The million $ question is would you ride one around the world? We are doing a trip next year that this profile.

Total distance 20,000 miles

• good tar roads - 40% planed cruise speed 70 mph
• bad tar roads - 20% planed cruise speed 40 mph
• on good graded/gravel roads - 15%
• off-road tracks/trails - 15%

The primary concern is the bike needs to be able to do the worst bits but also spend all day cruising on tar roads. Longest day 300 miles.

The competition for bikes is the GS800 (expensive), Dakar 650 (Heavy)

Bottom line is if the Tenere cruised as well as the Dakar, but was lighter, or felt lighter offroad and at 2K cheaper than the GS800 it looks like a competitor.

Any thoughts from anyone.

Several people have been round the world on Honda 90s.

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Any bike can do a round the world trip and this has been proven as alot of people have taken Honda's Cub 50 around the world with no problems at all. Why you would want to do it on that bike i dont know.

My opinions on the bikes are

GS800, expensive for the bike, then you have to pay over the odds for extras which just means less money to spend on the travelling part which is the part you are suppose to enjoy the most. New bike meaning you have to buy new or newly new also no other extras apart from BMW's at the moment so your kind of cornered on that. New bike so hasnt been proven as of yet in long term use. Plus side you have a twin cylinder which will cruise alot easier and the engine should be less stressed therefore less chance of going wrong.

The Dakar: A good bike in its own right and has been proven well on these types of trips but ive heard alot of storys about electrical problems going wrong or massive engine faults happening in the middle of no where. Very rare the massive problems i know but i wouldnt like to be stuck in no mans land with a bike that will not go. On the plus side you can buy them second hand and alot are moded up with the kit like panniers, topbox,screen etc that you would need for touring also if problems do arise second hand parts should be able to be bought cheaper than new ones.

The new tenere: Looks nice should be able to handle most/all of what you throw at it, but its a new bike and waiting lists are high at the moment, + being new its on the expensive side of things (i call expensive anything more than a tenner, i am a student). Not alot of choice at the moment on the side of extras for the bike as its new + the yamaha extras do seem quite highly priced like the GS800's. Plus side its been designed purely with your type of trip in mind, semi built in crash protectors and others.

XT660R. If you modded an old XT660R up with a offtheroad large 28ltr fuel tank it would be very near to the tenere but at near half the price at a guess. Its been proven by many people to be able to do this trip, its been about so parts are easy to find, massive range of extras to choice from etc etc. Down side is it needs moded up and the price of the offtheroad tank being about 900E or so is quiet steep, some find the vibes at 70mph+ annoying, short screen not good for touring anda few others.

Also depending on what you count as being bad off roading? When loaded up a bike can only do a certain amount off roading, and in the end there is always a limit. So choice your route around what you think the bike can take not the bike around the routes. I know this can be hard when you have never been in a country but you know what i mean.

Choice is yours, i would say try each out on a demo ride and see how you get on if you can get a demo ride.

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Plough on

Max

Maybe we can get a discount on two XTR big tanks? I reckon the XTR is the ultimate round the world tool. My legs ain't long enough for a XTZ anyway - and there won't be many around till 2009. I might be dead by then, due to my Dan Walsh / Oliver Reed lifestyle. And my age. Let's get moddin' dude!

Eagle

Eagle747

If you havent read yet my africa trip i was planning with my brother has sort of fallen through so at the moment i can do with the tank that i have. Maybe a few litres more would be nice but the offtheroad one is hugely expensive and at the moment im a student so no money to spend.

Im now planning a europe trip and will mostly all be on sealed/tarmac roads because at the moment my friend hasnt passed his test or got a bigger bike so he might be on a road bike for all i know therefore petrol stations shouldnt be a struggle.

Sorry but im sure someone else will be looking for one soon as these bikes are getting used more often for round the world trip, africa trips, etc. .. not too sure if they will even give you a discount but always worth a try, i wonder do they do student discount??

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Plough on

The XT series has a long and impressive lineage of motorcycles which have the ability and the reliability to accomplish this type of adventure. I would gladly welcome the ability to do such a trip! I may be an amateur in the eyes of most but I can read between the lines historically. Yamaha has the history and the ability, they just have to follow thru and provide the machines.
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TC

I think either of them would do the job. Mechanically I'd say that all the three bikes will endure the trip without too much trouble.

One thing that springs to mind though, is the fuel capacity. In my oppinion, both BMW's have too low fuel capacity to be regarded as traveling bikes. They both have a 16l tank which is simply too little for a traveling bike. It's fine for for the western world where filling stations are on every corner. But if you go into the more "rural" areas, you will need to figure out how to carry extra fuel. Jerry cans will only take you so far, besides being inconvenient to handle and strap to the bike (takes up space). I know that you can get an extra large tank for the 650 at touratech.com. But that costs 1600 Euros! Also I've been told that you need a engineering degree to install it. I met a guy who spent almost three months getting it to work properly. And then only through major modifications that weren't in the "kit" (I don't have details). So on top of the 1600 Euros, he spent quite a bit of money going back and forth to a mechanic, whom he also had to pay for his time. But if you're willing to spend the money and the time, then you get a 39l fuel capacity on your bike.

I am unaware of any extra large tanks being made for the 800. But if the price for the bike itself is an issue to you, then I don't think it's even worth looking into, since it is bound to raise the total cost even more.

On a sidenote let me say that even with the 22l fuel capacity of the XTZ, I recommend a 5-10l jerrycan on top of that.

There is also the issue of spares that you need to consider. You will need to buy catalyst free cans for your bike (depending on un-leaded petrol availability on your route). Do some research regarding how much a set of catalyst free cans will cost for the BMW's as opposed to the XTZ. Along with all the other spareparts you will need to buy for your trip. There might be a big difference in the cost there too.

I personally have the R with a 26l extra large fueltank from OTR fitted. As opposed to the trouble and price of the GS Dakar tank from touratech.com, I payed 900 Euros for mine and fitted it in less than an afternoon. And it worked from day one (bar some minor adjustments). I drove through Africa (Denmark to Capetown, western route) on it, without missing a step. Seeing as the engine and much of the "technology" on the XTZ is the same as on the R, chosing between the three bikes you mention, would be easy for me . But it does you credit to do some research before jumping the gun on what might be THE most important investment of your trip.

But as I said in the beginning: EITHER of those bikes will get you through the trip. There is much to be said about chosing the bike you feel comfortable with. If bike "A" just gives you a good feel and puts your mind at rest, then go for it. The money you spend on "peace of mind" can never be regarded as expensive.

Best regards

Torsten

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Good reply,

I test rode the both of them and would recommend the tenere, better tank range, price and wind protection and last but not least, a proven engine.

As for the catalic converter, am I right in saying that if you used leaded fuel, only the effectiveness of the catalisator would be affected? I mean, there is no use is buying other cans, because it won't affect the driving.

The lead content in leaded petrol can leave a residue on the working surfaces of the converter, reducing its effectiveness over time. I think the occasional tankful wouldn't do much harm; but prolonged use would certainly wreck it! Having said that where do you find leaded petrol these days.
In Britain only a few licensed garages can sell it and only vintage/classic vehicle enthusiasts would want to buy it.

I'm not sure about its availability in the rest of the world but I believe all of the developed nations are lead free now.

In Africa, apart from Morocco, Namiba, Botswana and Southafrica, leaded fuel is the only thing available. On a RTW trip, catalyst free cans is a must.

Using leaded fuel will because of the heat and residue of the fuel, burn your catalysts untill they stop working. That the catalysts stop working is only a problem to the invironmental buffs. But theroretically the can will eventually clog up and stop you in your tracks. Not a situation you'd want for on any bike.

The lambda probe (I'm asuming that the Tenere has one) will take damage and eventually stop working. I disconnected mine for testing purposes (I have an '07 R), and the increase in fuelconsumption is hardly noticable. Maybe 1 km or so per liter fuel. You can remove it if you like and blindhole it. In my case, I just left it in, and worried about replacing it when I got back from my trip.

Best regards

Torsten

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