£1500 / 2000€ /$2500 Budget Adventure Tourer???
 

Hi
I am scratching my head reading all the different ride reports as to what bike is best? I am planning on purchasing a bike in London, riding to Turkey, possibly around the Black Sea, up to St Petersburg and back to London in about 60 days.

-MPG is high on the agenda.

-I wont be really going too far off road, although I like the idea of being able to get off the beaten track if necessary (or just try some pretty dodgy roads).

-I'm not taking HEAPS of gear, so just a bag and tent I guess really.

I'm considering anything from a 125 VanVan to a 650 ish single. Don't really want anything heavier, and not in a real hurry to get anywhere..

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Tom

Hi
we are settle in France (center) and do sometimes the kind of "sell and buy back" for long travellers in Europe like you're going to do.
Tell us your budget and type of bike and we get the bike for you registred and insured and we ll buy it back when you come back a the agreed price.
If it sounds ok or if you want more infos contact us with private message.
when are you planning to do your trip ?

laurent & Carole

I used to ride a vanvan and now I have a 650 single. They are completely different bikes and the suzuki is not really up to doing the trip you describe.

:oops2:


I think Vanvan owners would certainly disagree with you there, personally I can't see any problem at all, any bike can do any trip.

Yamaha WR250R :thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1: (R, being the road version)

Very light on petrol and good cruising speed for a 250cc. Good service intervals too. Excellent engine!!

Erm, budget? Wasn't sold in great numbers, and was sold at a faintly ridiculous new price (in the UK at least). Doesn't exactly lead to a glut of cheap bikes on the used market.

I'd get a second hand XT600/660 or Honda Transalp for that budget.

I'm a big fan of the Yamaha 660 equipped bikes. Good economy, comfort and easy to work on.


If you want MPG and don't care too much about overland snobbery then check this out.. New and over your budget perhaps though..

Suzuki GB Motorcycles/ATVs: Inazuma 250: Intro


Similarly, there are plenty of small fuel injected road/commuter bikes about which I think make brilliant overland machines for those staying more 'On road'

Even saying that, Id rather ride accross the Sahara on one of those than a brutally heavy big 1200.

Check out the YBR 250

Yamaha YBR250: full review - | Motorcycle News | New Motorbikes | Buyers Guides | MCN

You might find a bargain on Ebay if you're patient.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-YBR...ht_1362wt_1401

I think the YBR250 is not a bad suggestion at all. I think I would lean towards something like that.

Thanks all for the help. I have been tossing up between
a) transalp 600
b) Dommie
c) SLR/FX Vigor
and
d) XT 600e.

I ride a Thruxtville at home so i liked the idea of the slr but the fuel range is a bit off-putting. I think im leaning towards the XT for the strength and simplicity of the bike.

Maybe considering a smaller XT also.

Thanks again for assistance everyone
tom

Dude,
u wanna check out the Suzuki xf 650 Freewind. Just bought one 2 months ago, for just 1500 swiss francs, only 12k kms. Totally long distance touring bike... and some offroad ist also just fine. Dont know how much they are in the UK. Same engine like the dr 650, just little modified.

ride safe :)

Never seen an XF 650 before, they look perfect for the job! almost like a late model Dominator, but with a heaps bigger tank... Are there any problems with getting parts? Im assuming they aren't quite as popular/common as XT/XL/TTR or even DR's etc....

Im particularly after something that has a) a decent size tank
or
b) an aftermarket one that i can put on... Did a 1200km loop on weekend on my bonneville and stopping for fuel every 250km is bearable but there's no way I'd go any lower in range than that....
Which rules out the SLR 650! Is it difficult to put an XR tank (Acerbis etc) on a Dominator???? I need ideally 300km range per tank...
Thanks all
Tom

Hi,

I have been riding a 500 Euro Transalp around Africa

Riding the rough west coast through Africa part 3

and a 800 Euro Honda CG 125 around Southamerica:

Motorbike trip around Southamerica: Chile and Argentina part 1

2500 Euro was the total budged of this last 9 months and 28.000 km trip ;)

Travel save

KTM?
 

There was a thread running last year about the availibility of ex-military KTM 400's from a dealer in Germany. They came with full luggage and a low state of tune, a bit dearer than what you want to pay but worth a look.

Once met a couple of Aussies in Malaysia, who were doing UK to Oz with 2 Transalps they'd bought from the UK, for less than 1000 pounds each.. They had covered about 25000 kms up to that point, the bikes looked beaten, but were still running. Bulletproof bikes, but you could probably get better MPG from some smaller engine (or getting a newer mid-size FI bike, but they'll cost more).

You should be able to get a good XT600e for £1500. They are indestructable and good fun. And you'll probably not lose much on resale when you get back.

Acerbis 23l tank readily available.

I'll be keeping mine for as long as I can ride a bike.

:)

Reviving a thread here but I thought it'd be better than starting a new one.

I've been looking at used bikes on UK eBay.
My budget is super low (1300 pounds) and most hits that I'm getting for bikes in decent condition are 125ccs. I'm actually OK with that - ideally I wanted a 250. But there is one other bike that keeps popping up in that price range: a Yamaha XT600E. Why is it that a 600cc can be so 'cheap'? I hear almost nothing but very good reviews of it - that it's a basic, no frills bike, indestructible - which is exactly what I want.

Is this a good well-priced bike to look at doing a tour on?

Unrelated to thread but maybe someone can still answer: I will probably purchase without riding it, and I currently ride a 250cc. It going to 600 going to be a massive jump?

yes going to 600 will be a big jump in the wait of the bike but also in the miles the engine will last you. Thets how old xts and so get so cheap...tgey never realy break ;-)

I wonder why nobody comes up with the BMW 650GS Dakar. Dirt cheap, great MPG, reliable.

could be :
because they are not as 'dirt cheap' to own and/or prep as you may think!
or that there are some who don't like the Rotax engine...! (Ted...don't even think about it!)
Here's mine and it works for me.

Reviving a thread is a good idea to my mind; it can save some of that endless questioning that comes up, over and over again.
And, yes, your budget is certainly super low; I also check out the UK ebay site for what is on offer and how much is being asked, and given in the end of auction prices.
You won't find many XT600s on there at any one time; they have not been on sale in the UK for quite a few years - about 10, or a few more - and folks are holding on to them or they are now wrecked and no longer available.
Also, and I think this could be quite an important consideration for buying overseas, they are old technology which basically means that they need a certain amount of technical "input" by the owner compared with the modern machines; this is my no means a criticism or a massive disadvantage but simply a matter of fact concerning bikes generally (there are many more bikes than the XT600 that fall into this category.

And, yes again, 600cc is a much bigger, heavier machine than a 250cc, or less capacity.

For the UK market you will find lots and lots of 125cc bikes because of the learner-rider market, so be careful that any previous owner has taken good care of it.


As per the last post, two of these attributes are correct; but the F650GS carries a BMW badge which carries a premium price, here in UK anyway.
Then the Dakar model carries an extra premium above and beyond the standard version being marketed as a "desirable" for the off road/adventure bike image.
My point is that the super low budget won't get anywhere near that bike but it could find a Beemer funduro if a 600-650 bike really is the thing to have; however, the earlier suggestion of a 250cc road bike that does not have the current image of adv/off road may be just the thing to go for - be contrary to the marketing hype??

I am starting to think that going for more of a road bike is a really good idea for low budgets.
How much packed dirt can a road bike cope with? I don't know what the roads are like in Iran, Pakistan and Nepal and how much tarmac there is (or isnt)....

It's a bit like the famous question "how long is a bit of string?"
It would certainly depend on how sympathetic you would be in your riding style + how much weight you carry, how often you crash, how confident you are in riding off-highway etc etc etc - you get the idea.

IMO, there are many people travelling on two wheels who never get involved in the deep mud/sand issues that some riders actively seek.
Nowadays, the world is covered in bitumen - a lot of it I mean, + there are 1000 upon 1000 more Km of graded gravel roads for specific highway design/cost reasons.
(including Australia!).

As an example of the above, Nepal has "wall to wall" bitumen surfaced roads between all of the major centres of population. Some have significant potholes, but nothing that would stop a bike.

Thanks very much for your tips, Dave :)

hahah would I ??? doh

It's not the Rotax engine that I don't like. It's the rest of the Fisher Price kit bolted onto it ;)

I have one of each. The BMW GS is a nice bike, seems reliable, goes well enough, good mpg, power delivery mild and predictable to the point of being bland. I am disappointed in the quality of the finish and fasteners, though, which are frankly poor. It has a low seat and can be made lower still very easily, as it was designed as a 'first big bike' or entry level Beemer, especially for the shorter or lighter-build rider (notice how I am avoiding sexism here). The XT is a much older design, as others have pointed out, and many are now reaching the end of their lives. But it is as tough as an old boot and once I have done a light overhaul on mine I expect it to be going well for another 19 years. It's taller than the GS, although not as tall as some big trailies, and the seat is narrower and for some less comfy. It uses slightly more fuel than the GS (53 average compared to 65-70, UKmpg) and has less power, but the way it makes the power is far more engaging and entertaining. The GS will cruise at a comfy 70 all day - make that 60 for the XT.

The XT is easier to work on, being simpler to start with and having less body plastics in the way, and for me that would be the defining factor for any serious trip.

The BMW Dakar is just a GS with better looks, taller suspension and a 21" front wheel, so a lot of the above about the GS will apply.

There are plenty of XTs around on eBay, usually around the £2k mark for a decent one. My opinion, they are probably a bit over-priced, but that what popularity does, and there is a reason they are popular, despite being no longer made.

If I had a long way to go on good roads, and I just had to get wherever I am going, I'd take the GS for its comfort, good cruise and economy. If I wanted to enjoy the ride and could take my time, I'd have the XT every time.

I'm seriously thinking of selling the GS and getting another XT. They are that good. I would never sell mine.

As the O.P. Im glad to see this thread alive and well!
Ive extended my plans to through east Europe, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, West Kazakhstan and up the Volga eventually reaching St Petersburg. I've honed in on two bikes in particular-
'02 KLR 650 w/ 23000 miles = £1600
'90 Transalp w/ 26000 miles = £1500

I'm assuming 9/10th of the trip will be sealed so the seat and screen of the transalp may win out. Is transalp substantially worse in sand/ rocks/ dirt roads of Kazakhstan? I'm only going Atrau back to Astrakhan but I think road deteriorates (read: non-existant) in patches..

Any thoughts/ recommendations/ past experience greatly appreciated, as always!

Tom

Did you say £2500 was the total budget for 28.000km through South America?

How did you manage that? How long were you there for?

Presumably that didn't include visas, or shipping the bike.

Astrakhan - Atryau in may last year was a fairly broken up road, riddled with potholes, lots of weaving about

Atryau - Uralsk - Perfect new tarmac

In order, what you should look for in a motorcycle should be:
1) Lightweight:
Maximum 170 kilo. You should be able to pick it up and go with it anywhere.
2) Reliability:
Buy a motorcycle that you KNOW will not fail you in the middle of no where. Bring spare parts with you: what other owners say usually fail.
3) Easy to service/repair:
No over-complicate electronic stuff. The bike that you own should be repairable in the most remote workshop with the most simple tool. For instance in a small town in Africa, in old soviet countries or even with a rock (sometime...).
4) Off road capability/ robustness:
If you want to go anywhere&everywhere... you should be able to!
5) Cheap:
Why would you buying a motorcycle worth 20 000 USD? When you can buy one which will do the job (sometime better) for less then 2000 USD? All the money you save when buying your bike, is money that you can spend while travelling. Plus, you won't cry when a part of your fairing has been scratch/fall-down with those.

Some of the bike that, somehow, fit into this are:
-Honda: XR400, 600, 650 ; Old Transalp 600, maybe Africa Twin 650.
-Suzuki: Drz 350, 400, 650.
-Yamaha: xt600z, 660z.
-Kawazaki: KLR650.
-KTM: 640 Adventure (Very reliable after 2003!)
-BMW: R80gs, bmw 650gs(single cylinder one).

Cheers for reply

I've purchased a transalp 600, 1999 model. £1500

Nice one

Tom

Good choice. It will serve you well.

One other bike that europeans can look into, dirt cheap, relatively light and robust is Kawasaki KLE 500.

Good choice.... A FANTASTIC travel bike.

Great choice. However, do not forget to carry a spare CDI with you. I think it is the main thing that can go wrong with it.

Don't worry about it, post 1996 TA's have a different CDI setup (a single unit rather than the preceding models two) that is as reliable as the rest of the bike.

Excellent choice & the best model year too...:innocent::thumbup1:

Cheers Ted, ygio and crusty- very reassuring!
Crusty what about reg/rec? Would that be a worthwhile investment prior to leaving. Cheers for heads-up about cdi. Anyone know of a decent mechanic / workshop that could help me fit a few things and go over bike in London/ south east England? It's been serviced just like a second set of (professional) eyes to have a squiz for piece of mind.

2 months and counting, can't wait!
Tom

Tom, I would suggest to post your question to xrv.org.uk, it's THE forum for Africa Twin ( I own one) and the Transalp.

Hi Tom,

Regarding the Reg/Rec, you should be ok. It's not a known problem like it is on the the Africa Twin. Not saying it won't go wrong, but it's not commonplace. A problem the TA does share with the AT though is wheel rot. I had this happen on my bike, it seems mainly to affect gold coloured rims. Have a look here for a particularly nasty example: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-worried-64374 It was only the rear on mine that was affected and nothing like as badly as the one above. I had it rebuilt on a new rim with stainless spokes. Just check carefully round the rim, especially at the spokes and the valve hole for any evidence of cracking or flaking. If you suspect there may be a problem, try to have a look at the inside of the rim (tyre off, obviously..!) as it generally starts there and works it way out. Again, don't panic..!:helpsmilie: They're not all like that..! I'd also check the front sprocket for excessive play on the shaft. Some non-oem sprockets are made from harder steel than the shaft and can wear away the splines. Once more, not too likely. Not specifically Transalp related but I'd want to grease all the suspension pivots and the steering head and wheel bearings.

Hope I haven't scared you too much, it really is a fantastic bike..! :thumbup1: