So I'm planning a UK going East ride, hopefully all the way to NZ. I think the majority of my time will be in India and SE Asia where I'd like the option of gravel and less than well kept roads.

My experience:

• Only had my own bike for 9 months but done 16,000 miles commuting in London and 2 straight forward euro tours.
• I have zero off road experience.
• Confident in my abilities, in that I stay well within my limits and know where they end

The case for what I own:
I own a 2006 CBF1000 which is fantastic for the tours I've done.

• Burned 400 miles a day for a week with only small derriere-based complaints.
• Brilliant fun on the twisties and a doddle to ride (masses of torque).
• I know it's mechanical history and the glitches, although most of the parts are too complicated for botch jobs, it's a Honda so I don't expect many.
• It's done almost half of it's miles with me and it was my first bike, it'd be like putting down a pet getting rid of it.

The case for something more:
I'm looking specifically at a V-Strom 1000. They have raving reviews and a raving community. By all accounts it's a solid RTW bike. It looks like it was designed to handle any rough stuff much better than the CBF1000 is, not sure if that's true.

I know I'll be terrible and slow on rough stuff and I'll get to my limits well before either of the bikes is out of their depth. But I'll be wild camping a lot and don't want to shy away and turn around if the road gets more than 1 pothole per meter

My question:
Will the V-Strom fair better mechanically with rougher stuff at such a low rider level? I hope I'll learn pretty quick and start to get a bit more confident off road and I don't want to be held back by not wanting to break any of the bike (suspension/panniers ratting around). I also looked at something smaller/lighter to make it easier in general, F800-GS is too expensive, V-Strom 650 looks too small for me (6'5), though I'm trying to get a test ride.

Some things that look like benefits to me:
The Strom has the belly pan, higher ride height, better rider position, and hopefully the option for stand up riding (I'm 6'5, I cannot stand on the CBF without staring at the tank). Looks like it can fit knobbly tyres if I find it's rougher going in india onwards (or knobbly'er at least) I can't find anything but pure road touring tyres for the CBF.

Is any of those things actually going to make a difference, or can I bundle through on the CBF slowly without worrying about it rattling itself to pieces?

Wow this ended up long. I'm also going to start a separate thread to ask about possible modifications I could make to the CBF to shore it up against rougher stuff, maybe over on ADV-Rider though, it seems more mechanical over there (?)

Thanks for getting this far

If I were you going the way you tell - UK to NZ (I have just done Norway to Australia) and lots of time in India and SE-Asia (which I did too - except that I didnt ride through India, but I spent approx a year in SE-Asia) I would have taken something very very much lighter. A 1000 cc 250 kg machine is definetively not what you need in SE-Asia. I rode a Tenere 660 and found that to be heavy and big. I wish I took something lighter. The problem is that there isnt a whole lot of choices on the lighter side.

Take Indonesia for example - where the average speed is 40-50 km/h and the narrow roads are infested with traffic and 100-150 scooters and mopeds. They will all swarm around you and much easier overtake the trucks in front of you because they are smaller, lighter and more manouveable. The roads in northern Thailand and Laos are not exactly build for 1000 cc bikes either.....

Think smaller and lighter - its a huge advantage.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Thanks man, that's what I was suspecting, but I'm struggling to find anything relevant with me being 6'5 the Strom 650 does look nice so I'll see what the test ride brings.

I should add I don't think I'll be spending near the same amount of time as you. I've got a budget anywhere from 5 to 10 months for the whole trip, depending on the 3 million different factors of travel, but it's very unlikely I'll be spending more than 4 or 5 months in India/SE Asia since there's a bit at both ends too with long stretches of good tarmac.

Thanks for the help, so awesome to hear from people on the road while planning, no better way to get advice.

The Weestrom is 70 HP and goes like stink. I cant see you not fitting. Its a fat lump off road, i dread to think how bad the lardier 1000 would be.

I liked mine, but too tall for me to ride two up.

Andy

If planning on spending most of your time in India and Asia, I would definitely BUY a bike locally, not ride (and ship). Lots of bike options in India (perhaps not ideal for one of your height)

Enfield, Hero Hondas and others could suit. Perhaps have a TALL custom seat fitted (easy to do in India) to give better leg room/comfort? Imported bikes are EXPENSIVE in India, so Made In India is maybe best. (KTM 390 Duke too!)

SO much easier than transiting borders, carnets, shipping bike. Sell off bike upon departure, buy another in Asia.

For Asia, same deal. You can't imagine the paperwork nightmare importing a UK bike. Easier to buy locally. Several good 250's (Honda CRF250L) and the Kawi Versys are made in Thailand and you can buy one as a foreigner (with a bit of local help) You can also buy in Vietnam (small bikes only)

Once again, build up seat for more leg room. (3 inches should do) It will look funny but help comfort.

If you are set on buying in UK and going from there then the DL650 is a fair choice and a much better travel bike than your CB. Fit TKC80 tires, upgrade suspension, fit luggage. All good. But expensive to get it to India or Asia.
You can't simply "Ride there", there is shipping involved at some point.

The Vstrom is surprisingly tough. And the 650 is same size as 1000, but lighter
by 20 kg.

Look at your options. Good planning!

For ergonomics to suit your height I suppose most bikes can be changed to suit the rider. Many bikes has adjustable seat height, handlebars can be rised by mounting bar risers, footpegs can be lowered by changing to aftermarket parts etc etc. And dont think a small cc bike means it can only be ridden by small persons and big cc bikes can only be ridden by tall persons. You definetively dont need a +1000 cc bike because you happen to be of 6'5 height.

About SE Asia - the advantage about this part of the world is that it is so cheap to live there. Food, accomodation, fuel etc etc is dirt cheap and thus a conveniant place to stay. Coming to Australia was a huge shock. Buying a coffee and a soft drink at a roadhouse in the outback costs as much as a decent room pr night in Thailand/Laos.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Cheers for the input guys

You made me think a little more about what I'm doing on the trip, but I think most of my time will be spent in india and Asia, just because it takes time to get through them, not because that's where I want to spend most time. I want to travel on my bike through to NZ.

Honestly I think I'd be happy travelling for 6 months on my CBF, I love the bike and I know how to ride it and where it falls down. All I'm not sure about is how it will handle the rough roads mechanically (not skill and comfort wise, most of that is on me, and I'll be bad no matter what I'm on). And will any other bike in the class actually handle the rough roads any better anyway given there's such a novice on board? Weight is obviously a big factor but there aren't many bikes with lower CC and weight that still fit my gangly legs, the DL650 seems to, but I'm open to any other suggestions that might handle rough stuff better.

Certainly from UK out across most of EU, your CBF would do fine (mostly!). It's really up to you how much back road/bad road or OFF road you travel. Mostly, it's all paved, but if you go "exploring", you can get off road a bit and find some interesting alternative routes.

My question relates to getting through some of the countries along the way.
Whether coming to India via the Stans, Pakistan, Afganistan or through Iran or Syria, it's a challenge getting to India overland.

I would imagine you'll encounter a lot of "bad road" but mostly a road of some kind, maybe dirt but probably all season, passable on your CBF if taken at moderate pace. If muddy or wet? Who knows? I have been turned around on my street bikes a few times on muddy roads. Even a dual sport can be stopped.

If riding dirt roads/Off road or bad roads at speed, ground clearance can be an issue. The CBF's short travel suspension may bottom out carrying a load. Sub frame can crack or bend, chain can get stretched, riding wash board stuff can vibrate loose or work harden and snap.

Maybe do a long shake down ride around rural Ireland? Lot of "bad roads" there, tight, narrow, drivers keep a suicide pace. Ride those Irish roads fast and survive, I'd say you can make it to India ... with a bit of luck.

Getting through Pakistan, Iran or other war zone countries ... well ... that's another story.

I've traveled a bit on road bikes doing all sorts of "bad" roads. Across USA and Canada several times, Mexico, EU. Rode everything from Vespas to Honda 50 step throughs to 1000cc Vstrom, to Triumph Tigers, various Ninjas and more.

Favorite travel bikes by far are 650 class dual sport bikes. I've owned a few: XL600R (Dominator), XR650L, KLR650 and current DR650 Suzuki. The Suzuki is by far the best of the bunch (for me). After 65,000 miles on the DR650 and about 100,000 combined miles on the others, I like the DR650 best.

Pot holes? Topes (speed humps)? I don't even slow down. Fast highway? I can cruise at 75 mph 10 hours a day. Deep sand on loaded bike? Doable with some skills/practice. Bad Roads? What bad roads? I don't even notice.

Don't worry about your off road riding abilities. You will get better with practice.
It will be TOUGH at first but you will learn. A lighter, more off road capable bike allows your learning curve to accelerate ... and is generally SAFER for the rider as you will crash less. Crashing sucks!
Good luck, rubber side down!

Recent very similar thread: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...have-but-86626

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So I managed to get a test ride on a nice V-Strom 650 today. I fit it pretty well, feels a little cramped front to back with the mirrors on the bars and sitting a little further forward but the foot to head room is better, stand up riding is possible.

Power is obviously lacking compared to my CBF but it feels like a really solid bike. Given what I've read is pretty much universal praise for them and what you guys have said about weight and especially suspension off road I think I'm going to go for one.

Now to find a deal / part exchange or someone who wants a CBF1000 in London.

I love your idea of a trial in Rural Ireland, I tried to find some bad roads to test out the CBF but London doesn't have much in the way of unkempt country roads. I'd love to do some serious off roading before I leave on whichever bike, so I get the worst of it here and learn, where there's easy help and fixes. Any ideas?

As a starter head over to Salisbury plain. An easy ride from London and lots of gentle gravel roads to get you started and some tougher stuff too.

Use the OS map in Bing to see where the byways are.

Enjoy the new bike - i road my DL1000 on rough roads in Romania and it did it well.

Andy

Hi there,

I'm facing a very similar problem. I own a CBF 1000F and I really love the bike. Some say it hasn't too much character but it was a reliable companion on many trips through central Europe, Great Britain and Scandinavia. Now I'm aiming for a bigger journey (maybe Germany to India) and I have doubts if that bike is the right one for that. I rode some short offroad stages in Poland and Sweden but honestly it wasn't too much fun with street tires.

Have you decided yet which bike to take? Did you find some gravel roads to try the CBF on?

Cheers

I expected to spend 1-2 months in India and was there for 6 and have been back since, some people love it and some hate it, wait until you get there to find out.
Don't overplan, apart from visa deadlines stay as long as you want in any of the countries you visit and leave when you have had enough.
You can go anywhere on any bike but something smaller and lighter than your CBF might be more suitable if you can find one that fits.

The CBF should be fine for almost any on road, even gravel with some more aggressive tires. Comfort, smoothness and power when you want it are not bad things. Sure, you won't be able to some of the stuff in the "look at me risking my life" videos, but actually doing it is less fun than bragging about it later anyway.

I own a V-Strom 650 and rode South America on a big cruiser. The CBF might have a little less suspension travel than a V-Strom, but you won't be going fast through potholed roads anyway, and V-Stroms bend wheels easily.

I say go with your bike and do a ride report. Everyone likes to see something different.

Hey BluePlanetCitizen

I did decide. I got me a V-Strom 650 and I love it so far. Just a few rough reasons I chose it: Lighter weight, newer bike (5 years vs 10 years) taller riding position, easier to handle off road, can put knobbly tyres on it.

Some of those may not apply to you but you can make your choice. I did a few Europe trips on the CBF and loved it, but I'm glad I've got the Strom. I took it a little "off road" a few weeks ago, down a farm track which had a steep gravel hill, deep muddy tracks and lots of loose stuff and for my first time off road at all it was a treat, handles like a dream for me. I was always squirming around on the CBF but the Strom feels easy. I jump on the CBF from time to time now and it feels like a race bike sitting on it (Which it is not).

I'm having fun taking it apart for various things and finding it slightly easier to work on than the CBF, though that may be my experience and it being a newer bike (less bolts and clips worn out).

I'm happy with the power, I think it actually has more grunt < 40mph but you don't feel fast at all it's so smooth. But it doesn't much like > 90mph. Which is perfect really.

All that said, I haven't set off yet, or come up against any big technical issues or been off road for significant amounts of time. So I may have made a huge mistake. Happy choosing!