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22 Apr 2008
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Will my 250 take the pain?
To all HUBBERS,
I have a Yamaha TTR 250 Open Enduro and I'm planning a trip through Europe and North Africa. I did plan to buy a bigger bike (XT600 or similar) when I start in UK, but dosh is going to be a bit tight. I have two questions - will it work out more expensive to ship my 250 from New Zealand to UK, than to buy a bike when I get there? And will a wee 250 take the pain of my 95kgs plus 20kgs of gear?
Any info on this would be greatly appreciated as I'm very new to adventure bike travel.
Thanks,
Butch
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22 Apr 2008
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I've toured on a 175. People do it 2 up on a scooter.
The larger engine alows more crusing speed. And a greater load.
You'll be fine provided you keep your speed down and the weight down.
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Shipping costs - left side bar ..
Cost of buying a bike there will be about the same as buying a bike where you are .. give or take say 30%. Do a search on it, if you find nothing - post the question in the relevant area. If you really want to go ahead with it post you intentions on to teh HU comunity in teh local area and see if they have some ideas for you .
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For the uk .. most popular bikes there are sports type bikes .. not much around in teh trail/touring type market .. Google will enable uk only searches. Ok UK Europe require good weatther proof riding gear .. think rain ..
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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S
Last edited by Frank Warner; 22 Apr 2008 at 04:20.
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22 Apr 2008
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Thanks Frank
It seems that a smaller bike may be the way for me to go. And I have decided to leave the Yam here because I have found out that I can buy one in the UK for less than the shipping costs!
I did have my heart set on an XT600, but I'm now focussing on a smaller bike, maybe an XR4 or similar. I've been scouring the net for the "ideal" overland bike and it turns out that there isn't one, just pay your money and make your choice! I've got a mate who speaks very highly of the XT's and another who likes the XR's, but I'm hoping that any reputable Japanese bike will be just as reliable as the next.
...hmm.. I'll just have to keep on with the research. Only 6 weeks to go! 
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22 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by butchdiamond
To all HUBBERS,
I have a Yamaha TTR 250 Open Enduro and I'm planning a trip through Europe and North Africa. I did plan to buy a bigger bike (XT600 or similar) when I start in UK, but dosh is going to be a bit tight. I have two questions - will it work out more expensive to ship my 250 from New Zealand to UK, than to buy a bike when I get there? And will a wee 250 take the pain of my 95kgs plus 20kgs of gear?
Any info on this would be greatly appreciated as I'm very new to adventure bike travel.
Thanks,
Butch
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Butch,
Sound advice from Frank.
Coming from NZ riding, your biggest single "culture shock" is likely to be the motorways in the UK and Europe, combined with the speeds at which all traffic moves, including the heavy vehicles, and combined with the density of that traffic.
I suggest that you read some of the threads in here about the advs and disadvs of riding small engined bikes in Europe.
Also, there are quite a few suggestions in here about where to find bikes for sale online - there is, of course, a sale forum in the HUBB as well!
Good luck,
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22 Apr 2008
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If you're not fussed about getting a UK bike ty germany - they seem to have a lot more trail and enduro bikes on the market at lower prices, how much were you looking to spend?
There is a thread about military KTMs, they look like a good bargain
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22 Apr 2008
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Touring on a 250 is not only possible it's great fun. I've just had a week in Normandy on my XT250 and it was no problem at all. I got all of my camping gear on it and my 14 stone and it had no problem doing 65 on the motorways here and in France. Everyone thinks that motorway traffic is doing 80mph but in reality the wagons are doing 50-60mph and so are a lot of cars. I didn't find it dangerous at all. Obviously I tried to keep off them as much as possible but they're unavoidable at times. I rode home on motorway and dual carriageway for 150 miles from Portsmouth at 65mph and it never complained. In fact I only do it on the Tiger about 20 minutes quicker!
Last edited by Flyingdoctor; 23 Apr 2008 at 11:54.
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22 Apr 2008
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Good advice
Thanks folks for the advice. I have got a budget of about 1500GBP to include the bike and any modifications to it (big tank and new tyres). I've searched a few bike trader websites for the UK and found that there are a few XT600's for under 1500 and one or two XR400 for around the same price. I have friends in France who say that I might be able to get a cheaper bike there, but I don't have the faintest idea how to go about buying in France. I have also heard that I have to get insurance in UK and Europe and that it can be pricey, is there any way to avoid this?
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23 Apr 2008
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250's rock!
Butch,
I ride an XR650L, but for this 10,000 km trip in SA, we chose the Brazilian made XR250 Tornado as they are economic and parts ANYWHERE south of Texas.
Needless to say, we crossed the Andes 3 times up to 16,000 ft, and slogged thru the Amazon. I am 6-3, 100 kg, my son Luke (17) 6-1, 85 kg. Notice we packed light and found hostels each night (something you may not be able to do on your trip).
They will take you anywhere, just realize their load and acceleration limitations.
Enjoy !!!!
Toby (charapa) Around the Block 2007 |
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23 Apr 2008
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Not recommended
Quote:
Originally Posted by butchdiamond
. I have also heard that I have to get insurance in UK and Europe and that it can be pricey, is there any way to avoid this?
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Don't go down that route Butch:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ountries-34631
There are loads of threads in here about getting insurance for riding in Europe; how much you get of what cover depends on your attitude to risk, but you do need the bare legally required minimum.
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24 Apr 2008
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It's always great to see someone on a small bike. It doesn't seem like I go that much faster than those on pushbikes so I like to stop to talk to them.
--Dave
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24 Apr 2008
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OK Walkabout
I read the link you posted and point taken! I'm not a big fan of not having at least 3rd party anyway. But how easy or hard and how cheap or expensive will it be to buy short term (3-6 months) insurance without an address in UK? And will I be covered for all of Europe and North Africa or do I need to buy insurance on each border? And is North African insurance worth the paper it's written on?
Thanks for everyones input so far.
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Last edited by butchdiamond; 24 Apr 2008 at 00:55.
Reason: wrong icon!
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24 Apr 2008
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Nice photos
Cool photos Toby - I'm still considering a 250. How did yours go for fuel consupmtion and range? My TTR 250 gets me about 180 - 200kms on a tank, but that's not really enough for me in NA.
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24 Apr 2008
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Butch, I think the simplest thing would be to find a friend in the UK and register the bike to yourself at their address, get the insurance to the same address, don't think nationality is an issue. Short term policies are unusual so just pay by direct debit and cancel it when your done.
If you sell the bike make sure you transfer the log book (the DVLA are fairly relentless at chasing people for tax, even if your vehicle was torched and classed as total write off, or impounded and destoyed by the DVLA with the log-book in the glove box. These happened to me and the DVLA actually took me to court both times for refusing to pay tax on a vehicle that they themselves had possession of, along with all the papers).
As the vehicle will be in your name it will not be a problem for the person that lets you use their address
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24 Apr 2008
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Jerry cans..
Quote:
Originally Posted by butchdiamond
Cool photos Toby - I'm still considering a 250. How did yours go for fuel consupmtion and range? My TTR 250 gets me about 180 - 200kms on a tank, but that's not really enough for me in NA.
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For the minority of your trip, where you need extra range, a 5 litre can will give you about 125-150 extra kms. Even if you buy a few over the course of the trip and throw them away, it will still be much cheaper than any mods to the bike.
Regards
Nigel in NZ
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24 Apr 2008
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Well, you have moved on from "which bike"
Quote:
Originally Posted by butchdiamond
I read the link you posted and point taken! I'm not a big fan of not having at least 3rd party anyway. But how easy or hard and how cheap or expensive will it be to buy short term (3-6 months) insurance without an address in UK? And will I be covered for all of Europe and North Africa or do I need to buy insurance on each border? And is North African insurance worth the paper it's written on?
Thanks for everyones input so far.
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It is pretty much as henryUK says: fundamentally, to buy a bike in the UK you need to register it to an address in the UK - once that is sorted out, then everything else will flow from that.
I suggest you read into the insurance topic here: there are a boat load of threads about it in other forums, such as Trip paperwork IIRC.
I reckon one or more of those will cover your circumstances
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