And needs an oil change every 1000 miles, and you can only get aftermarket tanks of around 15 litres for the alloy framed bikes (unless you go for a full rally kit of course)...

The modern crop of enduro bikes are great for trail riding, but not really suitable as a long distance 'all terrain' touring bike...

Something like a DRZ400 would make a much better 'overlander' as it has far longer service intervals and a stronger rear subframe - and you can get a range of aftermarket tanks up to a gargantuan 28L!!!

But you have to remember than once you stick 20+ litres of fuel, plus a luggage rack and luggage and all those other bits (like a screen and stronger bash-plate) onto a smaller bike, it is no longer as light, nimble and maneuverable as a basic enduro bike...

Which is why the Tenere is such a good compromise - it has all the bits you need fitted already, is very comfortable over distance (far moreso than an enduro bike), and as long as you are sensible, you can take it pretty much anywhere you'd want to go on a bike, with luggage, on your own...

Yep, its time to dig out that old picture again:

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/r...8/DSC09891.jpg

Jx

So how did riding up there work out for you? ;)

However it does, I think, prove your point quite nicely - travelling on a light bike you might have got back up there, but the trade off would be the other 20,000 miles of easier going that you'd have had to do on the smaller bike to find somewhere you could get the big bike stuck.

Off the top of my head, a DR-Z is about 135kg with 10l of fuel in it. Bigger tank and enough extra fuel to match the Tenere and it's going to be the wrong side of 150kg. You'll probably want some sort of screen and definitely want a better seat as well - more weight. Let's say it works out 40kg lighter than the Tenere with an equivalent fuel and luggage load. Not to be sniffed at, but my guess is you'll end the day more tired from a few hours riding the 400 flat out on tarmac or well graded roads than you would dragging an extra 40kg through a couple of ditches then chilling out on the easier bits.

Mostly hypothesis rather than experience, so of course ICBW.

Hee hee - that wasn't the bad bit - I went up that, another quarter mile, camped the night, came back down it...

It was the other side I had to, erm, decide discretion was the better part of valour...

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/DSC01163.jpg

...this was exactly the same spot I abandoned the bike in 2008, and broke my heel in 2010...

I'll be going back to the US this autumn... 3rd time lucky?!

Jx

probably been posted before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjBrpN9nmZQ

rob