Out of curiosity,
who has made the biggest transition (either upsize or downsize) to their traveling rigs?
For me it was downsizing,
Right now I'm doing a 2012 LML star (Genuine Stella in the US) 4T 150cc



It replaced a 1996 Honda 1100 ACE.



(that's 7x smaller!)

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kicka,kicka,cough, sputter, kicka,kicka, cough, sputter, bwbwbwbwbw....she running fiine today

Sadly no pictures courtesy of Photobucket but in July 2015 I was riding a 120cc Suzuki across Europe and six weeks later I was on an 1800cc Gold Wing riding across the US. That's something like 15:1 bigger in capacity and probably not far off the same ratio in weight - it felt like it anyway, particularly with my wife on the back (no, no dear, you hardly added any weight at all - honestly! ).

Actually, I still have both bikes and have used them both this year.

I've rode bikes from 50cc to 900cc.
I think I like a smaller bike more. Right now I have a 650 cruiser, but I could see downsizing to a 250-300.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Four years ago I had a Triumph Tiger 955i. I then sold it and bought a Yamaha Tenere 660. Last year I bought a Honda Crf 250L.

When it comes to smiles pr gallon no bike comes near the Crf 250

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

I went from a VFR750 to a Yamaha Mio125 scooter......but I'm currently looking to buy a V-Storm or Africa Twin soon.
I guess once you have the bug there's no turning back!


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I downsized from 750cc to 350cc ...

... and I also realised that consumables (drive chain, tyres, brake pads) last a lot longer on a smaller bike.

Now my DR350 drive chain has more than 30.000km on it (DID x-ring) and with my XT600Z Tenere I never got more than 20.000km out of drive chain.

But still I cant see myself riding a 50 cc scooter long distance overland.

Just my 2p worth

mika

Just gone NC750 to Enfield C5. Only a 33% drop in capacity but half the power. Its as though I swapped a dishwasher for a biplane!

Andy

Seems like the trend is up-sizing,
Honestly, I've had more shear fun of riding going smaller. Sure I can't burn up superslab miles like before (restricted access do to engine size) and I top out (full throttle) at about 60 mph (96-100kph) on flat road (of course 10"(25-26cm) tires and a 4'(122cm) wheelbase feels scary fast coming from the big loping cruiser) But I have no regrets and glad I did.

Besides, around here people are used to seeing big cruisers and adventure bikes loaded up for trips zipping about. But show up loaded for adventure with a scooter or smaller ride and folks always want to talk to you when given a chance...And me? hell, I'll talk to anyone, that's part of the reason I do this, to meet people and get out of my cube and look up from the computer/phone (or what have you) and see something new and interesting.

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kicka,kicka,cough, sputter, kicka,kicka, cough, sputter, bwbwbwbwbw....she running fiine today

then you never read about Wan Lee?...rode across the US on a 50cc honda ruckus

Wan Lees Honda Ruckus - Together As Wan - Super Street Magazine

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kicka,kicka,cough, sputter, kicka,kicka, cough, sputter, bwbwbwbwbw....she running fiine today

Don't you mean DOWN SIZING?
So far, just about everyone on this thread has DOWN SIZED ... not up sized.
And .... if you've followed HUBB for the last 5 years or so, you can clearly see the trend is DOWN sizing in this community as well.

I'm on a DR650 now but currently shopping for a WR250R. I traveled on a DL1000 Vstrom for about 6 years, also a Tiger 1050, but it was mostly a USA only bike and I avoided off road for the most part.

I've traveled a bit on a XR250R but never set it up for real travel. Mostly local dirt riding and two Baja trips. I loved that bike but was off road only, no road amenities.

The WR250R should do better carrying luggage and riding highway as well.
But it probably won't match the mighty XR in technical off road conditions ...
or at least I don't think so. I don't have WR yet, can't say for sure after only brief test rides. Hopeful it will be magic.

I love my DR650 (keeping it) but want to branch out and try the WR250R.

I'd say the current fashion is towards smaller. Back in the 90's everyone said you couldn't take a 650 off road. This was wrong as we proved on 650-1150's. Maybe tyres and shocks had caught up? Then the Charlies came along and everyone said you can't tour anything under a litre. Ted Simon had proved this wrong 25 years earlier. Now C90 prices are going up faster than one of Kim Jong-Uns toys because its cool to ride across the world on one. The counter-counter post Adventure Rider culture.

Its all silly fashion, litre bikes are better on the motorway, a 125 crosser on dirt etc. Its all compromise, there is no right answer.

Andy

I haven't been on as frequently as I'd like, so not sure of the board in general, My observation (locally) is everything bigger, BIGGER, BIGGER...from Harley-Davidson to BMW...heck you should see the motorhomes that come through, bigger than my house and hauling all the 'toys' too boot (quads, canoes, MTB, towed jeeps, etc, etc...) !

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kicka,kicka,cough, sputter, kicka,kicka, cough, sputter, bwbwbwbwbw....she running fiine today

I have had some great adventures on 650cc , but some really great adventures on less. I've toured 2up on 125cc and had a blast so........... as they say size doesn't matter, it's what you do with it But in all honesty all the trips I have done could have been done with any size bike.

My newest adventure bike is a china made "no name" 123cc wind up and wait scooter. That's being "prepared" for a 2up Wales trip I'm sure it will be fine when I get it going again.....

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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

Good stuff from another Senior Citizen!
I've ridden both 1150 and 1200GS off road ... and you know what? I'd much rather ride the technical stuff aboard Ted's old 650 Triumph! I rode those Triumph's in the California Desert as a kid ... better than you'd imagine, and much lighter than the BIG BMW's or KTM's.

For me it's not about fashion, trends or counter-counter ADV Riders, its just about what works for YOU ... and what your route is. If you end up on a BIG bike, you'll be happy on fast highway and miserable in deep sand, mud or rocky, steep terrain, City traffic. On a small bike your road speeds may be lower and luggage will have to be lighter. At super high altitude, (high Andes) small bike will be gutless. So yes, trade offs.

If Ewan and Charlie were smart they'd have had their Crew trailer a few extra bikes ...ride the GS's for the easy stuff, unload the trailer with nice dirt bikes for Mongolian mud.

Most can't afford that plan ... so try to figure out your route and figure how much tough off road there might be ... then roll the dice and GO!

As usual, "Horses For Courses" and "Right Tool For The Job". My DR650 is about as close as I've come to perfect compromise. If well set up, a surprisingly capable bike! Tough, reliable super easy to work on. *this is a big one!

well, then I feel much better about using my scooter (all 147.5cc of dragon fire!)
for more than a work commuter/grocery getter and dork-around-town kind of thing.
Even though the last time I tried to trip on it I managed about 50 miles out and stopped because I had to use the interstate highway at that point that requires larger cc than I am (plus I didn't study 'alternative' routes with that in mind when I left, I just HAD THE URGE, PACKED UP AND LEFT!)..my bad

For someone that makes a living out of being detail and minutia aware, doing that was very out of character but fun

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kicka,kicka,cough, sputter, kicka,kicka, cough, sputter, bwbwbwbwbw....she running fiine today