First of all remember that someone has in the past gone round the world on a flippin bycycle and a Honda C50 or Puch Maxi moped. So literally anything can be used for this purpose. Of course some do it better than others -
The bikes you have identified are (how shall I say it without causing offence) - at best questionable...
As Luka says you can dispense with the larger DR and get yourself a DR650 which will do everything the larger one will and more...
The Triumph Scrambler is not normally associated with hardcore RTW although it's quite possible to use one for this purpose. Bikes like these are normally used on a Sunday afternoon and are often polished more than they are ridden.
If attempting to cross sub-Sahara Africa I'd recommend you look at a simple bulletproof single of about 600cc. My personal choice would be a Yamaha XT600E or another XT varient. The XT is probably the No1 African Adventure bike ahead of the vastly more costly BMW's. As you can see I own one myself.
Forget taking a vastly expensive huge beast like Charley and Ewan did - you can do so much more on a smaller lighter simpler bike.
Get yourself a copy of Chris Scotts excellent "Adventure Motorcycling Handbook" and take his advice. This book will answer most if not all of your questions...
ISBN NO: 978 1 873756 80 5
£12.99 (UK)
$19.95 (USA)
Good luck.
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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).
Last edited by kentfallen; 13 May 2011 at 15:47.
Reason: Edited out the first para after re-considering (it sounded smug)
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