RTW small bike list
 

I've got a list of bikes I'm eyeballing that are small, light, shortish, simple electronics, cheap used, good aftermarket and spares for a RTW.

TTR 250
DR 200
DR 200 SE
XR 200 R
XR 250 R

Any bikes I should add? Remove? Focus on?

Crf250l?

Not short-ish, but since you already have non short-ish bike on the list, I would add the WR250R


Also the KLX250


The new CRF250 RALLY should be interesting as well.

Just focus on the bikes wich are available on the different continents. This saves shiping costs and all parts are allways available :)

Is 200cc a minimum for you? 100-125cc motorcycles are the workhorses of the developing world, everywhere outside of Europe and USA. Parts are extremely cheap and easy to find, whereas something for a 200cc+ motorcycle will require a trip to the capital city or international shipping.

However, out of that list I would remove the Kawasakis. I love Kawasakis and they are excellent bikes but that brand is extremely rare outside of the developed world, whereas Hondas, Suzukis and Yamahas are commonplace. Even if there are almost no DR200s on the road in Guatemala, the Suzuki dealer that sells mostly GN125s will still have a few slightly bigger bikes on the showroom floor and might have some parts for it.

Depending on how tall you are should sort out the 200s from the 250s, I am 5'8" and would take one of the 200s from this list, any of the bikes would be suitable but as has been said Kawasaki are less common around the world.

Well every countrys has other bikes being common but in most countrys they are Japanese 110 or 125cc bikes. Chain and tires will fit then. Big bikes are only common in "western" countrys http://motorradtouren-suedamerika.de...en_suedamerika

Thanks for the replies people.

I've taken Kawas off the list.

I'm weak and looking for a bike with dry weight <115kg so I don't have to book myself in for spinal surgery after picking it up. This crosses out the CRF250L, CRF250 Rally and WR250R.

My max seat height is 35" but I'll buy taller and bodge lower, if the bike has high HP, low weight like the TTR250 and XR250R.

I decided against <125cc because the lack of power will probably piss me off sooner or later. I'm not looking to do a 100 MPH wheelie through an African village, but I'd like to have some power to overtake trucks without having to do a slipstream run up.

We did 12,000 kms across Russia and the Stans last summer, on a TTR250 and an XT250. Both were superb.

After this trip, we would look at 2 XT250. Mainly because the fuel tank is big enough that you do not need to fit an acerbic tank. Fitting a bigger fuel tank opens a whole can or worm in itself and adds a lot of weight (and they are not cheap, at least for a TTR!) .


In addition, the XT is tough as nail and is incredibly light. You can do easily 300km on a fuel tank with the XT. In places where you may require more autonomy, I carry a fuel bladder of 5l, but an empty bottle of soda or oil could do the trick too! I never had to use my fuel bladder on this last trip.


But then, it depends where you are from. The XT250 (and even a TTR250 in good condition!) are very rare to find in Europe.


In 2014 we did 18,000km on two Honda XR125 ( across Russia and central Asia again). I agree that the 125 were a bit too slow in some countries or busy roads.


If you have no experience of small bikes, make sure you check the oil every day! That was a massive mistake we did with the XRs with dramatic result! :(

I don't believe that burning oil is attributed to them being small bikes. Both my WRR's and previously TTR didn't burn oil. This sounds more like it wasn't worn in properly. The rings need to be seated right straight of the bat. For this the engine needs to get worked for the first 100km or so.

You want what everyone else wants. It doesn't exist. A reliable, long service range, 115kg bike with plenty of grunt.
Best you can do to sort of meet those criteria and have reliability is put the CRF250L, CRF250 Rally and WR250R back on the list and try to lift them up. I find the WRR to be the best fit. Taking mine through Africa this April. After that I'm going lighter still but ditching the service interval criteria and get a Husky 350 or 501. Probably the latter.

The Honda Crf250L would be my bet. There are several riders that are doing RTW trips on them for the moment which shows that they are up to the task. They are assembled in Thailand and thus easiky available in SE-Asia, they are quite common in Europe, also in Oz and NZ, also in US and Canada and also in parts of south-America. Thus parts, service etc shouldnt be any problem. It could do with a bigger gastank though and a few other upgrades would also improve the bike. But still a good option imho.

You appear to be focussing on older, carb fed bikes.
A certain Mr A Vince might suggest a DR350 (At least until he tried the CRF250L!) His wife has proven what a TTR250 can do. There is a steady flow of both in the UK marketplace. Going efi gets more expensive but the auto altitude correction may be desireable?
Then you mention 115kg. I don't think any of the bikes you mention are actually that light when fitted with road going equipment (lights, indicators, numberplates etc) and fuel/oil. The TTR is close, as is the DR200/250 I think, but really you're getting into Serow territory (the bike, not the ungulate mammal!) Search "David Lambeth"...
I'd go TTR. I'm biased - I've got 2 (one a 325cc, and there's a 350 in development...) Combination of good suspension, willing engine, lowerable (seat shaving, lowering link, smaller wheels, low profile tyres...), e-start you'll be glad of if you're tired, ill or injured (e and kick combo on post 2000 models) and simple carb. (Good web backup from ttr250activeboard.com too)
Enjoy the decision making, it's part of the process!
Ride safe,
Simon.

Another fan of the TTR250 here - if you can find a good one, its probably one of the best bikes I have ever owned. I sold my '93 'Raid' version with over 75,000 kms on it. Rode it all over Europe with no issues at all, here it is crossing the Pyrenees in 2001

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/394/32...56ca7425_z.jpg

The TTR was my wife's beginner trail bike. She couldn't break it. I had to get on one after I broke my WRR (ripped the rear brake hose of the banjo trying to tear up vines stuck in my wheel). Rode a TTR the following day. Felt like going back into the stone age. Ended up breaking my arm in two pieces on it.

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