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Well, for us, when I started researching which bikes to get, back in 2005 (for a one year round South America in 2007/08), I had to solve the following problems:
Find a bike low enough for me (I’m a midget!)
Find a similar model acceptable for my tall husband (he is tall!)
Find an engine size big enough for him and small enough for me
Get the same model (made sense)
Engine size from 350 to 650….
Find bikes available in the UK (So no DR650 sadly!)
After lots of research and thinking we agreed on the F650GS for me (with low seat it was perfect) and F650GS Dakar for the husband.
We did the BMW off-road class (in those days it was not yet too extortionate…) and were impressed with the bikes.
The DR350 would have been ideal if not so tall. Most bikes were either too tall or too heavy or not available in the UK.
Did I regret my choice? Oh dear God yes. I broke down everywhere, and as it is BMW, it was a nightmare to sort out! This has been documented in these forums (or check my website for details).
But in another hand, my husband had absolutely no issues with his GS! So, for him, it was a brilliant choice. Sure, BMW customer services were appalling as many people stranded find out! Again, I won’t go into details as my list of complaints is so long it would make a massive post.
So, what I have I learned? First that small is beautiful.
For Europe/Tarmac/easy gravel, I will stick to my trusted Kawasaki Versys, but any bike would do.
For my trip next year to Mongolia, we want to have the freedom to go anywhere we fancy, so we plan to get a couple of YBR125 in London. Cheap and tough. And easy to fix. Off the beaten track, we will be happy to have those little light wee bikes. And at the end of our trip, no need to pay £££££ to bring them back. They can be donated to charity … that’s the plan anyway.
We rented two of those YBR125 for few weeks in Vietnam, few years ago, and we were impressed. It was so easy to get through what was virtually goat tracks! It would have been impossible in a bigger/heavier bike. At least for me!
Oh yes, and I will never get Alu boxes again, way too heavy! The killer for me was the weight! So we travel light now!
And when we return to South America, we will buy a couple of small 250s over there. Plenty of excellent choices in that part of the world and cut the expense of transport from Europe to SA. Bringing them is cheaper too.
But we learnt those lessons the hard way. Now we know what works for us, but it might not work for others.
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Hybrid Mode
