OVERLANDING ..What bike should I take???
 

Hi All,

I am new here so Please be gentle with me. I have a bit of a dilemma as I am planning my first BIG overland trip to China next year and still cannot decide on what bike to take.

My thoughts so far are:-

BMW 1150/1200GS, To big and heavy for the off-road sections, I have had an 1150 (Hello Tim Cullis from the GSer board) a great bike for mile munching but just too heavy for the tracks especially when fully loaded. I found mine OK on fire-tracks but as soon as you have sand wet mud it was just too heavy especially fully loaded.

BMW 800GS /Triumph Tiger 800 Nice on the road but aren't they a little "I want to look like I am riding around the Globe but actually I only ride to Tescos on a Sunday morning" sort of bike?

KTM 990 /640 Very nice but very fragile. certainly my old 300exc was.

Yamaha 660Z Are they really man enough for a Big trip?? I am away 12 weeks and 14000 miles, I need enough room for tents etc. From everything that I have read here they seem to be reliable enough, probably fast enough, but what's it going to be like with Metal Mules, top box and tent?

As for the trip, as I said I am planning on being away 12 weeks, I have a pass from wife-let, she is quite excited about the trip, it's only me coming back she is annoyed about. The children think it's "cool", if an old man of 48 can be cool, and the Dog, well I haven't told her yet.

Any advice on bike prep and camping equipment would also be much appreciated.

Thanks in Advance and wish me luck telling the Dog

Regards
AJ

Me too
 

Hi,
I'm doing a similar thing next year but i'll be taking a lot longer (12 - 18 months) & aiming for Malaysia.
I had planned on taking my 20 year old Super Tenere but the main limiting factor is the weight - its just too heavy to pick up more than once or twice.
So...... i've gone with a new Tenere.
I'll be watching this thread with interest to pick up any tips etc.
I'm only in Hove so you're welcome to pop in anytime to compare notes.
BTW, i'm 47 & recently lost my old dog so didn't need to tell her.
Cheers, Gary

It'll be reet....

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7539722_n.jpg

I'd be travelling *a lot* lighter than that if I was setting off for China, and seriously, how fast do you think you'll be going once you get beyond Europe?

Good luck with it and keep us posted!

Gary,

Cheers, lets keep in touch, when are you off
AJ

how fast do you think you'll be going once you get beyond Europe?

![/QUOTE]

True, but is it going to ride like a Donkey with a load???

AJ

PS I used Pickfords when I moved house. Seriously how did it cope fully loaded like that.

It was fine. Bit heavy, but no worse than having a pillion. I did 2,500 miles of reasonably fast UK/French/Spanish roads like that.

That's carrying one and a half people's worth of stuff, and going for a holiday rather than an overland expedition, so as I said, there's a fair bit more than just the 'essentials' in there.

My point was just that I don't think you need to worry about the "is it man enough" question. :D

Thread hijack (its all about me)
 

AJ,
I'm heading off early spring - maybe March 1st.
I'd like to take just my H&B Gobi panniers & a dry bag but.........we'll see.

What's the old adage?

Lay out everything you plan to take, then leave half of it at home...

I travelled all over the USA (23,000 miles in six months) with just two 35L dry bags strapped to the rear seat - one with personal kit/clothes, and one with all my camping kit in... I also had a small Touratech tailbag for tools and tube/puncture kit, and a Camelbak that expanded to 15 litres to stow Piglet mainly, plus a warm layer, snacks, and maps etc.

There is a thread buried here somewhere called 'Traveling Light' - I can't imagine you'll need an more than that, but remember that nowhere in the world is beyond the postal/courier service these days... if you find you really need something (or conversely no longer need something with you), just get it sent ahead and pick it up en route?

Jx

ps. and don't bother modifying/loading your bike up with loads of accessories and crap - the stock machine is more than capable of traveling any terrain you might encounter - all I fitted was a pair of handguards and some foam grips for comfort... at a push you might want to consider some larger footpegs too...

Following on from above - if you are panning on spending some time away from the bike, then I'd agree some hard panniers would be a sensible addition... but do try and limit their size to 35l a side and be disciplined in what you actually need to take with you... personally I like the Touratech Zega-Pros and rack, neat and well made.

Jx

...although what state the OE rear shock will be in after 14,000 luggaged-up miles over steadily deteriorating roads...

Treat yourself to some new suspension when you get back..

i'm planning to leave next year as well. but i should start getting things done about importing the bike into china and driving license. how are you guys fixing that?
my plan is going to the chinese embassy in brussels to ask for info. i wonder having relatives in china and hong kong would help...

i bought myself the 30L MM's but reconsidering softluggage now. still in doubt...

(perhaps we could team up riding china? =)

why is a "guide" needed when u want to import and ride your own bike in china? i've been there couple times, altho without my own transport (car/motorcycle) and i could roam around freely with public transport etc...

sorry mr Jenks. (i think the t�n�r� is a good choice for the job=)

more highjacking....
 

At the moment, i'm planning to ride through India & arrange airfreight or a boat from Chennai to Malaysia / Thailand.
This appears to be a cheaper option than the 'guided' China route.
However, as i'm not strapped for time, plans are pretty loose and subject to change depending on the local situation.
What about you AJ ?

Hi,

Thank you all for the input, My first plan was going solo as I like the freedom, and China was a must. I too did a lot of re-search into driving licences and guides but found it a real night mare. I have business interests in Beijing so asked them for assistance but it all started to get horribly expensive and time consuming.

So in the end I have decided to go with these guys Motoexplorer.co.uk. They go every year, seem to know what's what etc.and seem to be like minded sort of people. The thing I really like is that although an organised tour, they encourage you to explore by yourself. You are given way-points and meet them there or can miss out some nights to do your own thing. Nothing is fixed in stone. The last thing I wanted was somebody with an umbrella saying "follow me".

It maybe the "soft" option but it should be fun.

My mind has been made up a "Ten" it is, thank you everyone for there contribution. Now I just have to find one, but there seems plenty around.
So all being well August 2012 I am off. that is if the stock markets do not make me penny-less and the rioters have not destroyed everything they can get there grubby little hands on. Shoot the lot.blowup

Mine was fine, if a little softer...

...as per the rest of my post, it helps if you don't take half a house with you!!!

Jxx

Good idea... x

In all seriousness, obviously any bike is going to feel well worn by the end of such a huge trip... so it is inevitable that parts will need to be replaced - either like for like, or the opportunity to upgrade...


Jx

Mine was fine, if a little soft at 14,000 miles as well, but only about 2,500 of that was with half a house on the back :p and maybe 500 miles of dirt ( sans maison). The rest was just solo riding, mostly to work and back.

It was still in one piece at 25,000 miles (maybe 5-6k 'with house'), but that's about all you could say for it.

I don't think the OP needs to be too worried about it not lasting the trip and leaving him stranded, but I dare say it will deteriorate faster than mine did because of where he's going. I don't think you need to go out and buy a new Tenere and instantly spend �500+ changing the shock. But if I was off on the 'trip of a lifetime' I might at least contemplate the idea of getting the spring (the stock damper isn't that bad IMO, it's the spring that deteriorates) swapped for one that's better quality and a bit stiffer (to allow for carrying luggage *all the time*).

Wise words UbT x

Like you say, a spring upgrade isn't overly expensive, and might be a good precaution if they insist on taking loads of stuff with them x

btw. I sold my 23,000 miles shock on ebay to one messer I'anson (presuambly the very same who rode an XT660R to the 'top of the world' in Bike magazine), and he never came back to me and said it was knackered... mind you, it was probably still in better shape than the one on his XT!

Jx

what about an africa twin

I don't think the OP needs to be too worried about it not lasting the trip and leaving him stranded, but I dare say it will deteriorate faster than mine did because of where he's going. I don't think you need to go out and buy a new Tenere and instantly spend �500+ changing the shock. But if I was off on the 'trip of a lifetime' I might at least contemplate the idea of getting the spring (the stock damper isn't that bad IMO, it's the spring that deteriorates) swapped for one that's better quality and a bit stiffer (to allow for carrying luggage *all the time*).[/QUOTE]

Good advice, thank you, I had thought of changing the OE to an Ohilins but a spring change maybe a better idea, set up to the weight of the bike and luggage, probably a duel rate.

By the way, Chain and sprockets, are they reasonable quality or should I think of putting a high quality one on prior to leaving. I am a stickler on maintenance so that shouldn't be an issue and it will be lubed daily and cleaned and lubed when time permits. Same as the rest of the bike.

regards

AJ

I know there's a few on here that are still on their original shocks at quite high mileages, but with aftermarket springs (I think Hyperpro - try a search, but expect to have to sift through loads of talk about Hyperpro front springs to find anything about the rears).

If you do go down the complete shock route, be aware that there are more options out there than Ohlins, which may be better value. The main two I'm aware of being Nitron and Hagon.

I went with Nitron, and ticked every box on the option sheet (three way damping adjustment, remote hydraulic preload adjuster) and it worked out about the same price as the (rebound only, grovel on the floor with c-spanners to adjust preload) Ohlins. They do also do cheaper spec versions starting from �300, or about �460 with remote preload. See here - http://www.nitron.co.uk/nitron09/ind...&cPath=3_6_379

At least one person on here has fitted a Hagon shock, and I think it worked out at sub-�500, again including remote preload. They seemed pretty happy from what I remember, but I'm sure you can find the topic if you search the forums.

I keep mentioning remote preload, because for touring if it came to a choice between being able to adjust the damping, and being able to adjust the preload without tools, I'd take the latter every time. Maybe not as important if you're entire trip is going to be with the luggage on.

Unless you have a Scottoiler, you will probably need to change the chain and sprockets somewhere between here and China however well you look after it. If you do have a Scottoiler you will probably be alright, depending how clean you can keep the chain.

Front sprocket will wear first, and replacing it a bit early might prolong the life of the chain and rear sprocket. It's not something you're likely to do at the roadside though due to Yamaha's insistence on using a Gurt Big Nut to hold it on.

Keep an eye on it and have some sort of contingency plan for getting it changed if you have to.

Oh and while I tend towards the view 99.99% of the stuff Touratech list for the Tenere is overpriced, useless tat, I did buy one of their 'open' front sprocket covers, which is really good for:

- Allowing you to keep an eye on front sprocket wear
- Not collecting crap behind it that will grind away at the C&S
- (Possibly) being better able to keep the chain from going through the cases if the worst happened.

(It was still overpriced, but at least it's got some use :D)

Agreed - have the right sized socket to remove the sprocket. Not sure if you can turn the front sporocket on these, but work it our before you go and have at least 2 fronts to 1 rear for the journey. Take Scottoiler oil too!!

TT prices and most products are at best a complete waste of money and weight - agreed again..

The problem isn't so much having a 36mm socket to put on the nut, it's having either a massive breaker bar, or ideally a rattle gun, to put on the socket.

.

Sorry am I being picky? - 32mm mate.:icon_wink:

its a 36mm if you don't bend back the tabs lol :icon_rolleyes:

any garage/ tyre fitter place worth it's salt will have the required socket and wrench. different if you have not been keeping an eye on it and are caught out in the sticks. personally a spareset of sprockets or even just the front for spares as 520 chains can be got more or less anywhere, don't even consider a fully alloy rear, quickly worn and easily damaged.

btw the fr sprox nut is 120nm or 85lb/ft, so really a bit more than you tighten a car alloy wheel

as for forks mine are standard though i have atf fluid in and the preload is wound up, as for the rear the race spec nitron. seems to work well!

Erm. Yeah. What he said.

Jealous of all these amazing sounding trips

have fun travel safe

and travel light

maybe consider small lockable top box and soft luggage

Hi there,

Just to share, i had the rear spring changed yesterday and it looks and feels good so far...setup for 75kg rider with loaded panniers and topbox...had to do a full service as my rear shock was leaking oil at only 27000km so might as well change to a stiffer spring...i guess i might have overloaded it during a trip...:018:

Ohlin Spring : 01096-21/75 L088
Length : 01096 = 190mm
Art No. : 21
Rate : 75 N/mm, 7.64 Kg/mm, 428 ibs/inch

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z...2018.32.28.jpg

Hope this helps...:headbang:

Rizal
Singapore

Hi Gary,

How did your 660Z do on the overland trip ?

Marius.

Hi Jenny

I am planning an overland trip from Cape Town to Cairo with my girlfriend.
I have a 660Z.

would you recommend this bike for such a trip?

Marius

I don't know how often JMo stops by here now, but I'm pretty sure she'd say "Yes".

If you're girlfriend is going to be pillion on your bike, you might want to read some of DazzerRTW's posts...

http://xt660.com/showthread.php?t=19743

... he's somewhere in the middle of a RTW trip, two-up on a Tenere. I think he changed the springs to cope with the weight of pillion + luggage, but otherwise left the bike reasonably standard (check his threads to be sure though).

I don't think they've been through Africa yet, think they went through Asia first and are now in the Americas as far as I know.

Hee hee - I still look in from time to time you know, and as Uber' says, I would point you in the direction of DazzerRTWs posts and threads - about how he prepped their bike (for two-up traveling), and the considerations and [any] revisions now they are on the road...

By all accounts the bike is holding up extremely well for the both of them, although I understand he has been having some rear wheel hub problems - not sure if it is fixable, or whether a replacement is needed...

Obviously any bike is going to work harder two-up than solo, and they have already ridden across the whole of Europe/Asia and the west side of the USA (heading into Mexico & South America shortly) - by all accounts, the bike has been perfect for them.

There really are very few other options out there, A BMW F650 (the single, not the twin) is another mid-capacity bike that is well proven and documented (mechanical problems and all!) as an overlander, with various luggage etc options available - anything else would really be too much of a compromise for two-up - the Suzuki DR650 would be a great solo option as would a Honda XR650L, but they are not UK models anyway - while the KTM 690 is too fragile (although a couple of guys have just ridden a pair of 690's to Australia, with only minimal down-time) and not a two-up bike at all though.

Of course Kawasaki make the venerable KLR 650, but it too is not available in the UK - I trust primarily for the reason I don't like it - it is so bloody ugly! Very strong motor though...

I'd also dismiss anything bigger than a 650 - sure a BMW 1200GS (or even my favorite the 1150) or the new Super Tenere 1200 for example would be a fine way to travel two-up, but once you have loaded one of those with luggage (even a minimalist amount), it is a hell of a beast to move around and/or pick up... has a LOT more electronics that could potentially cause issues, and there are also things like fuel economy to consider with a larger heavier bike too. You would also not want to have to drag it through anything wet and boggy or soft and sandy (not the second time anyway), therefore potentially limiting your route choice perhaps?

The BMW F800 (twin) might be something to consider if you are styling primarily on tarmac or well maintained dirt roads - lots of power, good economy, plenty of space for two-up - but it does have a limited tank range compared to the Tenere (and which is not easily expandable unless you spend ���'s with Touratech for example), and there are reports that the F series frames have a weak spot around the rear shock mounting, which no doubt will be exacerbated by two-up and/or off-road riding?

So basically, I'd say your choice is either the current Tenere, or at a push a BMW F650 single... and I'm sure you know which one I would recommend!

Warning - poncey poetic summary to follow:

However, ultimately the choice of bike doesn't really matter - it's just a tool (just like your sleeping mat, camping stove and camera) - although as with all of those, it's best to chose one that will offer [potentially] the least amount of down-time (especially if you have a time constraint for the whole trip)... no need to make it especially hard on yourself, or have the constant worry something is about to fail at any point!

Choosing the 'right' tool/s for you should really be about minimising those issues that potentially will take your focus away from the main reason for the trip itself by having to deal with 'admin' en route. You are not just going on a motorcycle ride, or a photographic trip, or even a backwoods camping experience - it's ALL of those things, and fundamentally the combination which should make the trip so rewarding? The choice/s you make in any one area should not overshadow the fundamental reason for undertaking the experience in the first place - which is for you and your partner to have a memorable and perhaps even 'life changing' experience together?

You'll never be able to pre-plan a trip so effectively that you can eradicate [or hope to prevent] something unexpected from happening - if you want that, go to Disney - the whole point is surely to enjoy the journey, and deal with whatever happens along the way? - that's the FUN part, the part that makes memories...

Jenny xx

Hello. If you haven't already read it, have a look at this

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=17371

It's a thread by a romanian couple who rode round africa on their xt660z. Might be of help.

:D

Any of the XTs are good bikes...
BUT..
For a long trip to out of the way places where parts/workshop back up is not going to be always available. Some thing a little more basic would be my choice..Suzuki DR650 or Kawasaki KLR650 both can be worked on by yer self
or at any hick town wantabe motor bike shop with out the need to plug a
computer or other gizzmo's in to find a falt...

But people do it on XTs... we have a guy posting here at the moment
doing a RTW trip on a XT...

Hi Petenz - I agree a carbed bike might [appear to] be easier to work on, but really, the EFi on the Tenere is faultless - it is as likely to go wrong (or not) as the CDi unit on any bike...

I rode a brand new Tenere over 23,000 miles in six months across the USA and back in 2008 (the ride report is for some reason lost on here?, but it was serialized in TBM magazine at the time) in every kind of terrain and weather imaginable - desert, mountains, sand, snow, mud, rain - from way below sea level to over 14,000ft... and the bike was faultless, other than notable wear on the rear cush-drive rubbers at 12,000 miles - and to be fair they still went on for another 11,000 miles without any problem!

I agree the DR650 and KLR650 (and Hond'a XR650L too) are all great solo overlanding bikes, but not so much for two-up riding as I mention above - I think that is the key here for Marius? Crossing the length of Africa is of course a huge undertaking, but not beyond the capability of any well prepared and maintained bike - certainly I would be disappointed if any bike failed due to mechanical issues on such a [length] trip...

Personally and ideally, I think they should each ride their own bike, and have double the fun! (and of course offers a back-up bike should something go seriously wrong) - but can appreciate financial and logistical constraints of two sets of tickets and fuel for everything...

Jx

Very much this. If you're going to start worrying about black boxes full of solid state electronics failing, you'd best find yourself a bike with points ignition and really learn the meaning of 'high maintenance'.

I have a bike with points....