age of bikes - important?
 

am going on a central and south america (and beyond) open ended trip, leaving summer 06 (too far away...), and have decided on a africa twin.

having just smashed up myself and the road bike, (in a straight line at 90 on a good, straight road. go figure!!) i need to buy the bike now. looking around i see a lot of 1994 bikes with 30 odd thousand miles on them. I am a competant mechanic, and can easily fix anything that needs doing but am wondering if there is a reason to avoid my first instinct of a older, higher milage (but good nick) bike, and save extra pennies for a much newer one. (£1000+ difference - thats a month in S america at least!)

money is tight for this project. all advice and suggestions about all parts of the plan and trip will be welcomed!

thanks

dan

I wouldn't hesitate to get an older AT. Not just because of their reliablity (it's a Honda blah blah blah), but because of their superior quality to the later ones.

When the Yamaha Tenere big monster thing came out a lot cheaper, Honda redesigned the AT taking off lots of little bits and pieces in order to save money, remarketing the bike at a price more like the Yamaha.

There is a higher ground clearance on the older ones too: they are, I think it is fair to say, closer to the trail/off-road idea that the XL series began with.

Gradual "improvements" have lead away from this towards a more road oriented bike. The same is true of the Transalp.

Not that later ATs aren't good ( they have a bit more power I believe), but for overlanding, I think that the older ones edge it.

cheers for that. on with plan A. although the bike has now changed to a transalp. didn't realise just how heavy the africa twin was till i rode the thing...

dan

An older bike is probably better, Have a new BMW dakar and have to change the intinerary a little to suit the service requirements

Mexico so far has been friendly and safe with easy access to gas and the things needed.

Cheers Geoff

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In mexico heading south to central and south america until Jan 06