Thanks Patrick and all for the advice! And the piss taking !Fair game!
I think I am getting better. To be fair I can handle the weight, got used to it, and I can handle dirt ok as long as I do not need to stop in a hurry! But when an armed soldier on a bend ask you to stop you stop fast! And I drop the bike! But I agree with what has been said, being able to put 2 flat feet on the ground is very important on dirt roads. I had the seat scooped out and is as low as it can be! Adjusting my new WP rear shock would be problematic! I don´t want to get it messed up by a bad mechanic. Fortunately I have a contact in Arequipa and I am hopeful to get some stuff sorted on the bike! I don´t think I can lower the bike further, every time I go through one of the speed bump (God know how much they love them here, they are huge!) my centre stand take a bad hit!
anyway my point was, don´t fall for the hip! You don´t need a 1200cc for a RW trip! I also remember the cameraman of the LWR in his little russian bike. But then for the programme 2 big guys on 2 little bikes would not have made so much $$$!

My choice of bike was a compromise between me and my (tall) other half! Maybe we should have gone for different bikes instead of the same model? At least he can pick up my bike! For women travelling alone I would tell them to make sure that they can pick up their own bike! And that they can reach the ground with both feet flat! No way to paddle otherwise ! Yes, Lois got it right!

Cheers,

__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

I really wasn't giving you a hard time...sorry if you misinterpreted this. Tal vez es una problema en traducion con la idioma Ingles Norte Americano ? Pero su Ingles es casi perfecto! No se.. y disculpame por mi Espanol mal. I wish you only the very best...!que le via bien!

Replacing the dog bone link should be pretty simple thing, done all the time. Not rocket science. Check on Chain Gang or other forum.

If the center stand is hitting....you need more preload or a heavier spring perhaps? Have you measured your Sag with all gear loaded on bike? Should not be more than 3 to 3.5 inches. (104mm mas o menos) Ojala su esposo entiende estes cosas. Basicamente.

Any way, another reason it hits could be because its loose and flopping. Tie it up securely so it can't flop down on a Tope. Another common and easily fixable problem. small bungee works OK.

Also...Maria....get up off your butt on those Topes...don't just sit there. STAND PLEASE. Your bike will thank you and so will your spine!

Ciao,
Patricio el diplomato

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Hi,

Just my £0.02-worth:

After a couple of longish and a few smaller trips on 650 class machines, last year I bought a 200cc trail bike for trail riding locally and in competitions.

Not having got around to getting a means of transporting it I've taken to riding it everywhere, including to competitions. I was initially dreading this but in the end providing one doesn't expect to get anywhere fast and stays away from motorways the 200cc is fine. I haven't tried it with baggage but then I can't imagine carrying much anyway which is generally a good thing.

IMHO for trips to, say Africa or South America, the only time a big (i.e. 600cc+) bike is useful is getting to the continent in question or riding on motorways. But then it's usually more interesting to take the slow road where a smaller bike is fine. As for riding off-tarmac (which I've been doing, mainly competitively, for around 25 years), it's well documented that lighter is better.

However, I do think an extra 50cc would be useful so my next trail bike will be a 250cc - current favourite is the new Yamaha WR250R (not WR250F). I just hope we get them in the UK.

Cheers,

Ian.

Good advice Ian.
Is the WR250R model the road legal one that is now selling in Japan?
Here we only have the F, never had any road legal WR's here.

What iv'e heard is that the road legal model is really quite different. Lots less power. Different cams, compression, valve timing, and also quite a bit heavier.

But perhaps a longer lasting motor since it's in a de-tuned state? Might be a wise move. I've ridden the WR250F (and 450) on a number of occasions and am thinking it will be my next dirt bike. Very reliable, best among the modern four strokes.

Suzuki are set to come out with a new street legal Dual Sport bike for '08 (or so I've heard). It will replace the current DRZ400S. I'm hoping they do a 250 version as well.

Buy an old beat Van for transporting your dirt bike. Get a buddy to go in with you....saves lots.


Cheers,

Patrick

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Im thinking of using a Honda XR400 for Africa or a DRZ450. Obviously with a braced subrame and bigger tank.

Anyone used these ?

I think ill be fine on my XT600E for South America. Small bikes are easy to throw about but skill and determination makes up for weight

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I think you mean DRZ400? Or perhaps you are prescient? As it turns out, it looks like Suzuki will soon introduce a new bike.....a DRZ450S!!!
This will be based on the latest 450 MX bike and will replace the current
7 year old DRZ model, or will be an additional model. Not sure. But it's likely it is coming...no idea exactly when.

I would think your XT would be fine for Africa. Why get another bike?
As the Red Necks racers 'round these parts say: Run What 'ya Brung.

I've owned both the XR400 (with Baja kit on) and DRZ400E, I owned both for three years each. XR: '97 to 2001, DRZ: 2000 to '03.

The DRZ is a better off road bike, IMO. But either one would be fine really. After all, you're not riding enduros with them....you're just traveling.
If it were me, I'd just take the XT. Like you say, you can ride around the weight. Pack light? Dunno.

Anyway, you can't afford another bike dude!
Now get back to work!!

Patrick

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

HAHAHAHA !!! I am at work actually.

Im not buying now but thinking ahead 2 years.

My XT will probably be in pieces by the time Im thinking of Africa . I want to really travel light in the Africas so thinking of a 400 (yes i meant the 400)

Fear not, I have a get rich scheme on the Horizon (and yes its legal)

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hi ted,
if it·s legal, it won·t make You rich!
The two things just don·t go together!
What about a tiny bit illegal, or hardly not illegal? Give much better results!
Just take a look at most rich peoples get rich methods!!!!
All the best in life, I wish You my friend, and a big dosis of.... love and peace
Dan

don´t worry, funny piss taking is fun! I have a strong sense of humour, required when travelling long distance!

I will have a look at that, it might be a very good idea! Thanks for the tip!

I had the WP rear shock fitted and adjusted by MCTechnics wih the bike fully loaded so should be ok, Darren seemed to be very knowledgeable...

Sure!

Ted plan is a good one. A couple of friends crossed Africa by the east coast on 2 BMW F650GS and as she said, you don´t need such bike for Africa, a small light one would have been infinitely more appropriate. If I cross africa one day it will be on a 250 or 350 max, no camping gear,hardly any spares, minimal load! The way to go! For south america carrying tons of camping gear for almost nothing is very annoying but (I hope!) it will come handy in Bolivia and many parts of Argentina! But without it we would be so light!
Happy ride everyone !

__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Camping in Bolivia?

Remember Peru'? Same, maybe more rain and more human feces in unexpected places.

Argentina has great camping, as does Chile in the south and lake district.
Clean, safe, and no bugs. Did you know they sell camping gear in B.A.?
Buenos Aires makes Los Angeles look like the hick town suburb it is....just an
amazing city with everything you could possibly need.

Sorry you had to carry that camping gear like Jesus's Cross across the world!
Todos somos Catalicos aqui' .....

I didn't realize you're White Power shock (did you know the real name for WP?) was specially set up for you....They could have...and should have lowered the bike right then and there for you whilist they were setting it up for you.

In the meantime....stay on the main roads.... and watch where you step in Bolivia!

Patrick

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

The WR250R is indeed the road legal model - it's on the Yamaha Japan website and has been featured in the UK Trail Bike and Enduro Magazine and the French Moto Verte magazine.

I am hoping the WR250R is in a lesser state than the WR250F and is more suitable for travelling. I was considering a WR250F, and even a Scorpa T-Ride which has a WR250F motor and is low and light. As a trials rider I'm quite keen on this kind of trials-derived trailbike.

If I buy any of these three I'll report back as soon as I've done a trip on one.

I'm working on the transport.

Cheers.

You´re so right! All that camping stuff is like Jesuss cross! Take so much space and weight so much!!!
They DID adjust the rear shock for me, but one thing is getting it nicely in tarmac, the next is hitting the dirt! A little bit of leverage with the legs would be so much easier. I just found a honda dealer in arequipa and I left the bike with them (to replace my fork seal) but I asked them to adjust the preload at the same time. Hopefully they won´t destroy the shock! I live in hope! You need a lot of that when travelling

__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

The WR250R is now on the Yamaha UK website:

2008 WR250R

Motor does look considerably different to the WR250F, and it's got EFI.

This narrows (expands?) my choice of next trail bike to the WR250R or the Scorpa T-Ride

Le site de Scorpa

Pros/cons:

WR250R: possibly more suitable motor for travelling (economy, robustness), but looks quite tall and relatively heavy.

T-Ride: light, low, but is the WR250F derived motor up to travelling?

Learned opinions required.

Thanks.

Yet another 'definitive' bike list without any Italians mentioned!! For all their problems, if you are looking at a big trailie you should at least have a go on a Cagiva Elefant! (esp. if you are on a Budget)

The '750 is more like a Super Tenere than an AT, but the engine spins up faster, mainly due to lighter cam components. They are an awful lot of bike for the money (expect to pay around a grand (£) for a decent bike with 15-20K on the clock.

The normal problems are easily fixed by a bit of decent prep, and they have good old fashioned carbs!!

They are indeed a bit on the heavy side, and to be honest if one single person had said get a serow before I left I would have done, but that is the exuberance and inexperience of youth for you. As it was getting a beast for the first bike meant I learnt much faster I reckon. Also on bad corrugations once you get up to speed the bumps smooth out real well and the bike felt very planted, which I put down to the weight.

One question about bigger bikes - did the Dakar ban big v-twins which used to dominate get banned as I was once told, or have people chosen not to ride anything over 650??

Ian,
Not so much learned opinion, but your post raises the 250cc "question" again - and that's not a bad thing at all among all the advocacy for 600s and above.

Among the razz-a-ma-tazz of this week about the new Tenere, the WR250R has sort of slipped in quietly; I am surprised you think it is heavy at 126 Kg (that Tenere, for example, is much more!).
Seat height; yes, it is taller than a skyscraper - of course the suspension "settles" a lot, is long travel and provides 300m or so of ground clearance but most of us do not have massive inside leg measurements.
Fuel capacity: I guess you will be looking for an after-market tank because the standard is 7.6L (even the TT600R has 10L as standard).
Wet sump: oldBMW made some telling comments on this design, a while back.

You did get me looking at the Yam webpage again and here is a comparison:-

Motorcycle Comparison Details

I just wonder which bike is "best value"?
ps The bike on the LHS has a dry sump engine design, which was news to me.

Cheers,

__________________
Dave