Thanks for your good advice. If both are good bikes and it comes down to personal preference rather than objective criteria, there is the other issue of parts. Are both equally good for sourcing local parts in Africa, or am I more likely to have parts issues with one than the other when on the road?

I doubt you'll get parts for either of them in the majority of Africa - as you won't for most vehicles that Europeans travel down there in /on. So no crankshafts or camshafts or gearbox bits or anything specific like CDIs etc. But if something's mendable (a bent subframe for example) you'll find people on every street corner who can fix it or even remake it. I once had a new kickstart fabricated in about two hours (and then refabricated another three times but that's another story).

As I said, I'd go with the XT because of a combination of the XR-L's dimensions and my lack of them, but other than that either of them would do. Both of them would need pre trip preparation (as would just about any bike) but neither of them have any huge inherent weak points that would be trip ending if ignored (not that I'm aware of anyway).

For me, pre trip preparation falls into two main areas. Firstly I want to know whether the core of the bike is up to the task. That means putting miles on the bike and getting to know it - are there any knocking noises, clunks, rumbles etc that indicate things are worn out, does it leak oil or smoke like a two stroke etc. That's going to come down to buying a decent one in the first place.

Secondly you need to look closely at what is going to to be vulnerable on the trip you're planning. Things wear out - chains, sprockets, tyres, tubes, brake pads, oil, filters, bulbs and possibly, cables, so how are you going to deal with that. Taking spare everythings with you is possible - and some people do - but one of the laws of overlanding states that no matter what you take it'll be the part you don't have that you need. Some bikes do have known weak points - DRZ400 cam chain adjusters / engine cases for example but neither of the two bikes under discussion to the best of my knowledge need more than the "usual" stuff (XR-L subframe possibly excepted. Here's a link to what someone else did with theirs - www.GABE-RTW.co.uk )

I've heard some people say that XR style radial valve engines don't deal with overheating well but I've not had an issue with mine and Honda produced variants of that engine for many years. It can be hard to tell sometimes when an air cooled engine is overheating which is one area where water cooled stuff scores. When steam starts to come out and you can't see where you're going it's probably time for a coffee break.

The "usual" stuff is a combination of what's needed for the terrain you anticipate riding over (bigger fuel tank, bash plate, luggage system etc) and what's desirable (decent seat, electronic gadgets, fluffy dice etc). You'll be doing some of this irrespective of which bike you go with.

Do you know if there is any consensus on which bike uses more oil? I read one post about the Yamaha burning through oil, but I suspect that was more of a problem with that particular bike.

It's a "variable of variables" as indicated in the post below.


Individual bikes vary in their oil consumption, quite apart from particular manufacturers/models.

__________________
Dave

My XT hasn't seemed to have used any in over 2300 miles. But I assume different bikes of the same model will vary

Wayne

__________________
The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

I've owned most of the current 650 class dual sport bikes and most will use some oil when ridden hard or at fast highway speeds (70 to 80 mph). Worn out bikes or bikes with problems can use A LOT of oil, but even a perfect bike can use oil.

Short list includes XL600R, KLR650 (2), XR400,XR650L, KTM640, KTM Duke ll, Suzuki DR650 (3). The only one that did NOT burn some oil is my current 2006 DR650. Now, at 65,000 miles it's finally started to use a bit of oil when ridden hard. (a few ounces in a 1000 miles) Even running 75 mph all day in super HOT weather ... it would not use ANY oil! (until recently)

I don't know XT's well as Yamaha stopped importing this model to USA in 1995, but LOTS of guys owned them before that. Good bike far as I know.

The Honda seemed most sensitive to running low on oil, where as the KLR650 could be run hard until oil level was at bottom mark and never be any worse for wear. KLR's, even new model, are notorious for oil use. Many owners go to a big bore kit to get past this fault. With the KLR, you add a bit of oil nearly everyday if riding fast/hard.

Honda? Not so forgiving as the KLR. I pitted a cam on my XL and friends had to replace entire top ends on XR-L. Good news is very few were left stranded, but run that XR650L too low on oil and it will expire.

The Suzuki DR650 has an oil cooler and uses a Nikisil type liner. On the HUGE DR650 boards we rarely see oil burners, even up to 75K miles on some. (mine went to 65K before oil use started), still runs perfect if a bit noisy.