I'm looking for some recommendations!! I currently own a Bonneville, which I took to Iran last year; and a Serow 250, which I took around the Balkans this year. Both had pros and cons, and now I'm looking for bike number 3!! The Bonnie was too heavy (obviously), so then I went completely the other way and bought the Serow! Which, while mostly good, is not much fun if you have to do some serious distance. I also worried about having loads of luggage on the back.
The other issue is being 5'4 with a 30" inseam. Femaleness and a dodgy shoulder mean I have no upper body strength.

So what are people's thoughts? I'm considering a DR650, but I think I'm too short!

the CB500X is pretty short (31.9in), 44kg lighter than the Bonnie, and can definitely handle luggage and distance. Even though it's a lot lighter than the bonnie though, it's not the bike if you're going serious offroad and/or plan to drop it a bunch. (as even with the lighter weight it's not a bike I would want to have to try to pick up multiple times a day)

Pretty much what I was going to say.

The DR650 can be lowered easily.

It's been designed by the factory for lowering without buying any new parts. You flip over a rubber cushion under the rear shock, and take out the spacers in the forks and re-insert them in a different position and you're done. Probably need to shorten or replace the sidestand, though.

I think it lowers the bike about 3-5 cm. (and the DR actually doesn't sit that high to begin with.)

But......you're still left with a moderately heavy bike to pick up (about 350 pounds, depending on who you believe.)

Great traveling bike, although like most bikes you'll have to change out some stuff (larger gas tank, possibly a seat, rear rack, panniers) to make it into a travel bike.

There's a huge thread on ADVRider about the bike. Just choose any spot there and read about 100 pages and you'll know a lot about it.



Mexico...........



...........shu

The first question I would ask is which market/ country are you buying a new bike in? Secondly Id ask where are you planning on riding it too? The DR650 has not been sold in Europe for a while and most of the ones available are well worn out or overpriced - or both.

Maybe tell us about your riding style and where you want to ride the bike - mostly dirt pistes or mostly asphalt or 50/50 etc etc and we can hopefully provide a better answer.

Much as I like the DR650 and the CB500X - (a lady friend owns a 500X and she loves it), I would avoid them both and go for something a little lighter personally - especially if you are carrying a shoulder injury. Load either of them up with gear and they can be fairly heavy.

Another lady I know rides a Kawasaki Versys 300 X which you do have to rev quite a bit, but it felt super light compared to the CB500X. She used to ride a V Strom 650 and a DR650. The only drawback with the 300 Versys is that it is fairly new out and there is not a huge range of aftermarket gear for it yet - nor has anyone I know of racked up big mileage on one yet.

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Yamaha Virago 535, Suzuki Savage 650 or Honda Shadow.

Thanks for your suggestions so far! I'm looking to do a fair bit of traveling in Asia/Middle East/N. Africa, probably about 50/50 road-off-road, so weight is a priority. I suppose what I want is a Serow with a bit more oomph! I'm buying in the UK, so the DR650 is going to be tricky to find.

Personally, I think I would take the Serow and change my attitude about how far I wanted to ride each day. At 50/50 off road/on road, you'll be spending plenty of time at low speeds making low mileage. (And be a lot happier with the light bike.)

Is the Serow comfortable enough for 200-250 miles/day of highway travel?

............shu

I would also suggest you consider a BMW Xcountry. It is sub 150kg dry weight and probably more powerful than most 650 singles available. You can get a decent one for sub £3k and budget about another £1k for an x rack and x tank if you are doing some serious travelling. The 2009 on ones (Yellow) are shorter than the early ones (black) and have the benefit of a steel subframe on the rear. The shock is also height adjustable from the factory using the nut adjusters at the base.

Id look at a Honda CRF250L, not going to be a huge leap in performance from 25cc extra, but lets face it, as soon as you get out of Europe, your average speed drops considerably. The Honda is fuel injected and liquid cooled, so it will feel fairly modern and it has now been used by quite a few riders - men, women and couples on RTW trips. In Europe its probably the best small capacity all rounder available at the moment.

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Doing all those places all in one go? Or breaking it up in sections?
For Asia, the go is rentals or buying locally.

Bringing in your own bike to most Asian countries can be a headache and expensive. Rentals are cheap.

I'm talking Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, not seen other places. On a rental you could rent a bike for each country so no border/carnet or other hassles. I got new 125's on two different trips.

Can't comment on Middle East area.

But for a bike FOR YOU ... Gipper has it figured right IMO. For the UK and beyond the CRF250L is the way to go. Low enough and very light. From ride reports it can be packed up pretty well and handles it. It's not that fast but once out of EU it should be fine. Can cruise pretty smartly at 55 to 60 mph.

If you can find one, another GREAT 250 is the Yam WR250R.(no longer sold in UK) A great travel bike, both are well supported in the aftermarket.

The 250 dual sports will be much more fun once off road. and now add MUD ... if it rains! Bikes like Shadows and other street bikes will .... hurt you off road.

Much as I love the DR650 (tens of thousands of fans of the DR including me!) it's just too heavy for you. As mentioned above, it certainly can be lowered ... I set one up for a 5ft tall women and she loved it. But she traveled with boyfriend who promised to do lifting duties. :smarts:

If you're riding solo you will need to be stronger. Guess what? Takes lots of time in the Gym on the weight machines (I hate them too) Work on your bad shoulder ... get it stronger if you can ... without it you are seriously handicapped, which I'm sure you don't need to be reminded of .... sorry!


PS: Don't be put off 250's based on your experience on the Serow ... IMHO, it's a real DOG. Worst of the 250's and ALL the new ones are better. Also really take a look at the Versys X300 Kawi. (potential) Night and Day from the Serow.

Oh I don't need to be reminded about the shoulder!!!!
Believe me, I'm totally fed up, and still waiting for an op....

I do actually really like like the Serow, it was great in Romania and the Balkans! And I can pick it up! It was just the days where I had to do some serious distance.
I think the comments about mindset are totally valid, but I think I'm a bit of a "grass greener" sort of person. But I suppose everything is a bit of a compromise.
I'm planning to do some longish trips in the area s mentioned, before hopefully doing the Silk Road. SE Asia I've already "done". On a fake Chinese dirt bike and a Minsk in Vietnam (bit of a cliché, i know!).

Thanks for all your help and advice, very useful!

The CCM 450 scores on height, low versions under 800mm, range, 20litres and weight, around 145kgs fully fuelled, they are coming to market second hand in the 6k region, excellent suspension and can cover miles off and on road.

It’s a bit of a marmite bike........the engine is not perfect for low speed work and likes revs.

CCM should be producing a 600 version based on the same engine that SWM use, reports on this engine are positive, if CCM can keep in the same weight range and use the same Tractive suspension as the 450, it should be a good choice.

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Charles CCM450, BMW R90/6, BMW R50
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...a/027_27-1.jpg

Hello
My wife is 5.6 with a 30 for lengh of leggs.We are ridding our 2 dr in Africa now and she love it. I lowered the bike a bit and change the seat for a lowered one she flat foot it now. 16000 km in Africa and loaded are a pretty good test.

Good to hear you're getting along well on the DR650's. Africa has got to be the ultimate test for that machine!

I assume you lend your wife a hand picking it up if she falls over? When loaded up the DR can get heavy. 10 years ago I could man handle it ... now? ... not so much. (not enough time at the Gym! )

I love my DR650 ... will never sell it, but am looking for a nice WR250R for future
trips. On the 250 I am hoping I can relax a bit more riding deep sand and tricky rock sections. Also, on super steep downhill trail sections on my DR650 it's a bit scary for me now.