Touring around Europe
 

Me and my partner are planning to buy a bike and travel around Europe. We thought an F650 BMW would be the go but have since been told that an R1100 or R1150GS would be better. We are concerned with the weight of the bigger bikes but realise their capacity and endurance would be better. Does anyone have any thoughts on exactly what we should be thinking of? Thanks - please reply via email.

Fiona, there's a number of threads on this already in a more appropriate forum - Which Bike? - and I'll move this thread there now.

Have a good browse through the Which Bike? forum and I think you'll find your question answered.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hi Fiona:

Welcome to the Horizons Unlimited community, hope you find some good info here.

I do a lot of lengthy (8 to 16 week) tours in Europe, and I use a Honda ST1100 PanEuropean. I travel solo, but when on the road for that length of time, I carry a fair bit of baggage.

I think a 650cc bike would be sufficient for a solo rider - you might find yourself close to the limit of the bike's abilities in the mountains, especially if you carry touring baggage - but I think two people, plus their kit, on a 650cc bike might be a bit too much.

My personal suggestion is that you consider a bike in the 1,000cc range. With two people and baggage, you will probably have close to a 400 pound payload to carry - that might actually exceed the manufacturer's limits for a 650cc bike.

You could probably get away with 650 cc's on the flats, or in the city, but it would be no fun in hilly country or on the highway.

It is possible to tour on just about any bike, but two-up on a 650 single won;t be much fun, and your choice of routes might be reduced.

For two-up touring I would consider a road bike 750cc or larger, or trail bike 900cc or larger. Even then you'll have to very careful how much luggage to take. I work on the basis that if I can halve the weight of every single item, the overall weight will be halved. Even to the point of examining the contents of toilettries bag and so on.