Ride around the world - what bike?

agnes

agnes

agnes

Soldato
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So I'm just looking at random things about my Europe trip and my geek Google nature takes over and suddenly I think "imagine if I went around the world".

So, if you could. What bike would you take? I'd want something VERY simple. Bullet proof. Cheap as chips as not to appeal to many thief's.

Strong and sturdy for weight and most importantly. Bloody good fun.

What would you pick?
 
Craig321 said:
BMW 1200 GS. I'm sure you all know why :p

Long Way Round style!
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Not cheap though lol. I'd rather take the Multistrada 1200S around than the GS. But both are too expensive. I'm talking properly basic, easily fixed with a few spanners sort of bike.
 
I'd probably just take my current bike (R1200GS) - plenty of people have done it, even without support trucks ;)

If I was buying a specific bike, with thoughts of mixed terrain it would probably be an XT660.

Any bike can do it though - Ted Simon did it on a Triumph Bonneville, a big heavy, unreliable bike. Nick Sanders did it on an R1 and others have done it on a C90.

Edit - actually it would probably be that CCM 450 due out in the next month or so
 
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Suzuki dr350. Bullet proof engine, about as simple as it gets with regards to repairs (and light) if you drop it.

Something like a GS1200 is for people who have support trucks really, bloody heavy on serious off road stuff & not that easy to fix.
Yeah Nick Sanders went around the world on an R1 but that's just crazy, it must one the one of the worst possible ways to go about it & I doubt the trip was what most would describe as enjoyable.
 
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You do realise people we're doing rtw trips on GS's before the Long Way Round? They used the bike because it's so good at it. It is heavy for off-road, but still a lot lighter than most other similar bikes due to bring air cooled...Ewan and Charlie just overloaded theirs!
 
I was aware that people have been around the world on the GS before TLWR (and many other bikes), iirc they were only used for the series because BMW supplied free bikes. KTM were the first choice but they wouldn't supply any freebies.
 
Sagalout said:
You do realise people we're doing rtw trips on GS's before the Long Way Round? They used the bike because it's so good at it. It is heavy for off-road, but still a lot lighter than most other similar bikes due to bring air cooled...Ewan and Charlie just overloaded theirs!
Click to expand...

Still bloody heavy, even my big red dog (Multistrada 1200S) weighs less (not by, 12lb's I think?).

And I would hate to try pick up the Multi off road.

But a great suggestion none the less. Personally I wouldn't take either the Multi or GS as both are expensive, expensive to fix and also weigh a bloody tonne.
 
id do it on my current 98 zx6r id trust that anywhere

if I had to pick a trailie type for the rough roads ect maybe a triumph tiger
 
Apart from the obvious, i.e. all day comfort and lots of room for luggage, my ideal bike would also:
Ideally be air cooled; no radiators to to get holed.
Have decent fuel economy and range, petrol may not always be easy to get.
A reasonable level of off-road performance
Enough power to make safe progress on faster roads (i.e. something that can cruise at 70+ without being thrashed to death).
Not too obscure - spares availability could be important.

On the shortlist would be:

Honda Dominator
Aprilia Tuareg (Rotax engine possibly a little obscure).
Yamaha XTZ660 Ténéré
Suzuki DR650
 
agnes said:
Still bloody heavy, even my big red dog (Multistrada 1200S) weighs less (not by, 12lb's I think?).

And I would hate to try pick up the Multi off road.

But a great suggestion none the less. Personally I wouldn't take either the Multi or GS as both are expensive, expensive to fix and also weigh a bloody tonne.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the weight totally depends on which way around the world you're going and if the off-road is hard packed trails or more knarly. Going back to Ted Simon, he took an 1100GS around the world in his 70's on his second trip.

As mentioned though, the perfect bike could well be the new CCM

http://www.ccm-motorcycles.com
 
I had a test ride on a ccm r30 didn't like it tbh,far too snatchy and noisy (vibration was bad aswell,would make your wrists go pins n needles after a while)but that 450 looks nice

not sure if they still use the rotax engine or drz
 
MatteH Oxford said:
I was aware that people have been around the world on the GS before TLWR (and many other bikes), iirc they were only used for the series because BMW supplied free bikes. KTM were the first choice but they wouldn't supply any freebies.
Click to expand...

Yup, and KTM missed out big time on a good bit of publicity!
 
If your talking the world's roads then I'd do it on my 76 bonnie, however if we're talking 'The Long Way Round' world then it limits the choices really to a more 'capable' bike.
 
1200GS every single time, 'cheap as chips' and a bike that can go around the world don't mix ;) unless you are a master mechanic.

But I would still take my GSXR :D Nick sanders did it on an R1, and another guy I follow did it on a GSXR recently.
 
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