Riding a sporttourer PanAmerican?

**StephenRivett** · #1 16 Oct 2002

Hi fellow riders,
I am considering riding a big bike like an ST1300 or an FJR1300 on the usual Alaska to Argentina route. Do you guys think they would make it without being raised several inches? I am considering the possibility of having the back wheel narrowed by a professional so that dual-sport tires could be fitted (do they make a load range high enough for one of these bikes?) So far I have completed a trip from Ottawa to Quatemala City via Belize in an Econoline 150 Yeah, boo, I did it in a van

Ofcourse I did only have 16 days to travel 16000 km and 4 days we didn't travel at all.

So here's the question, what kind of major mods would a bike like these need to be somewhat converted into a BMW type dualsport? I could easily ride my GS400 on the trip without trouble but the bugs in Central America are the size of birds and I don't have a fairing!! I plan to depart on the trip in about 2 years so I have lots of time to figure things out.

Just to complicate the answer to this question even more I think a GS1100(GSX1150) would be a great choice too since they have the most common engine in the world by the looks of it)

Thanks in advance, Steve

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--1982 GS(X)400EZ--

**Grant Johnson** · #2 16 Oct 2002

There are two routes that make SENSE.

1. Ride it as is. Either bike will make it fine. Search the site for "Sjaak" - he's currently on his second rtw - first time on a CR900RR Fireblade, this time on an R1. Basically stock with big luggage box.

2. Just buy the GS / dual - sport bike and ride that.

My choice is #2!

Mods such as you suggest are way too expensive and are rarely worth the effort involved, especially if something already exists that will do the job. Trust me, and damhik!

It's ALWAYS best to start with the appropriate bike and make MINOR tweaks to make it perfect.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**onlycookie** · #3 16 Oct 2002

There might be better bikes for what you plan, but I get the impression they're not available across the atlantic...

I'm thinking of the Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki range of Travel-Enduro-Style bikes...

Comfi, enough power, build high enough for the normal gravelroad, but enough room (at least for a bike) for 2 people and luggage...

Just to mentione some:

Suzuki DR 650 or BIG (800)/V-Strom (1000)
Kawasaki KLE/Tengai
Honda Varadero/Transalp/Africa Twin

http://www.varadero.de/
http://www.transalp.de/
http://www.africatwin.de/
http://www.geocities.com/deltabig/dr800_specs.html
http://www.happy-trail.com/vstrom_news!.htm
http://www.rawer.de/rainer/bike/teng_hai.html

So IF they're available I would think about these, but it seems to me, that the only options you have overseas are made by BMW - do you actually have the F 650 GS DAKAR???

My impression is, that you find Yamahas XT 600 range and Kawasakis KLR 650 almost anywhere on the planet where I got the impression BMW is limited to the roads and day-offroad trips - due to the necessity of a garage to maintain...
...but that is MY impression and opinion...

...especially in the americas it seemed to me lately (for me very odd) that BMW serves the semi-offroad market and RTW market better than the other companies - hereabouts known for their cheap, reliable, easy to maintain, easy to get parts and luggage-systems for, widely available and well constructed japanese bikes...

At least that's my impresion - and the only bike from BMW REALLY discussed for something alike RTW in the German forum I'm in is the F 650 GS...

...all other are mainly seen as pure road-bikes...

...but as I said - it might be different accross the atlantic!

For the other I'd go for Grants idea - take a bike that suits YOUR idea of driving and do some minor improvements...

[This message has been edited by onlycookie (edited 16 October 2002).]

**StephenRivett** · #4 2 Nov 2002

I just bought a 1981 GS1100EX so that's what I'm taking on the trip. Right now I'm trying to locate a Gearsack Rack since they are really good setup. I'll be putting on aluminum paniers at some point too. It's possible I'll get an auxilliary gastank put on the back as well but who knows...

Oh yeah, I put a set of dual sport tires on my GS400 today so I'm set for a winter of flying through snowbanks.

Steve