Why to ride Small bike on a long Adventure trip

[TheBear]

We are much too polite to talk about light versus heavy riders ...

I like!

You guys can talk all week, but I love going all over the place with my small R1200GS. 

[2StrokeDan]

We are much too polite to talk about light versus heavy riders ...

I like!

You guys can talk all week, but I love going all over the place with my small R1200GS. 

Wobbling bike?

[TheBear]

We are much too polite to talk about light versus heavy riders ...

I like!

You guys can talk all week, but I love going all over the place with my small R1200GS. 

Wobbling bike?

I wobble.
My bike wobble.
And so we go wob wob wobbling along ....

I do not usually name my vehicles, but I have just decided to name my small R1200GS .... wait for it .... tadaaaa ....JELLY!  Do you like?

[TheBear]

delete double post

[2StrokeDan]

We are much too polite to talk about light versus heavy riders ...

I like!

You guys can talk all week, but I love going all over the place with my small R1200GS. 

Wobbling bike?

I wobble.
My bike wobble.
And so we go wob wob wobbling along ....

I do not usually name my vehicles, but I have just decided to name my small R1200GS .... wait for it .... tadaaaa ....JELLY!  Do you like?

I like.

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

I proved that you dont need a big budget or a big bike to do a tour. Picked up a KLE500 for R20k, spent about R6k on new tyres, chain, sprockets, break pads, luggage rack etc and did 14 relatively trouble free days in Namibia averaging 300/350km a day. Besides a battery issue and clutch switch everything went ok.

Im sure a R200k+ bike would be nice to tour on but its not always necessary, ride what you have got.

[blauth]

I proved that you dont need a big budget or a big bike to do a tour. Picked up a KLE500 for R20k, spent about R6k on new tyres, chain, sprockets, break pads, luggage rack etc and did 14 relatively trouble free days in Namibia averaging 300/350km a day. Besides a battery issue and clutch switch everything went ok.

Im sure a R200k+ bike would be nice to tour on but its not always necessary, ride what you have got.

Exactly!! We overthink this "Which bike?" thing.

[WildWood]

That look of fear I often see in the eyes of big bike riders when you mention the next 50km is thick twee-spoor sand.

Or the crying over the repair bill when the big bike toppled over at walking speed.

[WildWood]

I've cartwheeled a 690 and risen home without issue. I've seen big bikes fall of sidestands and cost tens of thousands to repair.

[Roxtar]

That look of fear I often see in the eyes of big bike riders when you mention the next 50km is thick twee-spoor sand.

Or the crying over the repair bill when the big bike toppled over at walking speed.

Reminds me of a friends GS LC which did exactly that.... toppled over in a rut, he could not catch it and the resultant fairing damage cost him R12k in repairs (mounting broke through fairing)....... no thanks!

[Rover]

I fully agree

I have had a few big bikes ...the last one being a KTM 950 SE that I rode 50 000 km on in 5 years

There were many times and places that I was totally "overbiked" trying to wrestle with something that was 2 1/2 times my body weight ...and the SE is known as a relatively light big bike

Your pic shows a 660 Tenere vs 1200 Tenere ... even the 660 is big and heavy at a claimed 206 kg (http://motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_xt660_tenere%2014.htm)

I am now riding an "adventurised" KTM 500 ... a bike that starts out at a claimed wet weight of 114 kg (http://motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/ktm/ktm_500%20XC-W%2014.htm) ... I have added a 20 litre fuel tank (good for 400 km range) and a Giant Loop Coyote bag for my luggage and the bike is now at 130 kg fully fuelled and loaded for a trip

You have to ride a smaller bike on a long trip to believe it for yourself how much more fun and less tiring it is ...smaller really is better ... and I keep telling my wife that

Did you make the seat more comfortable..if so..how?

[armpump]

http://diymotorcycleseat.com/modify/shape-your-foam/

[armpump]

Corbin seat shape that a can be replicated 



Image 8 at http://corbin.com/ktm/ktm5exc13.shtml

[LouisL]

Took my Husky 650 on a tour a while ago and was surprised anew at how much enjoyment the small bike gives.

You go slower which gives you more time to "live" the ride.

The thing gave me 27.5 km/l vs the around 20km/l my bigger bikes give!

Had occasion to pick her up and in same circumstances the big bike would've stayed down.

Virtually no damage (only bent handlebar). Would almost certainly have had bigger damage if it was a big bike  going down (also to myself possibly).

So much more nimble.

You take less stuff which is always better.  (a lot of luggage actually disgust me - you are on a biketrip FFS)

Easier to mount/dismount.

Easier to push around / park.

I have also bought some big bikes but am sure that as I get older only the smaller ones will remain.

[teebag]

Long in duration or distance?  http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=218937.msg3970826#msg3970826

[Sheepman]

Read X Pat and mate's latest Nam RR and see why

[Jacobsroodt]

Thanks Gents. Some food for thought...