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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Well, our small bikes are all old and have been trashed by previous owners / amateurs "mechanics" who have seriously messed up stuff tinkering with the engines. No amount of prepping up the bike can go through everything unless spending too much on those old steeds.


All our small bikes consumed oil through our trips. We had to add some on occasion.
We never had those issue on old "big - aka 650cc FI " bikes. Mainly because they contain much more oil that small bikes? I don't know. All I know is that all our small (old 2d hand) bikes have needed to keep a close eye (and top up ) oil very regularly.


It could be different on new small bikes these days. Ours are 10 year + and off eBay.

The technology is the same. Compression ratios do change. But saying small bikes burn more oil is like saying small bikes break more head light bulbs more often. My first 650 went through oil. All my other bikes didn't. We baby'd the first 650 after a rebuild. I have no doubt that's the reason.
If your burns that much oil that it's an issue I'd open it up and see if the piston needs changing or new rings and the cylinder needs work.
It's another reason I like new bikes. I know how it was worn in.

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Smaller bikes are often ridden harder and tougher than bigger bikes and by that I mean at higher rpms and more of the tourqe are used in general. If you ride a 250 like a 650 valves, valveguides, pistonrings etc will wear out faster and start to use oil earlier on. Simple as that I belive....

That's true and that has a consequence on the degrading and service interval of the oil depending on the volume of oil that they have. Burning it is not a consequence of that. It should be a sealed system. Well designed or built engines are better than worse ones off course. But that's not a factor here.

Well Im not a mechanical expert but with worn pistonrings and/or ditto valveguides etc an engine will start using/burning oil - the way I have understood it at least. But I might be wrong....

That's right. Has nothing to do with engine size though is my point

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It's not that small bikes burn more or less oil than bigger bikes. It's that smaller bikes have less oil to begin with. Whereas on a bike with 3L oil capacity can lose 500cc and still run fine, a bike that only carries 1L of oil could blow an engine if it loses 500cc. That's why I check the oil more frequently on a small bike. But really, whatever the bike, if you're on tour you should check it at least once a day.


On the positive side, a small oil capacity can be good in certain cases. Blew a clutch deep in the jungle. I had 700cc of spare oil. Replaced the clutch, changed the oil and kept going. Not easy to carry an entire oil change on a bigger bike, but with a small engine you can get away with it.

Yup. I change it more frequent but it's really quick.

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I'm a bit green here so can anyone enlighten me on oil change intervals of bikes of this size... I read on the TTR forum that the TTR250 should have a change every 600miles.

...Is this accurate and true of all 250's?
...Would this not be a royal pain in the arse on a RTW?

Cheers:cool4:

Engine oil change intervals is dependant by the engine characteristics (high performance or a tractor, etc) and the amount it carries. Oil degrades so the more you have in there the longer the change interval. That amount changes for every bike. The TTR was originally a race bike so they don't need to carry much oil. Dunno about the interval anymore. But if you're selecting a bike that would be a key parameter.

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As mentioned, oil capacity plays a big role here. 250's don't hold much, so more frequent changes in order. But some other factors at play:
If just cruising at moderate speed/rpm the oil will not be stressed as much, so longer interval may be possible.

If you could always have access to quality synthetic MC oil, this too could extend change interval. Going RTW, don't count on this.
Only So-So no name oil means YOU MUST do more frequent changes.

Many 250's will use some oil if ridden very hard, under load and kept at or near
redline. Otherwise, very little oil should be consumed by most of the bikes listed so far.

The TTR's are good tough bikes if you can find a "fresh" one that can do a full RTW and get it set up right. Old tech but a good one.

But for me .... first choice is WR250R. 2nd CRF250L. The WR has more power over CRF, better suspension too. Both reliable.
Those two things alone put WR250R 1st in my book.
Yes, more money but for all round riding (especially off road) Yamaha WR gets my vote.

The Australian TTR manual suggests first oil change at 600 miles, then every 6000 miles thereafter. The US one says every 1000 miles. In the US they were sold as off-roaders only (although they could be road registered) which would suggest an expectation of hard dirt road use. Common sense would indicate that the owner should vary the interval depending on usage and quality of oil available, and I think this probably applies to all makes and sizes of bike.

Aint it sweet?
S.C.A.M.P L-wAm XT225 - David Lambeth 00 44 (0)1205 871945

Nice. Dave built my first ever bike. He knows his stuff. Not a big fan of that fuel tank and headlight rack. Had fuel on the back like that on mine too. Good if you just poodle I guess.

I'd still take a WRR over that.

Go the Ttr. Totally ttrs in the U.K. Is the spot to buy everything to set a Ttr up. I am 6 foot 2 and 110kg of chubbiness and I love mine. You can get a lowering link to drop it 2'inches without really affecting the ride if you are short.

I got sick of picking up heavy bikes off road including two GS's a DR and a KLR. I like the Ttr more than all of them. Yes it's a 250, yes it's quite tall standard but these are things you can live with or adapt. I've owned 18 bikes now over more than 20 years and the little-bike-that-could Ttr has been the most grin inducing, reliable bike yet.

The Ttr has a pumper carb for great low down response. The suspension is way better than a DR. An XR fuel tank from acerbis bolts straight on for 23lt of fuel with a kit from zen overland or totally ttrs. Get a bashplate and rack and you're done. Totally fun, reliable and awesome little bike.

Can you tell i love mine?

Thanks for all the information and bike suggestions, even the ones who suggested bikes outside my criteria, I appreciate yall have my well-being and best interest at heart while recommending a bike so I will give these modern bikes a good look over instead of hastily dismissing them. Likes all round! beer

Steph did it on a 250cc
 

Sometime back, well , at least a little while back , Steph Jeavons completed a four year RTW on Honda CRF250L. Rhonda the Honda I believe was the name given to the beauty herself.
Therefore in essence, this is the bike you need to travel RTW. Just ask Steph?
Sorry Steph, we have not met, so I apologise for using your name without permission.!! :oops2: :clap: beer

I’m a huge fan of the TTR 250, mine does now leak oil and I need to re build the engine but once i’ve Done it, the bike will probably out last me!

Remember with the 20 year old trail bikes although bits are now worn they were built to last.

CRF250l must surely be the modern equivalent, as for the Rally version it looks good but many of the plastic parts break so why bother.

I certainly would look at the sorrow 250 its the TTR engine in a lower bike, seems to be more available and much newer direct from japan from some of the importers.

Over in South America you can get the tenere 250

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.

Easy fix! get yourself to the gym as part of your prep. I'm 52 and have suffered with a bad back so I am building my fitness levels before I go. I'm using a Crf250l for my trip and have to pick it up a few times already.

The Crf250 rally looks great but I thought that there was too much plastic. With my level of riding skills I would end up breaking it.

I am afraid you're right, I got rid of mine after 6 months. IMO it's very delicate bike.

Rhonda is indeed it's name. My partner had the chance to meet her in person when she was down under in Australia (before he and I met sadly). She completed the RTW last year and is currently or soon to do a ladies on top tour of Everest on Royal Enfield Himalayans. If my ankle hadn't been busted up and needing a reconstruction earlier this year I would of been on that trip myself.

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From what my partner (who is an actual mechanic not an amateur) and I have been reading, if you are using what was originally designed as a race bike and change to using a good quality 10-40 Diesel Engine oil you can conceivably get longer service limits out of it.

We are rebuilding a KTM 450 and 525 EXC for our RTW trip. And this is the oil we have chosen to use. It's definitely going to and the bikes are going to get a workout in Australian conditions whilst we perfect them. And whilst they, especially my 525 had been hammered by previous owners by doing a total rebuild including valves, guides, the lot even trialling a 16T front and 42T rear sprocket to hear it down. They are light weight and even with gear will be manageable for us both to pick up and we are both short asses at 5'6" so have made custom seat bases with memory foam to lower, pulled the fork legs up higher in the triple clamps and softening the rear spring.

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"I certainly would look at the sorrow 250 its the TTR engine in a lower bike,"


Unfortunately not true. The DOHC 4 valve TTR250 engine is no longer in production, the XT250 Serow motor looks totally different to me, SOHC 2 valve. Not exactly going to be a fire breather...

This website has some great information. Another couple of people on Crf250l's

One Road One World I World trip by motorcycles