ONEWORLDBIKER

Strange choice but why the hell not?!! Keep us posted. I dont understand WHY youre using one of them big old things, but i suppose, how heavy were the BMWs that boorman and macgregor were using? They canny have been THAT much lighter? (tho there were two of them to lift the buggers back up!).

I see youre from Lochmaben? Is that the place down Dumfries way? Jeez, i love it down in D&G...........could spend the rest of me days playing on me bikes down there!! Lucky guy!

all the best


The Dikkobat

OWB, you're not in the least bit mad - in fact, you're very smart.

I have recently returned from riding Korea - Italy on a Burgman 650 - the Goldwing of scooters, and I have ridden to South America two up on a Honda Silverwing (CX500 mini Goldwing).

What most riders fail to appreciate (or choose to ignore) is that 90% of your riding is on regular bitumen - with only 10% offroad, so it only makes sense to choose the vehicle which is most at home, for most of the kilometres.

Any bike can make it anywhere, provided you are willing to take your time - last month I rode from Melbourne to Innamincka/Birdsville on my Burgman, probably one of the toughest rides you can do riding on a sand track that is virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the desert for long stretches - I even met ADV riders enroute, on offroad bikes, who turned back because they thought it was too tough. See about 2/3rds of the way down on this page The Wild Rough National Parks of NSW Australia AKA Mungo RUN - Page 3 - ADVrider

It all depends on the rider and your state of mind - RTW should not be an ego trip about looking the part and making the ride out to be some sort of macho endurance, and harder than what it really is.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

• 1.dikkobat..... Yes thats the lochmaben near to 3 of scotlands best bike runs. the devils beeftub. gray mares tail and the A75. Also they had a support crew and a big, big budget... I love gods country and the blue and white.
• 2.farqhuar....... I rember the cx 500 silverwing. Used one as a despatch donkey around London back in the 80s, My son has the baby bergman and that goes off road. Not bad for a scooter.ut
• 3...... Thanks to every one who has helped make up my mind. I now have a new problem.. My son wants to do the trip with me but on a smaller shafty, but what one??????
• LOVING THE SNOW ON THE WING AND HAVING FUN..

Just heard a story which may well have a bearing on your choice.
A very good friend of mine bumped into one of his old Traffic Cop buddies on sunday, he enquired about how his 2007/8 Goldwing was going. This is his tale.

Riding in Italy he hit a small brick with the front wheel, brick bounced off the bottom sump but he stayed upright. At their next stop he discovered that there was an oil leak from under the sump. A temporary repair was made with silicon and it got him home to dublin with no problems.
When he got home he left the bike into Honda for a repair estimate....I HOPE YOU ARE SITTING DOWN FOR THIS.





€7000.....yes seven thousand euros.

Apparently the sump on the bike is all part of the engine...2 large crankcases split down the middle. Unfortunately the crack on his bike is on both sides. Honda told him that you can't just buy the parts as each engine is built specifically for each frame/bike. Knowing how the Honda Importers work here in Ireland(only 1 year warranty, whereas the rest of Europe has 2) I suspect this last bit may be a little fairy tale.
When his insurance company got the claim there was no surprise when their assessor queried the value. Owner handed over the quote to the assessor and suggested he went down to Honda to take it up with them.
On his return to the owner he informed them that the claim would be approved.

If anyone can with Honda knowledge can confirm or deny that this is how the Goldwings are constructed I would appreciate any replies.

I don't think Touratech etc do engine/sump guards for the Goldwing.

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The electric monk always has faith.

thanks to everybody who has helped make up my mind. Thing have now changed.

the wing is staying at home and now looking for 2, yes thats 2 bikes to go around the world.

I am now taking my son with me. (god help me I'm insane)...
Now looking at older shafties from the 90s so bikes like the suzuki gs850 and gs 1100 bmw 850/1000.

the most I am going to spend on each bike is £1500 max b4 conversion for RTW.

that way if they break I can just burn and carry on.

So to all thanks for the comments. Will still do this on the wing but next time and on my own..

I am mad and so is my son, as he has now purchased a gold wing for this trip so now Oneworld biker has become 2 wings. Oh crap this is now getting very expensive..

His wing is the 1500 Aspencade and he payed £ 3k jammy git. We have now got most of ojur route planned and site is now being developed. will up date this soon.
would also like to thank every body that has made a coment or given advice.

Hi There,

yep you're both mad!

However life would be boring if everyone rode a GS or similar wouldn't it!

Great stuff - Their is a great write up about a chap who rode up & down the USA on an old Goldthing - I'll try to find the link (Advrider I think).

Make sure you post your site details a.s.a.p!

Well let put it like this. 20 grand goldwing yah I think your mad. On a old gl 1000 to 1200 Maybe at least if they get nick you re going to get mad and pissed and go find another. A 20 grand bike in a lot of places is going to get taken. Beyond that how in the world are you going to fix a flat on it at the side of the road. Can you get parts if it breaks down. It can do it but at the end of the trip it's not going to worth much . I myself would rather spend 5 grand use the other 15 grand for a longer trip.

Hello, Madman!

I post here below the website of a friend of mine from south Italy that has been touring a LOOOOOT with his Honda Gold Wing 1500.
You'll see how many are the Countries in the world he's been to, including Mongolia and Central Asia on muddy and gravel roads, as well.
It means those areas can be ridden astride your big bike...

He's never been to Americas, anyway, but you can give yourself an idea of the good possibilities you have.

Click on MOTO after entering [url=http://www.gold-wing.it]

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

RTW on a Honda Goldwing weighing over half a ton!

No of course you're not mad your utterly CERTIFIABLE!

Joking aside I simply don't believe that you can safely lift the bike single handed if your stuck in the middle of nowhere. If you don't already have a knackered back you will have one quite soon if you embark upon this trip with a Goldwing.

I'd say you would be better off looking at a smaller bike in every sense - something like a simple XT600 or similar single cylinder bike. If you want to ride 2 up then perhaps increase the engine size to 800 or so and get a twin. Remember the difficulties that those posers had on the "Long Way Round" - the bikes they used were way too heavy for the project. They both would have had a much easier time if they chose a lighter enduro type 600cc bike.

Perhaps you should be looking at a BMW 800cc bike instead?

An older Suzuki GS850G is not much better than a Goldwing for the purpose you propose, I should know I have owned 2 of em. They are 70's and 80's bikes not 90's. These bikes are seriously heavy too and are not (in my opinion) robust enough for a RTW trip. The only thing they have going for them is a shaft drive. As a normal everyday bike they are fine but NOT RTW. Look towards using something a bit more recent. As I say perhaps a BWW F800 would suit sir?

Whatever you decide to ride I wish you luck.

Stay alive & safe.

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

guys have done some serious miles on Goldwings ... and I have to work hard to keep up on my little DR650, even on twisty roads. these Wings are highly modified with better suspension. Both these guys have gone to Mexico (doing some dirt roads) and up to Alaska TWO UP in the mud and rain. I was impressed. They are always trying to get me to ride the things. I won't get on. Too big, too scary for me, but they love them. NOTE: Both these guys have ridden bikes all over the world and both currently own 3 or 4 other bikes, including a R12GS, Vstrom, Burgman Scooter and DRZ400 dirt bikes. They love the Wings and take them just about anywhere. Enjoy your trip, get good recovery insurance!

thanks to all for the comments....

I am now changing my plans and selling everything but my house and bike.

I am now going to do the same but in a Landrover, ( OH shit you fanny/coward.) I here you say b4 I finnish..

Here is my plan.... Landrover and yes MT350 (FOR YOU NON BIKE FREAKS THE MT350 IS A HARLEY DAVIDSON ROTAX) both ex mod. Still RTW but I plan to ride, drive, climb, canoe every country I visit. This is due in part being Madish and starting my RTW trip just b4 winter and want to use every skill I have learned in the armed forces to good use.

I will be putting my whole Idea on the HU trip planner for you check out and maybe some will want to come with me.. Afghan is on my list as with all the stans... This is not for the light hearted or those with a fear of not knowing..