Honda AT 750 or Suziki DRZ 400
 

Hey Guys

I currently own a AT XRV750 96 model, I have touratech panniers and top box, the bike itself is fine, been on a few short little warm up spins / trips, mostly 2 up with camping gear etc....the only thing I find is its a little heavy with 2 up and all the gear, grand on paved roads but I would not be to confident in myself using it on off road or in areas or countries where the roads are in poor condition especially with two up....
I was looking at getting a suziki drz 400 and get soft luggage, in a perfect world I would get two, one for herself ! there are a lot of different models dr and drz, s models etc...what I would love to do is rent out 2 of them and do a small trip on one to get a feel for it, ill keep the AT as its a good bike but I couldnt see myself going to thro africa or mongolia on it, nothing to to with the bike more a case of my ability to handle it...anyone know where I can rent a pair of suziki drz's in ireland or the uk or even europe...or any feedback in general on the drz would be great...I have see a few people online who done rtw trips and half way thro changed the big bike for a lighter one...I kinda see now why they might have done that...

Cheers

You could save your money on the rental and get some off-road lessons. They will be handy no matter what bike you choose... plus you can probably ask to do the lessons on a DRZ or similar...

You might find a DRZ a bit breathless two up. Off road no bike is going to feel very confident with a pillion (I have done it on an R1200gs and it was ok but nothing I would be in a rush to do again.)
I'm using a BMW 650 single right now and setting it up for a big trip. My partner has now decided to come along half way and it's left me wishing I had a bigger bike.

DRZ400 would be challenge to tour 2-up, the AT is naturally much better for that (...well, maybe you didn´t even plan to do that on a 400, couldn´t really figure that out, even though I read your post!) And I don´t think you can do very serious off-road on any bike, when you´re 2-up on a long trip, as you´re likely to have some heavy luggage on board as well, so the total weight is just too much. But I also have my doubts, how much serious off-road is really necessary, even on a RTW-trip. But that´ll depend first and foremost on which way you´ll go & the kind of routes you like to take.

Riding solo changes the picture considerably. But it´s worth noting, that there are many many options between a heavy road-biased twin, and a relatively light 400cc single. A DR650 for example.

The AT is still a very nice bike, I´ve actually owned several of them. But its age is starting to show, compared to the newer models with similar specs. As they´ve got FI, they´ll go a lot further with the same amount of fuel, and will also carry a lot more weight, even on mountain roads or highway speeds, without starting to feel like the frame´s got a hinge in the middle (in my view, the AT never was very good at that).

For a travel bike, I would get the latest DRZsm I could afford, fit 18" & 21" wheels and similar gearing to S (14/44 I think)

That way you get a longer sub-frame than the E so you can fit your luggage.
Full road-legal lighting
Firmer suspension than either the E or S

Two up touring with luggage on a DRZ400 !! FORGET IT !!!

It struggles to fit one man and his bags and have enough oooomph for long distance touring.

It's a great fun bike or lightly loaded for short trips. No point having a lightweight dirt bike and then packing it up like an Egyptian donkey !

I suppose I would use mine again for a Mongolia trip but I would pack LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT and still stiffen up my rear shock (mines an S).

If you're ever up in the North West, you're welcome to take mine for a blast, with or without luggage !!

Ted

AT or DRZ
 

Thanks for all the replies, just to clarify a few bits.....if I go with one bike with 2 up I will use the AT, with luggage etc for 2 which will be quite a bit based on our few little warm up trips, we still have to learn to pack light....
I wont go out of my way to look for off road tracks as with the bike loaded and with 2 up its not much fun, plus I dont want to be breaking down if I can help it....but if I can convince my other half to take a bike then we will get 2 lighter bikes both the same make, hence the drz question....i find the AT grand at the moment but in the likes on mongolia and parts of africa with unpaved roads deep sand heavy muck, could be a lot of work....anyone done 2 up thro mongolia, kazakhstan, road of bones etc or africa on a large bike ?
Off road training on a DRZ sounds like a plan anyone know any spot that do Suziki models ? I see a few yahama spot alright

Here is a R/R of a couple doing big trip on DRZ 400's
The Mobius Trip - ADVrider

They go for two weeks and store bikes until next vacation. They are riding the US and Canada mostly Dirt and Gravel. The DRZ's seem to be serving them well.