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I need a bike for a trip around the world
Hello :)
Inspired by all the stories and videos you can find online, i decided to get on a unpaid leave off work in 2019 and the company even said yes :thumbup1: My situation right now is that i am getting my drivers license for motorcycles in Germany and i want to buy a bike in autumn (so within the next 4 months i guess). I don't have the license yet so i can't test some bikes but i just use google searches many many many times and i am simply overwhelmed by the huge selection of motorcycles on the market. :helpsmilie: So some basic informations: I am male, 26 years young and 1,78metres tall so im not really big, which could be a problem for big adventure bikes. I plan to drive from Germany to Tiflis (Georgia) within 2-3 Months and avoid any highways. I totally expect parts with bad road conditions and offroad parts, i guess an enduro or travelenduro or the newer term "Adventure Bike" is the right thing to get. Anyway if i enjoyed it till there im totally open to go further since nepal is definitely on my bucket list as well as china (which is hard to reach with my own motorcycle due to the strict laws for foreign vehicles there). I successfully traveled from north vietnam to the south and throu a few islands in Indonesia (Bali and Lombok) with a scooter and i loved it, this time whatsoever i want a real bike ;) One of the biggest worries i have is the weight, i definitely want a light bike, around 150 to 190KG. And i also am afraid of newer bikes with alot of digital or electronical technologies in it. What i also want is ABS, im not even sure why but i just think it will be a good idea to have it! I found alot of maybe good bikes, then i find another opinion and think "nah maybe that bike is not good at all". Im kinda "stuck" to the Honda CRF250 Rally, Honda CB500X, Kawasaki Versys X-300 or even Versys 650, BMW GS800 or Suzuki V-Strom 650. Those are all newer bikes tho, to avoid the problem with the newer technologies i kinda am worried that a defect can end my trip way 2 early. Older bikes I've found are the Kawasaki KLR500 (90s) but without ABS, or the KLR650, KLE650 (older Versions), the Honda Transalp and and and. WHAT are good suggestions? I kinda would like to get it down to 3 or maybe 4 bikes and then just rent the bikes and go on weekend trips with it before the summer ends. I will definitely test the bikes before i buy but i cant test 20 bikes doh Any help for a new motorcycle friend? :) |
You will find a 100 opinions on this. IMO, all your initial bike choices are pretty good. Keep in mind that older, low tech bikes WILL NOT come with ABS. But ABS is the last thing you need on such a trip.
If you liked the Scooters in SE Asia then you have good taste! IMO, smaller, lighter bikes are the way to go. 250cc is about perfect for most riding in most places save Autobahn or parts of USA. But now you really need a different bike for each continent. For most of EU, USA, Canada and most of S. America, a larger, more powerful bike would be OK. But very expensive, but fast, smoother and luxurious. Of course you can get along OK on a 250cc bike too. Or something smaller than a R1200GS. For others continents, like much of Asia, smaller bikes like the Honda CRF250L are a great choice. But you can also buy some pretty good Chinese bikes throughout the world now that are less expensive than Japanese bikes. Chinese bikes continue to improve every year. Some travelers like to keep the same bike with them. Some get a bike suited for their location. Transporting a bike is expensive and very difficult. So, sometimes best to buy a bike for each continent you visit. Then sell it on, move on to next region of the world. Get another bike that suits that location. bier A rather hard choice and hard to test ride bikes too. Good luck! (lots of opinions and info here on HUBB on this subject ... so keep reading!) |
Buy as you go
Howdy
I am with MollyDog on buying as you go. Buy whatever is cheap where you are and sell it when you cant take it across a border. Then grab another or some other mode of transport that suits that country. No Carnet worries. Soft luggage that can be used on most bikes. I have the andystrapz soft panniers and they are great. I have rented bikes in Japan and NZ and use these as our carry on and just hook them together and wear them like a backpack and frontpack. Our large dririder bag goes in cargo with our helmets and other gear. Expedition Soft Pannierz |
I would recommend you have a look at the DR650.
I have travelled on both the transalp and vstrom and although both great bikes, I am getting a DR650 for my next trip. lighter, simpler, more off road capable. |
Well ... we all know the Suzuki DR650 is the best RTW Travel bike made today ...:mchappy: but I'm a bit biased. :smartass:
My 11 year old DR is over 62K miles, still going strong, (could use a top end) Problem for the OP is getting hold of one in Germany. If he is willing to begin travel in USA, Canada, Australia or NZ, he could buy Used or New no problem. Around $5000 to $6000 USD new in USA. (not sure price in Canada or OZ?) Used ones from $2500 to $5000 USD. This bike is very hard to find in UK or EU. The ones for sale aren't always ideal examples. You may still find an XT600 here and there in UK or EU, not sure. All these old Carb bikes are no longer sold in EU for over 10 years now, including the KLR, DR650 and Honda XR650L. For me, the 250 is way to go for novice rider. I prefer the Yamaha WR250R, but the KLX250 and CRF250L are also good and with proper set up can be good travel bike. bier |
Hey, thanks for the tips! Very helpful already!
I have never even thought about buying new bikes wherever i am, this sounds crazy expensive tho?! I have the feeling that i should write more about my (planed) itinerary. Since i will be on the road for a maximum of 12 months i will skip some parts of the world. To be honest, I have been in asia many times and I kinda wanna go back again and again, since I also started learning chinese (which is madness in a basic german evening school xD), I have quiet a few things on my bucket list. I checked out the route from Germany, starting in Cologne all the way down to Croatia over Austria and Slovenia. From there it goes along the coast to Albania, Greece and then Turkey. In Turkey i want to follow the blacksea to the Kackar Dali Mountains to Georgia. If i ride about 3-4 hours a day and stay a few days in some places (i ride about every 2-3 days only) i need 2 months for this part, let's say 3 months if I change my plan or want to stay longer in some places. I also avoid every Highway, since driving in the same direction for hours and see nothing but big trucks and fences for hours is not what i expect from such a trip. Whatsoever on this part of the route should be mostly good conditioned roads and also doable with a standart naked bike like suzuki sv650 etc. After that I kinda don't really know where to go next. I don't want to go throu Iran and Pakistan to India because of safety reasons. So if i take it for Russia and then travel throu Kazakhstan to Mongolia i still have the problem, that I can't enter China with the Motorcycle. So i guess i will end my Journey there after 3-4 Months in Mongolia and sell it/leave it and take a plane into China. The 4000$ to make my bike become chinese is way 2 much for my Budget (around 2500€ / ~3000$ per month). What i really WANT to do is the following: - Chinese language course (around 1 month in length) in China - Hiking (not driving) up to the Mount Everest Basecamp in Nepal - Travel throu Japan and Southkorea - Go back to Taiwan to see lots of friends of mine - Maybe Australia? I don't know That's all about it to be honest. Since its only 12 Month i will skip North- and Southamerica this time and come back there another time. Africa is also not what I want to see right now, since I've seen Ghana, Morocco, Southafrica and Benin. I kinda liked Asia better. In May 2018 I will go on a 4 week trip to Brazil so chances are high, that i will change my plan then xD But for now its only Europe->Southeurope->Georgia and then somehow on to Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Taken that in consideration I need a bike that can handle not only the good roads but mainly the bad Roads. I would say having a 250ccm bike like the Honda CF250 on a highway for hours is "annoying" but way better then having a 230KG 650+ccm bike on a track made of loose rocks and mudfilled holes bigger then my tire. Does the new Honda CF250 got alot of electronics on board? Or should I buy a used one? Another problem of this bike is that i definitely DON'T want a bike that has this standart enduro sound XD I don't like this loud screaming voice at all xD edit: I kinda read alot of other threads and I am pretty sure now that I want a 250ccm bike. The Options are Honda CFR250 Rally, the Yamaha WR250R and? What else worth Mentioning? One more Questions tho: I've found the Yamaha WR450F online (as new bike) which weights only 123KG but offers 449ccm, isn't that better then a WR250R? It only cost 500€ more too (new). |
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If you are buying older stuff, paying cash and looking for the right seller who needs to sell you can bank those savings for when its time to sell and sell at the same price or a bit more. Or, if you need to sell quick, say you buy for $2000, use it for 6 months, then take a 20% hit selling for $1600 it has cost you $400 for 6 months or $66 a month or $16.66 per week. Bloomin cheap. Or even if you take a 50% hit on a quick sale its still only cost you $42 a week for the bike. |
That's true but i kinda wanna buy a bike now and ride it the next 1,5 years until I start my journey. It's because i want to get used to the bike since it will be my first one and also get used to the art of travelling with a motorcycle. Not to mention that I want to sell my car as soon as possible because I still get around 14.000€ for it (2 years old Mazda 3 Sport) and the Motorcycle is overall way cheaper, which helps me saving Money for the trip.
I just found the thread about the WK400 Trail, damn that's a nice bike i kinda wanna buy now but I have no Idea where to get it in Germany :P |
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The sound on the Honda is very quiet. All the modern bikes are quiet, but some used versions may have been modified by previous owner. The CRF250L is a modern bike with Fuel Injection, so yes, some electronics. All VERY reliable ... just make sure the BATTERY is Strong! The new CRF now has ABS, earlier ones not. I would buy a nice used one with low Km. Hard to find the Yamaha WR250R easily in Germany, but it is my favorite. The WR450F is totally different bike: The "F" model is a RACE BIKE, not a great bike for travel, not as reliable over long term as the 250. Other options: Yamaha XT250, KLX250S and a few others, plus the Chinese bikes, some are good!. I would go to dealers, try to get as many test rides as you can to test out a few bikes. :thumbup1: |
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Yeah i guess it will be a 250ccm bike, what exactly i will find out once i go for test drives.
A Versys X-300 is too new and got too much electronics right? |
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EDIT: I've just found out that there are more light adventure bikes coming. In 2017/2018 they want to release a Suzuki V-Strom 250, BMW G310 GS, KTM 390 Adventure and Royal Enfield Himalayan, maybe the WK400Trail also gets available in Germany. I atleast know now that i don't want a 650ccm+ bike ;) The Problem I see with the Honda CRF250 Rally is that the tank is very small and it might be superior to the other bikes in case of heavy off-road Biking but i am not planing to do tracks with it or something like that, i will avoid every highway i can avoid (by highway i mean something like Autobahn btw, i never remember if the right word is highway or freeway :P) with SOME lose roads or some tracks across fields. So roads a car can pass, i will not ride throu forests n shit :D Probably the others are better for me then since they offer some more power and are still not very heavy. So the Competition will be: - Honda CRF250 Rally - Kawasaki Versys X-300 - Suzuki V-Strom 250 - KTM Adventure 390 - Royal Enfield Himalayan - WK400 Trail - BMW G310 GS The Kawasaki and Honda are still my favourites tho, the Suzuki is not really capable of off-road riding and the royal enfield and WK400 are not available. KTM Adventure 390 is 2 heavy i guess. I somehow just don't want to buy a BMW, not sure why xD Breaking it down i will testride the Versys X-300 (maybe with more cross oriented tires?) and CRF250 Rally and compare them. I will wait a bit longer so i can buy used ones in late 2018/early 2019. Until then i maybe get an old Kawasaki ER-5n or Honda CRF600NA, as first bike probably a good bike, cheap and not 2 bad if i drop it. It should be fine for weekend trips in Westeurope / Germany. Thanks for the help anyways, seems like this is a nice and informative community, glad i've found out about it! I will start a blog soon (Hobby), maybe i will put some of the motorcycle oriented posts up on here aswell, even tho my english might be too weak for a blog :P |
Yes, the tank on the CRF250L is ridiculously small. And even if you purchase an Acerbis or similar, it will certainly not give you a great range. The rally does at least have a bit bigger tank.
I'm sure you have seen this before, but it might help your thought process if you haven't. CRF250 Rally vs 300 Versys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZa9Cv3LmBY Versys 300 vs. CRF250L https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYYf7iG1ih4 |
Yeah i've seen both videos, therefore i think the Versys might be better.
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This Question is easy: You can ride the world with a used Honda for less then 1000 Euro: http://afrikamotorrad.de/?report=en_transafrika
but you can also waste 20.000 Euro for a BMW and spend your lifetime working in an bouring office for this. In Asia and Southa America 125cc Hondas are very common so if you buy or rent one there for just 4 Dollars per day you get all the parts if needet, save expensive shipping cost and dont look like money on legs so the police will not pull you out so often: http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/?re..._hong_son_loop Enjoy yout trip :-) |
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