In spite of all the helpfull info on the site it seems that not too many females take part in the discussions...?
I'm looking to buy my first MC and to, eventually, take the same mc round the world - off the road.

Do you have any recommendations of mcs particularly good for women? I'm thinking I need a powerful machine but one that doesn't weight a lot and is light to steer...

They're there, just not always obvious!

As for using your first bike for a round the world - I'd suggest getting a good first bike to learn on, then thinking about what would be the best bike for YOU to take around the world. They are probably not the same bike.

The NUMBER ONE mistake I have watched people make in the over thirty years I've been riding and many years as a motorcycle dealer, is buying too much bike.

A first bike should be smaller, lighter, easy to handle, and inexpensive. Once you've ridden for 6 months or a year, you'll be ready to step up a bit. By starting with a smaller bike you will end up a much better rider, you won't be afraid of it, and you'll have a lot more fun along the way.

Pick a bike for NOW, and worry about the world tour bike later.

There are lots of 150-400cc bikes out there that would be suitable, have a good look around your local dealers, sit on them, and see what FEELS good and easy to handle. Ask the dealer to lay it down on the ground and see if you can pick it up easily.

Do take a good rider training course, it will be WELL worthwhile. Take an advanced course after a year or so.

Have fun!

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Agree with above, but as you know, Denmark is one of the most anti-motorcycle countries in the world and, as such, you probably cannot afford to chop and change bikes due to your discriminating taxes ( higher on bikes!!! ) and thereby truly awful prices. ( We are talking 2-3 times European value in tax )
The great paradox is that if you sign you will leave DK for a year, Danish tax-free prices are the cheapest in the world!!!
I think the CB500 Honda at 70.000 kroner ( about 6,500 pounds and " on special offer" !!) can be bought for around 28,000 ( 2,500 pounds ) free of tax! Ridiculous, isn't it!
Still, I think you would like this bike, hard not to. Try it, if possible. And please note, I have nothing against Denmark or the Danes, just this particular policy of your Government !

The advice above is sound. My first bike has been a CB500, and a great first bike it's been. I don't know how tall/strong you are - I'm not a big bloke (174cm, 72kg) and have found it quite manageable, but that's not to say I didn't drop it two or three times in the first year! When I look at 'travel' bikes, the only ones I can conceive of having been able to handle as a new rider would be the BMW F650 or Yamaha XT600, from a weight and seat-height point of view.

The CB500 is definitely a road-only bike, but it's great fun and cheap to run. After three years I've still got it - if I weren't saving for a trip, I'd move up, but now I just ride the Honda harder and it still brings a smile. Doubtless there are other bikes as good or better to start with, but I certainly haven't regretted this one.y

Hi there!

As being a female I DO exactly go with the above, but would add, that you - if prices are all that high - take a small nice little old bike - my first one was a Z 250 C with 17 HP (horse-Power) - not much - but great teaching - for the beginning - and stil a hell lot of fun!
In Germany they buy and sell at a stable price from around 900€ which is VERY reasonable.

The most important about this bike for me afterwards wasn't so much the riding learning-experience (but that one too of course), but the EASIEST MAINTENANCE I've found so far at ANY bike - and I had around (let's think - hmmm) 11 motor bikes in my fingers so far - all the family-motorbikes that came and went - and I do still own my little 250 - she's a cutey!!!
THIS will be a very important part of your RTW-Trip I reckon!

Anyhow - the 250 is a flyweight one - 114kg and rides like a bicycle - easiest to get used to motorbiking - and concerning the high taxes the price should be very reasonable!!! It doesn't take much fuel, should be cheaper in insurance and the suspension-system teaches you "road-surface-reading" without the dangers of a big bike ;-)

Anyhow - general advise:
Go for the first bike you feel confident on, like the looks and can affort (take someone with you for technical check - especially with dealers) - ride it one or two years (depending on the kilometers you do) and THEN decide the next stage.
Experience tells, that people tend to "want another bike" than they have at first - no matter what it was...

The Honda CX 500, CB 500, NTV 650, CB 400 are some good ones.
Same as Kawasaki ER 500, 500 Zephyr or alike.
Yamaha XJ 600 and Suzuki GS 500 and Bandit the same - any brand has something in that range.
The older the easier to maintain...

GO FOR A NAKED BIKE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET AN EASY FEEDBACK ON THE SPEED - helps saving lives at the beginning! And stops hassle with fairing on and off's for maintenance!

I WOULDN'T advise myself to take such roadbikes on a RTW-Tour, but I WOULD do some offroad and tend to take a KLR 650 for that!

But that depends a hell lot on your idea of your trip!!!

A good idea for that offroad-stuff is a proper Enduro-Motorbike-Weekend where you find out WHAT a motorbike is able to do with YOU on Top!

Yeehaa - now I wrote a little too much!

My & My Wife advice : stay with an Yamaha XT600 or Honda Dominator, but even older XT500 and XT550 are good and reliable ; either are way less heavy and sensible to falls respect road ones like CB500 or ER5 and permits a moderate off-road use that may be VERY useful . Both (better from this point the Dommie) protects you more respect a naked like ER5 or CB and the manutention is simpler.

Only downturn may be the seat height, but it's really possible to adapt w/o heavy costs even for very short ones.

All the above suggestions are great, but here's mine:

If available in Denmark:

1. Honda Transalp XL400V or XL650V
Dual Sport Preference

2. Honda Hornet CB900 a.k.a. CB919 in U.S.A.
All rounder/Street Hooligan preference

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02 HONDA XL1000V VARADERO
MADE IN JAPAN TO DOMINATE

The xl 650 V is far to heavy offroad - especially for a beginner and the Hornet is not even in discussion for offroad really - anyhow - don't know the 400 Transalp - might be an idea

The 400 Transalp is pretty much the same as the 600 and 650; a road biased bike that can handle some dirt.

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Simon Kennedy
Around the world 2000-2004, on a 1993 Honda Transalp

The Transalp 600 and 650 are indeed to heavy for a beginner. Also the sadlle is quiete high and I don't think it can be lowered that much.
But very very reliable. Mine has 63000km in little less then 2 years and I had not one mechanical problem. Love the bike.

The Transalp 400 (never heard of it ot seen it) seems a very good option to me.

Sidenote: They are not necessarly to heavy for off roading. My Transalp 650 pulled through sand, mud,... BUT with Michelin deserts placed under it.
You can check some pics on my site.



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http://users.pandora.be/pieter.maes2/

Hi,

I bought myself (first bike) an XT600E to drive through Africa from january. Till now I like it a lot, also offroad, and hope I still like it next year
It's light and drives easily.

Groet,
Marianne

the Transalp 400 is just the downbored version for markets like Japan where bikes over 400 are costly and difficult to drive (special licenses etc..)it's really the same as TA600 or TA650 , with the same weight :-(, lesser performances :-(, lower MPG :-( and same strenght :-)

The TA may rode very well on dirt, particularly on ample spaces, but beware of the weakness of the fairing and plastic (!) bashplate even for "stopped" falls! needs at least a tube engine protection

My wife Lucy learned to ride on a rented Honda CB250 "Nighthawk" which was great for the first 30 road hours, but then got irritating due to it's wimpiness and skittishness over 100+ kph.

She then migrated to the F650GS which has been fantastic for her. Nimble, yet powerful, a comfortable upright riding position and low centre of gravity. I disagree with the "naked" suggestion above - I'm not a fan of full fairing, but the GS benefits from a small touring screen.

Lucy is also tiny (155cm and 50kgs) and at first she struggled with the standard seat height (78cm - she dropped it twice when idling on inclines) but the low seat option (down to 75cms) worked out very well and she's had no problems since.

As some general suggestions, I agree that don't go for any more power than you need (this applies to all beginners, regardless of gender), and worry about acquiring skills and experience.

Bikes are heaven to ride, but there are things in this world that want to hurt or kill you (eg: gravel, cows/kangaroos/etc, young women applying makeup while driving cheap Korean cars). Spend your first 12 months learning about those. By then you'll know which bike will take you around the world.