Sorry : Which Bike ??
 

Hi People !!! After having driving in Africa with Cars , trucks , jeeps , push-bikes and in public transport .. I am now considering to adquire a overlanding-motorbike , with the sole intent of driving it trhought Africa.

I am really doubting beetween a

Yamaha XT 600 E (?) 25000 kms 1700 Euros

or a

Honda XL 600 "Paris Dakar" (apparently with long-range fuel tank , dual headlamps , panniers and dual-battery 15000 Kms (4000 of them raced in Afrika) 1800 Euros


Other options include Domminators (2000 Euros) ..Transalps (?) (2200 Euros) and AfricaTwins (2500) Euros. .

Which one woould you reccomend for someone which never -ever- drove a motorbike (I really don't know which side is the gearbox and which one is the rear-brake !) .

Thanks a lot !
Javier.

I have not yet crossed Africa so you can decide to ignore my post right now if you like.

Depending on the condition of the bikes I would normally go for the XT but the XL sounds to be fully prepped and ready to go! Perhaps parts are more readily available for Honda as well (don’t know). I’ve owned many bikes in my life but my 50cc Honda (when I was still in school) was the only bike that never, ever broke down.

You sound like an experienced traveller – I’d take the cheapest and smallest bike in the best condition and take along the bare minimum. If the bike breaks down you can sell it to locals or throw it into the Congo. If you decide you hate motorcycles you can sell it or set it on fire. If you injure yourself (hope not) or become ill with ebolamalariaids fever you can sell it or hide it in a bush until you can continue your trip.

P.S.
You ‘Ride’ a bike, not ‘Drive’ it – the distinction will become important when you grow to love motorcycles. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif