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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 14 Sep 2010
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india to europe
Planning to ride to Europe in 2011,

I ride the royal Enfield with the unit construction engine and i am happy with the machine having crunched 14000 kms in the past one year.

I was looking to buy a bigger machine, and the sv1000 is available with a friend and he is looking to sell it, he has done only 12000 kms on it.

I need some help on this, is this the right machine to travel to Europe, is it comfortable to ride.

all suggestion are welcome.

Regards

Kishor

tigerranch.co.in
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  #2  
Old 14 Sep 2010
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Why not using the Enfield?
Do you own the 350cc or 500cc? Twin spark or injection?
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Old 14 Sep 2010
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I have both the Thunderbird 350 with carburettor and the classic 500 fuel injected..Cheers
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  #4  
Old 14 Sep 2010
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Hello Kishor,
I have the same question as Icarus...why not use your bullet. Which route are you planning, through Afghanistan and enter Europe from the east or through Istanbul?
If you go through afghanistan, you have the karokarum Highway which is supposed to be beautiful.
Have you seen through the documentation required in India for the carnets?...I have visited the SAAI in Chennai and got some details. I have mentioned it in one of my previous post.

Regards,
Pare.
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  #5  
Old 14 Sep 2010
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the SV is a great bike and very reliable , great also if you carry a lot of gear or a passenger. In Europe a fast bike is always fun for HWY ride even if the RE can do it all I will still take the SV anytime , my experience after 12000 miles on a RE in India was not that much impress by the bike.

good luck
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  #6  
Old 15 Sep 2010
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An Electra with the new fuel injected 500cc EFI engine would be my choice but as far as I know they are not offered yet in India.
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Old 15 Sep 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HendiKaf View Post
the SV is a great bike and very reliable , great also if you carry a lot of gear or a passenger. In Europe a fast bike is always fun for HWY ride even if the RE can do it all I will still take the SV anytime , my experience after 12000 miles on a RE in India was not that much impress by the bike.

good luck
You probably rode one of the older models but I can tell you they can't be compared to the new EFI based machines.
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Old 15 Sep 2010
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you were right it was an older model of RE , I never tried the new one and will be curious to see how it does on the europeen HWY
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Old 15 Sep 2010
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Originally Posted by icarus View Post
An Electra with the new fuel injected 500cc EFI engine would be my choice but as far as I know they are not offered yet in India.
Hi.. We have the 500cc EFI.. and I own one, I have crunched a lot of miles in india on the RE, I was wanting to buy a good bike for international travelling.

We in india having a limited choice of good sports tourers, I have come across two bikes sparingly used.

1. SV1000 naked
2. ZX9R kawasaki.

Which won to take, I am 51 years young, height 5'7".

Should be comfortable to ride long distance

Cheers
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Old 15 Sep 2010
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Originally Posted by tigerranch View Post
Hi.. We have the 500cc EFI.. and I own one, I have crunched a lot of miles in india on the RE...
Cheers
But is it the classic not the Electra, right?
I believe the Electra (different frame and wheel size) makes a better bike for travelling than the Classic.
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Old 19 Sep 2010
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I rode an enfield round india, was a 350 electra. Great machine - for india. Outside of india when the roads open up a bit you'd appreciate the faster machine! Thats my 2 cents anyway. Just go with the bike you like the most

Can imagine the sv to have a more relaxed riding position than the zx. What ever you choose, enjoy!

By the way, clicked on your website, were a few of you guys in manali end of July. Think i bumped into you.

Hutch
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  #12  
Old 19 Sep 2010
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I have been very interested in the UCE, EFI 500 classic but have been searching forums to try and find out there reliability, a few I have read about have covered around 5-6000 trouble free miles, although one needed a total rebuild at around 3500miles.
By the time you start your journey I will have made up my mind as to whether the Enfield is my chosen bike.
Keep us all posted, and good luck.
Just skimmed through the 'Bike' mag road test and I must say I never take much notice of mag reports that are usually done by testers more used to 'rice rockets'. Brit, Italian and early BMWs received bad reviews after testers were riding machines that were not 'run-in' properly, The advice I listen to are those from current/previous owners.
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Old 19 Sep 2010
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Whats wrong with the diesel option Dave? Seems like the very thing for distance. Have you gone off them?
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Old 19 Sep 2010
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Hi Cammy, I have not gone off the Diesels but am considering selling the 412 Fuji Robin and just keeping the 347 Hatz, for anything serious the Enfield fits the bill, alright. the Hatz would be fine but should spares be needed it becomes somewhat akin to using an old brit bike or even a foreign classic bike, the Hatz could still be used, and you are more than welcome to having a ride on it when I am in your 'neck' of the woods!
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Old 19 Sep 2010
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I have seen the Hatz in Germany and it looks the business. I understand the point if the other bike could need spares when on the road. It's the same for many bikes I suppose. But diesel seems to be a solution in these days of hellish fuel prices.
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