Thanks guys - very informative. Frank - nope, no mechanical or electrical experience. Plan in my head has been pretty much as you suggested; get to grips with London traffic and do the BMW off-road course - definitely level 1, hopefully level 2 if I'm sufficiently advanced by then. Also plan on doing basic motorbike repair course to try and get to grips with some fundamentals. The fact that it is a challenge is kind of the point for me; I've never done anything like this in my life before - but please let me know if you feel ther may be any glaring ommissions in the above. As for the bike for sale suggestions - thanks Henryk/Flying Gringo; I'll certainly give it some thought, and do a bit of digging.

You've opened a can of worms. In short though, with the two bikes you've listed, choose the one which moves you the most. If you're unmoved by either, and you are purely pragmatic, the Bimmer is the way to go.

As for experience, I disagree a bit with those that say you need it before you go. In my opinion, although you will be somewhat at a greater risk, you will get plenty experience en-route, and can allways adjust your route and riding to the prevailing conditions and your experience. Besides, none of the bikes you talk about are overly heavy, be careful and you will do just fine. I just read about a New Zeland couple doing 60.000,- km with two children, and the woman rider had no prior experience what so ever, getting her first experience in South American riding conditions. My wife will join me on a trip from Cape Town to Nairobi june 7th. She will only just have gotten her license one week in advance!

You might as well get experience some place exiting and exotic, as in a place familarily boring. You're driving lessons from obtaining the license is all the prior experience you need to do a trip like this. Although an unfamiliar place will pose extra challenges for a newbie, extra caution will get you through just fine. Just don't expect to be doing some hardcore off-roading anytime soon.

I do however agree that getting in as much varied riding as you possibly can before you leave, will serve you well. I also do agree that starting out small, increasing in size as you gain experience, is optimal. But, I hardly feel that it is absolutely necessary, only preferably. If time for departure is in the near future, I think it is far more important to get to know the bike you will be riding on your trip, than to gain all your experience on a smaller bike.

As for choice of motorcycles. In my opinion, the KTM offers the most nosatlgia and centimental value, but the Bimmer will offer you far greater comfort, reliability, longer service intervals, etc. Your heart says KTM, your brain says Bimmer... who you want to listen to is entirely up to you. Both will make it, and both will offer their unique experiences... (You can compare this to Land Rovers vs Toyota Land Cruisers - the first is simply just supposed to be there, but the latter is still the more sensible choice). By comparison, myy wife and I will be crossing Africa on classic Vespa scooters.

My favourite? The BMW F650GS Dakar, by far... and I hope to buy one soon. Overlanding by classic scooters is simply mental, and I'm missing my motorcycle (though I don't like to admit it... so hush).

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