I originally bought the Alp for classic trials but I've recently been looking around for a replacement for my current travel bike (KTM LC4). I've been reading some of the posts in this forum especially those on using the TS185, and as I already own the Alp I'm thinking why not travel on it?

My next big trip is another attempt at trans-Africa - just waiting for certain areas to become safe enough to pass through, and saving up the money. So a good fuel range is a requirement - for my planned route I currently reckon that 400km plus reserve will be needed.

On the Beta I've had about 30km/litre, unloaded, riding normally, on sealed roads. At one time an auxiliary fuel tank was available which I believe contains about 4 or 5 litres which should give me a range of around 300km loaded up - this all needs testing. For the rest I'm looking at carrying a 5 litre can as part of my baggage.

I guess travelling light must be something of a necessity on a small bike - but then IMHO taking as little as possible is always the wisest course. The only other problems I can think of are that the ride south through Europe will take a while longer than on a bigger bike and I question whether a small loaded bike will have enough torque to get through the soft sand often found in the Sahara? We'll see.

By the way I briefly rode a TS125 in the 80s - the model with a low slung exhaust pipe. Great bike - I don't think anything went wrong with it, but my riding wasn't so good - I crashed it once off-road and cracked 4 ribs that still hurt today.