the long way round - best bike?

oyster · Post by **oyster** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:04 pm

Most would agree that a marathon like this journey was, requires a slightly lighter and more nimble bike than a BMW 1100GS, although it was tough enough. So what would be the ideal bike. Rugged, reliable and comfortable. The BMW 650? May lack power. So which?

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:21 pm

Charley and Ewan were supposed to go on KTMs,but KTM wouldn't give them a deal!
I guess it comes down to how far off the beaten track you plan to go.
The 1100GS takes some beating;like you say,too big for any serious off road stuff.But there is no one bike that does it all.

I often think the same way about the perfect courier bike.As much as I love big BMW tourers,they are too big and heavy for serious town work,and cost a fortune to run.
There must be a niche market there somewhere!
Bailey.

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:33 pm

my 2p based on my recent experience:
something easy to pick up and easy to repair with spoked wheels and inner tubes. A medium sized enduro would be ideal as it would do 70-80 mph on good roads and cope with crap ones. power is useful for decent surfaces and competitive off road riding but weight is bad news when trying to pull a bike out of a foot of mud.. one of those diesel kawasakis or something that can run off rubbish petrol and when you have to take it to bits, the local blacksmith can fabricate some spares using plumbing fittings and a bit of bamboo.

not much comfort mind..

having seen the atrocious roads that are regularly traversed by comically overloaded 125 4stroke scooters on my recent trip, you could probably go round just as quick on a Honda melody.

Ade.

Jason M · Post by **Jason M** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 8:47 pm

Round the world is a flippin long way. Thing is... you want to bias the bike for the majority of riding you'll do, and that'll almost certainly be mostly surfaced roads wherever you go. You want to be riding a 250 crosser accross the Arizona desert, or through the amazing twisty roads you'll find almost everywhere you go from Australia to Morrocco (believe me, Morrocco has some of the finest biking roads you will find anywhere)? No you dont. You want to have fun. you want to enjoy the speed, the scenery, the ability to cruise for hours at high speed. You most certainly don't want some wheezy little tool. Not unless you're doing the Ewan route, and I seriously doubt anyone without a team the size they had could do that. They did an absolutley fantastic job, rode excellently in my view and it must have been just out of the world, absolutely amazing. I have BIG respect for them doing that - I don't suppose it was easy, but I'd have LOVED to tag along (wouldn't we all!)

When we went, we had a mixture of bikes from GSs to VFRs, and NTV, a Busa, Blackbird, Guzzi, and most of them rode accross anything from miles of mud roads in Alaska, shitty slimey red mud 'diversions' in Oz, the most outrageous potholemungous roads in Mexico, Snow, Ice, torrential rain up to the sumps, anything almost. 3 of us even ended up climbing a rangers 'track' (4Wheel drive only by the signs) 10000ft up a mountain in Colorado (well... it WAS a short cut!). Truth is, you can do almost anything on your everyday bike, so take something you'll enjoy 90% of the time rather than the sensible choise for 10% of the journey IMHO.... like an S

Jason

BockingBandit · Post by **BockingBandit** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:01 pm

Oyster, ... if it was me doing it, .... I'd probably go for a Yamaha Tenere (cheap, neglectable and fixable). Not sure the F650 is up to it, .... that guy from 'Bike' magazine took one around the USA, ... always seemed to be in need of TLC. Take a look at 'Horizons Unlimited' .. website for " 2-WheelT-RTW's"

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:09 pm

Rode a KTM 950 sm yesterday, a gs1200 last saturday and a KTM 99 Adv today
The gs covers ground at an amazing rate on the twistier roads, but when giving it any gusto through the bends i found it seems to find the pegs a bit too readily.
The 950sm is a total hoot but feels like you're riding somthing as short as a bar stool!
The KTM Adventure.
Wow. Punchy, handled really well, uncomfy though and according to the sales guys loads of them are still having problems with the starters, which can cause proper nasty issues, so reliability might not be great.
I'd love to do teh trip you did Jason, let's face it, you're oneof the only people here who can talk from experieence of such a ride! One day maybe.
I'd end up taking the gs or my Boxer.

Jason M · Post by **Jason M** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:56 pm

PBBoxer wrote: I'd love to do teh trip you did Jason,

You can mate - just dooooooo it. I count myself very lucky.... even if it did end up costing £*&k

and a debt for life. I do count memories as my most precious assets though. I'd do it again tomorrow if I could. And I did it as an organised trip so it was just a case of turning up and riding whereas anyone on their own has a shed load of other stuff to worry about too.

Anyone on here could do it - it's not down to skill or anything, just a bit of luck, advantageous circumstances and an understanding family.... so not much then

You've got plenty of time yet mate

Jason

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:30 pm

PBBoxer wrote: The KTM Adventure. Loads of them are still having problems with the starters, which can cause proper nasty issues, so reliability might not be great.
.

Funny you should say that: The KTM SuperDuke I rode earlier this year kept stalling in traffic, and on attempting to re-start it the mechanical clatter/racket from the starter etc was acutely worrying. If anyone's hear a T300 Triumph starter clutch failing it was like that, only a LOT louder.

Reading up on the subject it would appear that these are not isolated cases. Shame, as the 950SM ranks very highly imho. Great bike

BockingBandit · Post by **BockingBandit** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:21 pm

Well,.. it isn't Round The World,.. but setting off on tour of Scotland on my 175K mile Bandit,... which will certainly make it feel like it. The guy's i'm going with are helping me feel better by leaving their normal bikes at home and taking an XJ550 Yamaha and a CX500 Magot ,... we've all checked our 'Recovery Policy's'

See you all in about a week,,,, inshallah

Lightrunner · Post by **Lightrunner** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:25 am

I've got an ambition to do an epic trip - no idea when I'll be able to do it but I'm already saving towards it