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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 Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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  #1  
Old 22 Nov 2005
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hondantv 650
what do you guys think of a ntv 650 overland bike , i read the story of the guy who did an xj 900 diversion conversion that was cool and got me thinking about a smaller scale version ,i thought maybe an xr front end in it different back wheel an ohlins shock ,i like the shaft drive and these bikes are known for there long life i can get one here in oz with low km,s for a pretty good price
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Old 22 Nov 2005
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Looks like building a shaft driven transalp... .

Unless it's for the fun of building such a vehicle, I'd take the chain driven transalp and spend the money on a chain and sprocket set.

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Old 2 Dec 2005
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Quote:
Originally posted by thecanoeguy:
what do you guys think of a ntv 650 overland bike , i read the story of the guy who did an xj 900 diversion conversion that was cool and got me thinking about a smaller scale version ,i thought maybe an xr front end in it different back wheel an ohlins shock ,i like the shaft drive and these bikes are known for there long life i can get one here in oz with low km,s for a pretty good price
You'll have a hard time matching up a different wheel to suit the single sided swingarm. Far easier to swap wheels on chain drive bikes with normal swingarms.

Longer front end will require a higher back end yo avoid that Easy Rider look - be very wary of fitting a longer shock to increase ground clearance, it could end up putting the UJ through an arc of travel it was not designed for & thus failing.
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Old 3 Dec 2005
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Keep the original wheels and so the advantages of tubeless tyres.

If I didn't already have a DR650 ready for the trip next spring I'd go for an NTV myself. But then, I'm not heading into sand...
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Old 21 Dec 2005
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I had the same tought, sitting in the pub and since i know zip about rebuilding bikes it will just stay a idee, but i own a NTV and want to go to asia so i'm thinking about buying a xt 600 e but well, its extra money and the NTV is a nice bike to ride. has any one riden one for a long time? what are your experience's with bad roads?

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Old 21 Dec 2005
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I've recently bought an NTV for dispatching, having spent the last 2.5 years on an F650.

The NTV is a good bike around town, with a nice low seat which you want when you are hopping on and off all day. Its also got a good luggage capacity - especially for a solo rider - the seat is very long.

However I think it is less comfortable than an upright bike like the BMW, when it comes to long distance cruising. The riding position is just that bit more cramped - and I am not more than average height. When I am travelling I want to be able to look all around with real ease - and I think an upright position is much better for this - plus it gives you a better view up front.

If you want a shaftie for maintenance reasons - and that is their biggest plus - then I would think something like an XJ900 would be a better bet. It does have a reputation for being thirsty though, one reason why I chose the NTV for working on.

hope this helps

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http://www.postmaster.co.uk/~richardbeaumont/60684/
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Old 22 Dec 2005
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I think the XJ is a much heavier bike, isn't it? Has a reputation for being bulletproof.

I'd raise the bars on the NTV. I wish I had bought one instead of the DR I'm stuck with now...
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