Some things change, some things don't
 

Well Mollydog, there is no confusion in the statistics given in those fuel figures. All in MPG, i.e. average = 79, after riding at least half way RTW (over 14000 miles).
I wouldn't think that Nigel, being in NZ, is using that tiny gallon that you have in the US either, but he can answer for himself.

As an update on the UK: we have just got a "reprieve" from the EU (God bless them and all who live there:rolleyes2: ) after years of argument about Imperial measurements.
So, we will be retaining the pint of beer and pint of milk but continue to buy fuel in litres.
Similarly, we will be using metric measurements for such things as bolts, science and engineering generally but we will continue to ride/drive miles - as you say, those same miles that you guys are still using. Therefore, all of our road signs, such as speed limits, will remain in miles.
Not a problem when going abroad now that those thoughtful Jap manufacturers have given us digital displays which can be changed between Kilometres per hour and Miles per hour at the push of a button.

You will realise that we continue to use the hour/minute/second system of time measurement (i.e. it is, illogically, non-metric, just as Lats and Longs follow the same basic lack of metrication) and we still have the Prime Meridian that passes through Greenwich, London despite the attempts of the French to have their own mapping Meridian (based on Paris of course) as the map reference of choice.
TG, some things never, ever change!!

Interestingly, the author of the fuel statistics slips quite easily between purchases of fuel in litres in local currency, to converting this into;
A. MPG fuel efficiency figures and,
B. a cost comparison, based on the US$.

Fuel Injection: from Jan 08 this is "compulsory" throughout Europe - I believe that is the current situation with some exceptions made for bike models that sell less than 5000 per annum (and the latter maybe a temporary sop to the manufs). I think that is the situation and someone will correct the detail if I am wrong - don't really care, because it is going to happen sooner or later.

Regards,

Miles per tank
 

Wow Nigel. Can't see a lot of point in litres/100km; that's litres/60 miles just about - so what is significant about 60 miles run?!:rolleyes2:

Anyway, miles/litres is OK for us with our petrol pumps - that works for some, but I prefer miles run between tank fillups which is what it is all about when you get down to basics - I get around 200 miles between refuel stops on any of my current bikes, at which point the low fuel light has been on for just a small number of miles and there are a few litres of fuel sloshing around in there (maybe as many as 4.545 = a gallon, UK that is!).


ps Hurry up jex_the_bug and get this thread back on theme!

Cheers,

Me thinks Jex the Bug has....bugged off......Or should that be "buggered off'?:D

Hi Maxwell, i ride my 650 v-strom 6 days a week, i do a twenty mile round trip to work every day (mixture of motorway and town) and i regularly get 185 miles to a tank before my fuel light comes on.
However, when i took a trip home to Ireland i got 230 miles before the light came on, that was all motorway miles between 70-90 mph.
I reckon if you took the xt for a good spin down the M1 you'd probably reach the 70 mpg mark!
Jex, I would consider using the dl650 v-strom for your trip, its an excellent bike, easily the best i have ever owned, totally comfortable, excellent headlight, great wind protection, great reliabilty, very cheap to run, very easy to get parts for (mixture of sv 650, gsxr, gsx etc).
Best of luck.

Hi mudlark, I totaly agree.. i find the 900 an excellent bike for touring or scratching, even two up, :thumbup1:range is fantastic with the 20lt tank, as the miles mount up i have to keep looking at the fuel guage in disbelef, even my KLE500 used for comuting 40miles a day with mixed city/dual c/ways and low speed a roads consistantly gives 60mpg!:rolleyes2:
TDMalcolm

same question for a short woman
 

Hi
I just read this thread and get a lot of informations for my own trip. :clap:I'm in Australia at the moment, wanted to buy a bike to ride around Australia ( and probaply will take some dirt roads) and then want to go back to France with the bike.
Problem : I'm only 1m60 tall.:oops2:
I'm tented by the KLR 650 or the V-storm but I'm afraid I'll be too short. (I had already some problems driving my 600 Bandit at the beginning)
Any advise ?:helpsmilie:
Thank you

heres 1 vote for DL650
 

we are now in India, riding from Finland 2-up on our DL650, coming thru Europe then Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, some 12.000kms in two months so far.

The battery on this K7 ABS-model died on the way, but that was a freak incident, still dont know what killed it but replacement seems to work 100%. I had an SV650 with the exact same battery for over 4 years with no problems.

The bike's taken all abuse we've given it, like (over)loading it with 3 large bags, very heavy tank-bag, 2 extra tyres (hanging on special modified crashbars on sides of the fuel tank), even luggage bags strapped to the tyres, etc......... and the engine is STILL pulling strong, and going very well, even on the motorways, we would have no problem riding 140-150kms per hour (but we wont do that, not here). In Turkey&Iran we cruised at 120-130 all day. When riding slowly, 60-80kms per hour, sometimes rarely 100, like is normal in Indian traffic, we can ride 450-500kms on one 22 L tank. The K7 model with euro-3 norms seems to be even more fuel-efficient than the previous model.

Taking any fuel they claimed to be petrol in Iran or Pakistan, no problem. Even the cast wheels seem to hold their round shape, even though we've banged them into some very bad potholes several times. Put simply, it just hasnt missed a beat.

I would NOT want to do the same with any 650cc 1-cylinder bike, because it would need to be ridden with 100% throttle most of the time, and still feel very stressed. The engine in this bike is really something, I am very impressed that its doing so well, with all this weight on it. Have yet to ride the 700 Transalp or new 800GS, but so far, this is the benchmark in this category, by far.

Only ground clearance should be better, now the bashplate is touching ground in speed humps everywhere. Stiffer spring(s), especially on the back wouldnt hurt, either.

DR 650 or DRz 400?
 

I'm heading to Melbourne in 4 weeks (wayhay!) and am looking to buy something for using while living there and also to do the ride back to the UK. I am fairly set on the DR 650 but have recently been told the DRz 400 might also be a good un. I'm 6'2" so will needs something with a bit of leg room.

What do you guys reckon would be a good choice? I'm not excluding other bikes, will get some test rides of a few while I'm there.

just my 0.02 cents, but I wouldnt do a really long trip on a DRZ400. Its an offroad-bike, in fact quite excellent one, but its terrible if you need to do the distance on long highways.

Sometimes went on an enduro trip from Thailand into Cambodia, and sure it was the tool for the job, when we went some smaller roads or tracks, but still 80% of the trip was just smooth asphalt, and on the way back I remember even considering I'd hire some pick-up to carry it the rest of the way!

Wouldnt want to try how the 400 would carry a lot of luggage, like usually seems to be the case, when going on a long trip. I think that would make it even worse on the highway, and probably wouldnt help in the dirt, either. The lighter the machine, the less you can put cargo on top of it, without sacrificing performance and rideability. I would think its subframe could get some damage, too.

Sure you CAN ride it wherever, if you absolutely must, but why torture yourself, when there are much better options, like the DR650? I would get the 400 only if I was to ride at least 95% on unpaved roads.......... and a trip half way around the world would (in my case) probably be mostly on the smoothest asphalt I could find.

Good call! The Dr 650 it is then.

I know there has been a fair bit of info put on here about the DR so will get into that.

Is there a good model/year to go for? I read that the earlier ones were about 25kgs heavier so will most likely go for a late 90's or early 00's if I can find one.

Nice choice - Jealous!!
 

There was a post a short time ago which said the DR650 is still being sold new - it was either in NZ or Oz, can't remember which.
It appeared to me as if they are getting the new bikes out there which can't be sold where there are stricter emissions limits - like here in the UK!!!!

DR650 is still for sale in NZ and there are some unsold ex-USA ones here at the moment going out the door REALLY cheap. I'm talking about UKPounds 3400.
Don't know about Aussie though.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

(five valve heads, battery hard to get to...more) Cheap and cheerful.

and you're pretty much good to go. See my thread "prepping a DR650 for the long haul"