cheap money: mobile.de – Gebrauchtwagen und neue Autos – Deutschlands größter Fahrzeugmarkt.