Do you think ?

[Trip]

I'm doing London -> Kathmandu (via Iran, Pakistan) with a friend on two R1200GSs starting september this year. We chose the 12GS not because of it's reliability or repairability but because it's just so much fun to ride. All day motorway comfortable and off-road capable (if not brilliant).

Maybe we'll regret that decision. I'll let you know. We're putting a lot of miles on the bikes before we go so hopefully we'll have encountered most of the problems before we leave.

Trip

 

[the civil one]

First, and most importantly, if it comes to it are you happy walking away from the bike? Maybe its trashed, maybe you run out of time or money, maybe it breaks down seriously badly. If i'm taking a bike through Afghanistan I want something that I can sell, dump, leave if things work out badly, not something I'm going to be overly concerned with recovering, repairing, etc.

Second, repairability (more than reliability): will it be fixable when something goes wrong by yourself and a non-specialist mechanic.

Jon

Jon >< Two Dam Good Points .
Walking away and leaving all
And repairaqbility.

I dont think I would be too happy bout walking away from my 1200.
I dont think its Too Hot on the repairability .
I do think it needs a dedicated BMW Mechanic.

So what say ye about a New URAL ,

 

[DavidHale]

First, and most importantly, if it comes to it are you happy walking away from the bike? Maybe its trashed, maybe you run out of time or money, maybe it breaks down seriously badly. If i'm taking a bike through Afghanistan I want something that I can sell, dump, leave if things work out badly, not something I'm going to be overly concerned with recovering, repairing, etc.

You're going on an Enfield then?

 

[Tailor's Dummy]

Spell check

You may consider checking on the spelling of Kazakhstan before setting off - easier to find on the map.

 

[Dave C]

R80GS suitably modded for me.... reliable and easy to work on.
They have been there done that got the T shirt as far as RTW goes.
(a friend did RTW for 5 years on a R80 and the only thing that he recons was unreliable were the speedo's/trip meter (3 replaced I believe)
...and he rebuilt the rockers followers at the side of the road.
If not a R80/100GS.. then something cheap and simple like an enfield (suitably sorted before the start), easy to walk away from, and easy to fix

 

[Bigtwin]

Africa Twin for me every time.

Reliable, good balance between size and comfort, good ride on rough roads, etc etc. Like a more comfy 650gs I suppose.

I had one with 68K on it - still ran like new. Bloke I sold it to picked it up from my house and rode it to Dover en route to Cape Town with a day-sack and some soft luggage - you can't beat that.

 

[mr moto]

i have had the weird idea lately that a ural outfit, the one with the driven sidecar wheel is THE PERFECT rtw bike. think about it, dirt cheap to buy and run, tried and tested technology that has not really changed in half a century so any mechanic anywhere, could probably fix whatever breaks ,no high tech electronics to break your spirit or your wallet,load,s of space for luggage and spare part,s and you could still carry a passenger! and best of all the money you save on not buying that weeks latest and greatest bike of the moment means that you could spend more time travelling . i cant get the idea out of my head it just makes so much sense .

 

[Engineer]

take the box round the world.... less problems ....

.......fewer problems

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

I did some travelling around Australia a few years ago on an XL600 (great bike BTW). Whilst I was their I met a chap who rode from the UK to Aus on a AJS. He started off with a side car but by the time he had got half way through India, he junked the side car as he said it was too much of a hindrance with the condition of the roads etc.

Just being devils advocate and all that.

 

[cookiemonster]

I did some travelling around Australia a few years ago on an XL600 (great bike BTW). Whilst I was their I met a chap who rode from the UK to Aus on a AJS. He started off with a side car but by the time he had got half way through India, he junked the side car as he said it was too much of a hindrance with the condition of the roads etc.

Just being devils advocate and all that.

Devils Advocate? For daring to suggest that RTW trips are best attempted without a sidecar?

you'll be banned from the forum for that...