Bike for a long adventure tour - KLR beats GS?

[Mollygrubber]

The wife & I are planning a pretty extensive tour, perhaps the Silk Road (Istanbul to Xian, China) in a couple of years.

I have been looking for a suitable mount, and for me the big GS's are too big (I'm a pretty small dude - not that short (5' 9", 32" inseam), but skinny.

The F800GS would probably be great, but I can get a KLR650 for ± $5000 less brand new. That would buy a lot of farkles! And shipping...

I don't want to sell my RR, hence the need for an inexpensive 2nd ADV bike.

Hmmm, maybe I should be asking this question on ADV now that I think of it...

But you guys are pretty smart! Any opinions?

[sweatmark]

ADV would be the place to start. Lots of opinions, but also lots of experience embodied in a few of those folks.

If I was pondering such a journey, then the following questions would top my list:

• Two-up riding? Then how's the pillion and driver comfort for long-haul, long-hours travel days?
  How much stuff expecting to pack? What type of luggage/storage would be appropriate?
  What types of road conditions known on the intended route? What typical speeds?
  Availability of fuel? And in what grades/octane?
  Which type of mechanical spares should be packed? What kinds of repair/maintenance services can be found en route?
  Finally, what type of motorcycle will fulfill these critical requirements and meet budget?

So that's how I would approach the problem.

Good luck! Exciting adventure.

[LostViking]

Might want to take a look at the Kawasaki Versys. Hard to find anyone that doesn't like it.

ADV has a thread under Beasts.

Also here; http://www.kawasakiversys.com/forums/index.php

Hard to beat the KLR for such a trip.

[Mollygrubber]

The Versys looks really cool, I was in fact considering one before I bought my RR. I would be beating it pretty much to death on some of the unmaintained gravel roads, I think. The bikes for this trip must have: spoked wheels, lockable hard luggage, take crappy gas without too much fuss, belly pan... hmm, seems like a KLR would probably fit the bill with a bit of upgrading. I guess I'm thinking too much (as usual).

[LumpyCam]

Buy a KLR and hit the road. In my humble adventures off the beaten path i've only seen V-Stroms, KLRs, and GSs. (then there's me on a R1200R and my wingman on a Triumph Bonneville)

Sounds like an awesome adventure!

[BMWEW1]

Hard to beat a KLR, I know I own one too, go to www.advrider.com and you can read up on all the options til' the cows come home. Great ride reports there too.

[DMM]

Well, the inmates above have posted some great comments and suggestions.

Provided that you are talking about Adventure Touring, and not true off-road adventuring, I would also recommend looking at:

• Suzuki VStrom
  Honda Transalp
  Triumph Tiger
  BMW R1100GS
  BMW R1150GS (lowered seating and shocks - you may find some used in this set up)

KTMs will all ride pretty tall, so they are probably out.

I don't have much experience with the KLRs, but they seem pretty light for 2-up riding.
I felt like 2-up was alright on my old F650GS Dakar for short trips, but that was also without lots of luggage. In my experience, 2-up riding with lots of luggage really requires a heavier bike - one with the engine power and shocks to take the abuse of such weight on crappy roads.