Choice of bike
 

I've been to Iran a couple of times and travelled about on local bikes (125-150cc). Also been to Jordan and driven around with a car rental.. and done some walking in Egypt. I live in Bulgaria. I'm thinking to take a bike down shortly through Turkey and visit a few countries (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq etc.). Not sure of the route yet, need to research ferries and visas.

I'm hoping to get out into some sand and remote spots (ie in south of Jordan, spots like this: https://goo.gl/maps/5t1DuJhbwba4YZkQA). I don't have much experience with sand. The cg125 copy on skinny tires got bogged down in Kalouts, near Kerman, in Iran (https://goo.gl/maps/zR7MxfAaFBondTFB9), and the suspension wasn't really up to it. I suppose something a bit bigger is needed.

There's good highways (Turkey, Iran, Saudi I suppose..) and the possibly a lot of distance to cover.. I was considering an old-model Africa twin (650/750). But then weight, and two of everything, and radiators etc. I do have a Honda nx650 downstairs in very good shape, if I use that, I'd put some better springs, tires on it and a big tank. I used to have a xt600 tenere, it had a bit longer suspension. I travel light, there could be a passenger now and again. Don't really want to spend more than say 3000 EUR on a bike, prefer the flexibility to do a one-way trip. There's a pretty good choice of used machines here and in Greece. I have an old copy of AMH and follow Chris's blog, in AMH he's not a fan of the AT (too heavy, too heavy on fuel), but on his more recent posts he seems to favour two-cylinder bikes, even more road-orientated ones with shorter suspension, for trips to Morocco.

As I understand, Saudi Arabia is not big with overlanders, but, on google maps there seems to be very interesting scenery on the West.

This post is me thinking out loud. Any suggestions for bikes most suitable for such a trip?

Honda CRF250/300 is pretty good for most trips like that and might be within your budget secondhand, I agree the Africa Twin is too big and heavy.

I don't think there's a better choice than the bike you already have and don't need to buy again.

CRF250 would be lighter and a bit better on fuel, but the nx650 is already very manageble, the weight doesn't concern me. CRFs seem a bit pricey here, lots of older DR250s in Greece for reasonable prices, would need to look for a big tank etc.

My theory was, maybe a heavier bike would be OK for this trip, because if you head off the road in the desert, it's generally open, and you can maintain some speed, so the weight of the bike doesn't come into it so much (until you fall). Perhaps weight is more important when you are going slowly over rutted roads, sticky mud etc. Although you can end up in places you didn't anticipate, where the weight could be a real liability. I've only ever had singles (125s, dr200, xr200, dr650, Xt600 etc.). I guess I fancied a big silly bike for a change, and imagined cruising across Turkey in comfort. :) There's a worn but apparently solid Africa RD04 for sale in Varna for 1500 EUR. But, sensible would be to sort the bike I have.

I found some photos of my little travel bikes, for who is interested :)

https://imgur.com/a/n6qXHVz

125s in Iran
DR200 copy in Columbia
XR200 in Philipines
GS125 accross China (spot the 'Ted Simmons washing machine' in the box)
Bajaj 185? in Sri Lanka
CG125 I rebuilt in the UK, wasn't really up to UK traffic speeds.

Small bikes, always 2-up, mostly becuase they were cheap/available. :)

In fact, in any of the places were these photos were taken, a heavy bike would not have been desirable. Apart from quickly crossing Turkey, I suppose the weight of an AT is a hinderance.

Things I didn't like about nx650 last year around Bulkans:
-- seemed to use oil (was 40c+ though) (> check valve seals? synthetic oil?)
-- engine oil temp got high while driving slowly up a long steep road to radar station (heavy Belarusian girl on the back) (> don't drive slowly up hills with heavy girls on the back)
-- seat ok for a few hours, not great for more (xt600 I remember was much better) (> some kind of seat pad)
-- suspension wallows less on braking vs. xt600, but less 'magic carpet' soft over bumps (> better springs should help)
-- fuel consumption a bit high (5.5L/100km) (> engine compression ratio is only 8.3:1, low thermal efficiency, try 10:1 piston?)

Aircooled Hondas do just seem to use oil, from my experience of owning a whole two of them. Bit me in the backside twice when riding on hot days, they overheat and you get problems in the valvetrain ... to be fair, both bikes continued to work after I'd cooked them, just in a smokey clattery manner!

I don't think it would have been a problem had I been more religious about checking the level.

That fuel consumption is terrible though, I get about 3.2L/100km out of my 2014 650 Kawasaki on the road.