Right.

I rented an Honda 300XRE in Peru and was quite happy with it. When I return there post-covid I will be looking for another.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...080&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...080&fit=bounds

Good, strong reliable bike. Plenty of speed for the highways and fairly light and easy to maneuver in the crowded streets. Carried my gear at sea level and at 4,000 meters equally well.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...080&fit=bounds



..............shu

She had to leave the Himalayan in SA due to Covid and got a cheap CB500x to continue her you tube videos in Europe, which is how she makes her living.

You seem to have a negative opinion of the Himalayan - I have had lots of positive feedback about the bike from a few friends and my wife so as the OP asked about them I thought I’d share my thoughts.

I’ve said nothing negative about the other bike (or any other bike for that matter).

For me the Himalayan has a lot of positive attributes for a trip in SA - that’s all I’m saying, I’m not saying it’s better for this than any other bike.
You seem to be very passionate in your opposition to the bike - perhaps you have had problems with the bike yourself?

Lovely looking bike

Sorry badou24 I have re-read the thread and saw this - ignore my Sunday night post, I got a bit confused - too much wine doh

No probs !
back to an old thread ........... How much power do you need on an adventure bike .................... not too much
not too little .......... about 30.. 70 bhp i think is a nice range !

when your on off road you do not need a lot of power , but you have to spend time on the tarmac to get there !
Used to lead trail rides in wales for years with groups up to 15 ! but soon cut this down to 3/4 Even did peak dist 2x ,but toooo sensative and to many walkers
keith

Do you know how much the paniers are?
They rent out without crash bars ?!

And how many times do you need more then 25 hp in South America?

Do you mean what do the panniers cost to buy? or to add to your rental?

They are Tusk Panniers.......https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p...num-panniers-p

I believe the shop in Peru made their own mounting racks for them. ://www.aroundtheblockmotoadventures.com/moto-purchase-buy-back/


Toby ( @charapashanperu here on this site.) rents them out from his shop in Huanuco.

No crash bars- rider is responsible for damage.

................shu

I travelled extensively with bikes from 12HP and upwards, including two trips in Africa on a classic Vespa. I agree more with badou24. It is not a question of what you need, but what you can use to your benefit, and to what extent. You can enjoy riding a 12HP bike arround the world... much of the time.

I have not been to SA yet, but I don't see why it would be so much different. When you haul yourself and luggage up hill, travel at high altitudes, need to pass cars, or ride the occasional fast paced strip, ride off-road - you can use some HP... not talking about the intoxication of power. With 35 you will still be lacking a bit in a few instances, but gain the benefit of a lighter and cheaper bike. 25 hp and most will crave more power - frequently. 50 and you will seldom feel like you are lacking HP, but even here you can wish for more (I hardly ever have), but now your bike is likely a quite heavy one. With 70 or more, you will seldom if ever feel as though you could use more power, but go much higher than 70 and your bike will get that extra bite that can get you into trouble off-road, making you wish you had less. If you ride two up, well even 70 might be a bit weak.

My previous adventure bike had 50 hp. I spent more than three years debating myself whether to go slightly less hp and lighter, or slightly more hp and heavier, or stay arround 50. I had been very happy with 50. I finally ended up with 70.

If I was to travel South America only, I just might have been more happy with a lighter 35 hp bike than a +200 kg bike with +50 hp... maybe...

Now, I could do 25 hp with a smile on my face if I was shoestringing (no money) it, or if I was to do a serious amount of technical off-road riding while traveling with featherlight luggage. But that's not usually how I travel anymore.

The right hp is very personal. I do however think that very few of us would have opted for 25 hp for long distance travelling if we could have 35 - those that do know what they need.

But where is the 35 HP Bike? In the Honda world there is the CBR 500 X, which is 50 HP and fairly priced at 6000 $US (in Brasil), but much heavier. :(

All bikes have a variable h.p . !
From 0 hp ( when not started ! ) To your max power ! when running !

Its called a throttle !

:scooter::scooter::scooter:

but for most 50 / 70 is sweet

The CRF 300 L or Rally I think has about 33 HP, the 400 I think is somewhere arround 39, about the same as with the DR-Z 400 S , the Versys 300 I've seen marketed with arround 40hp (though dyno tests I have read has shown substantially less). KTM 350 EXC - F I think is pretty close to 35hp and weighs only about 110 kg or so? I would assume the equivalent Husky sibling to be about the same. The KTM and similar dual sports would need some serious kit to make it a comfortable long distance travel bike though - making it expensive, and fatter.

Anyhow, there seems to a lot to choose from in the +/- 35 hp area.

It's right here and has been, pretty much unchanged for 24 years: DR650 ......36 HP.


Mine, in Eastern Turkey.......
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...080&fit=bounds

Rental, in Ecuador...........
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...080&fit=bounds


...........shu

There isnt. The Crf 300L has 27 HP https://ridermagazine.com/2021/01/05...t-look-review/
What 400 are you talking about? The Drz 400 is as far as I know not available in south America. And this nothing you can choose just like that....
KTM 350 with oil changing intervals at 1000 kms? And valve check every 3000 kms? And new piston and rings every 10 k kms or so? Yes that will be a great travel bike in south America - NOT!

Regarding what you mentioned in your last posting - you dont HAVE to overtake any other vehicle. If you ride a certain bike - you have to adjust to its weight and power, accelration and top speed. If you ride a relatively slow bike you adjust according to that and overtake only when its safe and possible with the bike you actually ride.
Another thing - people often stare blindly at spec sheets in stead of actually riding a bike. A Kawasaki 300 Versys has 40 claimed HP - at 11 000 rpm, the Himalayan had 24,5 HP at 6500 rpm. Ok - lets not get fooled by spec sheets - but what of those bikes will be best riding gnarly gravel roads in the Andes mountains or ditto along the infamous R40 in Argentina? Im pretty sure what I would have chosen...

And after riding around the world for 5 years and 250 k kms on 3 different bikes - Im 110 % sure that weight is much more important than claimed power/HP at 10 zillion rpms.

And another thing - when picking a bike for long distance travelling you should pick a bike and equipement for the very worst parts of your planned trip. Not for the best part. Any bike can be used for the fast and easy stretches of a trip. A small/slow bike maybe not as fast as desired
but it will get you where you want. A huge and heavy bike albeit fast and powerful might not be able to go through the most gnarly parts of the trip, or maybe only with lots of sweat and stress.

To TS - if you focus mostly on gravel roads at remote locations - chose the XRE. If its more important with a bit more comfort and more luggage capacity - chose the Himalayan.

Shu .............. please dont mention the DR650 again !
I think its the perfect adventure bike !
But only available in usa and nz .
If only we could buy one here in uk or europe , they would sell like hot cakes !
I have even thought about importing a new one , but far to expesive to do !
K