Firstly a little about myself. Always liked bikes, always had field bikes, parents have always had bikes. Did my DA 2 summers ago and have been ridding an enduro ever since. However, i have the itch that can only be scratched by venturing to romote locations and being self sufficient on the bike.
My question is about bike choice. I'm currently considering an AT and a Dommi. It seems 2.5k pounds will pick up a nice low millage AT, but this is kind of towards the top of my price range. I've seen some low millage domi's for around 1.5. I realise you get a lot less bike for your money, but do you think the domi will haul me and my girlfriend around eastern europe for a month with panniers and camping gear. there are a couple of considerations:
Its going to be a nice relaxed trip, taking in as many smaller scenic raods as possible, so its not going to have to pull a ton on the motorways. we also travel light. i was thinking just taking a tarp for a tent and roughing it, so we won't have 100+ litres of junk to cart around.
Obviously the range is a lot less, the wind protection is less and the seat is a plank, but we're young, like pain and i'm used to the razor sharp saddle of a husaberg, so my arse is already fully equiped with the obligitory callases.
i know people tour on crazy bikes like scooter and such, but i'm not a complete sadist.
your views and experiences please.

friendly bunch!

eh?

Patience Mate! Give us a little time...

Yes the bike will do the job no problem. And I think you've really answered the question yourself anyway

As you noted, you can do it on anything - as to HOW much of a sadist you are, that's pretty personal...

You could argue - and some have - that to ride two-up with luggage on Euro roads you need at least an R1100... others are totally satisfied with their 500 single. Budget, pain threshold, it's all yours to decide.

Read the "Which Bike" Forum - this has been thrashed and hashed a million times...

THIS forum is really Honda Tech - which may explain the lack of response...

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Grant Johnson

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

Sorry mate, but there's not that many people use the honda forum and you didn't really ask a specific question. Also, most folks views and experiences are already written down somewhere if you look around a bit.

I ride an XR650L (same engine as the dommie), and next month myself and 2 mates are heading out across Aussie. Our website is www.yonder.orcon.net.nz/aussie2006.htm.

We're carrying full camping gear and enough water and fuel to go 3 days without seeing any civilisation. Fully loaded the bike's about as much fun to ride as a cow, so I wouldn't expect much from a dommie 2 up. If I was taking my girlfriend along I'd be trying to get hold of a Transalp or an AT for sure.

In saying that, I met a couple touring NZ on an XR650 the other day and they reckoned it was fine. They were travelling on their credit cards though, so they had bugger all gear.

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TDM850
www.aussie2006.webset.co.nz
www.europe2007.webset.co.nz

moved to "Which bike?" forum.

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Grant Johnson

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

Sorry bout that. I debated what forum to stick it in but decieded it should go in Honda tech as it was just about Honda's. My mistake!
Cheers for the link.

Hi
I met a Brazilian couple touring around south america on a Dominator, they were in there 50s and the bike was loaded with more luggage than i´ve ever seen on a bike, they swore by the bike said it was great fun to ride and never really let them down (run out of gas a few times). If they can do it here on some very bad roads you should have no problems in europe with the Domantor. Have fun, Go for it. Hope this helps Skip

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Do the best you can with what you have,
A stranger in a strange land now heading North South East West to.....