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

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....



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!

__________________
I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

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.

__________________
I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

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...

__________________
"Where we're going, we don't need roads..."

JennyDakar.com

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

__________________
"Where we're going, we don't need roads..."

JennyDakar.com

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

__________________
I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400