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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Carl Parker, Always curious Tibetans, Tibet, China

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  #1  
Old 4 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
check out what some people are asking for Africa Twins and then see what you can get for the same money in later models of bikes that are not so hyped.
Exactly the same thing with the Africa Twins in my country – the sellers have apparently fallen in love with them or something (then why are they selling in the first place??!)....

For me, the DL650 does just about everything that the AT did. It might lose out a tiny bit on off-road capability, but both are still very heavy (AND top-heavy!!)... but then it returns much better fuel economy, the Honda was thirsty especially on the highways, carries weight even better, and has more punch, better headlights, and ABS for road-riding. And in reality it can be maintained do-it-yourself just as well, even though it´s EFI. (....I´ve NEVER had a serious problem with EFI in my cars or bikes during the ~20 years of use, but with the caruburetors, I often seemed to have some need for tweaking. Carbs are easier to work on, though - but there´s no going back for me).

It´s ridiculous, that you´d have to pay almost the same for DL650 than you´d pay for a 10+ years old AT (...even though I still love the Honda, but progress has gone by years ago!)
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Old 4 Jan 2012
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Bmw
You Blokes who mentioned BMW's it is only a matter of time before Ted finds this thread & when he does you will be in BIG TROUBLE !!!! LOL
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Old 4 Jan 2012
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Dr 650
Actually I ride a BMW, but I to would recommend a DR650 they are my favourite bike, just save for a corbin seat or a air hawk. Also if you are doing long days try and weld some hi-way pegs on your engine guards, I did this to mine and it sure helps on those long days.
Paul
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Old 4 Jan 2012
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Triumph Bonneville: Like a BMW airhead but without 20 years of previous owners bodges and probably cheaper when bought on E-bay. FI or carbs, your choice.

You could also thrown in numerous other road bikes with tyre sizes that'll take a knobbly/semi knobbly, so Kawasaki W800's etc. Ted Simon rode RTW on a road shaped bike, who needs a MX machine with a MX seat after 35 years of busy tarmacing.

Andy
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Old 4 Jan 2012
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Bonneville
Yeh.... Can't argue with Andy on that one !!!! I kinda regret not taking my Bonny with me !!
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Old 4 Jan 2012
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I second the comments of looking at a DR650. We've got 2 of them and met several on the road as well. Cheap to purchase and set up and easy to maintain on the road.
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Old 4 Jan 2012
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Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
Triumph Bonneville: Like a BMW airhead but without 20 years of previous owners bodges and probably cheaper when bought on E-bay. FI or carbs, your choice.

You could also thrown in numerous other road bikes with tyre sizes that'll take a knobbly/semi knobbly, so Kawasaki W800's etc. Ted Simon rode RTW on a road shaped bike, who needs a MX machine with a MX seat after 35 years of busy tarmacing.

Andy
i dont want to hijack the thread but I'm looking at a Bonnie myself, not for overlanding but for every day commuting and the occasional trip away. I only have minimal experience on scooters and small 250 cc bikes to this point. Just wandering if the Bonnie would be too big a jump in size/power or should I get some experience on something a bit smaller first?

Cheers,

James
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Old 4 Jan 2012
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You Blokes who mentioned BMW's it is only a matter of time before Ted finds this thread & when he does you will be in BIG TROUBLE !!!! LOL
That is too funny PaulD
(I too have a 650GS in the garage).

It reminds me that we have yet to hear from the XT600 aficiados about how rough and tough they are and how they will last a life time and cost only a few quid (but as for the DR650, in the UK at least, if you can find one that is not knackered).

Quote:
Originally Posted by realmc26 View Post
i dont want to hijack the thread but I'm looking at a Bonnie myself, not for overlanding but for every day commuting and the occasional trip away. I only have minimal experience on scooters and small 250 cc bikes to this point. Just wandering if the Bonnie would be too big a jump in size/power or should I get some experience on something a bit smaller first?

Cheers,

James
Doesn' feel like a thread hijack to me; at least not as much as some of those that occur in the HUBB.
The Bonnie has low seat height and is an overall more manageable looking bike compared with some of the behemoths on offer today; so that might be of interest to Jacks or anyone who wants a bike seat height that is not intimidating to the rider, especially for those of shorter leg length.

Another aspect of engine layout for the twins is that the most modern designs are leaning toward parallel twins, presumably for simpler, and therefore cheaper, manufacturing/assembly costs - but they should be simpler to maintain compared with V twin engines.
Jacks,
An exception to the above are the Moto Guzzis
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