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Lightweight 2-up bike for errands? Lightweight 2-up bike for errands?
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 1 Aug 2020
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Lightweight 2-up bike for errands?
So I've done my dash in Africa on the big ol KTM 1190 Adventure R (which is UNREAL btw), but have since moved my expeditions to a 4x4 T1N Mercedes Sprinter. I'm preparing for an overland journey across Asia + Pan America, and looking to throw a lightweight moto on the rear hitch for small day trips and running errands etc.

What can you recommend?

*Power doesn't really matter
*Must be light weight (ideally not far from 100kg!)
*Must be able to carry 2 people
*Must be capable of handling crappy roads
*Source parts cheaply and easily anywhere
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  #2  
Old 1 Aug 2020
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A friend and I did a two up tour of India and Nepal on an Indian built Honda XR150 and it was a great bike, I have an XR125 at home and would recommend one.
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  #3  
Old 1 Aug 2020
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Honda C90.

It’s not gonna be fast but it will get you where your going and it can handle/do everything you’ve described.
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  #4  
Old 3 Aug 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark manley View Post
A friend and I did a two up tour of India and Nepal on an Indian built Honda XR150 and it was a great bike, I have an XR125 at home and would recommend one.
I've spent the last couple of days looking at these bikes, I think this is absolutely perfect! Thanks for the recommendation!
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  #5  
Old 4 Aug 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wanted View Post
What can you recommend?

*Power doesn't really matter
*Must be light weight (ideally not far from 100kg!)
*Must be able to carry 2 people
*Must be capable of handling crappy roads
*Source parts cheaply and easily anywhere
Super Cub or a Honda S125i.

Seconding the XR150L, or ideally the XR190L (fuel injected) - rode it in Vietnam, great bike. Not sold in street-legal form in Europe, though.
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  #6  
Old 4 Aug 2020
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Not a bike but maybe a scooter?

Just got one for commuting on, 20 years on a bike and swore I'd never own a scooter but wanting a second vehicle for commuting a scooter made perfect sense.

Cheap to buy, cheap to run, massively practical for errands. In SE Asia they fit a family of 5 on them so 2 up is ok.

I have the Yamaha XMax 300, it's a bit above the weight you are looking at but the 300 class is a good compromise for power/price/size, it cruises quite easily at highway speeds.

My main bike is a KTM 790 Adventure R and use for adventure style riding. Since getting the Xmax I'm pretty keen to do a long weekend road based trip on the scoot as it sups petrol, reasonably nippy and I can fit everything for a weekend trip under the seat, no additional luggage needed.

In Asia something like a Yamaha XMax 300 / Honda PCX 150 would be great as everyone rides them. Given the lower speeds, types of roads in Asia and only a second vehicle something like the Honda PCX 150 may be more than enough power.
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  #7  
Old 4 Aug 2020
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When we were in Corsica we left a campsite just behind a young lady on a 125 scooter - I think it was a Peugeot. She was fully loaded with camping gear for 2 and her boyfriend was on the back.
Well we needn’t have worried about getting stuck behind her going through the mountains, we could barely keep up - that’s the Italians for you

So a 125 scooter would be fine though personally I’d go for a little trail bike.
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