Well as far as picking up bikes... i offroad my 1100GS (240kg) and can pick it up with little issue so thats a relative point.
As far as capable.... here a brillant blog of a guy riding a At from London to Aussie via Capetown then up to the middle East, Russia, Mongolia... and now he's in S.E Asia. 96,000km... he knows a thing or 3 about an AT's abilities! and he seams to love it
THE HARD WAY HOME

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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black

It's not that life is so short, It's just that we're dead for so long....
"The world is a book, those who do not travel read only one page." ~ Saint Augustin

I thought I'd better add that the Africa Twin is a truly superb machine for what it was designed for. It's unfair of me to give it a good slating cos it has a truly fine pedigree and many hardcore RTW riders swear by it...

I will gladly concede it will kick the XT's arse on tarmac. This is the only place where an XT will struggle although it's quite happy plodding along all day at 60 MPH.

I guess I'm a bit biased for the XT idea...

Whatever you decide to do - Enjoy and above all STAY SAFE!

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

" .... it only takes 200 meters of really nasty mud or rocks to ruin your whole day."

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

I agree... other factors to consider are how tired you are, how many times you've had to pick it up already, and also altitude plays a very big part which can often be underestimated... I can pick my Tenere up at sea level with a quick hoik! but try doing that after a long day, at 12,000ft... it's hard!

xxx

Right thanks for all your replies, after reading a bit of Chris Scott's book I am definately turned towards the Tenere,

My issues with single thumpers was that many people had ridden things like Honda Dominators that died at 65000 miles , but it seems not to be the case with the tenere. (quite ironically I was going to get a super tenere which is probably just as weak off road as the Africa)...

In that I had a thought in that, its like riding a big sports bike , in that you might not use all the power or the ability of the bike , but if you DO need it then you are going to be glad the power and ability is there....

I would hate to be riding along somewhere in Mongola see a muddy dirt track and think I wonder whats over there? , and think best not risk it as the Africa might get stuck.... and this sort of goes against the ethos of this trip ie to live a little to have some risk in your life.

But the Africa isn't going in the bin yet I'll probably use it as a replacement for my falling apart Bros 650 , (which influenced my choice in the Africa as they use the same engine).

Thanks for the advice folks. (ADV rider OTOH recommends IS 2:1 infavor of me taking the Africa twin).

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http://www.itchystravels.co.uk/Bigone2009.html

Hi I did the same trip UK to South Korea via Vlad, I did it with a mate. I had an xt he rode his day to day bike a honda Pan European. When we did the journey three years ago Chita to Khaborosk was an under construction road, unsealed for most of the way. It should be sealed now and is probably the only route for that section. The ferry to South Korea is a push up the loading ramp job, so weights not realy an issue. My friend continued on from Incheon to west coast USA on a Ro Ro ferry willhelm willmason????? or similar I am sure there are references on the site, again the size weight made no difference to cost. He then rode up to Alaska and back down and across Usa and shipped back by Ro Ro again to Southampton, no crates no stripping no removal of batteries or fluids etc.

Regards Jimmy

I personally am a huge AT fan (and ride one, so yes i am biased). Off road they are remarkable good.. yes you can get stuck but i have seen new and old Teneres get stuck in the same place, I also have an old XT600Z ('83). IMHO I would take the AT.. The AT is better off road then I am... yet still have a lot of fun on it. Neither bike fully loaded will be a "joy" off road. Any Bike is never the real issue when off road, it is the riders skill.. I have seen amazing things on all sorts of bikes.

After a day of riding the single (XT) vibrations are a lot more exhausting then the smoothness of the V-twin. And I can pick my AT up fully loaded as easily as i can my XT. Once loaded they are both pigs!

They are both top heavy, the AT takes less custom mods to make it a world eater (ignor all the stuff i have done), and there is a lot more after market stuff availble for the AT (at least then my '83 xt) . Gettting standard parts is not an issue for both the AT and XT, Both david silvers and wemoto will ship anywhere. The AT uses alot of "honda standard" parts that you can find most places, but once you get into the outback both are going to be an "order in jobby" anyway so what difference will it make.

The AT is heavey but you dont feel it when riding (loaded up you feel it, but that is true for my XT as well) the shipping band will make the shipping cost differnce between the AT and XT a non-issue...

You have the AT.. stick to it. It is a great bike and if i have to choose my XT or the AT .. the XT goes... Save your money on the devil you know (eg AT), anytime you buy a "new" bike you could get a lemon.. if you know the AT is good. then you are a head of the game...

just my 2 pence....

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2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com

Thanks, I've made an enquiry to WW about this, the thing is I don't want to be riding on sealed roads all the way as I intend to go via the Zilov Gap and into Mongolia also where from LWR are muddy and unsealed,

The RTW trip is for some adventure, and if its via sealed roads all the way its hardly going to be more than a trip to Europe and I might as well just take my CBR, as said I might well not use any off roading ability but would rather have the choice to not use it than to not have any choice at all.

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http://www.itchystravels.co.uk/Bigone2009.html

The Zilov gap isn't a gap anymore, it's a road now...

xxx

Hi,

I intend to go the same route to Vlad, then Oz via S. Korea or Japan starting July 2009 as a part of our RTW. We are going 2 up and there is no other option then AT for us (we are big fans of it btw). Below a simple map of the first stage of our journey:

If you need I have all the dimensions of a crated bike with the front wheel off.
Regards
Peter

You can get a RoRo ferry at Masan btw so no need to crate the bike , you do need to find something to do with the time though.

As said the issue is less shipping more riding the darned thing....I'm going to keep it another month elseif I'm going to try get an Yam TT600

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http://www.itchystravels.co.uk/Bigone2009.html

I'd love a AT, but I wouldn't swap my 2003 XT600E for one. I've pounded up and down motorways, ridden dirt roads and no roads, totally overloaded it, crashed it(more than once!) and even been a bit slack on the servicing and it never lets me down. I genuinely wouldn't swap it for any other bike for overlanding in the developing world. What is more there are loads of accesories available for it due to its popularity as a adv-tourer. However, the only mods you reall 'need' are luggage, a bash plate and the big Acerbis tank. And you could get away without the latter two if you wanted.

Matt

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Matt,

At last someone with a HUGE degree of common sense!

Yamaha XT6
"Once ridden forever smitten"!

On tarmac the Africa Twin beastie makes sense (comfort and vibration free) but when the tarmac runs out the smaller lighter more dirt capable XT kicks butt.

SIMPLE - If you want the best all-rounder then you know it's between a (very costly) BMW/KTM and a (cheap, simple and reliable) XT. NO CONTEST

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

two africa twins in the forests of rusia
me and Robbo (hard way home)
you can do everything on wich ever bike ,as you are determend enough

I am confusedly trawling through here and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook trying to figure out what would be a good bike for going round Africa 2up. I would prefer a lighter bike too if possible and only want to go 'off road' when there is no 'on road' option. Something reliable and simple to repair seems wise and I don't really care what the top speed is as I have little intention of finding out! Would the advice above work or do I need something different for a 2up?