A question just came to my mind:
Wonder how many one lung thumpers have made it around the world besides acourse the Mighty KLR!
Rod,,,,,just curious

Zrod, just about all of them, even british ones http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

ja ja, just get an XT

thanks to everybody for the info,
I've been doing a lot of research and think I will probably take a f650 dakar, although I consider them to be over priced they seem to fit all my other requirments. They seem to be the most popular choice for what I want to do, hopefully this is due to their suitability for the task!
Now if I could just manage to save some money!

Well this has just added to my confusion. I'm on the verge of buying a Dakar though...


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Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

The Dakar will do just fine. BMW make good machines - just not quite as strong/reliable as the Japanese, and far too expensive. Plenty of people have used them on RTW and done okay.

In my experience, travellers on Japanese bikes have fewer problems, and have been a lot happier.

Just remember that the bike is going to get hammered on the trip. There's no point buying a new shiny one.

I think that is why the objections to the KLR are a bit misplaced. And why the arguments for a tough little used jap single are so strong.

If I suggested a pair of TTR250s, would you burst out laughing? It would be my option if I were leaving tommorrow on your trip.

"Just get an XT" - seconded. Or an XR600 / XR650L.

Luke and Robyn I assume. Just remember that whats cool and adventuresome in the city can be useless outside it. The cost of the bikes will affect your Carnet deposit/insurance. You could buy two new KLR's or DR650's in Australia for the price of one Dakar or KTMAdv.

As you can see in Se-Hwans blogg, the BMW plastic panniers that come with the 650's explode on impact with the ground, so dont bother with them. As you can see he is now making Aluminium ones out of a road sign http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

http://translate.google.com/translate? hl=en&sl=ko&u=http://blog.empas.com/motoride&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmotoride%2Bempas%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D

If that doesnt work try

http://blog.empas.com/motoride

you can search google for empas motoride and hit translate which makes for a laugh.

Berndt has 130k kms on his 640 Adv rebuilt around 100k, but he didnt take it above 90kph on the highway. When we tried to find a second hand radiator fan in Victoria we couldnt and it would take a month to get a new one from europe $$$.

It has taken a week to get an ignition switch for a 84 XT600 from Japan...it broke in half in crash!...

BMW in Aust have good spares availability with most things being available in a couple of days.

anyway happy choosing.

alec



[This message has been edited by simmo (edited 22 August 2005).]

I assume you guys are talking about the KTM640 Adv. Any opinions on the 950. I'm considering trading in my Dakar.

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Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

I have 15,000 absolutely trouble free miles (except for a taco'd front rim)on my 950, about half that off road in the US Sierras, Baja MEX (some tough roads), and Copper Canyon MEX (just got back from the HU meeting). I love it! It rocks in the dirt, seems indestructable, unlike my bud's BMW 650 "DaKrap" as he puts it, and inspires confidence in tough going loaded down. And-cruises the tarmac at 80mph smoothly and comfortably (I have the KTM gel seat). I don't think there's anything like it in the category. Apparently I and a friend on 950's set the record round trip down to Batopilas and back without knowing it!