I am in a quandry - which is never a nice place to be at the best of times. What bike do I take around the world. My heart says an XR650 but will it be the best option for someone who is 6'8'' and 17stone (115kg)?

I realise that it requires me throwing me leg over a few bikes (ahem) in order to find what is the most comfortable - however not many places nearby have the bikes for me to experiment.

Are there any other people of a similar gargantuan frame who have set off around the world on a bike? And if so what did you take?

I'm just curious like...

Guzzi Quota 1000. Riders under 1.9m tall need not apply.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

I am about 6'3" and weigh a little over 100kg. I have a BMW650GS Dakar for my travels. Some people say that I dwarf it a bit, but it is fine and comfy for me as stock. Wind buffeting gets a bit much over 70mph, but you can buy a larger screen. Peg position might feel a bit cramped for you, but this might be able to be modified.

Basically, any large trial/off road bike should be ok. Just make sure it hasn't been lowered by a verically challenged previous owner.

I am also about 6'3" and around 110 kg. I ride a R1150GS, and apart from the wife needing a stepladder to get onto the pillion seat (she is 5' bugger-all), the bike is fine. I also ride a CT110. It is comfortable if a bit slow, but then it is only used around town (I do harbour a dream of a long distance trip on it though).

John

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BTO APAW
One day I'm gunna......

Well I've got a few suggestions. The XR650R is a fantastic bike, but its a pure dirt bike. Or ..... are your talking about the XR650L street bike? The "R" version is a liquid cooled race bike. Many have converted them for semi RTW
but there are draw backs. Spindly rear sub-frame, narrow seat.

The XR-L on the other hand could work. Its seat is wider and a fairly good aftermarket seat could be fashioned for decent comfort. But even the XR-L
may have a few issues going RTW. The sub-frame and battery box area may
be of some concern. I had one back in 1995. It never caused trouble but I didn't take it RTW either, only to Mexico once. But I know many guys who ride this bike. Its a good reliable bike overall but maybe not the very best choice for going RTW unless you really need pure off road capability at least 50% of the time......which you won't.

Honestly, a guy your size...you really want to be thinking giant trailie. Like BMW GS, Capo Nord, Suzuki Vstrom, or Triumph Tiger.

Any of these bikes can go round the world and have the leg room and comfort
you require. I am partial to the Vstrom's. And if you are thinking something
lighter than all these bikes then the DL650 Vstrom is a good compromise between a single like the XR-L and the bigger liter class bikes.

Research the DL650 some. With a built up seat it will offer MORE leg room than a BMW R12GS, and weigh in about 20 kg. less. A good thing. And of course its cost is half the BMW and not much more than any single.

We've got many very big guys riding Vstroms. They work out well. A good friend of mine rides a Triumph Tiger. He is 6'7". Loves it but after dropping it off road a few times, has decided to sell. Too heavy to pick up. He has to carry very bulky and heavy tire changing equipment due to tube type tires.

The Vstrom has tubeless tires. A BIG plus.

Heres's Bob towering over our bikes in Copper Canyon.

Where? Can't see it!

I did a testride on a Buell Ulysses some time ago.
I am 180 cm (6`) and for me it was to high. I could just touch the ground with the tip of my feed.
I guess for you it would be fine.
Apart from it being to high for me, I loved the bike.

For the BMW F650GS you can buy a 3cm (1 1/4") higher seat and handlebar risers from BMW or Touratech. I guess that is possible for more bikes.

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Jan Krijtenburg

My travelbike is a yellow BMW R1100GS
My wifes bike, that I use a lot, is a 1978 Honda CB400T
http://jkrijt.home.xs4all.nl/ (my personal homepage with trip reports)
http://www.krijtenburg.nl/HU_BoZ/ (The HU Motorcycle Travellers Community in my area)

See what? You mean you can't see the canyon? Yea, we couldn't
either. A year long drought and many smokey fires (Taramuharu indians)
made the haze as bad as any urban scene. Terrible for pics.

That is a very tall guy next to some very tall bikes. Two Vstroms,
12GS, KLR, and his Tiger is black at far left. (TALL shield).

Patrick