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Best bike for Eastern Europe on a tight budget Best bike for Eastern Europe on a tight budget
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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.
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  #1  
Old 2 Apr 2007
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Best bike for Eastern Europe on a tight budget
Hi,

I am planning a trip to Eastern Eurepe, with my girlfriend as pillion, from London to possibly the Dalmation Coast or Romania. I have a budget of around £1000 for the bike. Any advice on the best bike to get for that budget that will be economical and reliable (to state the obvious) and good for a pillion?

I have had a quick hunt around and 3 early '90s Triumphs seem to come up a lot; Trophy, Tornado and Sprint. But as I know very little about tourers (only owned bikes such as XJR and Firestorm and Bandit) any advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks
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  #2  
Old 2 Apr 2007
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Cb 750?
Honda CB750 from the mid '90ies are incradably cheap here (belgium).
Yamaha diversion
Honda Transalp
Suzuki GS 500

less comfy: DR650

I'de go for any not too big not too sporty japanese bike that is cheap, in good nick and not very fancy.

Rob
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  #3  
Old 2 Apr 2007
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Any bike will do in Eastern Europe. But if you are two on the same bike and planning to cross beautiful Alps or Romanian mountains, which I recommend, go for a Honda Transalp, Honda Africa Twin, Yamaha Tenere or at least an XT600/660. Because you had experience with Bandits, big sized ones are also good choices.

Just enjoy the trip. It is less about the bike.

a. can ozcan
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  #4  
Old 2 Apr 2007
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Hello mate,
If your looking for a big reliable cheap bike and have £1300.00 i'll give you my XJR 1200 , 29000 miles in perfect mechanical order with a givi rack,i've serviced it myself for the past 2 years and just replaced a couple of shims,it runs perfectly and i have a documented service history of everything i've done to it,
Genuine bike,no worries at all,ready to tour,

Just a thought !!!!!!!!!!!!!!,

good luck Mick
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  #5  
Old 2 Apr 2007
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Any K100 or similar, plenty of bikes out there at that sort of price.

If you want something a bit more expensive but more versatile, I have a 1992 R100GS with full luggage for sale @ £1,850.
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  #6  
Old 2 Apr 2007
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I had a 94 triumph Trophy for years.If you want to know anything about them fire away
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  #7  
Old 2 Apr 2007
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Trophy
I ride a 1996 Trophy 1200 2 up and love it.

If I were buying again I might go for the triple and save a bit on fuel costs.

Rick
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  #8  
Old 4 Apr 2007
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thanks for your posts.

The most important factor in this trip is having a great time. I now feel, as cozcan pointed out, that the type of bike isn't really that important as long as it will get you and your luggage there and back.

I like bikes to have character which is way I showed an interest in the Triumphs. They are generally highly rated and do look good.
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Old 5 Apr 2007
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Have a look at a Kawasaki KLE 500 - cheap as chips, reliable as a hammer, economical, light and flickable - could do a lot worse.
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V-strom 650, Transalp 650, DR-Z250
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  #10  
Old 5 Apr 2007
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Hi,
For my twopence worth, there are many more factors in your question and the threads in here have lots of discussion about the answers; how long are you going for, how fast/far do you want to travel each day, what luggage are you going to carry etc?
I have taken a Diversion 900 around France for a month and it was a great bike two up but so was the Blackbird that I did the same thing on a bit later.

In both cases I used the same soft panniers thrown over the pillion seat/bike rack; a big bike is definitely more comfortable than the over-roader that you never take offroad, especially with your girlfriend on the back!
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