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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 Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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  • 1 Post By *Touring Ted*

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  #1  
Old 19 Jun 2015
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help choosing bike for 2 traveling all around
hello all ,

I have the dream as many of you to travel round the world by bike, but since that would take a very long time, i decided to go by motorbike

Me and my wife both like bikes, but never made huge trips with them, specially since the bigger bike I had was a Honda CB500.

I'm now looking to purchase "THE MOTORBIKE" to start traveling long distances, road and some off-road, and for that would like to request your help.

I'm looking for something with the following characteristics:
- good to travel with 2 adults (around 70kg + 60kg)
- not too heavy (for me a BMW GS1200 is heavy)
- easy to maneuver
- i need to reach the ground with my feet while seated (i'm 1,72m high)

I would prefer a used one, but new is also an option. A good option would be one with easy maintenance and easier to find replacement parts.

The first main big goal would be to go from Portugal to Nepal, but with smaller goals before, so I can start to learn about long distance traveling by bike.

Any recommendations ?

Thank you in advance.
Last edited by ciber; 22 Jun 2015 at 09:51. Reason: added info
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Old 19 Jun 2015
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As you have probably read on the forum people travel the globe on all sorts of motorcycle/scooters/mopeds and most do it with out any major problems

Why don't you look at the Yamaha XT660Z, the V-strom and the Wee-storm, the new Tiger, there is also the GS 800 and the GSA 800 to name but a few and I am sure others will come up with a lot more

I test rode the XT660Z before I went for the XT600E and it was a nice bike but a little too tall, it was like been back on my old GSA

Good luck with the search

Wayne
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  #3  
Old 22 Jun 2015
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Originally Posted by Lonerider View Post
As you have probably read on the forum people travel the globe on all sorts of motorcycle/scooters/mopeds and most do it with out any major problems

Why don't you look at the Yamaha XT660Z, the V-strom and the Wee-storm, the new Tiger, there is also the GS 800 and the GSA 800 to name but a few and I am sure others will come up with a lot more

I test rode the XT660Z before I went for the XT600E and it was a nice bike but a little too tall, it was like been back on my old GSA

Good luck with the search

Wayne

Hello Lonerider,

Thank you for your quick response. I have already looked at the XT600 since it seems to be a very common bike, but do you think its good for 2 people traveling? Does it need any special modification so it can carry 2 adults plus luggage?

Now that you talked about i added another preference of mine to the list, since I always like to be able to reach the ground with me feet.


Tks in advance.
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Old 22 Jun 2015
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Lonerider have mentioned several good bikes for a two up travel according to your criterias. I would like to mention Honda Transalp 650 and 700 as a potentially suitable bike for you as well. Theyre a little heavy and topheavy for their size and doesnt have the longest range either, but can still be an alternative. Maybe even KTM 950 or 990. They are definetively not as heavy as the BMW 1200. Lots of umph but not the longest range either.

Suspension and seat are imo important things to look at when travelling two up.
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Old 22 Jun 2015
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That you want to do a bit of off-roading is the big difference. Especially two up.

I'm just going to assume you mean light trails, fire-track and the odd devilish campsite.

Transalp is good bike. The 600-650 Especially.

V-strom is more road bias than the Transalp but a very good bike. Better two up on the road than the Transalp I reckon.

XT660 Tenere could be a good choice but it is tall and will be more cramped than the others.

The older BMW's like the R100GS are a good bike and manage trails better than you'd think due to their really low centre of gravity. Getting expensive now though and they all have a lot of miles on them. Not a problem if it's well maintained but you never know with them.
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  #6  
Old 22 Jun 2015
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Tks for the replies "touring ted" and "snake boy".

Snake boy, I don't really like kind of heavy bikes, but the transalp is on my list to test.

Touring ted,
Since I would like to travel trough Iran and Kazakhstan i don't know if vstorm would but good for the road, what do you think about it?

I would prefer a used bike, cause a new and expensive one its a lot o headache, since I'm always worried if someone stills it, if I let her fall, etc. Of course I worried about that even if its used, but its different...

Anyway I will post a list of bikes shortly so you can help me out better.

Tks
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