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women choice bike
Is there a poll or a database showing what women are picking the most for thier trip. We are leaving for our next RTW in two years and would like to get two bikes for it . Maybe a DR650 each but the lady is a bit small (168 cm)
Hendi www.Hendikaf.com |
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well, I am not sure a database would help, because some bikes are available in some continents and not others. For example, the excellent DR 650 is sold in the Americas, but not in Europe (at least in the UK!). The XT250 is not sold in Europe etc... If your lady is 168cm this is tall enough! :) The DR650 has a slim seat and by setting the shock to soft (if it can be set) and maybe dropping the front forks a bit, it should be enough. It's a very light bike so is a very good choice for a woman. I would get one if I could find one in the UK! You can also get someone to scoop out the seat and fit a gel seat. I have done that for my F650GS and for my Versys (I'm only 163cm tall) and it makes a very big difference. Best get your friend to sit on the bike first. To put things in perspective, we were considering with my husband to get 2 DR400 for our next big trip (meaning I had to find ways to lower mine by at least 10 cms!) ..... In the end, where there is a will there is a way. You guys are lucky to be located in the US where you have a massive choice in term of lowering links etc... Ultimately, in my experience, there are 2 things essentials that I want in my next travel bike: seat low enough I can paddle through deep sand/gravel, and most important: a light bike. Weight is a killer on tough terrain! So much so that I am considering the YBR250 for Mongolia! :D Good luck! |
Bike choice
Thanks Maria,
I will see if some local guys have a dr650 to sit on and then we will know more. The bmw 650 is a good choice to but I find the simple DR be more accessible to work on. |
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I rented another F650 in the US and had similar problems; so it is common on that bike. But the beemer is lower vs. the DR. Depend how much dirt / unpaved roads you plan to do and how comfortable your missus is on that sort of ground? In the end there is no "perfect" bike. It depends on what you like and what you want to ride! Here in Rio I did nasty dirt roads on my Kwak er-6n with road tyres.... anything is doable in the end.... Have fun! |
hoi,
I'm doiing the 3 America's on a perfect F 650 GS BMW, build in 2001. No big problems so far and the small things we could fix it easly ourself or in any mechanic shop. i'l very happy with it. I'm 160 cm small and can handle the bike without any problem. Kiss the ride! Ils |
Personally, I don't see the original question a particular issue for women - the ideal lightweight, long-distance friendly, low seat bike applies to both men and women.
168cm isn't particularly short & with a bit of adjustment (suspension / lowering links and a lowered seat), most bikes would fit. If there is a local group of trail riders, I suggest arranging to meet some so she can try out a few of the bikes. The ADV forum may be a suitable place to start as there is a large contingency of members from the USA. |
Bike
I could agree if it was only about the size of the rider but most of the time women do tends to have less upper body strengh so it is important to keep the bike low and the center of gravity even lower. I myself had many top heavy bike (1150 gs ADV ....) and once they start to tip its a real pain to stop them to go down. I would love something light like the new 250 dual sport but nothing low unless you go for a 250 ninja or similar.
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I use to travel alone, on dirt roads or no roads at all, because of this I prefer a smaller light weight bike.
On my first trip with no experience on a bike I took a Honda XR 250 (knowing they have versions of this bike in South East Asia) This trip, I took a DR350 but I have talked to a lot of people here in Africa who are riding DRZ-400 and are really happy with there performance for RTW bike. Anyway here is a list for smaller bikes - The Pro.
The Cons.
I have no idea about taking a larger bike, maybe a DR650 but nothing more than that. |
Depends on the RTW
If the intended path is mostly or overwhelmingly majority tarmac the DR650 is a fine choice. Koubalink makes it easy to lower the bike without upsetting handling or compromising the suspension much. And the engine is large enough to provide decent passing power on highways. Not an autobahn burner but . . . you probably won't see alot of autobahn.
But . . . Motorcycle Consumer News did a full build up of a DR650 (which is air-cooled) and ultimately surmised that maybe they'd chosen the wrong bike. A DRZ 400, with mods that won't impact reliability has nearly the same power, weighs alot less, provides a Koubalink option, AND is watercooled with much better suspension components would be my recommendation . . . and was for my wife. She's 165cm, relatively long of leg (a bit more than is typical of women) and she's ridden it in mildly challenging conditions as a real 'dirt rookie'. It's easy to get high quality aftermarket parts for additional range with lightweight plastic tanks (replacing the 13L steel one) and it's "problem list" is well-known and can generally be attended to pre-ride. The cooling system is completely overbuilt providing little anxiety even in desert riding. For an even better option (it's in the cards for us) a Husky TE630 is even lighter, has fuel injection which means varying conditions of altitude and crappy gas are handled with aplomb although a stock DRZ runs on . . . piss. :) The Husky's weight is less and more importantly for new or smaller riders, is much lower in the bike. It's hard to find a TE630 and the TE610 has a more suspect valvetrain for a RTW effort. Finally, the TE's can be lowered via a Koubalink. It's handling is world's better than the DRZ which actually feels heavier than my KTM 950 at slow speeds. (I have a DRZ400 in Thailand.) A bigger tank is also an easy option for the TE. |
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Despite being told my bike is too old, or I should get myself a GS, my touring has all been done on a Honda Bros - not the most common choice of bike, but I love it. I also have an XT225 - but it doesn't have the bags to carry all my kit, and I don't think it's reliable enough (yet?) for long journeys. You have to ride to your bike, and your comfort zone. This is true regardless of gender - but we ladies do have less strength and height to work with. I know I can ride a bigger heavier faster bike than the Bros, but the margins for error would be smaller. Likewise, there are some roads I choose not to risk on Bros, that I would fly down on the Serow. One moment of unintentional genius with a previous boyfriend was the decision to take two bikes of the same model. This was decided on mainly because if anything had happened to the boyfriends main bike I would have felt bad as the trip was my idea. What it did mean was (a) fewer spares and tools needed, and (b) we both had the same speed & acceleration available. No frustations from the fella on the faster bike having to wait for me (though he did still take those corners faster, I'll have to admit), no frustrations and risk taking from little me on the smaller bike trying to keep up. Worth bearing in mind in my opinion, though you gents may have your own ideas! |
south america
Hi there...I am currently in Peru having flown my BMW F650GS over to Buenes Aires in Argentina. Its a 2009 plate...so computer managed! The bike is great to ride...the seat is awful!!..had to have a new fuel pump in Argentina...US$1200..as it's an imported part (covered by my BMW warranty..phew)..But..when the bike is going down, it's heavy..and unless you are a very skilled biker..riding in sand...well..I just kept dropping the bike. We have met many bikers who have chosen the KLR 650 here..it's versatile..not too heavy and spare parts are quite easily available..i.e. the police in Bolivia ride this bike! I am 5'10" so don't have a problem with the height of the bike..it's a comfy position for me..wish I had had a gel seat fitted beforehand though. But..it's powerful enough to get me up through the high altitudes..around the tight mountain bends and past the many lorries. Would I choose this bike for an overland trip again..probably not..purely because it is so heavy...not as top heavy as the single that I had..but once it's on it's way down I do not have the upper body strength to stop it going :( good luck...do your research well...there's thousands of miles out here in the world to travel...but a numb bum is no fun!! And bear in mind the spare parts and imported costs wherever you may be!! Have fun on the road :)
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As the female half of Kate and Will, I ride a Yamaha XT 250, which is available in the States. I got mine in Australia. It lacks a bit of oomph but I rode it from Sydney to London last year and for most of the journey, it was just perfect. It struggled to keep up with Will's DR650 on the vast open stretches of road across Australia, and again in Kazakhstan. But through Nepal, India and Pakistan, where the going was pretty slow and often difficult terrain, it was ideal. It is light, I can put both feet flat on the floor when sat astride it (i'm about 5'6") and it is easy to ride. Although I haven't ever had to pick it up on my own when I've dropped it (Will has always been around to help :)), I feel confident that I could, if I had to!
At times, I would like to change the bike for something with a bit more go, but I feel so comfortable and confident on this bike now, and that is so important. |
Tt600?
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Proof; Heather Ellis | Australian woman motorcycle traveller and writer | Africa and Central Asia on a Yamaha TT600 :clap: She seemed to have had no major breakdowns at all! |
Vespa
I have traveled a lot on Marilyn, my Vespa LX 150, and they are great because the center of gravity is really low. They hold a lot, and the all steel frame makes them really stable. The only problem is the tires are only 10 inches and they don't like to go more than 50 miles an hour. I am going to get a bigger one for a long trip, and am just trying to decide if I want to chance fuel injection or not.
I would recommend trying a Vespa before settling on a motorcycle. |
Bike choice
Scooter can be great but when off pavement they will be pretty hard to ride , I have a friend which have the DR350 and also an XT250 so we will try those as they seems a good match too. Speed is not the problem for us asmost of the time we will be riding 50 to 70 M/H max .We trie dthe WR250 but its way too tall and heavy .
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Right bike for a female rider traveling in South America!
Hi,
I´m going to South America for a bike trip. I have a BMW 650 F from 1999 with carburetor which we used (the 2 of us) for our trip in West Africa. It was a great bike to carry the 2 of us with a lot of our stuff. BUT, it was too heavy and tall for me (I´m 1.65). Then I had another trip to Pakistan & Iran with another person on a simple Kawa KLE 250. It was great although not too fast. I´m just afraid that it would not be able to put up with riding to fast for long hours. This time I´m looking for a bike for myself which should be lower and LIGHTER than the BMW650 but also reliable and FAST when you are on tarmac. I was thinking between Yamaha XT650, carburetor (I have to lower the bike) or a BMW 650 xcountry with injection. The latter is light and low but I´m a bit afraid of not being able to fix it in SA if there are any problems. I would appreciate any other suggestions and if the x country would be a good choice or the most fetal error I would ever have made! What about a KLR 650? Thanks a lot. |
Hi all try this site out Motorcycle Ergonomics tells you the hight of the bike & where your sitting for some of you it could just be the case of adjusting the bike
a lot of men & women do not the yget on & ride & get used to it. |
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Less expensive Japanese bikes also need modification but IMO, are more reliable, less expensive to modify, simpler to work on yourself ... no BMW agency required. No computers, no ABS, no CANbus. I would not recommend the KLR650 for a shorter female rider. It's a great bike, but better suited for a BIG, strong rider. KLR is a bit heavy ... and because of fairing, BIG fuel tank and shield, it "feels" bigger than it is when sitting on board. The DR650 is a good, inexpensive choice for sale in USA. At 324 lbs. dry (147 kgs.), one of the lightest 650's. With 20 lts. fuel, luggage and extras loaded on, estimate 400 lbs. (181 kgs.) Compare to anything ... even a 250. Seat height lowering The DR650 has lower factory option about 1.5 inch. (All DR's have this ability) You can add lowering links to lower it 2 inches more if needed. Cheap and easy to do. I've seen a woman 5' 2" riding a lowered DR650, feet on the ground. The F650 is 55 lbs. heavier (dry weight) than DR650. The BIG plus with the F650 F.I. models is good fuel economy. DR650 gets about 50 MPG. F650 about 60 to 65 mpg. As a DR650 owner for 55,000 miles (88,000 kms), I've not had one problem. A few good points about the bike: Simple, reliable, easy to work on (DIY). Nearly maintenance free! Good on rough off road trails/roads yet can easily cruise highway (even two up) at 70 MPH all day long. Smooth, low vibration. 500 mile days done easily. Suzuki dealers in USA, Colombia, Ecuador (where Police use the DR650). (Parts!) Inexpensive if bought used in USA. Low kms newish ones from $3000 to $4000 USD are common. Simple Air/Oil cooled, no radiators, no water pumps, fuel pumps, radiator fans, no hoses to fail. This bike never overheats, will run on garbage fuel at 4000 meters. Simple, common and reliable Mikuni Carb that any roadside mechanic can repair or clean. Parts available worldwide. With a few key accessories and upgrades the Suzuki DR650 can make a good travel bike. It has a Super strong frame and sub frame, 43mm KYB forks (once upgraded, very good!) Better shock needed too or upgrade of stock shock. The bike needs a better seat. Not a sheepskin ... a real aftermarket seat. Bigger tanks and many other used aftermarket parts for sale everywhere and quite cheap. (tanks, seats, pipes, pannier racks, rear racks, carbs, engine guards, luggage, bags, bars, Aux lights, lower foot peg kits .. on and on and on) Great aftermarket and Forum support from hundreds of dedicated owners with lots of useful knowledge. the DR650 thread - ADVrider www.DRRiders.com |
so what did u decide on?
I'm keen to know what bike you chose and have you left yet?
My partner and I have DR 50S for a 2015 trip n and I am only 5'4" |
Yamaha XT 660 R
Hi,
After much thinking in the end I decided to go for a Yamaha XT660 R from 2006 -injection- doing a few modifications to it. I chose this bike because: 1. It´s a powerful bike and comfortable for riding at a speed around 120km/hr 2. It´s a trail bike so I can use it whenever I have to 3. It´s not that heavy -guess around 155 kg or so- The only thing was that it was too high -1.86cm- so that I had to lower the hight with links to 181.5 cm. As I´m 1.65 with an inseam of appr. 30 I had to lower the seat a bit too taking out some of the foam. The only downside is that the bike is going to be shipped to me and I´ve not tried it yet! News to come soon! I´m going to be in Chile & southern Argentina till the end of March. Hope to be able to meet some of you over here. Safe & happy rides |
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That is a great choice! :D ... es un Moto muy Padre! Excellent machine, and to me, better travel bike than the Tenere' version. We do not get either one here in USA. :thumbdown: I wish we did! Are you shipping the bike to S. America? The claimed weight by Yamaha is 181 kgs. with fuel. But claimed weight are typically LOW, not realistic. My "guess" would be true weight is closer to 200 kgs. ready to ride. Still, OK. Just pack light and stay away from hard Aluminum panniers. (they add about 20 kgs. for boxes/racks alone) I believe, if you like, you can go LOWER by using different lowering links. But make sure to lower the front as well ... try to "match" the amount lowered with the rear. (move fork tubes UP in triple clamps to achieve this) You are "Muy Brava" to buy a bike "sight unseen" ... I wish you ALL THE LUCK! Good planning .. ¡y que le via muy bien! :Beach: :clap: |
Really low seat bike?
My partner's looking for a capable mid-weight bike with a seat height of around 700mm. Any ideas?
I asked the question on the 'Bike for shorties?' thread so Iguess it's polite to put answers there: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...072#post529973 |
some of the info needs double checking
F650 twin, range 200 miles. FS700 twin range 140 miles. as its essentially the same bike with the same tank capacity, seems unlikely. triumph have also brought out a low height version of the 800. might be worth adding the CCM. low height version is around 780mm, I think Charles |
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I ride a DR 650 and Im 165cm. Ive had lowering links put on it and chopped the seat a bit and its absolutely find.
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I ride a WR250R - it's been lowered by professionally adjusting suspension as opposed to a lowering link. I also have a lowered seat. I can put one foot down and that seems enough, although it would have been a terrible bike to learn on - too tall and heavy. I'm 5'4" - 164 cm.
If you ride as a pair, I think it's ideal to have both people on the same kind of bike. It's ok to adjust each to the rider's liking as far as ergonomics are concerned, but keep the engines the same as much as possible. If you have a 650 paired with a 250 - it can become dangerous because the one riding a 650 will be tempted to go faster, and the one on 250 will be suffering and often having to take unnecessary risks to keep up. Ask me how I know ;) Not to mention that it really helps with troubleshooting and maintenance when you have two identical bikes. Is this part supposed to be like that? Hm, let's check the other bike. Keeps it simple. |
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The phenomena also occurs between, say, a 1200 and a 650; for any substantial disparity actually. A sub-optimal solution is for the smaller bike to lead with the rule of the road that the larger bike is not permitted to overtake the smaller bike, ever. |
The choice of bike really depends on what sort of roads you want to ride.
For tarmac and most gravel, any bike pretty much can do it and weigh is not too much an issue. I have had a couple of Versys, an ER6N, while living in Brazil which I took through sandy trails and, lately, I have a Honda CB500X. Totally adequate and easy to ride bikes. However, if you want to ride more off the beaten trails and mountains tracks, my choice is an enduro bike. I have an XT 250. I took it all around Russia and Central Asia in 2016, and is the bike being shipped next week to CApe Town. Why? Because it can go through anything. It is tough as nail and will survive any sort of abuse I will give it. It is almost unbrakable ( I tried hard!)and easy to maintain. I can take it through rivers, sand, deep gavel, stones, rocks etc.... it will serve me well in Africa. I wrote a post on bike choice on my blog for those interested. https://franglaisridersblog.wordpres...dventure-bike/ Cheers :D |
I honestly don't think there is such a thing as a gender specific bike - though I tend to think that women more often than men make more sound choices when it comes to choosing bikes. Men seem to have a tendency to let testosterone, personal image and desried id weigh in on their choice more than most women do.
Rather than prescribing a specific bike, which in the end is highly personal, I think it better to instead provide advice in terms of what you need to think about - the things that will lead you to the right choice for you. Having left my enduro bikes and aventure bikes at home, and traversing much of africa on an overloaded classic Vespa scooter twice (much of it off road), I can honestly say that all bikes are capable... though not necessarily suitable - this I know since I also have my share of experience with much more suitable bikes as well. An honest aproach in choosing a bike is to consider: ones fitness and height, riding experience, type of trip (mix of riding conditions and length of trip), and finances - seeking advice from someone with experience that has been where you are now, also physical stature - irrespective of gender. My girlfriend for instance is quite tall for a woman, and both stronger and more fit than many men of equal age and height. My best male firend is shorter and not very fit for his age. My gf has far more bike options than he has. My opinion is that most overlanders I've met would have benefited from a ligher and more simple bike than they are actually riding - the exception being women who tend to be more honest and pragmatic towards their needs. I've met very few overlanders that could really argue the case for anything greater than 600cc/50hp, or that really need all those farkles, gadgets and upgrades they have spendt a fortune on and many sleepless nights over. Many would have been better off with half the engine displacement or power, and keeping the bike closer to stock. Savings made from choosing a simple design and a small displacement engine, could be put towards upgrades making the bike more; comfortable, safe, easier to ride, more enduring and more enjoyable- with money to spare towards "off the bike" luxuries. When questions like "gender" are raised, I quickly assume lack of experience. Hence mye reccomendation is usually to choose a bike that is light weight, small to medium displacement, is japanese or german, that is more tarmac oriented but also invites to offroad riding (70/30), even when the person has no initial plan of going offroad (because most overlanders will at some time end up wanting to try it, and then end up falling in love with it). As for japanese bikes, I prefer Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki - in that order - much do to both reliablilty and world wide access to parts and service. Kawasaki is another option, but more for the Americas than for instance Africa and other parts of the world. No one sells more bikes than Honda, not even close. Like I said, any bike will get you through allmost any terrain - at least the type of terrain that a novice would commit to - though not equally well. Hence a bike that is designed to do both off and on road riding is preferable. I would look for a 250-800 cc bike, ideally somewhere in between. I would favor a bike with low center of gravity (i.e. most BMW GS series). I would aim for a dry weight of not much more than 185 kgs, with something lower than 150kg being ideal. A dry weight of 210 isn't crazy heavy, but the added weight will come into play many a time. I don't think a novice rider should go manic over having for instance spoked wheels if the bike you like comes with solid rims, Many think spoked wheels is a must. But I do think spoked wheels are preferable if the option is available - especially for more experienced riders who tend to ride a bit harder. For an RTW that will take you offorad I would highly reccomend a front wheel greater than 16 inches, preferably as big as 19 inches. If the choice stands between a lighter one cylindered bike vs a heavier twin, I would opt for the one cylindered if the weight savings are substantial (+15 kgs) - it is usually the case. If there is not much difference in weight savings, I would opt for the two cylindered bike - a smoother and more comfortable ride usually combined with far more power to weight ratio (but lower torque). Although I've said you don't need all that extra power, it does come handy when for instance overtaking up a steep hill at high altitude with a heavy loaded bike. In my opinion approx 50hp is a great compromise for many, giving a lot of options for regearing to suit most riding needs. Still, even half of that power is sufficient for most... you could likely endure a long trip with even a quarter of that power. I also prefer chain drives over anything else for long distance travelling, but I could perfectly well live with other options for very large displacement bikes. As for upgrades: Many are convinced that the stock bikes are pretty much uselss, and hence end up spending unneccesary money on upgrades for the rides that lie ahead. If for instance the bike comes with a stock bash plate and radiator protector (which many will argue is inadequate and needs replacing), I wouldn't advice a novice to spend much money towards an upgrade before they have gotten to that stage where they will be riding hard enough to really warrant such - take it easy and the stock will likely suffice. On hte other hand, if the bike doesn't come with neither a radiator protector or a bash plate and you intend to travel long distances to rural areas far from home, I would probably reccomed to all to have it installed. The point I'm trying to make is that there are many great bikes to choose from if you take a moderate approach in terms of nice to have vs need to have. This much said, I believe that the original seat, wind screen and bark busters (hand protectors) are the three most common areas where stock dual sports or adventure bikes come up short and where upgrades ar tuely warranted. In addtion, the more off road biased the bike, usually shorter the range is and the more it can benefit from an upgrade in fuel capacity. The same goes for strengthening the sub frame. The good thing though all of these things can be easily fxed on just about every make and model. As for the endless discussion of hard lockabble vs soft panniers it is my general opinion that hard panniers is the better option for most long distance traveling - even though they arguably are not as safe and usually come at a more hefty price tag. I would much rather buy a cheaper bike and afford hard panniers than an expensive bike and having to live with cheap soft saddle bags. It is also my opinion that ABS is highly preferable, as long as it can be disconnected (i.e. for braking power down steep inclines with surfaces that give poor traction, or for more experience riders who might want to skid through turns, etc). It is also my opinion that bikes that instead of ABS have opted for interconnected brakes to satisfy new minimum regulations (a fraction of rear vs front is applied simultaneoulse when you push either the front or rear brake), that these are an absolute "no go" and outright dangerous, especially on surfaces with poor traction. Personally I will never again buy a bike without ABS (studies showing a reducing effect on crashes by 30-40%). Bike options A few has mentioned the BMW F650GS. It is a great bike. It is a bit heavy, but not too heavy as it has a low center of gravity. The WR250R has also been mentioned - a bike that I have conscidered for myself on many occasions - even at that time when I owned both a BMW F650GS and the racing version of that same Yamaha. I highly reccomend that you read Louis Pryce's books - it may very well push you towards the WR250R. She convinced me that smaller is better than larger! The XT660Z Tenere seems to come up more and more often as a great overlanding bike with a side by side comparison to the F650GS, hence I feel the need to comment it in particular. Bikes such as the Yamaha XT660Z will be waaay too tall for you. Although it can be lowered to fit, it is still heavy for what it is, and it has a high center of gravity making it feel even heavier. Although much better looking than the BMW, more relaible, and cheaper, in your case I would probably buy an older BMW F650GS with low mileage and have it kitted... this coming from a guy who has the the Yamaha at the top of my list for bikes for myself (but I am taller, stronger, quite vane and also have the experience to deal with the cumbersome weight and dynamics of the bike). Another bike at the top of my wish list, and a serious contender for an RTW, I is the Husqvarna 701 Enduro - fully kitted for overlanding (wind shield, long range tanks, strengthened sub frame, etc). It is feather light, has lots of power, is stock 50/50 offroad/on-road biased, looks awesome and can endure any terrain - but it vibrates, is not built very robustly when it comes to fairings and sub frame, and it has short service intervals (though are much easier to service than the bimmer). Getting it fully kitted for long distance travel would probably cost upwards of 4.000 USD in adition to the bike itself - which is the main thing that puts me off. The F650GS or the XT660 Z Tenere, although more expensive, is pretty much ready to go right out of the box - and I wouldn't loose so much money when selling it. One notch up from the F650GS in terms of long distance comfort, and price, is the f800gs adventure. It is heavier, but still has a low center of gravity that combats the issue somewhat. Most people would find the seat and riding position comfortable, even for two up. The strong twin is super smooth and gives tons of power. It is offroad capable even though it is a bit on the heavy side. It is for myself likely my next choice of bike, followed by the more economical Tenere. I'll probaly buy one next season and keep it for a few years ubntil I can find a used and fully kitted 2020 Africa Twin Dual Sport with DCT and wheelie control, at a reasonable price. The F800GS, as well as the 850 and the 700 could all likely be lowered to fit you well, and could all be a great options for you. My hunch tells me that you would be most happy with the F650GS because it feels more nible - which btw is a popular option for lots of women overlanders across the globe. If you can afford it though, consider the 2020 Africa Twin Dual Sports with DCT (automatic transmission) and wheelie control (i.e. if you need to get your front wheel over a high obstacle). Although it is heavy, the center of gravity is so low that it feels more nimble and lighter than even most 650cc bikes. It also has all the riding assistant tech to aid you in all riding conditions you can conceive of - preventing stalling, cangarooing, skidding, etc - making a novice rider capable in dealing with riding conditions to equal level of that to far more experienced riders. For myself, if I could muster to spend so much money on a bike, it would come at the top of my list for an RTW trip. I support the benefit of riders in the group riding the same type of bike, prefarably the same make, and even better if it is the same model. You can share knowledge, share parts and tools, have the same service intervals, etc. Also, you will likely attack the roads and terrain more evenly, making for a safer and more enjoyable ride for both. But, it is more important that both riders have a bike that fits them than one or both riders having to make large compromises. Of all the bikes that have been mentioned so far, I would test ride the WR250R and the F650GS, possibly also the F800GS Adventure - and take it from there. It should give you a good indication as of what type of bike is a good match for you. Let us know what you go for my bet is that you will end up with an f650gs with spoked tires, hard panniers and an upgraded wind screen. |
If you're fine with a small cc moto, look at the Honda XR190CT. My wife sat on one in South America. Although she did not ride one, it checked a lot of the requirements: Low seat height, fuel injection, electric start, light weight, 21 inch front wheel. I'm sure it will do fine anywhere in South America. It's a 90 to 100km/hr moto, but in much of the world, that is just fine. No issues riding dirt switchback roads, detours, and narrow mountain roads; plus of course good tramac, fast gravel, and crazy South America city traffic.
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Time travel back to the 70s - “a bike for the little woman” :eek:
Personally I don’t think it’s a good idea for anyone to choose or even influence another riders choice of bike. Tell her to research and test ride bikes for herself, then she’ll choose the bike she wants and will love it - despite any foibles. I speak from experience doh |
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I've seen many noobs make some terrible choices - most of them choosing bikes because of looks and image, never really being honest to themselves about how they plan to ride it or their own riding skills - or simply having misconceptions of what is involved in riding that particular bike they are drooling over. My very first large displacement bike was a crotch rocket capable of doing 300 km/h and 0-100 km/h in a little over 3 seconds. With the top speed limit in Norway at the time being 90 km/h... Also, if anyone had told me how painful the riding position becomes when touring at the speed limit... The dealer tried to convince me to buy the Yamaha Fazer instead, but at the time it was a new design that to me looked funny - and to me he was just a dishonest sales man trying to get rid of the weird looking bike. It would have made a far better bike for me - and decades later I am now considering actually buying one for my girlfriend to start out on - it is one of the most successful bikes of all time, and is especially popular amongst women (even though I don't think there is such a thing as a gender specific bike). When an inexperienced person asks what bike is suitable (all are capable) for an RTW - those with a bit of adventure motorcycling experience can help limit the choices a lot. |
Advice, absolutely I agree - but I said “choose for” or “influence” - not that the OP would necessarily do that but I have seen it many times.
When my wife passed her test 20 years ago she was one of 5 female friends who started riding at the same time. All the other girls were influenced by their male partners and basically bought the bike they were told to buy. Of the 5, my wife is the only one still riding. I also think that there is so much more to riding a motorcycle than practicalities. One friend passed her test and wanted to buy a cruiser style bike that was well known for handling difficulties. Everyone advised against but she bought it anyway and loved it - rode it all the time. Yes she was a bit slow but she came on the ride outs and we enjoyed her company. A couple of years later She was “persuaded “ by her boyfriend to ditch the cruiser and buy a Ducati. Yes she was a bit faster but she just never jelled with the bike, it broke down a couple of times and she slowly just faded away from the ride outs. I don’t think she’s ridden a bike for years. Another guy I know has a Hyabusa. He’s as slow as hell but loves it and won’t have any other bike - he gets there in the end but he rides which is what it’s all about. Individual stories, obviously, so I agree with you in essence BUT buying a motorcycle is not buying a car :D Cheers bier |
I hear you.
I think it is best if the person who is to own the bike does in-depth research into different options - in the end, it is a personal choice. I guess it is also a tell tale of wether someone stays in the game or not, if they are enough into it to actually do the research and form strong opinions on their own. Maybe the people you are referring to dropped out of the game, not so much because of wrong choice of bike was made for them, but because they were not so into it in the first place - that others made choices for them out of personal motived - like really wanting their GF becoming a biker (who might have been ok with it at first, but not something which was at the top of their needs list). |
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She had a tiny Honda ST70 - a bike for those who thought a C50 too heavy. A polkadot girl's bike that came with a make-up kit to repair the damage caused by a trip to Sainsbury's. :scooter: Forty years on I'd take the ST over the Wing any day. :thumbup1: My wife however decided she wanted a (modern) Wing for our last USA trip. doh |
WR 250R I would say is the one to go for, after owning about 150 bikes i would never sell my wr ! ,
No vibes 80 mpq 60 mile per hour all day Bullet proof 26,000 miles valve check AND A LOT MORE !:Beach: |
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Seat height? :( |
I agree, for long distance, out of western world, and for dual riding ( tarmac and trails to real off road) small is beautiful.
I love my XT250. It has taken me over 10,000 miles across Europe, Russia and Central Asia without any problems. And another 12,000 miles across Southern Africa. We did really bad roads and trails, but my XT was light and could get through anything, a real goat. Happy to push at 60mph all day, big fuel tank giving me a good range ( over 300 kms ). The husband has the crf250, but it is 30kg heavier than mine and taller. Both are reliable and easy to fix if we have problems in the middle of nowhere or to source parts. Something to consider if you go to remote places and countries where you will struggle to get an XYZ motorcycle dealer with computer to plug your bike! I can’t fault our current bikes. I just hope this pandemic goes away one day and I can ship the bikes back to Namibia soon. For details of those trips and the bikes, check my website, link below. I forgot to add, the only issue on small bikes is the seat is rock hard. My cheap and easy fix is to fit a gel pad from the horse riding section using elastics. It has worked wonder for our two long distance trips. :D |
I really recommend that you read books by Lois Pryce - it is a must read. It will give you perspective about the WR250R (and it's predecessor if I can remember correctly). It will also give insight into overlanding solo as a woman, and a lot of perspective in general.
In short, the WR250R is a suitable bike for many. I would very much consider one myself, and have on many occasions, and probably will again - especially for an RTW |
Lois's books won't give any perspective on the WR as she rode an XT225 Serow (great little bike and the later xt250 Serow even better) and a TTR250, which is taller but much more powerful and capable in gnarly terrain, but they are still worth a read!
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My WR250R is too tall for my wife and she has a 32” inseem - rides a 1200gs with the seat on the highest setting and can just about flat foot.
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New VSTROM250
My wife just bought a Suzuki DL250 Vstrom as her second bike, after learning on a CB125....
As a small adventure bike it ticks a lot of boxes; - 490km fuel range - twin cylinder fuel injected - factory rear rack and hard box factory mounts - very low seat height (you sit in it, rather than on it) - ABS - 17" wheels (kind of road/dirt compromise for the front) She loves it and feels confident on it, something not many others did. |
Me and my partner will do our rtw trip next year. We will skip the hardest countries, like Africa and South America, so we will only do Europe, Canada, USA, Japan, South Korea, China, into Kyrgyzstan and from there back to Europe again. We would like to drive as much gravel as possible but nothing extreme. But we also want to drive comfortable on highway when we feel for it.
We argued back and forth for half an year which bike we should buy since we wanted same bike but my partner is 188 cm and I'm 164 so he wanted a big bike and I wanted a smaller. But we actually bought for three weeks ago two BMW 850gs, he got the adventure version. It seems most people like smaller bikes, but since we won't do any hardcore off road tracks we feel it is a bit overkill for us and my partner think it is uncomfortable to drive those for longer period of time (but without actually have tried it). I also have 650gs, I feel safe on it and can plant both feet flat on both sides but there are a lot of vibrations and not so much power so I don't find it to be so comfortable or so fun driving. But we are both beginners, we only got our licence last year so we have only done like two days trips so I wouldn't be chocked if we do regret the decision. But we are not hardcore adventurers so I think it can't be too bad, in worst case we can always choose roads that are more suitable for us. But I did try to convince him for 750gs or Triumph Tiger 900 rally pro first while he wanted 1250gs so we found a compromise. |
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I can recommend adding the Indian sub-contient to your itinerary if you have time and the interest, it is something of a Marmite place to visit, you will either love it or hate it but it will be memorable and can be tarmac all the way. |
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