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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 Ulrike Hahnel, Rock Formations on the Lagune Route, Bolivia

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


Photo by Ulrike Hahnel,
Rock Formations on the
Lagune Route, Bolivia



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  • 1 Post By mark manley
  • 1 Post By AnTyx
  • 1 Post By JMo (& piglet)

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  #1  
Old 6 Mar 2020
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What new bike to get
Needing to get my girlfriend a new bike. she has been riding a 07 versys. She has really liked that bike but it is get a bit old and had some reliable problems with it. So time for a change. As standard she found the bike a bit high. With her only being 5 foot 3. So we have put a lower seat and dropped the suspension on it. Happy to do this kind of work on the next bike if needed. We have are looking at the new ktm 390 adventure plus a list of used bikes. Everything from a versy 650, versy 300, cb500x, bmw f650 gs, honda crf 250 rally. Trying to keet the it under £5500. At the moment the rideing we do is the the normal weekend fun rides plus weekend away camping and a 16 day trip ones a year to somewhere in Europe from Scotland. But we all so have started to talk about doing a longer trip in about 2 years time. The length of the Americas. This is very early stage of planning. Just looking for any advice from any one that has any of the bikes listed. What are they like to live with or any changes you have made.
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Old 6 Mar 2020
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Hi Colin and welcome,
I met a couple from Europe last year in the US who had nearly completed a South to North America trip, Ushuaia to Alaska they were on their way back down and they were both on CB500X and said that they were excellent bikes for the trip. They had done very few modifications to theirs but if you feel the need there are many upgrades available including lowering kits, check out Jenny's report on one here.
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...exposure-93587
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Old 6 Mar 2020
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Thanks mark I will have a read of it
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Old 6 Mar 2020
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Can't go wrong with a CB500X. Never heard of an owner who didn't love theirs.
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Old 6 Mar 2020
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I know a honda will all ways be a safe reliable choice
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Old 7 Mar 2020
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My ears are burning!

I was going to say, the CB500X is an excellent every-day all-rounder & travel bike - not the most impressive on rough terrain without some aftermarket upgrades (then it is really very good!) but still surprisingly capable, particularly on the right tyres - and even bone stock it's compact and light weight for a twin, very reliable and economic - and all-day multi-day comfortable with excellent fuel economy and range.

There are plenty of aftermarket comfort/touring and luggage accessories for it to help you personalise it, and lowering links and lower seats for those who are especially short, although the stock bike feels very manageable.

If you are not familiar already, there is a dedicated forum (CB500X.com) and a huge thread (actually more than one) on ADVrider with plenty of owner feedback and hints and tips for preparing one for whatever you might have in mind.

Do try and take a ride on one, I think you'll both be impressed!


photo. two examples - one pretty close to stock, the other with the full Rally-Raid wheel and suspension kit.

Jenny x
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Old 7 Mar 2020
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The Suzuki V-Strom 650 is a good allrounder. Very reliable and quite comfortable to ride - at a fair price.
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Old 7 Mar 2020
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Im sure of all of these bikes will be pretty good travel bikes. The Versys 650 with 17/17 rims will not be any gravel tourer and the Versys 300 and the Cb500X just moderately good graveltourers. But the Cb500x can certainly be modified to better offroad as mentioned above by Jenny. The Crf250 Rally will not be a fantastic highwaybike as power and top speed are somewhat limited compared to the other bikes - but it will by far be the best offroad and gravel bike with 21/18 rims and much less weight. So these are factors you need to think more about and whats your priority.
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Old 8 Mar 2020
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She really needs to try the different bikes for size - don’t forget to wheel them around and pop them up on the centre stand, it’s very important to feel confident at this when you’re touring with luggage.
Are you camping?
Are you intending to do off road?
Is her current bike a 650 Versys? If so (for me) a perfect up grade would be a 700 Tracer - she should be able to get one for her budget.
Perhaps separate your current holidays from your big trip.
My wife has a 1200gs (long inseem) which see loves for everyday riding and holidays - including easy dirt roads. For our planned long trips she will get a much lighter bike eg CRF250L - the rally is tall.
If she loves the Versys why not get a newer one?
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Old 9 Mar 2020
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other bikes
if you want give a bmw 310 gs a try some where in the middle ground. cheap if you get ex demo £ 4000 ish j mo took hers across the states without problems ,you can raise or lower to suit.
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