Hyperstrada for world travel?

zibbit u2 said:

easier to buy a bike overseas, and leave it there or sell it when you're done. There's lots of penalties if you bring your own bike from here to use there.

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Sadly, this is now true for MUCH of the world. But if you wanted to do the Americas, you can still do it all on ONE bike, then either sell it off in Chile (or where ever) or ship to USA, EU or where ever. OR ... buy a bike in S. America cheap and ride around. (be careful about title and TVIP issues) It can be done.

For the EU, Africa and/or Mongolia, best buy a bike in EU (I bought in UK) then you can do ALL of Europe and Africa without having to ship. You can sell once back in EU or Ulan Batar or S. Africa (maybe). Not strictly legal.

In India, buying locally or renting only way to go. Importing foreign bike insane. Same with China, but that is changing ... fast!

I've done rented bikes on TWO trips to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. That was 10 years ago but still pretty easy and cheap to rent and the bikes are better than when I went. (CRF125 two stroke dual sport) Now it's four strokes up to 250cc or 100cc step throughs. Lots to learn.

First trip should be USA, Mexico, maybe Cent. America. Next trip, S. America.
by then you'll be an expert! Don't take the HS!

Highly recommend the ADV flicks "Long Way Round" and "Long Way Down". I can't speak much to ADV riding, but if I ever did a serious trip, I'd do it on a BMW GS.

gatdammit said:

Highly recommend the ADV flicks "Long Way Round" and "Long Way Down". I can't speak much to ADV riding, but if I ever did a serious trip, I'd do it on a BMW GS.

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Ha ha They had a support truck and the bikes broke down. At one point the camera man was riding a 2 stroke Chinese bike that was doing well-and then disappeared in the next episode.

If it's a tour of vinyards - sure. Wouldn't want to be alone picking up 700lbs of loaded bike for the third time when you hit sand.

In most places though, a 250 is the largest bike so tires etc become hard to find.

Someone mentioned the wr250r-I'd look at it carefully. A guy also just did a hardcore ride around india and Pakistan on a ktm 390 duke - did great.

But if you need bigger - the RR cb500x is small, agile, and can comfortably do trail and highway. They tested it on the TAT - no strom is going to do that. It's also a Honda - reliable and huge dealer network.

gatdammit said:

Highly recommend the ADV flicks "Long Way Round" and "Long Way Down". I can't speak much to ADV riding, but if I ever did a serious trip, I'd do it on a BMW GS.

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Yes, great films ... but I would not follow their ADV travel template exactly. Remember, they were total off road Noobs to start, and had never traveled on the road for months at a time.

At least Charlie had sense enough to know that KTM was the bike they should have started on. Not to be.

KTM rejected them, as both were too inexperienced and likely would give KTM a bad name. (said KTM ... big mistake on KTM's part!!) They were rejected even offering to PAY for the bikes. They got the BMW's free. But suffered mightily for that decision.Remember the shots of Ewan crying in Mongolia's mud?

Reams of posts about "which bike" over on ADV Rider. The current trend has more and more serious travelers doing "serious" rides aboard smaller and smaller bikes: 450's, 250's,... even some 125's.

Once out of USA this starts to make sense. I'm getting older and weaker now, so headed from my trusty DR650 (about 420 lbs. fully loaded with RTW luggage and full tank) My next bike will be a WR250R. I'm pretty sure I can knock 100 lbs. off that DR650 figure and carry nearly same load.

My DR650 has over 60K on it, been to Mexico, five major trips. Mostly Baja,
about 50% off road. Also, quite a bit riding mainland Mexico.

Also ridden my DR out to Utah and Colorado on month long rides. It's quite capable both ON and OFF road.

I've owned XR's (600, 400, 250 and XR650L),2 KLR's, XT600R Honda. Of all dual sports, the DR650 is the BEST in my experience.

I raced off road AMA Enduro (B rider) 8 years in 80's/90's. All 2 strokes.

After AMA retirement got more into road based ADV Touring with my DL1000 V-Strom and Triumph Tiger 1050. Vstrom great, Tiger good on road but a NO GO off road for me. (I'm too short)

I"ve ridden ALL GS's extensively ... love GS's but would not trust one going RTW. They break, things fail. For last 20 years I've ridden with group of hooligans ... for about 10 years it was mostly all R1200GS's. Only KTM had a worse reliability record among our group of 60 experienced riders.

KTM"s got better ... and still better. But for travel, it's a totally different world and other things must be considered. In the end you could say .... "run what you brung". But if you can choose .... take something proven, smaller, lighter ... cheaper and expendable.

The DR650 is the most reliable single on the market today. It's also dirt cheap and SO EASY to self maintain. Super tough. Not bad off road within reason (with a few mods) and great cruising at 70 mph all day long. (better seat a MUST)

The GS would be GREAT if you truly stay ON Tarmac. Dirt roads OK, unless MUDDY! Deep sand? Sorry, no GS for me. To go exploring along the way ... then a 250 may be better. 650 class OK too if set up right and you can ride.
If you're at Jimmy Lewis level ... take a GS or big KTM.

I'd rather wear out my $4K DR650 (used) than a @20K BMW or KTM 1290.

Before doing RTW, do a long Baja ride as a shake down ... see where you come out and find what works for you.

Hyp Noob,
You never mention the MultiStrada. Have you tested it? It's not a bike for shorter blokes, but I've seen some serious touring Hooligan outifits with bad *** Multi's.

gatdammit said:

Hyp Noob,
You never mention the MultiStrada. Have you tested it? It's not a bike for shorter blokes, but I've seen some serious touring Hooligan outifits with bad *** Multi's.

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Yes, tested the first year 1200 Multi S model for City Bike mag. Only got a day riding it, but did a couple hundred miles. It was not too terribly tall for me but not ideal trying to paddle it round, used extreme caution.

I loved the smooth, fast highway manners and amazing power, but was not impressed on our tight, rough, beat up twisty roads here in Marin County. Thumbs down for roads I like to ride. Great on open road ... but so is a Gold Wing.

Did not steer well, not much confidence on steep switchback turns.
But fantastic power ... I could see my license vanishing riding that bike.
We routinely topped 100 mph when any short straight presented itself. Nuts.

Hello even in France we have few DUCATI store open- they are closing most of them, only a few remain open (the new DUCATI regulation with a lot of conditions) most of store cannot afford the conditions and they are closing- to find a DUCATI store I have to rideat least 50 Km to find one and i am close to Paris! I will not ride for a long trip with my HYPERSRADA for sure no doubt. best rgds

This is the bike I rode across the States last summer. Flying it from Vancouver BC to London the first of June and riding to Vladivostok.