If you had a choice between a TE610 and a Yam TT600RE to cross the Eurasian Continent Manchester UK to Vladivostok with a foray into Mongolia and then be shipped to LA to continue on (this bit is still as yet undecided in that we might go to KL city Malaysia and ride back cross the bay of Bengal and ride back through India , Pakistan and Iran , or cross over to the US or go to Aus). Both 2001 models , either will be loaded with 35-40 kilos of spares tent etc on the back.

TT600RE

For

8.5:1 compression ie will be fine on any of the lower octane petrol I can find in Russia and Mongolia.

Its a Yamaha based on the XT600E , its indestructable and parts are going to be easier to source.

5-6000 mile service intervals

Dual flow carb for better MPG

Against

160 kilo or 352lb kerb weight

Dual flow carb = more bits to go wrong.
Getting the 3000 miles out of Europe will be unpleasant as the gear box isn't as wide as the TE610.

TE610

For

It is light 140kilo kerb weight 319lbs, easier to pick up when dropped and should be more forgiving on mud / sand / dunes

It has more power than the TT600RE

Wide ratio gear box and 6th will make easy work of getting the 3000 miles out of Europe.

Against

11:1 compression will run badly on <90 Octane petrol 60-85 is the norm in Mongolia and some parts of Russia. Though octane booster will be carried the real stuff which is too dangerous to sell to the public.

Parts availibility , this trip may not have any home support ie nobody in the UK to DHL spares to me if things go wrong.

Its not a big 4 bike ie Yam/Suzi/Honda/Kawak which makes me think hmm

Shorter 3000mile service intervals including valves (which is ok).

stock tanks don't matter so much as the one that is chosen will get a 21 litre acerbis tank and a 5 litre spare can will be carried anyway..

Both I can buy 2nd hand for almost exactly the same amount of money and both have about 15000km on them already, but the final contender will have a bash plate crash bars and small screen for motorway work, subframe will be braced to prevent breakage.



Your opinions please. The Africa twin is out of the running completely...

Thanks.

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