Well me and Nadsicles are just about to bugger off from London to China on 110 scooters, riding via Russia, The Stans (and the Pamirs of course) and Mongolia. We've both done the big bike thing in Europe and the UK, but also recently ridden C90s down through Africa to The Gambia. It was all fine - and the one huge thing that we both noticed was that apart from the various differences already commented on here re big bike/little bike was how people approached us because we were on bikes that we just like theirs. We not only fitted in, but locals the whole way loved the fact that we were riding so far on such unsuitable machines. Great conversation starter, great way to meet people and get invited to places we would never have otherwise seen, no problems at all with traffic either - which also seemed to find it amusing so slowed down, let us pass, escorted us etc, and they also flew on motorways through the UK, Spain and Morocco. And cheap too -fuel and oil was next to nothing, ditto spares, and we rode them everywhere - up goat tracks, along riverbeds, over ruts, across the desert, across mountains, through deep sand, through thickets, up very steep hillsides and those bikes never let us down once. Fell off a few times, but they were easy to pick up because tehy were so small. Easy!

A lot of really good points in favour of small bikes. Personally I would consider using a small bike for local exploration. The ability to 'blend in' is something that really appeals to me. I also think that the 'spaceship' factor that we have noticed turning up in remote places on a large white 1000cc bike is good fun as well.

I still have reservations about using a small bike on long trips as at 6'2"/100kg I tend to find them very cramped and the low cruising speed somewhat tedious - I definately not a speed merchant but I would like to be able to keep up with the traffic.

Smaller bikes are much more economic, not just for tyres, chains and fuel but as otheres have said, much less costly insurance, carnets etc. which is another big factor in their favour. The ease of picking up a small bike is important especially if you are off road a lot.

The biker/non-biker argument is interesting. There are, I'm sure, a lot of travellers who turn to motorbikes when in certain places to give them more independance. It's probably a very steep learning curve the first time you do this but even so, I've met many travellers on bikes who on the face of it are extremely ill-prepared but they're still having a good experience. I've also learnt that complete mechanical ignorance can be an advantage. I met someone in Kenya who had bought a CG125 from someone who had travelled down from Europe on it. We noticed the forks didn't move although the new owner didn't know that they were meant to. On closer inspection we found that the springs had be replaced with wooden broom handles cut to length!

That's the sort of thing I had in mind when I wrote:-
"Originally Posted by Walkabout
+ by travelling more slowly, one tends to meet more people; conversely, a faster bike gets there faster and the journey is over, faster"
But I couldn't be bothered to write any more at the time

This aspect rarely gets a mention within the HUBB, but I think that it is increasing; more peeps are not bothering to ride long, long distances, especially through countries/places they have seen many times previously, just to get to somewhere of interest to them - they will take a long haul flight and a bike trip from that destination which cuts out a hell of a lot of bureaucracy, as one factor alone.
It also saves time for those who are time-short, cash-rich (maybe, but not necessarily so for the latter factor); classically, they may turn to an organised tour on a bike.
But, a bit now, unless we refer to those who, for example, will ride a hired or locally bought bike in, say, SE Asia, where little is beautiful!

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Dave

I've been caught out twice myself buying bikes with wooden bits...


Here the pannier rack on my Af Twin


Here my DRZ with a wooden back axle...

?

Sorry,

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TBS.com

If you are serious about off roading Pooratrek do one in antique oak

If you get stuck you can rub them together to get a fire going

Andy

You could try bolting one of these:




onto one of these:

Lee Valley Tools - Woodworking Newsletter Vol. 2, Issue 2


or even this:

The week in pictures: 22 April 2011 - Telegraph

Afterall, you can travel around on everything from two feet, to two wheels no engine, to two wheels plus engine.
So this arrangement should fit in there somewhere, and be a 'First Ever' for someone to try!!??


Sorry also

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TTR250 - London to Cape Town

As a reply to Colbach on the short thing , im 5'4" and have a f650gs fl model its perfect for me , I can touch the floor with both feet flat the weight is low down thanks to the location of the fuel tank. I have ridden it off road through rivers and it coped no problem. I think weight is the biggest thing when looking at a bike and mpg I get 80 mpg from my bike and it cruises at 70-80 mph with ease for me its nearly the perfect bike and this from someone who swore never to buy a beemer ....

oh and if you need a mechanic on your trip I'd be happy to help lol

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.