I have 'parked up' the larger machines for awhile and using a YBR 125 Yamaha, 100 plus mpg and running speeds a comfortable 45-55 loaded!


btw, trying59, I think you will find you have used the 'wrong' fun meter!!

__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

sorry it was just a bad day yesterday .
It's kind of wild to see 100 years ago they used bikes that were under 10 horse power to do the same thing we do today. Cheap doesn't always equal saving cash. it's better to spend a grand or 2 more now instead of latter in the middle of nowhere shipping stuff to you from eupore etc.

I completely get the point of goiing cheap, light and economical - it makes a lot of sense every way you look at it, especially if you have a bike that the locals ride e.g. a chinese 125 clone or similar. You won't draw attention you yourself and spares will be available etc etc

But, ask yourself if you could really cope with travelling on a 125cc for several months and be content to chug away at 50mph behing all the wagons and buses and not be able to overtake with any degree of speed in reserve. Also, isnt going a bit fast part of the thrill of riding a bike?

I have virtually no travel experience, so you can quite rightly ask 'what the hell does he know?' But I want to be able to cruise at 50mph, take in the sights when the road is good and have plenty in reserve on a boring stretch of road or if an overtaking gap suddenly closes up on me.

I aint preaching at all, just contributing what my thought process was when I was choosing a bike for travelling. The HUBB helped me through a lot of these quandries, so I feel like I should contribute back, even if no one agrees with me

The whole world moves at 35-45 mph (check your GPS after a run in the UK, your peak might be 90 the average will be 40 unless you hit the M-1 at 4 am on a sunny Sunday), it's just a case of how the average relates to the extremes. Riders in the UK and US often tell me they "need" 1000 cc and 100 mph performance to "get into the gaps" and "safely overtake" and "not be intimidated" by trucks. I'd totally agree that on many western roads the traffic does run at 55 mph and having OVLOV or KCAM the only thing you can see in your mirrors isn't nice when the thing behind the badge weighs 40 tonnes.

The trick is simply to get your head round not spending hours on these roads, go through the city centre or on the smaller road, you'll see more. Overtaking is not required, just drop back and enjoy the view. Don't feel you need to do 400 miles a day, 100 is great if the rides better. Getting used to this is the hard part, it's comforting and easy to just hop on your large bike and knock off 500 miles, but where's the challenge? If the thrill was going fast, wouldn't it be easier (and safer, less anti-social) to do it on a race track? If the aim is to get from A to B as quickly as possible trains and planes are very efficient?

There is nothing wrong with any solution, but it is just a case of getting used to the one you choose. For me, 20-30 HP is just fine on a solo bike and I'll take a 12HP 125 over some of the behemoth tourers out there. It's like choosing an old bi-plane over a 747.

Andy

Threewheelbonnie,
You make a lot of very good points that I totally agree with.

I do intend to go off the beaten track and will happily cruise at 40mph all day on gravel backroads and passes - that's one of the attractions of travel for me. I dont have a GPS and within reason I will follow my nose and see where the roads take me. I dont intend on ragging it around doing >60mph everywhere. I dont intend on doing more than 150 miles a day (6 months booked off to ride TDF - Yellowstone). I just 'need' to have options and where it's safe and responsible to do so, I want to be able to open the taps and ride - I love riding bikes! Not too quick mind, because I'm not that good a rider!

I dont know much, but I have enough experience to know that it isnt the bike, it's the rider. I think I have the right attitude to travel and so the rest is down to personal preference.

Also..Part of my thinking was that we'll be 2up and I will be responsible for my better halfs' well being for 6 months on our upcoming trip. 2up changes things compared to solo travel I know, so perhaps I should've mentioned that in my earlier post....

This was a thread about economy and I just wanted to make the point that some people might get a bit frustrated by being restricted on the speed side of things on a 125cc machine. That done, I'll shut up

FWIW, 150 miles per day is not "slow;" it's moving along at a pretty good clip. Once you factor in activities off the bike, down time for personal recovery, predictable and unpredictable repairs, waiting for parts, wandering backroads and tracks, or whatever else befalls you, you'll be glad to have the option of moving more quickly through, say, Texas. Not that I've got anything against Texas.

You are perfectly correct about the two-up aspect. In fact, whatever you decide you'd do very well to test it out--fully laden and with pillion--long before departure. A week-long trial trip might provide valuable insight into what lies ahead between Ushuaia and Wyoming.

Hope that helps.

Mark

(now on the return leg from Ushuaia, a 7-month/20,000 mile trip in itself)

"you'll be glad to have the option of moving more quickly through, say, Texas. Not that I've got anything against Texas"

That's what I thought too! Not bashing Texas or anything...

Hey Mark, thanks for all your posts over the past few months. I've been looking out for your posts and they really help with planning our trip.

Happy riding

Please don't shut up, it's all good stuff and you are totally right IMHO about riders rather than bikes.

Two up is a different kettle of fish that again there seems to be different solutions to. As you'll see from the name I'm a sidecarist, (which isn't efficient although I'd love to build a Diesel outfit that might be) . Two-Three up (usually two plus the dog) I'm happy with anything from 30 Hp (Ural) to 80 Hp (R1100R). You are right that my 23HP MZ would require serious reconsideration of (my wife's ) plans regarding the amount of luggage etc. That said, I really can't see me ever wanting to hit the Riviera 24 hours after leaving home by Goldwing or Hayabusa. I'd be more interested in trying to get say an Enfield or Ural outfit somewhere good, but maybe that's just my personal interest (the Enfield would be no use, if the music isn't audible we have to stop every 20 miles for coffee ).

For an efficient two up ride (solo) I think it'd be a tough decision. ER-5/CB500/Deauville?

Andy

Well I made it to Ripley and back! on the YBR125, it took me 4hrs 45mins to get up there with a couple of stops which, in total was for no more than 20 minutes, not the leisurely pace I would have liked but the 'target was the HU meet.
It was an even less enjoyable run back to London as I was rushing back home for the England/Germany game. I did the 180 miles in 4hrs 5mins with a fuel stop and a brief stop on the motorway to retrieve one of my mirrors..

I was getting about 100mpg and speeds up to 60 mph, it was a bit tiresome as it was all a rush, but hopefully I will do 'some distance' in a more relaxed manor.

__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

The bike:

A Royal enfield! Price: 850 euro

only a nice diesel engine and I wil be driving allong with 10 hp but cheap simple and reliable!

Me is happy

The Yanmar chinese clones are quite good. You can get all the parts you need for a conversion from PricePart Motorcycles | Royal Enfield Motorcycles | Tel: 01454 261 941 | Email: henry@pricepartmotor

Just to respond to the original post..... and sorry to hijack this thread.......

I'm not a big guy - 180cm /70kg and I am looking to own a more off road oriented bike again (I currently own 2.5 Burgmen, CT110, RD350 and am restoring another mid 80s bike), so based on travelcrazy's original post I went looking to buy a KLE500 thinking it may be a reasonable size offroader - not too big and not too small.

I found a very nice one - 2007, 15k Kms and AUD$4k - but sadly the KLE500 is way too small a bike for me.

To sit comfortably I need to sit on the passenger seat. The rider seat is scalloped out far too much and pushs you forward on to the tank, whilst the footpegs are too high and back forcing your knees and ankles to be bent at an uncomfortable angle and preventing you from using them to support your upper body.

In recent months I have also tested a GS1100 (too tall), Versys (I like it but it needs a 19" front wheel minimum), KLE650 (too tall and vibey). I prefer a twin cylinder as a single is too hard work for the long distances on the highway here in Australia - I am next going to try a wee strom, does anyone have other suggestions for a used 3+ year old offroad tourer?

__________________
Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

The DL650 is an excellent bike. Stone reliable, versatile, comfortable ... lots of leg room. I owned two DL1000's and have swapped with buddies on DL650 several times, off road included. So I know the Wee Strom very well.

With upgraded suspension and TKC80 tires the Wee Strom is really transformed. Quite capable off road. But once loaded up it is still a bit of a handful off road. I prefer a single when the going gets sandy or muddy or rocky, rutted or steep. Still, it may surprise you where you can get to on a Wee Strom ... if you have some skills and confidence.

But for road work the Wee Strom is very hard to top ... at any price, by any bike. I've ridden a brand new R1200GS back to back with a well set up Wee Strom and I honestly liked the Vstrom better. Feels smaller, lighter, I felt more in control. I would highly recommend using the DL1000 seat or a custom seat on the Wee Strom. This will raise you up a bit, allowing even more leg room. Did you know the Vstrom has equal leg room to a R1200GS BMW ? It's true, we measured them both.

I loved my Vstroms on the highway but I have been very impressed with my DR650's too (I've owned three) They are fine at 80 mph all day long. With a good seat (a must on the DR650) it's surprising the miles you can pull down.
With suspension up grades the bike handles off road conditions quite well ... much easier and safer than a Wee Strom ... even carrying a fair load.

Both are great bikes. Do try out the Wee, see what you think.

Steal the bike, is cheaper than buying anything else. Or do something better, swap your wife and get the bike. Then, ride as far away as you can, the new owner could soon realize how bad bussiness he made.

lifetime motorbike trip (by segments)

__________________
www.miquelsilvestre.com