RTW On A Yamaha Serow 225WE: Against Conventional Wisdom?

[Zaharan Razak]

Conventional wisdom suggests bikes of 650 cc as the mean size for undertaking a RTW trip. This size category proliferates with bikes produced by all the major bike manufacturers. A few riders ignore this advice and opt for a lighter bike - you name it, 400, 350, 250, 125 and as low as 90! You've even heard of some geek on a 50? That takes the cake! You can't go lower than that.

If enough experienced/thoughtful riders/readers out there tell me I would be crazy to choose the Yamaha Serow 225WE (available in Japanese market only) for my proposed RTW trip in late 2001 or early 2002, then I'll scurry back to my original choice of either the F650GS or Dakar or the new Honda Transalp XL650V.

I just might ignore your advice though! The Serow's power ratio is only 20PS/19Nm with a top cruising speed of only, say, 110 kph (someone correct me if I'm wrong), its tank is only 10 liters, but it is light, nimble, and a delight to ride.
If your riding plan does not include the super highways of the world, why, the little Serow is just the right size and weight for treading the fragile planet.
I know some long distance travelers have ridden Honda XL250's and even Yamaha's more powerful TT250R (30PS/28Nm) BUT is there anyone out there, apart from John Hutchinson, who has actually done long distances, not necessarily having circled the whole planet, astride a Serow?