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Transalp, 600, or 650, or 700 Transalp, 600, or 650, or 700
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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  #1  
Old 21 Sep 2016
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Transalp, 600, or 650, or 700
Would like to consider a trip from UK to Ulanbatoor and back.
The typical route through Russia, and into Mongolia at its North Western gates.

Which of the 3 above bikes?
Which one not of the 3 above bikes.

So looking for 2 answers, and a possible short reason for your choice.

Thanks everyone.
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  #2  
Old 22 Sep 2016
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All are perfectly capable of making this trip, it comes down to finding a good condition bike at the right price or even if one model fits you better than another.
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Old 22 Sep 2016
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Thanks Mark,
I am just taller than 6 foot (1.83) so touching the ground not really a problem.

I believe there was a year that introduced fuel injection, and the departure from carb's.

Are some 5 speed gearbox, and some 6 speed gearbox?

Thanks
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Old 22 Sep 2016
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The 700 ccm came in 2008 and were the first model with EFI but still only 5 gear. The 2008 also had 19" front wheel while the earlier models had 21".
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Old 23 Sep 2016
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Thanks for the reply.
So going forward, are all the 700cc Transalps, just a 19 inch front wheel?

I expected that a 21 inch would be better than a 19 inch ?
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  #6  
Old 25 Sep 2016
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As far as I know - all 700 = 19"

600 TA is possibly the easiest to work on and service. Biggest downside to 600 was the CDI units - they tended to 'crack' their circuit boards. A few people have posted some videos on how to repair them, or just carry a spare. The one good thing- there are two of them - one for each cylinder, so the bike will keep running, if only one one cylinder

Bullet proof and smooth motor
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Old 26 Sep 2016
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Out of those three bikes I would enter Mongolia via the northern border. Sealed road all the way then rent another bike in UB to have fun in Mongolia .
Or chose a bike with good ground clearance for the trip
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  #9  
Old 26 Sep 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kito View Post
Out of those three bikes I would enter Mongolia via the northern border. Sealed road all the way then rent another bike in UB to have fun in Mongolia .
Or chose a bike with good ground clearance for the trip

Clearly a full on dirt bike will be best for western Mongolia. However every year dozens of fake enduro (adventure...) bikes (transalps af twins, gs ktm etc etc) enter from the western border (closed Saturday lunchtime until Monday morning) and get a UB just fine.

Ideally any bike in Mongolia has had its suspension upgraded. Nearly all oem adventure bike suspension is chocolate tea cup.
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  #10  
Old 27 Sep 2016
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All Honda Transalps are good. To ride 50.000km around Africa i bought a 600er bike for just 700 Dollars and im still riding it 10 years later with more the 200.000km on the first engine. I also had a testride on the 700 and decidet to buy it one day if the used prices are down and if my 20 years old Honda might startto make problems but so fare its running fine: http://adventure-travel-experience.d...honda_transalp
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