Help me to choose please
 

Hello all,

I get ready with a friend for a last great journey of 2 years for go the moment is to leave France to go there to Thailand (Cambodia Laos Vietnam), we go probably by the route Turkey - Iran - Pakistan or then Ukraine - Russia - Kazakhstan - Kirghizia - Tadjikistan - (100 km China or Afghanistan) - Pakistan - India.

My question is the following one, I read quite a lot of forum on which your which is by far the most complete and I do not still arrive has to decide on me on the choice of the motorcycle.

In the debut I wanted to make it in KTM 990 adventure (I know well the bike) but I fast realized that it was not a good choice especially with poor quality gasolines(essences).

Now I hesitate with a bmw on 1200 gs or adventure and the
Ténéré XT660Z.

My heart go for the bmw, I am afraid that Yamaha is not funny has to run(drive) with his mono-cylinder.

A little of help please?

Thx and sorry for my english , i'm a french guy !! :D

Hi,

Dont take a bmw its too expensive and if it breaks down its hard to repair in a third world country:

BMW R 1200 GS Dauertest : TOURENFAHRER ONLINE

The Yamaha Tenere is a good chois and if you dont like it take a Honda Transalp or so. These bikes are known to last for more then 200.000 km :)

Have fun, Tobi

Any one of the three bikes models you have mentioned has been ridden on long journeys across countries and continents many, many times. There are of course pros and cons of each, but it's really a matter of personal opinion as to which any one is better than the other, if it even possible to say that. They are all perfectly fine.

As for picking between them, since you say that you know KTMs, you should give the various models a good hard look again. You will run into them all over the continents - Africa, South America, Asia, etc. and people have planned around their known limitations (like all bikes) and mostly rave about them. I think I saw more KTMs in Africa than any other make as an example.

In general, a reasonable starting point is to stick with what you own if it is at all feasible as an around the world tourer (it can be a bit surprising how many different bikes are perfectly fine for this). Second, stick with what you know as that will help you maintain and manage your bike as the trip goes on.

If however you find that there is something unique about you or the terrain you expect to ride that leads you to want to change, then search some of the writeups on the bikes you have narrowed down to. The debates back and forth can be quite interesting, sometimes entertaining, and occasionally useful. Use google as a search function and google translate if the reading becomes too tedious.

Thank you very much of these answers rapids,

I tried this morning the yamaha 660 and convinced me not at all, really a big lack of funny engine and especially too low for my big size (1.95m).

I find your very wise comment Moutain man and finally I give up the idea of the bmw adventure.

Bitter read by long long blogs of journeys of 990 adventure, a lot of problems are in fact on old models 950 and on the debuts of 990. Bitter will happen surement a problem as on any machine but when I see the blog of another small French which was 100000 km with this machine with about minor problems, I am rather confident and think of choosing that this.

Otherwise Ktm 690 enduro R with big reservoir and protections style Dakar , the mechanical maintenanc in case of problem seems to be easier has to make. Without counting the weight which will cost me cheaper during the flight Nepal - Thailand.

If ever somebody has an opinion above, I am always accepting

Thx a lot : Clap:

Shame you didn't like the Tenere XT660Z.

I'm on a shakedown trip of bike and kit right now - in Switzerland in the mountains and the bike has impressed me far more than I thought it would.

60 mpg at least, cruise at 80 mph (reduces mpg to about 55 mpg), great torque and handling and a piece of piss to service. In fact, I cannot fault the bike for what it is and what I bought it for.

A bargain, second hand, too.

You may want to consider what your traveling partner is taking. If you both have the same bike, it make it easier to carry spare parts and diagnose issues. Just a thought...

He will leave with ca 1200gs, I stay definitively with the KTM adventure, the only big problem that I could credit note I think, is the one with the water pump , the rest is of the domain which I can repair i think.

But thank you has you for the sensible advice(councils) : Thumbup1:

If your heart is really set on a bike, I.E. You have a fetish for Enfields, Urals, Harleys or Vespas, then seriously consider it. But, talking from experience, the further and longer you ride, the less it will be about the bike itself, and the more it will be about going forward. Whatever you choose, yOu will get to know it soon enough, so personally I don't think what you know should be that important. I think you should really ask yourself about he variety of riding you will be doing, and how much. Then, try to find the bike that will make that as easy as possible - have the bike help you do what you want to do, and not have it fight you.

Are you vertically challenged, then your options narrows quickly, making choosing easier.

If you are riding two up, then you would likely be most happy with a bike with plenty of power and comfort for both rider and pillion. The type of offroad riding You would be doing would likely be limited as well. So two up limits your options further.

If you are on a budget, then options are limited even further.

If you plan to ride plenty of gravel, poor roads and some offroad riding, then options are limited even more.

If you plan to ride alone, will try to avoid offroad except for a short excursion on a poor gravel road every now and then, you are rich, and you are tall, then options are allmost endless, but the 1200 GS Adventure would be at the top of many peoples list.

But, it sounds from where you plan to go, and what bikes you are considering, that a offroad capabilities will be part of your choice. And, the smaller and lighter the bike, the happier you will be... If you are considering The KTM and the tenere, I presume height is not an issue.

For the same power, KTM will usually be lighter than most other competitors. BMW is not bad either. But if you for instance compare A F650GS Dakar with the new 660 tenere, the tenere is both weaker and lighter.

The f800gs is a much smoother and comfortable ride than the single sylinder thumper f650gs Dakar, but it is also heavier and have poorer offroad capabilities. But for long stretches of Really fast riding on sealed roads, then you will get sick of the smaller bikes quickly. But, as you pretty much can cross all of central europe in two-three days before you will slow down, then I think other attributes than +110 km/h riding on sealed roads become much more important on long trips.

I have a f650gs Dakar but would consider a lighter 250 to 400cc for an RTW, partially because my wife would ride her own bike, and having the same bikes would be beneficial for many reasons. But, I've done plenty of long trips, even offroad, with 11hp only, and didn't miss much more power, just a little more would be nice though, but not much before I would be satisfied. More importantly would be large wheels, good shocks, ground clearance, and a custom made seat. Long range is not important either I think, just buy a jerry can when you need it and give it away when you don't. With long range tanks, you tend to fill it up when you don't need it, and they are expensive.

Another benefit of the lighter bikes is economy, across the board.. But they are not very manly... Except if you actually ride the Dakar on a 400cc...

But, let me narrow it down for you. Go for a BMW Dakar/Sertao. Range is ok, weight is ok, offroad capability is ok, highway riding is ok, power is ok, service intervals are ok, quality is good, and it is tried and tested - seems like one of the more popular and desired options by RTWers. There is a lot of great after market stuff for it as well. You won't be worried about it being too small, nor too big.