Trip delayed - will this ever end

[krtw]

I was going to leave on my RTW trip 2021 - now 2022 - but really? The new normal may be scary on many levels, and will we be out of the woods by spring 2022? I really hope so, cause I'm not gettin any younger....

I have gotten a lot done, but have SO much more to go.....

KRTW - that's me - K, just K, I'm not OK, nor KY - just K - and that's KRTW -
K Round The World.

My biggest decision has yet to be made - and that's a new motorcycle...and this decision is driving me crazy.....I have looked at everything....a while ago a friend let me ride his BMW and I was really impressed. Balance, smooth, fine engineering, but you know what - BMW is WAY down the list of reliable motorcycles on the Consumer Report. And reliable is what I seek....

I will be living on this bike for many years...comfort is important too. A bike is defined by the kind of riding you'll be doing, but I will be doing everything, and a LOT of off road. I know the adv bike is where I"m going, and I know I want to be in the 800cc range....I also know I want a used bike that I'm going to modify the shit out of. But BMW - maybe. Yamaha Tenere 700 - only new ones in Canada. Not a Triumph, that company does not seem stable at the moment. Take into consideration parts around the world....Honda does not have anything in the range that I like. KTM - maybe....but long-term reliability - here, where I live, there are more used KTMs available that anything else - why? I tried the DR 650 and hated it - too small. I want to keep weight down where possible so no 1200cc.....what to do? Driving me MAD! But due to the pandemic - I have time.

I hope this community is safe. Wondering if there is anybody else in my position - wanting to leave but stuck...what time frame they are looking at for leaving and what their thought process may be. I will spend my first year in Canada and the US. Second year or longer in South America before I head to Africa and then Europe.

I have looked at 1000's of hours of bike travels....read blogs and motorcycle magazines....talked with BMW owners and still fully at a loss as to how to move forward on the new bike....I think what will happen is that I will buy something in the range that's a great deal - and that will be that. I'm not a rider that is a fan of any company, I just love to ride. But I have to admit - the BMW sure was a nice ride......

All the best to everybody....I have finally become a member....no meetings for me this year with members, but maybe next year things will open up.

Be well.

[Warthog]

I sympathise with your sentiments. This may blow over, or the danger of contracting COVID19 may be the new normal and we have to learn to mitigate those risks.

Either way a RTW trip ahead of you is very exciting. I'm jealous of that.

I don't know if you're asking for input on bikes, or just commenting on the difficulty in choosing one. I'm going assuming it's the former!! Ever met any biker who didn't like to pontificate about bikes?!

Anyway, the adventure bike market has exploded over the last 15 years. Every factory is selling the overland dream to commuters and sunday riders the world over. And by and large that really is who's buying them. The factories know this. That's not to say they are bad bikes. I'm sure they are great, but the vast majority will never ever see the likes of the Mongolian steppe or the Road of Bones. As such they are not built to handle them. That's not to say they couldn't cross either, but they were not built with that in mind. They were built to make the owners feel like they could ride those places.

First let's posit that the lighter a bike, generally the better. On the open road a juggernaut is fine. Stable and comfy, but on rougher roads, trails and tracks that challenge you to stay upright, that weight will be a major handicap: I know from experience. I rode a BMW R1150GS, two-up across South America and mostly it was fine, but on some gnarly roads (I'm not great off-roader), it was really hard work.

Generally, anything under 170 is usually akin to an enduro: so perhaps look at a weight max of 180kg, dry will allow you a bike that is decent on the open road and not unmanageable on the dirt. Opens up a lot of bikes of up to 800cc, I would say.

Meanwhile let's also posit that mechanical complexity and remote locations only play well when the former suddenly requires human input. In other words if your bike needs a USB, a laptop and an internet connection to be diagnosed, reprogrammed and tuned, you better hope it needs none of those off the grid.

Now what follows is not a sales pitch, it's simply my rationale for valuing my bike as a potential travel bike. It's also an admission that it's the best choice either.

I no longer have the BMW. I was relieved of its ownership when a nice lady ushered me into a crash barrier whilst I was riding home: this is after it survived 7,500 miles of South American mayhem. Anyway, with the exception of an XR400 that broke my butt, I have owned the same Honda 96 Transalp since then. Why do I like this bike for the idea of a more remote trip?
Lighter than a GS (but not light),
21" front,
decent suspension travel,
fuel economy is about 4.5litres per 100km, once reaching 3.5 on a very steady ride
decent tank size
Honda build (I mean the Honda of the 90s)
comfy seat
decent headlight
Carbs. No complex FI system.
Can do two-up at a push.
Decent power
V-twin (I love V-twins)

Those are the reasons I think it makes a good bike for such a trip. If I could make it air-cooled and weight 30kg less, I'd love it more. My point is that newer isn't necessarily the best.

My other point is that if you are so overwhelmed by the choice of bike, narrow the field by choosing a genuinely decent criterion to consider: weight. You will soon have a far more manageable shortlist.

I've been impressed by what some have managed on the likes of the CB500X and the CRF250L.

Once you've chosen it, by all means add a few clever bolt-ons but don't clutter it either: you may want to reinforce the sub-frame, add LED lights where you can, add an auxiliary/USB plug and a comfy seat, but if you really need to make major changes, then perhaps its not the right bike to begin with.

My bike works for me so I'm not going to tell you what to choose, but I would urge you not to discount some models because they are too small because, depending where you go, even they may feel too big.

[krtw]

The Transalp is a great bike...but old now....I don't even know if I could find one. Pedro Moto on youtube is a great example of that bike taking a beating...

500cc is just not gonna do it for me....I have been riding a long time, of course not RTW - but I have 150,000 miles plus on a bike. There is a balance to reach between off-road and being throw off the road by 18 wheelers. Some weight is good.

I wonder if buying bikes as you go is a viable option....for instance, in Europe mostly tarmac. In India, a Himalaya...

I am seriously considering building a bike from almost scratch.....buying a motor, frame and wheels....doing custom suspension, and everything else. This would be AWESOME but imagine getting parts for it!!! I would know the beast inside and out.

Thanks for the post Warthog. I cannot really feel like I'm leaving till I have a bike for this. My current Yamaha Vstar 1100 ain't gonna cut it!

[MEZ]

Originally Posted by krtw

I am seriously considering building a bike from almost scratch.....buying a motor, frame and wheels....doing custom suspension, and everything else. This would be AWESOME but imagine getting parts for it!!! I would know the beast inside and out.



t!

I recognise your dilemma mate, that's why I built two very different travel bikes. One from scratch with a bomb proof engine for two up and one from two bikes to make a solo offroad oriented bike. You have the time now to go custom, I'm so glad I did..!!

I'm supposed to be doing the full TCAT east to west right now but for covid, real game/life changer for sure...

Interested to see which direction you take with both bike choice and trip detail, keep posting

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[jfman]

I traveled two up for a year (North and South America)

On this year long trip, I used a 1000cc 120hp big bike for North America (Open roads of the US and western Canada)

Then for South America, I used a 650cc vtwin bike.

I felt like the bikes were well matched for the job. I personally would not want bigger than a 650 for SA. My only regret was not spending more money in suspension upgrades for the 650.


I also want to add that the bike doesnt matter as much as you think as long as you get to do the trip.

Don't overthink the bike but do make the trip happen if you can.

[krtw]

After TONS of research, and watching some fantastic vids made from the great people here at HU - you are absolutely correct about the bike....I looked deeply into the Yamaha Tenere 700 - and when I finally got to see and sit on one - its not the bike for me....Top of running right now, is the BMW F800 GS - or some version of it....

One of the things that shook me when I looked at the Tenere - its build quality....basically its made out of plastic....and for me - I would have to make so many mods to the bike to make it fit my needs - forget it...Plus the fact of a new bike and parts distribution around the world....no.

I want a used bike - with known issues, well tested....that will not cost a fortune, that I can modify to my hearts content....

The biggest issue I have with the BMW is weight, and I will be seeking ways to drop that weight as much as possible.

Getting close to bike purchase time - fall. I have a space all set up for work on the bike, and will have all winter plus to get some work done.

Thanks for the post.

[mika]

Very good answer Warthog !!!

To choose the right bike for your multiple years RTW trip is an important decision, so take your time and dont just buy the first bike because of its price or color.

Building one yourself give you the advantage that you know it inside out. I traveled together with a rider that had somebody else build the bike for his RTW trip and to tell you the truth the bike handled very badly off road (but I only rode it for a few kilometers).

For my RTW from 1999 to 2005 it also took some time to choose the right bike, and I first bought the wrong bike and after talking for a long weekend to a friend who had traveled for 16 years around the world on a bike, I knew which one to buy. So I sold the first one and bought another one and in my 6 1/2 years on the road I had no regrets and I am still today very thankful to my friend for his advise.

Choosing the wrong bike could mean that costs for parts/dealership services or transport costs after a break down will break your bank. A part in the US may cost 100 Dollars but in other parts of the world it will cost twice or three times as much, if it is available, or you have to pay huge import duties and shipping costs.

My advise is, choose a simple bike and learn to do all the servicing and most repairs yourself.

Good luck, and dont forget its your journey and it can be done on any bike ... enjoy it.

mika

[krtw]

What was the "right" bike for you mika?

[mika]

the right bike for me in 1999 was:

a then ten year old 1989 Yamaha XT600Z Tenere (1VJ - 1987 Model) in very good condition, with an original big petrol tank, electric starter and kickstarter ... and it was not cheap to buy, but I had no regrets paying over market value.

when I returned it had 270000km on the clock.

mika

[krtw]

Originally Posted by mika

Yamaha XT600Z Tenere (1VJ - 1987 Model) in very good condition, with an original big petrol tank, electric starter and kickstarter ... and it was not cheap to buy, but I had no regrets paying over market value.

when I returned it had 270000km on the clock.

mika

That bike was never available in Canada. That's why the Tenere 700 is on my list.

[geoffwchew]

I think it's horses for courses. I ride 2 bikes, 2005 F650 Dakar (176 kg dry) in South America and 2001 R1150GS (230 kg dry) in Europe. I have fallen off both all too frequently and the 1150 is a helluva lot easier to pick for the engine configuration, even for a geriatric of 75 years of age. That said I have found the Dakar with Mitus E07s to be a good compromise for slab and off-road. The Rotax engine is unbustable, consumption is 70 mpg and FI allows operation between sea level and 15000 ft without a problem. Only issues with this model are headstock bearings and water pump seals, neither of which are show stoppers.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

[krtw]

Originally Posted by geoffwchew

I think it's horses for courses. I ride 2 bikes, 2005 F650 Dakar (176 kg dry) in South America and 2001 R1150GS (230 kg dry) in Europe. I have fallen off both all too frequently and the 1150 is a helluva lot easier to pick for the engine configuration, even for a geriatric of 75 years of age. That said I have found the Dakar with Mitus E07s to be a good compromise for slab and off-road. The Rotax engine is unbustable, consumption is 70 mpg and FI allows operation between sea level and 15000 ft without a problem. Only issues with this model are headstock bearings and water pump seals, neither of which are show stoppers.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

Do you have an opinion on the newer BMW's. Say from 2010 up? Some really great points were made about getting work done on a bike with an ECU in the middle of Africa, for instance.

[geoffwchew]

The 1200 is a lot lighter than the 1150 but I have no experience. I would limit yourself to a 650 for a solo RTW. But don't agonize over which bike because any will do, the limits are defined by the rider. I have been corresponding with a guy riding a 650 Vstrom, From Australia across Russia then through South America and he swore by the bike. On my recent travels I met a girl rider from Belurus on a F650 GS with 180K miles on the clock. So it's not the bike but the journey!

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

[Warthog]

Originally Posted by geoffwchew

The 1200 is a lot lighter than the 1150 but I have no experience. I would limit yourself to a 650 for a solo RTW. But don't agonize over which bike because any will do, the limits are defined by the rider. I have been corresponding with a guy riding a 650 Vstrom, From Australia across Russia then through South America and he swore by the bike. On my recent travels I met a girl rider from Belurus on a F650 GS with 180K miles on the clock. So it's not the bike but the journey!

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

A lot of truth in that and it lends weight to the notion of going for the bike that gets your juices flowing!

[Jay_Benson]

I went into the centre of Derby to get a job done with younger daughter and we wore our masks. Unlike about 75% of the people there. The worst people were the pensioners, I really can’t get over how dense people are. Arses.

I didn’t even get the bloody job done as Vodafone’s back office system, that I needed to be working, wasn’t. Arse.

Still, on the the other hand, I have handed myself a perfect opportunity to go again next weekend (when everyone in the UK has to wear masks in shops - still the muppets will put the mask over their mouth but leave the nose exposed - arses) as this evening I managed to tread on my glasses that had fallen out of my pocket so I am now using the spare pair. Arse.

Still, on the other hand, I have got to get some new glasses as I realised today that my prescription has changed sufficiently that I now am only marginally better off with glasses when driving than without - in other words my eyesight is getting longer sighted and correcting the short sightedness that I have had since I was 18 years. I can’t see anything with my glasses on near to so I am going to have to get bifocals. Arse.

So on the basis that the UK populations are made up of 75% idiots and at least one clumsy, ageing motorcyclist I suspect that, firstly, the Covid situation in the UK will get worse and we have a second national lockdown (I have little doubt that the idiots of Derby are not alone) and secondly, that I will still manage to lose my new glasses regularly.