Probably cheaper to buy & kit out in the US. Even if not, it will be by the time you factor in shipping costs.

Touratech prices are cheaper in the US also and with a strong pound should work out to be a great deal.

Do many people change bikes half way on a RTW trip ?

For me expense wise its the same, I allowed enough for a R1200GS when initially planning. An XT600 + F800GS equate to about the same. I will be transferring panniers and equipment, so no major additional costs.

Just need to investigate the buying and selling abroad, although I may give the XT600 away in Mexico to a needy fellow traveller.

Bikes
 

Hey there,

Didn't you originally say something like:

"Lots of choice with the 2008 models but I don’t fancy a newly released
bike."

Don't be swayed by the evil marketers! Unless you are going to riding very slowly and therefore won't be buying your 800GS for a couple of years, I'd stay well and clear away from a new model until a few of the normal "new production model" kinks are worked out. The other bikes on your list have proven performance and dependability histories, the 800GS does not have one as of yet. Once it does, you can realistically compare it to the others. Until then, pretty tough to pick:)

Will be three years before I get to the USA so I can review the F800 before I buy. I may end up loving the XT so much that I will keep it. I just like the option of having a bike more suited to the western world for the latter part of my trip.

yep......
 

Yep, You will,You Will, and then Hate it, and love it and hate it and then love it and love it and, and never want to be parted from it, and you will end up apologising to it for swearing at it......... :eek3:

No no no I will always love the XT......
I will curse the people who recommended it. :stormy:

Wow...I can't believe the BMW K75 hasn't come up as an option...damn reliable bike as long as you do the basic maintenance competently...

Pluses...

1. Water cooled and durable cooling system.
2. Shaft drive and more durable than the new BMW's as long as you lube the splines accordingly.
3. Just as heavy as nay of the new BMW's
4. Parts are easy enough to find/rebuild en brousse(i.e. Oil filter is Toyota Hilux petrol)...
5. Tranny and gearbox damn strong and proven with many hundreds of thousands of miles put on each one over time...


The list could go on, BUT each bike has its pluses and issues...strongly consider the K for overland travel even in dirt/sand unless you plan on riding the Dakar rallye or something...

My$.02

Eddie, my thoughts exactly. I have owned three K100's in various incarnations, and I'm sure if someone does some serious statistical analysis the old K-bikes would be the most reliable bike BMW have ever made. I personally know of three bikes with over 200,000 MILES not km without anything going wrong or any engine parts needing replacing. That's no clutch parts, no gearbox parts (including bearings), no drive-shaft parts, no engine parts (apart from valve shims). The only thing that can let them down is someone forgetting to grease the drive shaft splines. How can BMW have got it so wrong in the arse-end on the new bikes, when they got it so right on the Flying Bricks.

I'm picking my present K100LT will still be going strong for another 14 years at least.

I have never had the pleasure of a spin on a K75, but all the reports I have ever read say they are the pick of the bunch too.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

how about engine type, rather than bike type.
 

Hi there, after reading your post, I came to one conclusion. Engine type.
For a long durable adventure, I would suggest a Bi-cylinder, throaty, simple and not too many carbs and tuning to worry about. Check out what kinds of bikes have bi-cylinders. I know of one, the Transalp. I own one, still in my garage, its a bit fresh at the moment and I'm still passing my license.

I am very happy to have made this choice, for the simple reason that it has a cruising speed of 130 km/h on asphalt and nice size tyres for off road. It's the most simple of machines, easy to maintain, considered maintenance free by most. It's not that heavy and sitting position is very relaxed. Nice wide seat, and even at 130 km/h it has still some in it for over-taking. Worth a look at.
Happy decision making. - TA :thumbup1:

Hi,
These threads are great for covering the arguments! There are loads of other posts/threads about the relative merits of singles V's twins etc etc.
There is a growing range of twins available, witness the new BMW F800GS/650GS.
Others currently available are the Yam TDM, Kawa KLE 500 and newer 650 Versys, Suzukis' DL650/1000 and Triumphs' Bonneville engine, to name a few.

Touratech...., a reason to purchase a motorbike in the US? sounds like the tail wagging the dog.

In the 12 months deliberating you could have been riding an XT and made you mind up. If money is not a problem, just go and buy one and see if you like it. Though I would probably just go and buy a BMW, as the resale value will be better (and you probably will sell it ).

HAve you considered the suzuki dR650? I've seen many around in south america, they are very light (147kg!) and high ground clearance. Air cooled, look like simple engine! They are not on sale in the UK I think, but surely you could get it from europe.
I've been dribbling over it since 1st time I saw it! So much lighter than my heavy (nearly 200kg empty) 650GS!!!! Fuel capacity smallish at 13litre but could be enhanced.
see here:
Suzuki DR 650 SE 2005 Specs and Photos

Dr650
 

As you say Maria, it is not available new in the UK any longer - a few from the 1990s come up on ebay etc now and again; recently there have been a couple of DR800s on ebay which have sold OK.

Anyway, that specification is similar to the Yam TT600R(E), except the Yam has just 10 litre fuel capacity as standard, and newish second hand ones come up for sale quite regularly in the UK.
To get a bigger tank on this Yam engine, without going for something like Acerbis, you come full circle to the Yam XT (standard tank is about 15L iirc) it seems to me - a brand new XT was sold very quickly recently, advertised asking price was £3000.

I love my XT and will never sell it. Every scratch and ding tells a story. I also love arguing the toss with my BMW owning buddies who's bikes might be prettier but break down more often and make 'em look like Ewan & Charlie wannabe's.

I prevaricated for a few months before buying the XT and even considered an F650 (phew, dodged a bullet there!) but when it comes down to it they're all good. Just ride the ones you are considering and buy the one you like riding most. You're going to ride it a long way after all. I think the choice really is as simple as that.

Matt :)

Some great advice thanks. Still like the idea of converting a Transalp into something simpler. Removing fairing, clocks and increasing tank size. Reduced weight from 191Kg to about 175Kg.

Taking test rides will be done. So far have only rode...
F650GS.... liked it but a bit large and heavy for a single.
R1200GS.... dealer offered them to me back to back for test ride so could not refuse, no intention of taking one RTW.
DR650... rode one for a while and liked it.
XT600... as you say selling for great prices right now.
V-Twins... love the power delivery of them, so lazy.
Road Bikes... prefer dirt to Tarmac and if I see a Volcano I have to ride up it.

New Euro emmissions in January so many old models will be pre-registered and sold off cheap.