Sounds like you had some sort or revelation along the way? First you were headed to Morocco, then reversed down to Italy ... then Tunisia! Wow! Sounds like fun.

What happened to your Honda TransAlp? Why did you sell it?
Is your TTR 250 a new FI model or older Carb one? If a new one ... keep a fresh battery in it.

Lets see some pics!

Safe riding ... How's the leg room on your TTR?

I did the transalp was great at blasting down the motorway at 85 but as soon as I was out of England I realised that wasn't what I wanted to do.

It was also heavy and being clumsy I nearly dropped it a couple times, and realised what it'd be like in the dirt.. then the clutch started slipping and the choke was playing up small problems but I took it as a sign and sold it upfront for a loss and bought a ttr 250 with the plastic tank and carb.

I love the ttr. I can basically pick it up clean off the ground its that light.

I know its everything I said I didn't want small engine single but turns out its perfect. Its awesome off road.

The leg room is great. Its higher than the transalp by quite a bit. Seat was not comfy but got this air pillow which is dreamy. Don't ride for long distances non stop in general anyway.

I've got some great pics but I've been posting them all back to the UK on memory cards. I'm going to do a ride report at some point when I can get more organised. Been posting letters to myself as well kind of journals to jog my memory.

I never really had much of a plan, and once I was in Italy I just didn't want to leave so kept going until I was in the deep south. I'd have liked to work my way across to morocco but it didn't work out.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

Great summary Helcat! Good to see you discovered what many have. Small singles are great ... and the more into the 3rd world you get I'm betting the happier you'll be on your TTR. Off road will actually be FUN ... not fearful!

Looking forward to pics and a report when you get caught up!
Safe Riding All Round!

I think the AM world is still missing a bike like helboy originally hinted at. Like an F650GS but smaller cc and size, like a GS500/CB500 but more compact and more scrambley format + efi; less lumpy than a big single, more power reserve than a small single.
Sometimes on my current big single I wished I'd kept the old GS500R and refined it a bit. I realise now I was more on the money than I thought.
I know we now have the CB500X - hope to try one one of these days but small-wheeled and seems a bit plasticy for our sort of game (I thought that too of a TA when they first came out though never actually owned one.) I would not be put off at all by efi. Give me that over carbs any day.

Slim, compact efi 500 parallel twin - water-cooled I suppose - 18R/19F tubeless and light! And if you're offering, make it a 270° engine for that V-twin feel. Had a go on a SuperTen the other day - very nice engine for a land raft.

Perhaps the Chinese will come up with something - or maybe they already have under six different names?

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

GS500 Suzuki is basically undiscovered here in USA. Not sure what it would take to convert one to a decent travel bike ...the engine is a Gem. But being an OLD design (like many Suzuki power plants) it's no feather weight but stone strong and reliable.

But sadly, the new Honda 500 series (there's 3 models based on same engine) is very heavy for what it is ... and down a bit on power with fuel economy not all that great for 2014. Not sure where Honda think they're going with these bikes. (maybe export to Asia/India?)

Still, that Suzuki GS500 motor sat in a more dual sport chassis could be interesting. IMO, in stock form none of the current parallel twins would be ideal for traveler bikes, unless doing all ON ROAD. If rough off road is on the menu', not good: Cast wheels, skinny forks, cheap, very short travel suspension. The motors are good, chassis, not so much: little ground clearance, not designed to take off road abuse.

I had a Suzuki GS500 test bike a couple years ago. It's made in Spain, even sporting Spanish made brake systems and suspension. First Japanese bike I ever saw without either Nissin, Tokico, or Sumitomo on the wheels! Same with suspension ... not KYB or Showa ... but a Spanish (??) company I never heard of ... or was it a Chinese company? (No one at Suzuki would tell me)

All that said ... the little bike was great overall. Only knock, a bit weak right off the bottom. Needed to REV way up to make power, so rock crawling or pulling through deep sand might be a challenge?

I prefer a 21" X 17" tire/wheel combo. Common sizes, not too hard to find.
A 21" front is a pleasure off road and not bad at all on a twisty road. Also, plenty of knobby tires in those sizes. 18" rear are actually rare in much of the world.

Maybe a DR650 chassis with a GS500 motor grafted in there?

My GS500F test bike ... a hoot on twisty roads!

Nobody mentioned a KLE500! .. robust, mostly reliable, easy to work on tall is will do off and on road, twin cylinder, spares reasonable cost... I had one from new for a couple of years-brill sometimes wished I'd not sold it
TDMalcolm

I've heard a lot about the KLE over the years ... we never got that bike in the USA. I did see them when touring UK and EU. I saw one woman riding one in Italy set up for RTW. It was IMPRESSIVE. I hear they're a bit porky but strong, robust and cheap to buy and maintain!
I did notice the ground clearance is a bit low ... but may not be an issue for some ... and very good for short riders.
All good!