As a novice regarding bike types/issues I could really use some input re. the following options. I have read quite a bit on HU recently but its no substitute for real experience!
I intend to start next Feb and be riding min 6 months but hopefully longer! Starting UK going East. My heart is with the Vstrom but my head says one of the others! Any help would be much appreciated!

1.....1991 yam tenere 660 27000kms standard spec £2500
2.....1992 yam tenere 660 27000kms standard spec £1500
3.....2004 xt660 50000kms standard spec £1500
4.....2006 xt660r 11000miles v. high rtw spec £3500
5.....2003 xt600e 24000miles ave rtw spec £2000
6.....2009 vstrom 660 26000miles ave spec £2750

Whats the brief?

Vstrom hands down if just for tarmac, but the xt will be much better if going off road.

(I sold my DL1000 vstrom earlier this year after doing 22k miles on it - pretty much all tours. Great forum in the uk - most have the 650 and a few have done some light of road stuff but its not really designed for that).

I'd recommend trying a few for a good long ride before you buy.

No real plans other than to be away riding for as long as possible. Wish to travel far and wide and not fall off too often! Not especially interested in going off road but would however like to be camping as much as poss and have the possibility to deal with reasonably rough terrain as and when it comes my way!

The XT600E, mine has been and is great. Not built for speed, and not really exciting but it has done everything I have asked of it in the last 7 weeks even if it hasn't always ended the right way up
I bought mine for £2500 ready to go and I enjoy in better than any of my other bikes I have had

IMG_1242 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1357_Fotor by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Wayne

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The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

As Tescape !
No way to answer your question until
you precise your trip ; for example grave roads can be a choice or an obligation
you try some bikes , an old air cooled single trail with a kick is high, weak breakin and supposed some habilities ( for the maintenance )
a modern twin is simpler , lower but full on 'tronics

for REAL rides , not only tour block ...

Many thanks for your input and pictures. Glad to hear your having fun. I will read your report in a minute to see how you have been getting on...tnks...bruce

I quite like the idea of heading to Russia which seems to be a trip a few others are planning in the new yr and then decide from there! Many thanks for your input...bruce

Vstrom would be fine for that. Great for long distance travel on normal roads; ok but heavy for hard packed dirt/gravel. Will take your camping gear no problem.


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Options 1 & 2 are quite old, so esp. #1 is quite expensive, hell the Vstrom´s asking price is only £250 more – from a 24-year old thumper to a 6-year old twin, I do know, which one I would pick!!! Does the Vstrom have ABS, by the way..?

But on the question of what is the right TYPE of bike for your trip, that is actually much harder to answer. The Vstrom is clearly the best bike on that list for big daily mileage on highways, and basically for any sealed road as well. Every thumper will feel exhausted compared to that twin, the engine really is a gem. And if you were going two-up (I guess you will be riding solo?) the choice would also be very easy. BUT, the more you are dealing with anything soft, muddy, slippery, or otherwise challenging terrain or road surface underneath its wheels, it will be a very heavy pig compared to those thumpers. It is basically a road bike, and will never match the more off-road oriented machines in that environment.

How much of your trip will consist of long days on the highway (--> Vstrom), and how much of your trip will involve exploring more challenging tracks (--> a lighter thumper)? I know, it may be tough to know, before you actually do it!!!

Me and my GF rode from Europe to Australia two-up on a DL650 about 8 years ago, and as we only had about 6 months, we mostly followed the bigger roads, which were mostly fine, with only very few exceptions in a few countries. If I was to do that trip again, I would not look at a thumper, but your need may be different.

AND, a really important thing is to go RIDE these bikes. You need to feel comfortable on the bike, otherwise it is not the right choice FOR YOU.

Hi

First please excuse my grammar if it bad my English could be better.

I'm am replying to this topic as 2 years ago when to Morocco. 3 of good dear friends took motorbikes these were my xt600 2001, friend on vstrom think 2007? And friend on 2005 xt660r.

First I agree with other writers here I would ignore bike 1 and bike 2 they are old and quite expensive.

So remain the bikes you list xt600, vstrom 650 and xt660. Well here my thoughts after 6 weeks riding in Morocco with these bikes in our group.

My bike xt600 2001. A good motorbike. Never gave me any trouble got me everywhere I required. Ok on the small Tarmac roads, OK on gravel roads, OK on easy off road piste. Things I not like and why I sell this motorbike not so good on highway can do it but feel very uncomfortable at over 100 kph for long periods of time. Fuel consumption was highly variable I think this because of 2 carburettor. If you got up speed for cruising fuel consumption got very high. Have to ride it easy or drinks the petrol at higher speeds. So stop throttle before second carburettor opens up. Xt600 stop making in Germany 12 years ago so old technology.

Vstrom: this bike was king of the highway from Germany to Spain and on highways of Morocco. Very good on Tarmac. Was OK on gravel roads but my xt600 and xt660 better I think. Not good for light off road. Hans could not follow us and several days we had to arrange meeting at end of day. He went on Tarmac we met at hotel for dinner and bed. So if you on only highway I think this bike good. But if you fancy even rough tracks this bike not so good quite heavy. Took 3 of us pushing it across sandy river bed. If only 1 person on your own would be bad problem. So quite limiting. I like to wild camping. with vstrom I would have to camp at side of road on the xt600 I was able to get off the road a small bit and find good camping. For me on a trip I do not like this motorbike. I don't like only Tarmac. I don't go off road much but I like to think I have option if ever need to.

Xt660: this bike was good. I really like the engine. Power to cruise easy on highway. Not as good as vstrom it was king but not so far behind. But this bike also off road was no problem. Not an enduro bike but like my xt600 was able to go anywhere in Morocco we decided. Fuel consumption very good I like this with fuel injection. Every time I fill up my xt600 the xt660 needed maybe one third less fuel. Very impressed with consumption. Of the three motorbikes in Morocco I think this is number 1 for me. Good highway, good off road and most economical. Still making this motorbike which is good new technology.

These are my experiences of 3 motorbike.

Other thing I say is get bike which is as near ready to leave as you can. If you need to buy a bash plate or up rating suspension can add price to normal bike. I try to bike which is most overland ready as seller usually discounts these things. So purchase monies might be higher but cheaper overall. Example in Germany change front fork seals is E100. So if you need some small jobs before depart can get expensive. So I buy motorbike that most work done and ready to go.

Grube und danke

Horust

Bruce there's a really nice ttr 600re on eBay £1500 you can put a set off multi use tyres on you have a great bike that's not cost a lot of money
I would put the larger tank on about £240 or a second hand one if you can find one, I'm not sure if the ttr250 tanks fit with a bit of mods

The above sums it up well. As great as the DL650 is as a travel bike, it does have limits off road. Also consider how a Vstrom would survive crash. Sadly, it won't do as well as an XT or XT660.

I've ridden my former DL1000 all over Baja (mild off road) and Copper Canyon and many friends have taken the DL650 Vstrom in unlikely places. They are tough, but it's going to be hard riding in deep sand and especially MUD.



I agree with Horust, the XT660 is maybe the best compromise. It can be made comfortable for long tarmac travel and will still be capable in off road situations. Important is the better fuel economy of the F.I. 660 over the XT600.

Hi, the Wee Strom will do you fine, those that have met me and "The Horse" will tell you of our adventures. 9 years on the road. 100 thousand miles.
Ruta 40, Ruta 3, Death road Bolivia, Chile, Puru, Equador, all the way to Columbia then back down to Argentina.
Russia & the Urals, all of Europe and Turkey. And I mean serious dirt dust and rock.
How? Haidenau k60 tyres, S/S braided brake hoses. Resetting the front suspension (change oil weight and height), Hagon shocks on the rear. Russia: get a fuelcat at in your tank. My DL650 has taken everything I've thrown it at. And I still ride her.

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The Gypsy
Second star on the right.
Then straight on till morning.

as an addendum: I used the bike as a (DD) Hammock support and carried all my test gear while doing a water survey in Chile. There was nowhere it would not go. Yes I fell down, but the bike carried me on. Ground off the brake lever and gear lever in different slides down goat tracks in the mountains, but made temporary ones out of shelf brackets, hose clamps and hose pipe. It is an Adventure bike I am proud to have owned. The fuel injection worked well at high altitude.

__________________
The Gypsy
Second star on the right.
Then straight on till morning.