Lot to research

[Gearless]

Hi
I am 57 years old and three years from retiring, I would not class myself as an experienced bike rider. I rode a small trail and tiny road bike on and off in my 20s never rode again until a few years ago, I now ride regularly a 125 scooter around Asia 2 up with my wife. I have ridden in Hanoi, Bangkok and Phnom Penh and at home (Australia) I ride a 400 SYM scooter.

I am considering riding from here (Aust) to London when we retire. My wife has no license or confidence to ride so we will have to do it 2up. I have researched different bikes to take and get more confused the more I read. I think I have nutted it down to a Honda CB 500x or a suzuki 650 v strom but not entirely sure. To a novice like me these bikes still seem miles apart with the 650 heaver and higher seat. Hence registering here to ask more questions.

[navalarchitect]

Welcome to the site and the community. This site and the net generally is a wonderful source of information but as you find much of it is contradictory and very confusing. The trouble is there is no one perfect answer. Either of the bike you mentioned in sure would do the trip in some form, as would many others. The only advice I would offer is to buy one sooner than later - the best prep you can do for a trip is to do lots of miles on the bike you intend to use (even if their only commuting miles) so that you get fully familiar and comfortable with it before you leave. You also have enough time to find out it's the wrong bike for you and to make a change if need be. Final thought, look up your local HUBB community, contact them, there's bound to be someone in it able to give some practical face to face input.

Enjoy the planning and dreaming phase!

Sent from my GT-P3110 using Tapatalk

[g6snl]

I have a 650 vstrom and have toured 2up over the last 2 years with full camping kit and "wife packing requirments".

We have done close to 25,000 miles in those 2 years and not once have I questioned the choice of bike.
My wife has not once complained of discomfort.
It has been very reliable and very capable on and off of tarmac. Tyre choice is important depending on terrain, road tyres on serious off road is not too good. That's the same for all bikes.

It is a big, full sized, heavy touring bike which you find out when picking it up on your own. Mud and sand is hard work. Mud 2 up is very hard !

But honestly it is a superb bike for the money. To get better you have to spend a lot more cash.

As with all bikes there will be odd naff things, such as the easily damaged front indicators! ( there is an option to fix this) The screen needs changing for most people to stop buffeting.( great when sorted) The top box needs to be removed for pillion to sit down.(soft bags on rack much better anyway) The OEM "trailwing" tyres are not great, I hated the front one on mine it was scary!

On the move the vstrom is light and nimble and has lots of power for a 650. Road work is relaxing. Dirt and gravel is no problem on tyres like metzler tourance. With hard core off road tyres it will surprise most people.

As navalarchitect says you need to get on it and ride it what ever it is. Once you get used to the vstrom you will love it. But that's the important bit, you need to get used to it, or what ever you decide to go for.

Edit: Welcome to the HUBB