A bike to ride around the world.

[Knightsy]

Hello everyone.

In about a 1,5/2 years from now, I'm planning a ride from UK to Japan across the continent on a bike.

But it's not the money, planning, gear collection or paperwork that does my head in to be honest. It's the bike choice .

I'm pretty much dead stuck in between the Tenere's and a GS's right now,
so I thought I'll ask around here to see what more experienced riders than myself
(pretty much everyone here) could tell me about each.

I'm not dead set on either so if you've got a better suggestion, please let me know.

P.S Just thought I should make it clear: The bike needs at least some off road capability. Doesn't have to be a dirt bike, but need to be able to cope with it with my fat arse and the gear on top of it.

Cheers.
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[Musketeer]

Any bike that gives a good tank range, powerful enough to carry all the stuff you take with you, not afraid of off-road, reliable. Bikes mentioned in the poll tick all those boxes pretty much but they are expensive.

On tighter budget (which is what my budget usually is like) I would get myself XT660Z Tenere, lose weight and take less stuff with me. It's underpowered yes..

[garth]

I would take a c90, with a four speed 110 motor and an extra fuel tank. Spares all around the world, 45mph cruising speed when loaded up, 120mpg, easy to repair at the roadside and you get to take in all the scenery and meet all the people as you go. If I was doing a long trip I'd not want to rush it.



But then I am a little odd.

[bridgedino]

Whichever ones a shaftie would get my vote

[G]

R1.

https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/235/roundworldonr10gp.jpg

[Hetzer]

Anything with an engine not built in china. I believe that'll exclude current BMWs.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[pinkyfloyd]

[map]

The BMW, tried and tested. Charley and Ewan's seal of approval (well they did get them free).

Don't be afraid of getting the older 1100 model.

Don't forget the 'special' oil for the GS (it's a rating that's hard to get 20w-50 IIRC, BMW dealers have it, very few other places stock it off the shelf).

Look the part with the Touratech accessories.

Best of luck.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[DrDonnyBrago]

S1000RR with 4 spare engines.

[Scootaloo]

Honda CG...

Rugged.
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(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Rogerborg]

Solo? None of the bikes in the poll, and here's why.

Something in the 125 - 400 range that I could pick up myself if it was lying wheels-up in a ditch, and fix by bashing it with a rock. I'd be thinking along the lines of an XR250, KLR250 or similar.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[G]

BMWs tend to be pretty easy to pick up - I only dropped my R100 once (in the work car park in front of the smokers too), but thanks to the sticky-out cylinder it was a cinch as it wasn't very far over.

As ever, a big single can offer a decent bit more speed but nor much weight than an XR250 if you choose the right ones.

However, I don't see any mention of riding that should involve upside down in ditches with any regularity, so can see there would be some advantages to a multi-cylinder bike.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Rogerborg]

I'd imagine that upside-down-in-a-ditch is the sort of event that only has to happen once to put a damper on the Adventure if you can't get it out.

Actually, I'm thinking about when I dropped my GPZ500 a few weeks back and it fell at an awkward angle across a verge on a slope... while doing the 'gradient sign' BCF photo challenge

I thought, "Hey ho, let's get it up then", shortly followed by "...uhhh..." as I realised that I couldn't get in underneath it because of the terrain, the left bar that I needed to lift was dug in to the grass, and when I did manage to get any lift to it, it started rolling away from me and I couldn't get to the gearshift while it was lying down, or the brakes on the other bar/side of the bike.

It sounds daft looking back on it, I've laid down and lifted bikes in the garage, but it had me stymied out in the "wilds" of a tarmaced UK road.

Fortunately, a helpful native stopped his bangin' Clio and by gesturing and hooting indicated his willingness to assist.

Which is going to happen almost anywhere, granted, so I guess it really depends what sort of Adventure you're after. I prefer to be self reliant though, it saves carrying chests of shiny beads and mirrors.

Oh, more from Austin Vince on the merits of doing it small and cheap.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[G]

[Sload]

I have been considering this recently (not that ill likely get to do it) and so have been trying to decide on the most suitable bike for it. I don't think I would choose any bike in that list if honest.

It would have to be mechanically simple, easily maintainable with minimal tools and robust enough to not shake to pieces at the first bit of trouble you face. Half faired to minimize damage when you inevitable drop it but give a bit of protection. Lightweight but with enough power to cruise at 70 and enough low down grunt to cope with overtakes and hauling a bit of weight.
Also parts availability and bodgability for where you are.

The guy from this thread https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3583870#3583870 did his adventures (lots of miles) on a KLR650. Looks the ticket except that they seem very hard to come by on our side of the pond, perfect for him and his route though.
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[Enduro Numpty]

Any of your list, but if you've never ridden off road get some proper training and practice before you go, it will make a massive difference.

[von1papen]

Something like an old Airhead BMW, r65 or r80

Shaft driven, good tank range, panniers, easy to work on and reliable.

But still light enough and low enough to easily pick up.

[.....]

XT600E

Cheap, air cooled, good off road and very reliable. I wouldn't swap mine for anything else for that kind of trip.

[Chalky.]

MT350?

[P.addy]

Can you not just use your current Versys

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I found those bikes somewhat satanic.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[thx1138]

Yamaha Serrow, or something that sized, ickle bikes are easier to pick up in the back of beyond.

[Vracktal]

If I had unlimited time to find one, i'd opt for a Kawasaki-HDT M1030... basically a Kawasaki KLR650 with the 650 replaced with a diesel engine and toughened gearbox.

Tops out at 95mph but has respectable acceleration and daft amounts of torque so can carry tonnes of stuff, and gets mpg in the triple figures. The engines are reportedly indestructible too, minimal electronics, mechanical indirect-injection, natural aspiration etc.

Only problem is they were only made for military use, so they're rare in the USA and even rarer in the UK.

https://image.dieselpowermag.com/f/8574069+w750+st0/0604dp_06_z+100_mpg_diesel_motorcycle+side_view.jpg

Every time I see one crop up in military surplus listings I keep an eye on it though... More of them are appearing lately though as they're being phased out.
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2007 BMW R1200R: On road
2009 BMW G650X Challenge: On road
1975 Norton Commando 850: Off road, awaiting recommissioning

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