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Dream RTW bike? Dream RTW bike?
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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 Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
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  #1  
Old 10 Mar 2013
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Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
Blessed if I could see one in Europe.

Think My Enfield is a good tourer, but maybe Guzzzi's V7 also . (No drive chains)
I would suggest the Enfield may hold the key to the chain vs shaft question. When I ran in my bullet the OEM chain needed cleaning daily (less time than waiting for a cuppa to cool), adjusting weekly and was shot in a few thousand miles. I then used the tool kit stowed on the bike plus a chain breaker to fit a modern chain. This was still cleaned at the afternoon tea break but was adjusted once in the remaining 10000 miles before I sold the bike.

Changing the oil in the drive shaft of my K100 was probably as much time in total but required a shopping trip to get oil and a ride to the council tip to get rid of the old stuff. Had something mechanical broken I'd bet on needing more than the stuff in the panniers.

Personal choice of course and OT but not a factor I'd use to pick a bike.

Back on topic, which of the 125's or 250's have bigger tank options? I liked the look of the Kawasaki 250 traily until I worked out the fuel range. 7.7 litres is too small for Wales on a Sunday never mind places with spicier food.

Andy
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Old 24 Mar 2013
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Dream RTW bike?
It does seem like a lot but the mileage on that engine isn't a factor (IMO) and after slugging a 1200GSA through the mud on the Linden-Lethem Road and digging the same bike out of the sand on the Lagunas Route I'll pay a bit extra to drop the weight.

Dream RTW bike?-imageuploadedbytapatalk1364146507.604976.jpg

Dream RTW bike?-imageuploadedbytapatalk1364146566.647651.jpg

The tough part is finding someone to part with one. I missed out on one in Toronto but an import from the UK to Canada is a bit too dear for my pocketbook.


Blunozr

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  #3  
Old 24 Mar 2013
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Yamaha Tenere
The Yamaha Tenere 660 xtz.

We can't get them in North America but if if was available it would be high on my list.
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Old 24 Mar 2013
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A lot of people seem to be preferring large European-made bikes. I think in most countries on a RTW, you're going to have a heck of a time getting parts for a KTM or a BMW.

I like small, light bikes, so I think I would lean towards a 250cc Honda or Yamaha dual-purpose. The suggestions for a Honda CGL or a Yamaha YBR are in the same neighborhood, and I think make a lot of sense.
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Old 24 Mar 2013
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Originally Posted by brclarke View Post
A lot of people seem to be preferring large European-made bikes. I think in most countries on a RTW, you're going to have a heck of a time getting parts for a KTM or a BMW.

I like small, light bikes, so I think I would lean towards a 250cc Honda or Yamaha dual-purpose. The suggestions for a Honda CGL or a Yamaha YBR are in the same neighborhood, and I think make a lot of sense.
True, but money is apparently no object, and that means my private jet is sitting on the tarmac engines warmed up with a complete bike's worth of spares, a fully trained mechanic and a squad of masseuses to tend my weary bones all equipped with parachutes ready to drop in at a moment's notice.
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Old 25 Mar 2013
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A lot of people seem to be preferring large European-made bikes.
In post #5 at Adventures between a Cliff and a Wet Place. Brighty in Central Asia and Mongolia - ADVrider this bloke (me from my summer 2012 RR) refutes this opinion:

"FWIW, this summer's brand of choice for the Stans and Mongolia was Honda. My counting of Africa Twins went well into double figures and combined with a couple of Trannies like mine, Honda won the day easily. European brands and other Japs were down in the cheap seats."

No, I wasn't being blinkered. That's what I saw/didn't see because it/they wasn't/weren't there.

In answer to the op's question, if money was no object:

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Old 6 Apr 2013
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Batman's Next Ride?
G'day Mezo,

Diesel bikes are indeed interesting, which prompted a search and I found this......

Track T-800CDI diesel motorcycle made by E.V.A. Products BV Holland. It has some impressive specs: 0 to 100 kph (0 to 62 mph) in just 3.75 seconds, a CVT transmission (with 6 programmed "gears"), and an average of about 100 MPG (US) at 90 kph (56 mph). And since the engine is a 800 cc inline 3-cylinder diesel, there's the possibility of using biodiesel to further reduce well-to-wheels CO2 emissions (especially if its sourced from waste cooking oil or algae).

This bike currently costs 17,500 euro according to this page of the Dutch version of the website.

Cheers Dave
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  #8  
Old 19 Nov 2013
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For fear of sounding like a Ural fanboy, I think it would have to be my Ural outfit.

It's got massive carrying capacity, it's very simple to work on and fix, it's tough and can handle extremely rough treatment (it's built to be Russian Squaddie-proof!), it has a spare wheel as standard, and - if you get your spares from Eastern Europe or Russia - they're as cheap as chips (eg £6 for 5 oil filters, £48 for a complete gasket and seal set.)

It's also shaft drive, so no chain/sprocket worries, the tyres are tubed, so punctures are less of a problem (they're also much cheaper than most big-bike tyres), it doesn't need expensive synthetic oils and, last of all, you can't drop it.

Of course, having said all that, the only touring I've actually done is 1600 miles over 5 days in Scotland last year.........on a Harley, so I may be talking out of my rear end, but of all the bikes I've owned in the last 30-odd years and all the weekend iron-arse runs I've done, the Soviet Assassin is the bike I'd do them on if I had my time over again.
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Old 19 Nov 2013
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Old 19 Nov 2013
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Since money is no object, I'd ride what I want, and have an army of support standing by (fix that tire, while I have a )

or

buy/rent a bike in every country and turn it in at the border.

It's only money!
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Old 19 Nov 2013
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My second choice would be the KTM 690 with a few well considered mods but not all that fancy plastic that just adds weight and snaps off when you drop it.

My preference however would be a twin and a re-manufactured airhead BMW with some HPN type mods would be first choice.

The KTM would doubtless win on the weight and the off road performance but the BMW would be a better compromise and load carrier, not to mention much easier to fix at the roadside and with good parts availability around the world.
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Old 21 Nov 2013
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Big Star Wars fan are you Walter?
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Old 21 Nov 2013
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My dream RTW bike.



Livin' the dream

08 KTM 690. 90,000 km on her now. 210 kilos loaded as shown.
27 L of fuel for over 500 km range.

She falls down and never complains.

Oh yeah.. and she is fun.
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Old 22 Nov 2013
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Big Star Wars fan are you Walter?
That bike belongs to Sam Farah, just returned to the UK after Trans Africa and Crossing Canada on it. He and his other half ( also on a 690 with thr defy kit) are replenishing funds before continuing travels.

See www.chasinghorizons.co.uk

posted from Foxy Fone
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Old 24 Nov 2013
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Big Star Wars fan are you Walter?
Well, they can keep those particular graphics Plain black n white will do me fine
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