Criteria - low fuel consumption, easy to get going?

[Inprogress]

So, I've been soul searching for the last couple of months. I got a girlfriend now, living together....and to cut a long story short, I, Frants Combrink Jnr, son of a South African Airways Captian, now retired, needs to either get busy living, or continue making with the the day to day grind of going to work and going home and wishing my so called live over.

And after reading the posts of Nathan the Postman (advrider) who so kindly shared some of his trip with the rest of us.....I came to realise that I don't live life, I am merely existing. This also came from trying to figure out, that me, at age 27, do, not, want, children.......ever! My girlfriend does....very much so.

And I started to realise that my so called life is exactly the life I vowed myself not to live about 9 years ago. SO! What is the point of this post then? Surely the title does not match the content.

Seeing Nathan ride his Honda CT110 made me realise that I want to go on a ride.....to nowhere and everywhere that I wanted to go. I live as far south in South Africa as conviniently possible...the city is great. And I want to get on my bike, and ride north. Ride north till I get to the ocean and have to decide left or right.

My current bike is a 1981 R80G/S. Great bike...really great bike. One short coming if you want to travel for as long as possible....its not great fuel consumption. I do not want to set off on this trip and find myself turning around at Windhoek cause my funds are running low due to fuel. Fuel is not a cheap consumable anymore.

So my thoughts turned to the Honda E Storm. 50km/liter. Wow, now that wil get me really far. Simple bike....unleaded.

Then, thought turned to my first dual sport horse, the Suzuki Djebel 250 XC. Great fun little bike....loads of suspension.....about 25km/liter......I would compromise that 25 kilometers for it. Very simple bike as well, beaing unleaded suddenly doesn't bother me. But, the Djebel does not have a subframe to hang stuff from. And since the Djebel will be imported to South Africa as grey, they don't always come cheap.

My buddy, 2005 KLR 650. He says he gets the same fuel consumption as the Djebel. Great bike as well......subframe you can hang a moose from. A very well traveled bike around the world.....might even run into Mike on his way up Africa. And I can get one for a really good price, given I need to replace the rear shock at a very conservative price if I choose the manufacturer in Johannesburg.

Then there is the TW200, one of which I can get for a little bit more than the KLR (that is before buying the new shock), touring ready. I know they get about 35km/liter.....not fast but my point isn't to go fast. The bike even has a rack that can hold and is included, two red 5 liter metal jerry cans with locks. But can you find that tire in africa? I hardly see that tire in local shops.

But now we might...who am I kidding, I am possibly now missing the point again. Is it the bike or the trip. If I really wanted to, the E Storm will work perfectly.

So I need some advice, and I do understand that the advice will be sprinkled with some bias as to which bike and why. But for the most part, when it comes to fuel and packability and longevity...what would you suggest? I know its the rider and not the bike that makes any bike great and its the going there and not the bike that makes the trip.

If I can choose, I would like to go for the KLR because its a good buy from any angle. I would REALLY like to use my G/S, but the low fuel consumption bothers me as it might hamper my freedom for this trip. The TW bothers me due to that tire. The Djebel for me fall right next to the KLR, only, I know I can pack the KLR. Both allow me the trip, and both allow me a little bit of playing if I do wish to....that is with out luggage. And I suspect I would be able to get a KLR in general for the same price as a Djebel landed and registered in SA.

So I ask thee world travelers, those that has been there, those that know......does it really matter or does it only matter that you get on two wheels, the one that offers the most bang for your little bit of buck, and ride?

Sincerely yours,

EDIT: What I forgot to mention is that I love the G/S as well cause it is smooth. With my option listed, they are all thumpers. What small twin would you suggest? I saw some people here mention the CB200. I think those are really my top priority....low to acceptable fuel consumption, low on vibration.

Frants

PS. I am tired of my day to day existence, I want to live a life. We only get so many days on this earth, when they are done, what do we have to show for them?