best 2 up touring bike
 

wat would be the best 2 up touring bike in oz?tarmnac+some off road.is the choice i have is the xr650, klr650, dr650/ xtz660/used transalp, africa twin. personally need a light bike like the xr which i can use for a safari sometime in the future. but i need it to tour too. is the xr, dr650 ok fer 2 up touring?or am i better off with an at or a xtz?/ i am not very heavy-65kgs only at 5'8/my wifes roughtly the same wt and the same ht.

For two up you'd be better with the Transalp or the Africa Twin.

The extra power would haul both yourselves and your gear more easily and being twins they'd be alot smoother.

The Transalp is the only bike you've mentioned with a proper duel seat, although my wife prefers the Africa Twin due to the pillion foot rest position.

The standard Africa Twin seat is a bit of a num-bummer after a couple of hours, but you could get it modified or buy an after market one. I've had the Corbin and the Touratech and we prefer the Touratech. The Corbin seemed more comfortable at first and the Touratech too hard but, after four or five hours in the saddle the Touratech was more comfortable. We're both heavier than you though so you may find the opposite to be the case.

Both bikes are very reliable although there have been several reports of fuel pump problems on the Africa Twin on this site. If the bike is older and has a few miles on it it would be a good idea to change the pump or carry a spare.

The cheapest cure for the 'num bum' is simply a sheepskin seat cover. It makes a world of a difference but makes the seat a little bit higher could be a problem for some on an AT.


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DO NOT TAKE A KLR 650- I would not suggest taking this bike. The suspension is insuffucient for two people and luggage. For touring I would suggest that you go with a bigger bike like the africa twin (or GS1150 if you can afford it.)

VERY IMPORTANT - Also, the KLR 650 has a very poorly welded frame. When excess weight is put on the rear end of the bike (ie. extra passenger, excessive luggage) the frame will actually rip apart (I'm not joking, just go to our web site and look at photos under the Bolivia and Argentina Archives).

On this 7 month trip through Central/South America both my frame and Jims frame actually ripped in half- let me also say that these were brand new KLR650's (2003) sponsored from the Kawasaki corperation.

Luckily they shipped us new frames, but i would not suggest riding the KLR650 2-up with it's current frame design.

Steve Wallstrom

www.bikerswithoutborders.org

click on this link for a photo of Jims broken frame (Ecuador):
www.bikerswithoutborders.org/photos-small/EC146.JPG

click on this link for a photo of my broken frame (Argentina):
www.bikerswithoutborders.org/photos-small/AR31.jpg

Probably the big boxer BMW GS is the best of them for serious two-upping.
And i think the second hand R 11xx GS prices should go down soon too with the coming of R 1200 GS since this month.

Margus

New style transalp 650 is very comfy front and back, old style not as good, but def better than any other bike. I've also ridden an XR600 which is good, not as heavy but easier to handle than a transalp - remember this is a heavy bike (about 50kg heavier), especially if your thinking off road, with kit, with someone on the back.

Also, from a female point of view...depending on how strong your wife is, she will prob struggle with the transalp (height wise and weight wise). I've had to drop the front even with another bod on the back, its a beast!