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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 2 Jun 2008
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Originally Posted by Baron Bolton View Post
Imagine the thoughts of an elderly woman in rural Africa somewhere, walking miles to collect water. What is she going to think, when one of us overlanders rides past with £500 touratech panniers and the like?
I don’t think she knows the difference between a 1200GSA and a Vespa and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t care about Touratechs prices.

But she knows that you are white and probably carry more money then she will see in her entire life

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Old 2 Jun 2008
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Originally Posted by AliBaba View Post
I don’t think she knows the difference between a 1200GSA and a Vespa and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t care about Touratechs prices.

But she knows that you are white and probably carry more money then she will see in her entire life
But, park a 2008 R1200GS in Yellow with full Touratech electronics alongside an 1980 R100GS in white with a map taped to the tank in say Dehli and the latter will sort of blend in with all the scooters and Bullets. You could turn up where the lady in your picture lives on the bus, dressed in any disguise you like and you'll still be known as an ultra rich westerner. It's the places inbetween where you might be able to lay low.

To me, you need to know why you have the technology. I have a rather nice company car. Lots of people will think i'm a flash ******* but when it comes down to it the "flash" car with 120000 miles on it makes more sense to the company than a different model that won't take the strain as well. Its the same if you use your bike gear as tools. If the best GPS and a BMW works, I say go for it. If you've only got it to insulate yourself from the world and are only doing the RTW for bragging rights in the pub when you get back, I think you are in the wrong line of travel. Likewise I wouldn't suggest travelling on a C90 navigating with your wrist watch and a page torn out of an altlas unless the getting lost, breaking down, meeting people thing is part of your trip.

It's a balance IMHO. Take tools with you, not status symbols and you'll be happy.

Andy
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Old 2 Jun 2008
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Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
You could turn up where the lady in your picture lives on the bus, dressed in any disguise you like and you'll still be known as an ultra rich westerner. It's the places inbetween where you might be able to lay low.
There is no bus going to the place where the lady lives.

I responded to the part “Imagine the thoughts of an elderly woman in rural Africa somewhere, walking miles to collect water. What is she going to think, when one of us overlanders rides past with £500 touratech panniers and the like?”

So far I’ve only been in India by foot/taxi/plane but I don’t think they care to much if I drive a 1200GSA (which I wouldn’t) or a XT.
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Old 2 Jun 2008
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I took a 2 grand bike and a lot of people outside of Europe thought that it must have cost a lot more, even had a cop who refused to believe that it didn't cost 20,000 dollars (assuming it must be the same thing as Ewan and Charleys).

For me the number one bike criteria is that it must be fixable/maintainable anywhere, so anything with carbs. True you have to carry spare throttle springs, o-rings, needles and jets etc for a long trip, but along with spare valve shims and collets this is less space than a spare computer type box thing. Annoyingly I also have to take belts (belt driven cams) - might go with something that has chain driven cams (Yam) or gear-driven (Honda dommie?) next time.

Dressing the bike down with scruffy luggage, duck tape, crash damage and splattered insects helps keep the 'flashy factor' to a minimum.
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