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woman solo trip = little bike?
Hi all.
Now this is a problem I have been mulling over for nigh on a year now and I cannot find peace of mind. I am going RTW next year and although I am doing it with a male friend I know we will go our separate ways on more than one occassion, and I want to know that I can pick up and maneouvre the bike without any hassle when I am on my own in the back end of nowhere. Considering I am pretty weak and incredibly clumsy I have plumbed for a DR350 (at the moment). Now, the guys that I have spoken to, say ditch the idea of a small bike and get a 650 - which will be better, sturdier and handle the panniers. Obviously there is Lois who went for a small bike but I would like to hear about other women that have done solo trips on small cc bikes, and 650 plus. What problems have occurred, either way. You may say, dont worry about being able to pick it up - theres always someone around. What have women found more important on their trips - speed and strength of bike, or the ability to maneouvre the bike? Or does all these pros and cons end up being academic at the end of the day: once you ride a bike for long enough you will always be in control..... Look forward to your thoughts! Cheers Char |
"the guys that I have spoken to"
Would they be, like, British biker guys with sportsbike replicas who have never left Europe by any chance? In most places a DR350 will be the fastest biggest bike on the road. Small = big, divided by context, and multiplied by ease. Simon |
Hey Charlotte!
During our year in south america: every time we had to squeeze the bikes inside a hotel lobby or a tricky parking space, or through steps to a hotel's patiosetc.... I got my husband to do it for my bike... my F650 (at 200kg) was just too heavy for me to handle in these small spaces. If I had to go solo, I would get a light bike. It is essential that you can lift it a bit and put it in those tricky spaces that the locals will show you for safe parking. Sure you may get help sometimes, but not always... Also picking up a bike down on tarmac in the UK is easy. Try that when the bike is upside down fully loaded on a sandy ditch... a completely different story. Weigh is an issue. Women have less upper body strengh than men, it is an issue (for me) sometimes when handling my bike. Next trip will be on a smaller bike for me. You don't need a tractor (like the 1200gs adv) for a RTW trip. Lois is right in my opinion. And Mondo enduro guys did it on 250s if I remember well... When you hit the soft stuff you will be glad to have a little bike. Sure for long stretches of tarmac, big is better. But on a RTW trip, do you want to travel at the speed of light, or take your time, look and savour the beautiful scenery? Ha yes and make sure you have both feet (at least almost) flat on the ground. The alternative is that on dirt roads, you will stop, put your foot down, to realise that there is a pothole under your foot (there are always potholes!) and promptly drop the bike! I did it. A lot! I improved, eventually, before the hubby broke his back picking up my bike :) |
In my youth I went all over the Uk on a Triumph Tiger cub... You really have to see one to appreciate how small they are. 200cc, 10 bhp and about 25" seat heigh and will go all day at over 100 mpg at about 45mph.
Anyone can easily master one ( or should that be mistress :) ) My advice get a bike you are happy with and one that is comfy. After that the rest comes easy :) |
I'm sorry, I'm not going to be able to offer you anything contrary to what anyone else said on this thread. It's always good to have opposing views. However, I couldn't agree more with everyone else. Whilst in Stockholm I met this guy from Madras who was cycling round Europe on a bicycle he was in his 60/70s, and an amazing guy, I could chat to him all day. He said when he was younger he used to rode Enfield round India and neighbouring countries. He said that he was wondering before he left about the power being sufficient, he found it was excessive. He later did similar trips on a Honda 125 and feared that wouldn't be sufficient power. He found that it was in fact better, and more in the spirit of motorcycling: lighter to handle, more economical, and being small and simple it was more serviceable.
From my own experience riding a tractor of a bike round Scandinavia. I know for sure I'd never do that again. It defeats the whole point of motorcycling having too much power, too much weight, too much complicated technology that you have no understanding of... and certainly no fuel economy to speak of. I'm tempted to do it on a 49cc scooter for shits and giggles. On a serious note, I would do it on a DR-Z 400 or a Serow. My advice to you is to ask yourself: Is power that important? |
My input...
My (personal) perspective: I'm tall and have a few years of biking experience, and have always preferred a bigger bike (>600cc) on the ROAD.
I have ridden anything from a 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 400cc and a 500c (up to 1100cc) and without hesitation I would say, that I felt safer on a bigger bike. On several occassions now, the extra power has served to help me out of a dangerous situation. Its comforting to know, that even though you're not always hacking along at top speed, there is some power left, when you need it. (Also - the argument that you can go at 70mph on a 250cc, doesn't take in account that you are pushing such a small engine to its limit... doubtlessly knackering it much faster, than say a 600cc, which handles that speed comfortably) Add to this, the frustration of going uphill, with the wind against you, and there is no power... multiply by a few hundred miles, and I would pick a bigger bike every time. OFFROAD - the dynamics change slightly: a bigger bike, is without a doubt, harder to handle in most cases. (there ARE cases where the extra power helps you out, especially if you're loaded up). However - I can confidently say that I've ridden a XT600 and a DR600 ofroad, and can handle it adequately. On gravel and flat sand - no problems whatsoever. So in summary: if I was to do a route that involved more than say, 3 or 4 days of ROAD (or gravel, or flat dirt, or flat sand) riding, for anything more than 200 miles, I would go for a bigger bike. If my route involved hardly any road riding - and mostly offroad (dunes, ravines, rocky river beds), I would definitely go for a smaller bike. THAT SAID -- We've committed to 600s for our trans-africa trip -- and I STILL waver over the decision at times. The BEST way to make up your mind - is to try the bikes in different terrain. |
Your trip, not theirs.
Whatever .. it is your trip, so you should make the decisions .. if later on you find that one decission was wrong .. well there is always the possiblity of changing it.
------------------- It also has a lot to do with where you are riding .. some places expect speeds to be 80km/h or less .. so a smaller bike is better. If you do 500 miles of road works you'll want the smaller dirt worthy bike, if you do 500 miles of motorway you'll want the touring bike with crusie control. That is life. Luggage .. if it is a weight problem - strengthen the frame as required. And reduce the weight .. don't carry as much. Width through doors etc .. doors here are 900 mm wide ... get your handle bars trimed down so they go through the width of a door easily.. |
All the above is correct, especially IMHO the idea that it's your trip.
Allow me to ramble on about some personal (usually incorrect) choices of machinery: My Enfield was fantastically balanced, low, fine on snow or gravel, easy to maintain , with long range and low running costs. It had to go as I can't live with a 55 mph bike on 90 mph UK roads or the thought of blowing it up by running all the time at full throttle. My XT600 I could ride on any surface, pick up fully loaded, would cruise at 80 mph all day and did everything I wanted. The pillion seat was useless and the way I thrashed it it burnt oil so it went. My F650 did everything that the XT did but was faster still. It ate it's water pumps and my head couldn't live with the fear of it doing that a week away from spares and a decent workshop. My Ural had a habit of destroying major bits of engine and gearbox whenever it went more than 20 miles from home or over 45 mph. Apart from that you could ride it up the side of the house in any weather or load condition. I know people who can sucessfully exploit all the good features of all the above bikes and live with the downsides. For Africa i'd go with the 350 trailie or 500 Bullet for the simple reason I could live with a week of motorway horror at 55 mph across Europe, then be really happy with the smaller, lighter bike. For a RTW including Europe and the US I'd want an XT600 or BMW, but MY fear is being able to see the rivets holding the VOLVO/SCANIA/MACK badge on in the mirror rather than not being able to pick it up. If that's your worry you will be happier with the 250 or 350. On a practical note, have you tried picking up a 600? Either use the bars as a lever or put your back to the seat and hold under the tank and seat. Either grip, it's bent knees, straight back, bike in gear and push with your legs to roll it upright. I've seen 5 foot 2, skinny girls pick up 1100cc bikes when not trying to grab them like a push bike and lift with their arms. Ignore me if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs :-) Andy |
I'm all for small bikes for round the world trips, but there's a way of using your ass and your legs to pick up a large bike. I've seen a video (probably on youtube) of an older lady picking up a Goldwing that way. She just basically scooted backwards with her legs.
-Dave |
I've seen quite burly blokes struggle to pick up a fallen trail bike. The secret is not to rush to try and pick it up; that's how you'll hurt yourself. Stand back and assess the situation.
Let's assume the bike is on flat ground, on it's right hand side. Turn the bars to full left lock and make sure it's in gear. Take hold of the end of the handlebar, face the headstock, bend your knees and slowly pick the bike up. If the bike is in a less than ideal possition, just drag it round to make life easier. It would be worth having a practice. Get someone to help you lay the bike down then try and pick it up. I lay my DRZ on it's side to jetwash the underneath; one side, then the other, then stand it up to do the rest. Have fun |
I managed to ride a 125cc from London to UlaanBaator following the silk route, so I definitely would not say that a bigger bike is necessary for a RTW. Indeed, I have a 640 KTM now and wonder whether my little 125 was just plain easier to ride in everything but sand.
http://www.pzorb.com/albums/album03/IMG_0201.sized.jpg You can see from the picture that the bike was well loaded, carrying an extra 10L of petrol, 10L of water, 30kg of luggage which still only adds up to the average weight of a female pillion. The 125 only did a top speed of maybe 55mph, but I barely ride my KTM over 80 on long trips. Also a smaller engine burns way less fuel so the same weight of carried fuel gets you further. Whenever I think of a bike's weight, I am reminded of a time when I crashed in Mongolia and had the bike land on top of me. http://www.pzorb.com/albums/album03/IMG_0216.sized.jpg If I had taken a larger bike this may have a) killed me or b) trapped me under it in the desert sun. I just pushed the 125 off me and got round to fixing it instead. http://www.pzorb.com/albums/album03/IMG_0217.sized.jpg And after all, the Mondo Enduro / Terra Circa lot did fine on their 'smaller' 350 bikes! |
KTMmartin your story sounds amazing. I'd love to hear about it. Did you write a blog/diary? Sounds like something I have on the back-burner for 2/3 years from now...
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Hi Mrs Bossies here
We just did London to Cape Town via Middle East (arrived Cape Town in March). I originally had the BMW F650 for the trip but barely had my toes down after lowering it considerably (I'm 5'1"). After a few practise rounds we decided to go for the XR250's. The smaller, lighter bikes made the trip much more fun and there is no doubt in my mind that my heavy BMW would have caused me serious damage in the sand. But I have to admit we got a bit nervous when we got to SA with the fast traffic. I have to agree with XT girl that I missed the extra power at times just to get away from the idiot on my back side. Saying that I am now on a DR650. Still a bit high (after cutting the seat etc etc etc) but it is not much heavier than the 250's (with 22L tank). If we do it again we will take the DR's. |
KTMmartin
I would be interested in your veiws & experence as your 125 is one of the bike i am considering for a future trip (see my thread HONDA CG125) Cheers kev |
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