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Jesperwr 27 Jun 2017 16:11

New biker with ambitious trip
 
Hi, I am brand new to the bike scene. I want to do a trip starting from somewhere from Europe going to as far east as I want to/have time to/have money to (Which means unknown road condition in countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, etc.)

I would think the roads will be around 80% tarmac but with pot holes and in generally bad condition. I have therefore looked into an Adventure Touring or Dual Purpose bike from Kawasaki and Honda (since they looked quite reasonably priced).

My budget is MAX 9000 USD but I would definitely prefer something in the 5000-7000 USD price range (4500 - 6000 Euros).
I want my ride to be comfortable and seating position should be upright. I am going to have around 15 kilos of luggage on the back including my skinny body of around 72 kilos. I am quite tall 185 cm (6"1). I am only allowed to drive a 48 HP machine but it can be reduced from upwards of 96 HP.

I have looked into 3 bikes, but since I have not owned a bike before I am not brand dependent or have any bias towards any brand. The bikes should, of course, be reliable and relatively easy to fix by me or a normal mechanic in Kazakhstan.

Bike #1 Kawasaki Versys X 300
Bike #2 Honda CB500X
Bike #3 Kawasaki KLR650 2016 (but it is not sold in Europe?)


Any other bikes I should look into or any of these three bikes I should forget about?

I would like to buy a new bike, but I am open to ideas.

Teach me, masters! :mchappy:

Edit #1: I am looking to buy the bike in Germany and get export plates since getting a bike registered in my home country (Denmark) is just too expensive (nearly double the price (80% extra to be kind of precise))

brclarke 27 Jun 2017 19:28

If it was my decision, I would go with the KLR - if you can buy one. They've been around for many years and will be a bit easier to get parts for than the other two.


That said, if you can't buy one in Germany I'm not sure how it made it to your short list...


The other two bikes seem to have a pretty good rep. I don't think you could go wrong with either one.

Jesperwr 27 Jun 2017 19:43

I would love to get your recommendations for some other bikes that could make my short list a bit longer. Variety is always good :)

I have heard that the newer KLR650 models are not allowed in the EU because of either pollution or noise... So I, unfortunately, think they are a bit hard to find without being very old.

Do you think that the Versys X 300 or CB500X could do 15000 km on asphalt which is bumpy and torn down?

Snakeboy 27 Jun 2017 20:13

Suzuki Drz 400 or a Suzuki Dr650, but the 650 will have the same availability problems as the Klr in Europe.

Apart from that any 250 will be great, Kawa Klx 250, Honda Crf 250l, Yamaha Wr 250r etc. Light weight, great fuel milage, cheap to buy, lightweighted which makes them great offroad and other places where the going gets though. Weight is your biggest enemy offroad and when the going gets though.

Jesperwr 27 Jun 2017 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeboy (Post 566030)
Suzuki Drz 400 or a Suzuki Dr650, but the 650 will have the same availability problems as the Klr in Europe.

Apart from that any 250 will be great, Kawa Klx 250, Honda Crf 250l, Yamaha Wr 250r etc. Light weight, great fuel mileage cheap to buy, lightweighted which makes them great offroad and other places where the going gets though. Weight is your biggest enemy offroad and when the going gets though.

Do you think a Dual purpose would be comfortable on highways for long periods of time?

And will 250 be enough, I think most roads on my trip will be either highways or at least 50 mph (80 km/h) roads?

tremens 27 Jun 2017 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesperwr (Post 566017)
I would think the roads will be around 80% tarmac but with pot holes and in generally bad condition.

tarmac? what tarmac? bier

http://www.namibian.com.na/public/up...atimaRoads.jpg

not sure why you're allowed ride only 48hp but if so look for xt660z tenere,
you're tall you can manage. Rock solid bike with very good bad roads and off-road capabilities and easy to fix. (if you can still get one because it was discontinued this year in EU) Personally I would not bother with less then 500c bike for such trip. Honda CB500x is good choice too, especially with adventure kit.

Snakeboy 27 Jun 2017 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesperwr (Post 566031)
Do you think a Dual purpose would be comfortable on highways for long periods of time?

And will 250 be enough, I think most roads on my trip will be either highways or at least 50 mph (80 km/h) roads?

Well - you might need to upgrade and adjust the bike you choose to your preferances, but that is goes for any bike. Seat, footpegs, handlebars, windscreen, grips etc.

A modern 250 will easliy cruise at 90-100 km/h and even more so your speed demands will be handled ok. I cant really see the need to go faster on a loaded travelbike. A 250 will be so much better than a big and heavy bike when the roads get tough and so much better for your wallet too.

backofbeyond 27 Jun 2017 23:37

The KLR would be my choice of the three listed but it's a bit of a moot point if there's none for sale in Germany. If you are, as you say, tall, skinny and inexperienced then I'd suggest as light a bike as possible and a 250 trail bike would be a great choice. Others have listed the possibilities and any of them would work.

A few points to consider though:

Don't dismiss the advantages of light weight and get seduced by power output and engine size. On anything but Euro motorways / trunk roads you'll rarely need more than about 30bhp.

Reliability is paramount, and especially so if grease under the fingernails hasn't featured much in your past. You can forgive a bike a lot if it starts ups and moves under its own power when you're in the middle of nowhere. IMHO and your circumstances stay away from anything that doesn't have its parentage somewhere in Japan.

Once out of Europe you'll bless the day you chose something with decent suspension. Small trailies (or big ones come to that) are not generally blessed with all day comfortable seats but at least the suspension eases the pain when you hit a pothole. Aftermarket "fixes" / reupholsters litter the internet but believe me when I say that your posterior does (eventually) adapt.

If you think choosing the bike is tricky, just wait till you start dealing with the paperwork!

Good luck though, it sounds like a great trip.

huguesfrederic 28 Jun 2017 02:52

I found this yesterday. You might relate.

You can start watching at 5:30...

https://youtu.be/hAjlV2DdC5o

Jesperwr 28 Jun 2017 05:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by backofbeyond (Post 566044)
The KLR would be my choice of the three listed but it's a bit of a moot point if there's none for sale in Germany. If you are, as you say, tall, skinny and inexperienced then I'd suggest as light a bike as possible and a 250 trail bike would be a great choice. Others have listed the possibilities and any of them would work.

A few points to consider though:

Don't dismiss the advantages of light weight and get seduced by power output and engine size. On anything but Euro motorways / trunk roads you'll rarely need more than about 30bhp.

Reliability is paramount, and especially so if grease under the fingernails hasn't featured much in your past. You can forgive a bike a lot if it starts ups and moves under its own power when you're in the middle of nowhere. IMHO and your circumstances stay away from anything that doesn't have its parentage somewhere in Japan.

Once out of Europe you'll bless the day you chose something with decent suspension. Small trailies (or big ones come to that) are not generally blessed with all day comfortable seats but at least the suspension eases the pain when you hit a pothole. Aftermarket "fixes" / reupholsters litter the internet but believe me when I say that your posterior does (eventually) adapt.

If you think choosing the bike is tricky, just wait till you start dealing with the paperwork!

Good luck though, it sounds like a great trip.



I am definitely open to doing some aftermarket parts on a 250 dual purpose but since I know jack shit about bikes, I don't know what to get, how to put it on, etc.

For me, I think it would be a safer bet to get something that works from the get go, right?

Jesperwr 28 Jun 2017 06:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by tremens (Post 566039)
tarmac? what tarmac? bier

http://www.namibian.com.na/public/up...atimaRoads.jpg

not sure why you're allowed ride only 48hp but if so look for xt660z tenere,
you're tall you can manage. Rock solid bike with very good bad roads and off-road capabilities and easy to fix. (if you can still get one because it was discontinued this year in EU) Personally I would not bother with less then 500c bike for such trip. Honda CB500x is good choice too, especially with adventure kit.

Yeah, I looked a bit around for a XT660Z new-ish model with low mileage. Anything I should be aware of when buying a used bike?

I am only allowed to ride a 48hp bike because I have not got the "full" driver's license which you can get at age 24. I've got the medium one, which you can get at age 20. (I'm 21)

Jesperwr 28 Jun 2017 06:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by huguesfrederic (Post 566051)
I found this yesterday. You might relate.

You can start watching at 5:30...

https://youtu.be/hAjlV2DdC5o

I can definitely relate to the "never rode a bike in his entire life guy":stupid:

backofbeyond 28 Jun 2017 07:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesperwr (Post 566055)
I am definitely open to doing some aftermarket parts on a 250 dual purpose but since I know jack shit about bikes, I don't know what to get, how to put it on, etc.

For me, I think it would be a safer bet to get something that works from the get go, right?


That's the trouble with the internet; you ask 10 people a question and you'll get 20 different answers. :rofl: The reality is that most of the gnarly old stagers on here would do a trip such as yours on whatever they've got rather than starting from scratch. I've done trips this year on half a dozen different bikes ranging from a mid 70's 125 Suzuki two stroke to a Honda GoldWing - including a KLR650 which I quite like as a travel bike. It's fairly basic but it kind of "fits" and I feel comfortable riding it long distance.

A KLR (if you could get one), a DR650 (again if you could get one) or a XT-Z would probably be the mainstream choice, but that mainstream would consist of people who have years of experience behind them. For someone starting out I think weight is the biggest hurdle you'll face. By the time you load any of those bikes up (and with the extra power of the 600s it's easy to keep piling stuff on) you'll be struggling at low speed. Maybe if you were built like a night club bouncer it wouldn't be so bad but if you're not it can become a real struggle at times. It's easier with experience but you have to get there first.

That's why I suggested a 250. Sure, you can't mix it with the Porsches on the autobahn and it can be a bit of a grind on long mountain climbs but the lack of weight will make riding it a pleasure the rest of the time. Use soft luggage (there's quite a few decent makes around) and if you can keep it down to around 15kg (I'd have my doubts :rofl:) you'll feel the benefit when the tarmac runs out (or breaks up). Personally I'd avoid loading the bike up with aftermarket parts - soft luggage (depending on the bike you might need some kind of add-on to keep it off the exhaust) and thinking about fuel range would be it.

mark manley 28 Jun 2017 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesperwr (Post 566056)
I am only allowed to ride a 48hp bike because I have not got the "full" driver's license which you can get at age 24. I've got the medium one, which you can get at age 20. (I'm 21)

Before planning anything else I would check with whatever travel (medical) insurance company that you plan to use that you will be covered, UK insurers will not cover anyone who does not have a full motorcycle licence, also check you can get an International driving permit or you may not be legal to ride outside of the EU.

tremens 28 Jun 2017 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesperwr (Post 566056)
Yeah, I looked a bit around for a XT660Z new-ish model with low mileage. Anything I should be aware of when buying a used bike?

I am only allowed to ride a 48hp bike because I have not got the "full" driver's license which you can get at age 24. I've got the medium one, which you can get at age 20. (I'm 21)

bike with low mileage, well maintained and clean title history should not be a problem, would not worry about it. Take some mechanic with you so he can check it for you.

BTW, if you're new to biking I would advice take some training on and off-road once you buy a bike to get to know each other before such long trip.

backofbeyond 28 Jun 2017 12:23

I thought the A1, A2 etc categories were perfectly valid full licences as long as you were using them within their limitations i.e. not riding a Fireblade on an A2. As such I wouldn't have though there would be a problem going outside the EU on an A2.

Unless I've got it wrong of course but that's how the regs read to me.

mark manley 28 Jun 2017 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by backofbeyond (Post 566085)
I thought the A1, A2 etc categories were perfectly valid full licences as long as you were using them within their limitations i.e. not riding a Fireblade on an A2. As such I wouldn't have though there would be a problem going outside the EU on an A2.

Unless I've got it wrong of course but that's how the regs read to me.

I am not sure either but suggest checking as certainly UK insurance companies will use any excuse not to pay including requiring you to have a full motorcycle licence to ride any powered two wheeler including mopeds before they will payout.

Snakeboy 28 Jun 2017 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by backofbeyond (Post 566085)
I thought the A1, A2 etc categories were perfectly valid full licences as long as you were using them within their limitations i.e. not riding a Fireblade on an A2. As such I wouldn't have though there would be a problem going outside the EU on an A2.

Unless I've got it wrong of course but that's how the regs read to me.

Of course they are - as you say as long as you stick to the limitations on the license.
As long as you drive a normal car on a normal car license insurance will be valid. If you drive a huge truck on a normal car license insurance will not be valid. If our man out for an adventure have an A2 license it will be valid if he ride a bike within that license limitations.

Snakeboy 28 Jun 2017 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesperwr (Post 566055)
I am definitely open to doing some aftermarket parts on a 250 dual purpose but since I know jack shit about bikes, I don't know what to get, how to put it on, ietc.

For me, I think it would be a safer bet to get something that works from the get go, right?

I would say that any bike of any type would benefit very much with some "personalisation". No need for upgrades if you really dont benefit from them. Lets say your a tall guy, that will often make the seating/riding position a bit uncomfortable and you could benefit from adding bar risers to the bikes handlebars. It will rise the handlebars with a few centimeters and your riding position will change - to the better hopefully. Similar with footpegs, the original might not be wide or grippy enough for your boots, thus some wider and more sturdy footpegs will benefit you. Also in Kazakhstan it can be very long between gas stations, thus an aftermarket bigger gas tank that extend your potential range can come in very handy in such a place. You can of course carry fuel in jerrycans and bottles but that are in my experience a real PITA.

When you testrided a few bikes and found one you like and bought it - take it out for a real testtrip. Load it up with the gear you would use on your main tour, camping gear, cooking gear and food, clothes, personal items, spare parts and tools, first aid kit etc etc. Since your from Danmark may I suggest going up to Notway, Sweden or Finland for a real shakedown of 2-3 weeks. You can test what works and what not works, what needs upgrading etc.

Snakeboy 29 Jun 2017 17:16

Kawasaki Versys 300 review and a bit of a Honda Crf 250L too :mchappy:

https://youtu.be/XYYf7iG1ih4

brclarke 29 Jun 2017 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by backofbeyond (Post 566063)
That's the trouble with the internet; you ask 10 people a question and you'll get 20 different answers.

Only 20?

Jesperwr 29 Jun 2017 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeboy (Post 566165)
Kawasaki Versys 300 review and a bit of a Honda Crf 250L too :mchappy:

https://youtu.be/XYYf7iG1ih4


Yeah, I just watched it before you linked that:thumbup1:

Jesperwr 29 Jun 2017 22:56

What about registering the bike in a friend's name in Spain and then riding the bike from there - Will I have any trouble riding "someone else's" bike?

I have read up on moving my address to Spain and then buying the bike. This is a bit of trouble since I have to be living in Spain for three months before I get a Spanish ID card etc. which I need for registering the bike.

strobbia 16 Jul 2017 14:20

Hey Mate

Just another opinion! but I am in a similar boat - I don't know too much about bikes but I'm about to ride from Australia to England over 12 months.

I ended up buying a versys 300 - its fairly light, can go 400kms on a tank, relatively cheap and can handle some dirt roads. I'm thinking I'll be doing about 80/20 road/dirt so it seemed to be the right kinda bike.

mollydog 16 Jul 2017 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by strobbia (Post 567198)
I ended up buying a versys 300 - its fairly light, can go 400kms on a tank, relatively cheap and can handle some dirt roads. I'm thinking I'll be doing about 80/20 road/dirt so it seemed to be the right kinda bike.

Plus One on versys 300. But being such a new model, will be more expensive than older models.

Another bike I would look seriously into would be the Suzuki DL650 V-Strom.
It's a GREAT beginners bike, will run forever, easy to work on and never breaks down! Not ideal is you're planning serious off road in deep mud, but none you've listed are really ideal for that either. Go with the Vstrom. :thumbup1:

Fact is, the Vstrom will fit you well being tall and will be THE MosT comfortable, allow you to pack TON of luggage and can easily do 600km /day. Fuel economy is good but not as good as the Versys or other 250's.

I would avoid both KLR and DR650, both great bikes but illegal in EU and most you will find will be old, worn out beaters. Where would you get parts?
Answer: NO WHERE.

I own a Suzuki DR650 and love it, but i live in California where KLR and DR650 are still sold, parts everywhere.

... but for your ride (MOSTLY tarmac - 80%) nothing comes close to the Vstrom for the price and incredible versatility it offers. Buy a nice used one. I owned TWO ... GREAT bikes.

(Read the old Motorad bike tests (from 10 years ago or so), they put 20 bikes in competition riding all around the Alps. The V-Strom 650 won this competition TWO YEARS running. Great report. See links below:

http://www.stromtrooper.com/dl650-dl...rs-2006-a.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_V-Strom_650
https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Suzuki...tem_type=topic

bier

Jesperwr 17 Jul 2017 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by strobbia (Post 567198)
Hey Mate

Just another opinion! but I am in a similar boat - I don't know too much about bikes but I'm about to ride from Australia to England over 12 months.

I ended up buying a versys 300 - its fairly light, can go 400kms on a tank, relatively cheap and can handle some dirt roads. I'm thinking I'll be doing about 80/20 road/dirt so it seemed to be the right kinda bike.

When are you going?


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