The Yamaha Tenere 660 xtz.

We can't get them in North America but if if was available it would be high on my list.

__________________
Len

A lot of people seem to be preferring large European-made bikes. I think in most countries on a RTW, you're going to have a heck of a time getting parts for a KTM or a BMW.

I like small, light bikes, so I think I would lean towards a 250cc Honda or Yamaha dual-purpose. The suggestions for a Honda CGL or a Yamaha YBR are in the same neighborhood, and I think make a lot of sense.

__________________
Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

True, but money is apparently no object, and that means my private jet is sitting on the tarmac engines warmed up with a complete bike's worth of spares, a fully trained mechanic and a squad of masseuses to tend my weary bones all equipped with parachutes ready to drop in at a moment's notice.

__________________

This is as close to it as I could find so I bought one! 105 Hp, 115 Nm of torque, 195 Kg wet and 40 Mpg.

Attached Thumbnails

 

In post #5 at Adventures between a Cliff and a Wet Place. Brighty in Central Asia and Mongolia - ADVrider this bloke (me from my summer 2012 RR) refutes this opinion:

"FWIW, this summer's brand of choice for the Stans and Mongolia was Honda. My counting of Africa Twins went well into double figures and combined with a couple of Trannies like mine, Honda won the day easily. European brands and other Japs were down in the cheap seats."

No, I wasn't being blinkered. That's what I saw/didn't see because it/they wasn't/weren't there.

In answer to the op's question, if money was no object:

__________________

Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

G'day Mezo,

Diesel bikes are indeed interesting, which prompted a search and I found this......

Track T-800CDI diesel motorcycle made by E.V.A. Products BV Holland. It has some impressive specs: 0 to 100 kph (0 to 62 mph) in just 3.75 seconds, a CVT transmission (with 6 programmed "gears"), and an average of about 100 MPG (US) at 90 kph (56 mph). And since the engine is a 800 cc inline 3-cylinder diesel, there's the possibility of using biodiesel to further reduce well-to-wheels CO2 emissions (especially if its sourced from waste cooking oil or algae).

This bike currently costs 17,500 euro according to this page of the Dutch version of the website.

Cheers Dave

Attached Thumbnails

 

Attached Images

 

For me it would have to be my XT600 55W , comfortable, lightish....(compared to a GSA ) and pretty good off road, good fuel economy and simple.....like me

Attached Thumbnails

 

Nice bike . You need to take it out and get a nice thick layer of dirt on it for my tastes though

Andy

Option two, getting lighter, but lower powered, a Honda CL400, although I'd relace the front wheel from the 90/100-19 so matched the back 110/90-18, which would make life easier, and also l love that whole fat front tyre look. The engine's shared with the XR400 so should be OK and it's got THAT look.

__________________

You can look and look and look at bikes and deliberate about the pros and cons of this and that,I think we'll slightly longer legs on the road would be good,then you think bloody hell its a tank on the dirt...it's gone round and round in my head..transalp,v strom,660z tenere and so on...then I go out in the garage and see what I've already got and think its a great tool and has got to be the most versatile I reckon....a little old but..

HAHA I knew somebody would say something along those lines, it has been down the road once or twice since that picture, still awesome tough and I agree needs some mud and when time allows i hope to get her filthy !!

I've read a LOT about RTW bikes, and also have had some mid-size bike for touring SE Asia with recently, so perhaps this helps.

From everyone i've spoken to, and there's been some ardened riders, the most important points to consider when choosing the bike are;

1. Weight - can you lift it easily, or without breaking your back?
2. Simplicity - can you repair it, or do on-road repairs easily?
3. Fuel Capacity - larger tank the better
4. Availability of parts, and expenses thereof

After considering all of these, the bikes that were recommended were

1. Suzuki DR400
2. BMW f650/800GS
3. Yamaha XT660z Tenere

I've been riding a Kawasaki Versys for the past 6mths, and as much as it's an awesome bike, it's damn heavy to lift, and the engine is not so straight forward to repair. Having spoken with many RTW bikers, everyone raves about BMW's, but parts are pricey (however, some say they don't break down anyway, so don't need them). But, the resounding winner for me is the XT660z Tenere.

I met a guy who'd got his out of the box, added minor options such as handguards, chain oiling system and a sheepskin for his saddle, but other than that just got on a rode it - starting in Argentina and i met him in Penang, Malaysia. After all of that way, he'd had absolutely no problems at all, except a flat battery from a dodgy 12v adaptor fitted in Mongolia.

The XT is high, so will need long legs, but if you can manage it, it's got enough power, plenty of options to add, easy to fix, readily available parts, affordable price & can literally go anywhere.

I've checked out KTMs, BMWs (F800GS Adventure is close), but none of them offer all the things the Yamaha does. I'm not planning my next big trip and where to buy the Yamaha for it.

Hope this helps.

Keep on riding!

Anytime....

KLR 650c........no need for parts as they are bullet proof

For fear of sounding like a Ural fanboy, I think it would have to be my Ural outfit.

It's got massive carrying capacity, it's very simple to work on and fix, it's tough and can handle extremely rough treatment (it's built to be Russian Squaddie-proof!), it has a spare wheel as standard, and - if you get your spares from Eastern Europe or Russia - they're as cheap as chips (eg £6 for 5 oil filters, £48 for a complete gasket and seal set.)

It's also shaft drive, so no chain/sprocket worries, the tyres are tubed, so punctures are less of a problem (they're also much cheaper than most big-bike tyres), it doesn't need expensive synthetic oils and, last of all, you can't drop it.

Of course, having said all that, the only touring I've actually done is 1600 miles over 5 days in Scotland last year.........on a Harley, so I may be talking out of my rear end, but of all the bikes I've owned in the last 30-odd years and all the weekend iron-arse runs I've done, the Soviet Assassin is the bike I'd do them on if I had my time over again.