What would one ride half way around the world?

[St_rydr]

Thinking about embarking a long journey into buying/equipping a bike to travel an insane amount miles on?
Hints, suggestions, solutions, ideas, lets hear them.

[stromgal]

If money outlay is an issue, I'd go with a Wee-Strom (650) outfitted with appropriate accessories.

Bullet-proof engine, light enough, tough enough.

[Against The Wind]

Single cylinder, air cooled, kickstart, carb,......as simple a machine as you can get.

[ss2]

What part of the world will you be riding?  All within the states?

[T.RexRacing]

XR600

[HipGnosis]

Single cylinder, air cooled, kickstart, carb,......as simple a machine as you can get.

But not TOO simple.
Even single engine air planes have a duplicate / back-up for all critical functions.
Single everything means that if anything fails, you're stranded.

[Orson]

A Finnish dude on the Horizons Unlimited Forum rode a Honda Blackbird from Saudi Arabia to Finland in 7 days  

I'll always be an amateur  

[Aero]

The knee-jerk response would be BMW R1150 or R1200 GS or an older R100GS, but whenever I have thought about this I have always ended up deciding that by the time it was loaded with all the stuff I would want to take along it would be just too heavy to safely handle on some of the roads that I would undoubtedly be tackling. I don't mean camel trails across the Sahara, just ordinary third world roads. It's OK if you have a support vehicle with you like Ewan and Charlie, or alternatively if you are a gorilla who rides moto cross at weekends, but not for me. So I would probably go with a KLR650 or a Wee-Strom. The KLR has the advantage of simplicity and the fact that it has been around for 20 years, the Wee-Strom would be tempting because of the extra power and comfort. Difficult choice really, there is hard luggage and lots of farkles for both of them. People have been around the world on some unlikely machines from GSXR Suzukis to old Harley Davidsons and they always found a way to carry on, but the more suitable the bike you are on the better your chances handling anything the trip might throw at you.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I'd probably take my KLR because there there would be no limits as to where I could go. It would also be easier/cheaper to fix.  

[zooplancton]

+1000 on the XR600R

[R.Markus]

But not TOO simple.
Even single engine air planes have a duplicate / back-up for all critical functions.
Single everything means that if anything fails, you're stranded.

Yeah, but when your engine dies on a motorcycle you're already on the ground.

I would look to see where I was headed exactly and check for parts availability in those countries for the brands you are considering. I would choose either a KLR or KTM 640 based on my findings.

[Aero]

A Finnish dude on the Horizons Unlimited Forum rode a Honda Blackbird from Saudi Arabia to Finland in 7 days  

I'll always be an amateur  

Probably got run out of the country because of those Crusader X's  

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,2875.0.html

[Brad1445]

I'd do it With the Uly, comfy yet enough fun to keep me awake.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I'd do it With the Uly, comfy yet enough fun to keep me awake.

Don't forget a spare shifter linkage!  

[Brad1445]

Don't forget a spare shifter linkage!  

Sad but true...

[Snowbird]

How can we answer the question until we know which half of the world you intend to ride around!?  

 

[SWriverstone]

I'd say regardless of where you ride, get a KLR!   Yes, I have one—so I'm biased—but the reason I bought a KLR is because probably no other bike in existence has as much of a track record for around-the-world adventure travel as the KLR. This is because it's reliable, relatively easy to fix anywhere, and has good range (250 miles). And did I say it's reliable?  

One of the great myths in world adventure biking is that the BMW bikes are "king"...but this simply isn't true. It *is* true that a lot of BMW GS1150s and F650s have been ridden all over the world (especially by well-heeled movie stars who prefer the caché of BMW)...but just as many (if not more) KLRs have been used as well...and almost anyone will tell you the KLR is more reliable. I've never figured out this BMW myth, except that people generally can't stand the idea that a $5,000 Japanese bike can do anything (and more) that more expensive German bikes can do. (And I say this as someone who *likes* the BMWs! So I'm not bashing them.)

KLRs rule. Period. BMW lovers—get over it.  

Scott

[Mr Sunshine]

So where are you planning to ride?  That will make up your decision right there.

[photomd]

[flame suit]
I'd say an eary R80GS with a points ignition. They have bing carbs, in an easy location to work on, valves are easy to adjust, the tranny has the circlip so it should be good. I wouldn't put too much stress on the electrical system, but you could upgrade it with modern unit to close to 500w. As long as the tranny and rear end are in good shape, you should be able to go just about anywhere and keep it running with commonly availible parts.

I'd avoid electronic ignitions, FI if you're planning on heading into the wilds of the third world. If those fail, you're stuck. Also FI can easily become fubared with bad fuel. The R80 will run on just about any gas you can find.
[/flame suit]

[photomd]

KLRs rule. Period. BMW lovers—get over it.  

Scott

Just another opinion:

I've ridden several KLR's...they suck.  

If you need a dual sport, they will work, but they're slow, they don't stop and simply jumping a ditch stress the frame. I've ridden a VFR down 5 miles of a fire road and it was just as good as a KLR...just a little more expensive if you dropped it. It was also much better on the road.

I also don't think I'd take a modern BMW into the woods: hard to tow out and you're stuck if something electronic breaks.

Another idea on biking half way 'round the world: Riding accross Siberia, Russia and Europe

If two Nighthawks can do it, I guess you could do it on just about any reliable bike, but I'd feel more comfortable on one I could easily tear down and put back together.