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