Big or small?

**indu** · #1 31st August 2001

Dear adventurers.
I need your advice. I`m biking from Kerala, India to Norway next summer, and obviously needs a decent bike that can take me hassle-free through mountains and deserts alike. I`m not a very experienced biker, but have been condidering a second-hand, large beast of a R1100GS. Someone adviced me that I should have a larger bike which could take the beatings through Pakistani montains AND the Autobahn in Germany. However: I can buy a new F650GS or other bikes with smaller engines at a reasonable price. I`ll travel alone. Any reason why I should choose the one instead of the other? Will 650s, 750s or 850s endure like a 1100? (Bear over with me. I`m planning the journey of my life, and want to hear from you experienced guys.)

**Grant Johnson** · #2 1st September 2001

Definitely go the 650 - the 1100 is way over the top for what you need, especially if you are inexperienced. You can tour just fine on a 250, and on the autobahns, (1% of your journey) you just don't on a 250 - there are plenty of other roads that are much more pleasant anyway.

The 650 will handle the autobahns just fine, plenty fast enough.

I guarantee you will be much happier on a 650. I'd take the 650 myself for solo riding. Two-up, the 1100 for sure.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**Julio** · #3 2nd September 2001

Hi Guys

Just travelled from London to Czech Republic on a F650 Dakar with a friend on a 1100 Gs.

The Dakar really proved itself had no real problems in keeping with the 1100 at a comfortable pace. The bike sits at 80mph all day and is considerbly lighter than the 1100.

The 650 is a great 1 person bike but if were 2 up would go for something with more power.

Hope this helps

Julio

**indu** · #4 3rd September 2001

Thank you, guys. The ride through the Pakistani desert is a warm one. Is it perhaps better with air cooled engines than liquid cooled under such conditions?

**Grant Johnson** · #5 6th September 2001

For maximum hot conditions, water-cooled wins hands down.

BUT - any modern air or water-cooled bike will be fine providing you don't beat it too hard.

I ran our R80G/s two-up, fully loaded with toruing gear, at 120kph plus through the Sinai desert in temperatures of 50c + in the sun. All day. No problem. It's air-cooled, and has an oil-cooler, which helps a lot.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com