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WHAT Adventure bike for African Tour WHAT Adventure bike for African Tour
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Giovanni Lamonica, Aralsk, Kazakhstan.

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Giovanni Lamonica,
Aralsk, Kazakhstan.



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  • 1 Post By frameworkSpecialist
  • 1 Post By markharf
  • 2 Post By chris
  • 3 Post By Bronek
  • 2 Post By Grant Johnson
  • 1 Post By Bronek
  • 1 Post By chris
  • 1 Post By backofbeyond

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  #1  
Old 6 Jan 2022
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WHAT Adventure bike for African Tour
hi there

Quick and to the point - what would be your recommendation for the suitable motorcycle for a (solo most likely) trip from the East to West coast of Africa.

Currently, I am based in East Africa and planning my trip from Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania to Luanda in Angola - at least to start with.

What type/size of the motorcycle, pros/cons, what other gear/kit should I start looking for.

I can see there are many super experienced of you here, so I thought I'd ask you.

ATM, I am commuting on the small, most popular local 2 wheels, just for the ease and parts availability.
But, I'd need an upgrade to something decent that would last the trip

THANK YOU!
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  #2  
Old 6 Jan 2022
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Most important is to have a bike you like riding.

After that. You probably don't want a very big and heavy bike, as it will be less suited for bumpy roads and traffic.

The most reliable bikes are Japanese so: Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or Kawasaki is what I would recommend.
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  #3  
Old 6 Jan 2022
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OP, welcome to The HUBB.

I really don't want to sound unwelcoming, but your question has been asked and answered at great length lots of times by lots of members, experienced and otherwise. Beginning with a site search and perhaps some other reading on your own will help you narrow your focus. That, in turn, will help you frame better questions--asking "what type/size" and what "other gear/kit" is rather broad, to put it mildly.

One alternative: start with a book. You'll probably want one (or more) anyway, so nothing is lost by getting ahead of the curve. Chris Scott's books cover the territory pretty well.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #4  
Old 6 Jan 2022
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Vincent Black Shadow. Faster than a F111 until take off
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  #5  
Old 6 Jan 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frameworkSpecialist View Post
Most important is to have a bike you like riding.

After that. You probably don't want a very big and heavy bike, as it will be less suited for bumpy roads and traffic.

The most reliable bikes are Japanese so: Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or Kawasaki is what I would recommend.

Good points. Thank you.
I'll need to narrow down my search a little... and try to test what I can source locally, or, most likely, in the neighboring countries (eg South Africa), and what I could potentially be able to service, get parts and fix if needed somewhere not too far from where I am/will be.

Thanks again.
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  #6  
Old 6 Jan 2022
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
OP, welcome to The HUBB.

I really don't want to sound unwelcoming, but your question has been asked and answered at great length lots of times by lots of members, experienced and otherwise. Beginning with a site search and perhaps some other reading on your own will help you narrow your focus. That, in turn, will help you frame better questions--asking "what type/size" and what "other gear/kit" is rather broad, to put it mildly.

One alternative: start with a book. You'll probably want one (or more) anyway, so nothing is lost by getting ahead of the curve. Chris Scott's books cover the territory pretty well.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Thank you....


unwelcoming? Naaa.... if so, just a little... but, no offense taken

Look, I did have a look around the service... and I found some threads that were useful.
Having said that... perhaps, for somebody like you, who spent here millions of hours and posted thousands of posts, things are a little bit more straightforward... and you'll know immediately where to head to find what you need.
Maybe, I am a bit OCD, perhaps, bit too impatient, but the fact is that if I cannot find something within a few minutes, regardless how it sounds now... I have no time for that. Sorry.

Thank you for your suggestions. I'll look them up... Every little bit helps. I'll get there eventually.

Thanks again.

P.S. I'll try to scan things again
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  #7  
Old 6 Jan 2022
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Vincent Black Shadow. Faster than a F111 until take off
I was thinking more of something like that...

Romet Komar 1966

what do you reckon?
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  #8  
Old 7 Jan 2022
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Just to give a quick answer and keeping in mind the travellers mantra - KISS! here's my suggestion - something popular locally, probably on the bigger end of what's available, a 25-400 would be ideal. Local ability to fix it, very cheap, and really, disposable if need be.
OR - buy a Japanese 650 single dual sport - and look like a lot of foreign travellers.

OR - buy a new BMW and a BMW suit to go with it.

You'll have very different experiences with the three approaches.
Which suits YOU - as everyone is very different in what they want the EXPERIENCE to be?
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  #9  
Old 7 Jan 2022
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Originally Posted by Grant Johnson View Post
Just to give a quick answer and keeping in mind the travellers mantra - KISS! here's my suggestion - something popular locally, probably on the bigger end of what's available, a 25-400 would be ideal. Local ability to fix it, very cheap, and really, disposable if need be.
OR - buy a Japanese 650 single dual sport - and look like a lot of foreign travellers. Or buy a new BMW and a BMW suit to go with it.

You'll have very different experiences with the three approaches.
Which suits YOU - as everyone is very different in what they want the EXPERIENCE to be?

Thank you, Grant!

At the moment, I am doing a very popular local option... it's been cool experience, I ride like everybody else.. well, perhaps I wear at least trainers, they all wear flipflops

BMW with a suit - that's funny!!!! I think, this one is out.... just being white here makes me weird and a bit crazy already... I do not miss that BMW lifestyle so much.

I think, at the moment.... I lean towards the Japanese 650-ish option.

KTM seems widely available in South Africa, which is kinda, round the corner, as well, hence I was reading about these, too. However, I hear pretty often "reliability" of KTM Vs Japanese, which makes me think there's something in it.

Thank you again!
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  #10  
Old 8 Jan 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronek View Post
I was thinking more of something like that...

Romet Komar 1966

what do you reckon?
Probably more useful as a 2 wheeled RTW vehicle than a lot of the current offerings on the market
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  #11  
Old 8 Jan 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronek View Post
I was thinking more of something like that...

Romet Komar 1966

what do you reckon?
Worth doing just for the YouTube hits alone.
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  #12  
Old 12 Feb 2022
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If you want to have a read of someone that has travelled around Southern Africa by 125 then have a read here. The writer is currently doing another trip in Southern Africa on a 250 - this is here.

Both are good reads with lots of photos. The writer has also done some other trips by bigger bike in Africa so you can get an idea of what the different sizes of bikes can be like.
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