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Ride what you have, but...... Ride what you have, but......
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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 Helmut Koch, Vivid sky with Northern Lights, Yukon, Canada

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


Photo by Helmut Koch,
Camping under Northern Lights,
Yukon, Canada



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  #1  
Old 24 Mar 2016
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Ride what you have, but......
I've been driving myself bonkers thinking what to do for the best with regards to a travel bike, when I already have an 'older' cbr600 parked outside already.

I know its been done on sportsbikes already, but would somewhere like Mongolia leave me screwed, or is it doable, albeit a bit more difficult ??

Thanks in advance
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  #2  
Old 24 Mar 2016
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If I had the choice between a cbr600 and the plethora of faux "adventure" bikes that are clogging up the market segment to which many hubbers are attracted, I'd go for the cbr600 every time. The only reason I've never bought a 600 cc 4 cylinder Japanese sports bike is that I'm too tall to fit on one.

Check Sjaak Lucassen

Also Google: Nick Sanders
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  #3  
Old 24 Mar 2016
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Now theres a quick reply

I only bought this bike as a sacrificial lamb for the winter, but what with the proven reliability and the fact it makes me grin, I figure f**k it, just use it. But I'm also a realist and know it aint an offroad legend, so thought it worth asking, especially as mongolia really appeals, and the term ' Roads' does seem a bit optimistic for this part of the world.
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  #4  
Old 24 Mar 2016
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99% of what I rode in Mongolia would have been as easy or hard on a sports bike as on the 600 cc Transalp I used. In one or 2 places a Trannie might be faster. In others a sports bike.

Also, in Mongolia the Chinese are now paving a lot of tracks.

Clearly things would be a great deal easier on a light weight dirt bike but a sports bike is just as suitable as the huge sheds with substandard suspension that pass as "adventure bikes".

And your cbr makes you smile....

Pics of Mongolia in sig below.
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  #5  
Old 24 Mar 2016
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Funny, Transalp was my first choice of travel bike !!

Cheers pal.
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  #6  
Old 24 Mar 2016
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Ride what you have, but ...
Ride what you have, but RIDE.

The longer you spend here on the HUBB, the more you will learn that you can ride any bike to Mongolia. But the longer you spend here, the less time you have to ride ... so take the CBR ... I crossed the Ural mountains last year Mid of May and did not have any snow on the main roads ... so time to tell good bye to your wife/job/mates at the pub and hit the road.

Saludos from South America
mika
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  #7  
Old 26 Mar 2016
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I've travelled long distances on both a 95 CBR600 and a 2005 R1200GS. So I tell you from experience that it can be done. Molly makes good points, in that off road was much harder on the sport bike, but I'm sure a lot of that was due to me being surprised to be on dirt roads and not having developed or practiced the skills I needed at those times. I ride the GS now because that's the ride I want.

In the end, your decision boils down to the same question: what ride do you want? If you want to do Mongolia on the sport bike, go for it (and be sure you post pictures of the trip).

If I were to offer advice, I'd suggest two things:
1) Practice for the terrain you expect, and
2) Mika was right. Do it quickly, because you aren't getting any younger.
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  #8  
Old 26 Mar 2016
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I have had the 1200GSA and the 800GS and they are great for eating up the miles on the tarmac. I now have a XT600E. But would I have taken the BMWs where I ended up going on my Balkans trip and on my Thailand and Laos Trips (if i flew them over), Not a chance. I travel on my own and it was hard enough picking my XT up never mind the 1200GSA. I will stick with the XT or smaller and doubt very much if I will ever get another BMW, I never had a problem with them but there are better bikes out there that do a better job.
As for taking the cbr600 off road, go for it, it will do it...Nick Sanders (think i spelt it right) has been all over on his R1

All the best with whatever you decide

Wayne
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  #9  
Old 26 Mar 2016
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I'm with Tim at post #8.

Fit the knobliest tyres that will fit and go in the knowledge that there will be roads that aren't fun and others that are impossible. I've taken Triumph Bonneville up tracks that kids on 125 trail bikes said were impossible. The knowledge that I could keep Thailands best British bike going weighed nothing.

Andy
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  #10  
Old 26 Mar 2016
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I've long been of the view that we tend to obsess over the technical nature of our machines. Too many people are inclined to say you can't do X without Y. No 21" front wheel? Go home. No long travel suspension? Give up now!

These things surely help, if you want to ride at some kind of competitive Dakar pace they may even be essential. But if you're willing to take it slow, waddle (should be easy on a sports bike, compared to a big tall ADV?) or get off and walk when needed all you really need is a wheel that goes round.

If you can go around the world on a C90, R1 or Harley you can do it on just about anything.

You'll have a rougher time on the rough stuff but on the road you'll be able to hoon around like a mad thing.
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  #11  
Old 29 Mar 2016
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Cheers for all the replies, both for and against. Just looking into luggage options now, looking difficult to find hard pannier frames for this so soft panniers with a top box for anything worth nicking is looking the likely option.
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  #12  
Old 30 Mar 2016
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just do it, throw some soft luggage and a dry bag on with bungee cords, bring a front knobby with you and get a rear anywhere on the way, you won't need them for a while. Have fun and enjoy being the guy who didn't conform.
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  #13  
Old 30 Mar 2016
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Remove as much plastic as you can ... fit it back after the dirt trip. Some wide bars, a little engine protection and you should be good to go .. slowly.

Long travel suspension helps when (if) you are caught out by a pot hole, jump up/down .. other than that does not make much difference for a tourer.

Tyres .. they actually don't make that much difference .. only a the limits and then you have probably gone too far for even the best tyres.

Given suspension and tyres .. travel slowly and you 'll be fine. Travel fast and you will fall off, and then remember the first part of this post - remove the plastics.
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