There are three rules to consider when choosing a bike for a 10000 km tour:
- Better the devil you know
- The bathtub theory
- Every bike works, until you need to fit in with a group plan
This is the second installment in the ongoing planning for my 10k tour and it’s getting close. I leave with three friends in May 2027.
Update May 2026 – I’ve made a new purchase. The Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel isn’t even on this list and yet it’s working out well so far.
Update July 2026 – Post updated with more information.
The requirement: A motorcycle for around €8k that will take me touring 10000 km around south east Europe over six weeks in 2027. I’m 174 cm tall. Read more about my ground rules below.
The best bike choices – Mid range motorcycles
If you want to see my reasoning, take a look at my ground rules but first let us first talk about the possibilities from the mid-range sector.
Honda Transalp XL750
This is, theoretically, the goldilocks bike for a 90:10 on / off- road tour. The ethos of the bike is perfect and it’s not too big or too heavy. 92 PS is a good power level.
I like Honda and I’ve always loved the Transalp brand but there’s a problem.
It’s plain. It’s a bike without any soul. It has tubed tyres too which, for 10000 km of mostly road riding, isn’t the best choice. The Transalp weighs 208kg and has an accessible seat height of 850 cm but I can’t quite flat-foot it.
The pricing isn’t high-value, but it’s fair – €13079 new (2026) with a touring packet (side panniers). I’m seeing these for around €8500 second hand locally. The black versions look uninspiring.
The white versions, with a few accessories, are the best looking of the colour variations.
Suzuki Vstrom 800 RE
This is the one that, on paper, is the best and it absolutely goes head-to-head with the Transalp but it looks so, so boring. Like the Transalp it has no soul and it doesn’t raise a single eyebrow hair. Those cast wheels look like something from 1980.
I don’t like the look of it at all but you can not deny that this is a fantastic option.
The RE has a lower seat than the Transalp (825 cm) and it is efficient and good value, which puts it way up the list of sensible choices. I can’t warm to it though.
There’s still something wrong about that lighting design in terms of style. The old VStrom had the same problem.
Suzuki VStrom 800 DE
Higher seat. Tubed tires. The DE looks like it means business but is it too big? I tested it out at Orwell Motorcycles, Ipswich.
Because of the stance and spoked wheels it looks so much better than the RE. I’ve spoken to owners of this model that swear by it and I believe them.
The price is a little too expensive for my budget but not far off. I feel this could be a complete replacement for my VFR 800.
Kawasaki Versys 650 Tourer
The one that’s available second hand! It’s an uninspiring bike but an absolute bargain. I have no more to say about it here because it but it has been a popular mid-range tourer for years.
Triumph Tiger sport 800 2025
The road-focused option with a 835mm seat height. The weight, 214 KG, is quite high. New cost, with luggage, is over budget and there won’t be many of these around second-hand yet so i’ll have to pass on this.
Triumph Tiger 850 Sport 2021-2024
Probably the best second hand option out there but…
Not available in Germany. The 850 Sport was available in the UK but given that the UK is out of the EU now, there’s little point in trying to import one because it’s a difficult task.
Torque, price, availability, adjustable seat and accessories – it ticks so many boxes so i’m a little sad that it’s not an option in Germany, especially as the brand, the engine and the looks give it an edge.
CFMoto 800MT
Backed by KTM, I’m not a fan of these ultra-low-cost bikes but this one is certainly getting good reviews. I’ve also heard that workshop engineers are positively surprised at the build quality. Update: Test ride! It performs well!
BMW F 750 GS, F 800 GS, F 850 GS, F 900 GS,
I don’t want to join the BMW club so I apologise to anyone reading this.
I’m just not experienced enough with this range to be giving you an opinion.
To be fair to the reader I’ve linked a few good reviews for you below.
In summary, there’s no doubt that the F 750 GS and F 850 GS should be on someone else’s list.
The F 900 GS is a little too hardcore and tall for this list.
F 850 GS 2020 Review by Dave Reynolds, Adventure Bike Rider
F 800 GS 2024 Review by John Milbank, Bennets Bike Social
F 800 GS 2012 Review by Mad or Nomad. (Anabela and Jorge Valente)
Yamaha Ténéré 700 (T7)
This list would not be complete without the Ténéré. It’s definitely more off-road focused but there’s a ‘low’ version of the Ténéré (dark blue in the images below) that fits me well. The standard version (in light blue) is too high for me.
The low version is still 860 cm tall so I can only assume that the thinner seat is helping me comfortably reach the ground.
Yamaha Tracer 7 GT
A really good looking option at a good price that hits the mark with luggage (40 liters total isn’t huge though), cruise control and decent wind protection. It won’t be the best on gravel roads but it will be able to handle it.
There’s a little bit of a boring factor for me and 72 hp might be tough for the motorway but I really like the looks and the practicality of the 2025 Tracer 7 GT. (The Tracer 9 GT is less attractive to me, not least because it feels over-technical.)
Triumph Tiger 900 / GT
Spotted at Orwell Motorcycles in Ipswich, it has a good height for me but is slightly over budget and potentially over-specified. It’s available second hand within budget.
The best bike choices – Lightweight motorcycles
Smaller bikes hold great appeal for their manoeuvrability, efficiency and price.
Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT
A reliable, proven solution available new and secondhand. 69 ps is enough. As a secondhand purchase this could be the best value for money option out there. I’ve spoken to a long term owner who regrets selling his and it’s not hard to find excellent reports.
Kawasaki KLE 500 SE
The Kawasaki KLE 500 SE was Announced on 25th October 2025. I’ve had an enjoyable test ride and it’s a low-cost contender in the same category as the Honda NX500. Pricing in the UK is £6,599.
I love the fact that something new, with a trusted engine, could add an exiting low-cost and accessible option for long-distance tourers but make sure you don’t have to try and keep up with bigger bikes. This is best solo explorer bike out there in 2026. Yes, it’s better than the…
Honda NX500 / CB 500 X
Plenty of people have put this slightly boring, but efficient and reliable bike through its paces on hugely challenging tours. Itchyboots is a prime example,
There’s no sensible reason why you would not choose this motorcycle. It would, without a doubt be good enough.
Another tried and tested Honda would make the perfect companion to my VFR 800.
Seat height: 830mm. Power: 47 hp
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
I didn’t like the 450 when I tested it. It felt somewhat loose to me and the seat was angled too far forward. It was fun, of course, and I know it’s a trusted steed. Price: very competitive.
Royal Enfield Bear 650
47 hp with no screen and a 14 liter tank. I absolutely love the look of the Bear 650 and know that it would be good for some rough roads and gravel but…touring? Probably not but it’s a casual, solo, low-speed explorer to consider.
The best bike choices – Sports touring. (Or how I could convert my 17 year old VFR 800.)
Honda VFR 800 RC46
I am only including one bike here, and that’s because I already own it. See below for reasons why I should not be riding a sports touring bike.
There are two things I find attractive about the VFR. Firstly, I can prep it and kit it out for about €3500. Secondly, it has a bit of desire factor. The problem is that it’s heavy, hot and very sports-focussed.
An 17 year old bike can, of course, do the tour. There are spares around, knowledge. It’s reliable and, even after 75000 km, another 10000 km should be no problem but it’s not a bike for rough roads and slow-speed riding. It’s also tough on the back and shoulders. 6 hours in the seat is OK, but anything more than that is going to hurt. I learnt that on my 12 hour 6 country tour.
I can’t change the weight of the VFR but here’s a list of changes I could make:
- Higher handlebars. Helibars? €300
- Touring screen . €150
- Heated grips. €150
- Luggage. €500-€700
- Suspension check / upgrade?
If that works out then there are other costs ahead:
- Full service including valves. €1500. 24000 km until it needs to go into the workshop again.
- New tyre set. €250.
- Electrical system (rotor, rectifier) check and possible upgrade. €400
Total cost for prep is around €3500. It’s a big chunk of money but it’s cheaper than the other options, a project and far more interesting proposition than any of the other options above. I do love my VFR. I wonder if my co-riders love it too?
The ground rules of choosing a bike
The three rules in detail:
Rule 1 – Better the devil you know.
The underlying message here is to buy a bike early enough that you can learn to be confident living with it.
Personaly I need at least a season with a new bike new bike to shake it down, to test luggage, do some servicing and to feel confident. It took me a few years on the VFR.
I need to do this as early as possible because if a make a mistake, I won’t have much time left.
Rule 2 – The bathtub theory.
Don’t jump on a new engine, a new brand or a bike that hasn’t been shaken-down, at least by industry reviewers.
Things go wrong at the start and end of a product’s lifecycle and in my opinion, brand new is worse than old.
Rule 3 – Any bike is a good enough, unless you’re in a group of riders.
A group of four people can be a help and a hindrance but one thing needs to be made clear at the beginning of the planning – the riding style. I’ve been touring with these guys before and I know that we’re going to be in sports-adventure mode. We’re not hitting the TET but there will be KTMs!
Personal rules:
Desire. I don’t need to explain this to the converted but, for the benefit of my family who might be reading this, it’s about having pride in what you ride (and it sometimes costs a little extra.)
KTM are out. This may upset my KTM owner (and dealer) friends that are part of this trip but I don’t like KTM’s approach to electronics. I get why you like them but I have to draw a line here.
Is this my last bike? In 10 years time you won’t find a new petrol-engined bike in a dealership. I can’t see myself buying an electric bike in the next 10 years and in ten years I could be done with motorcycling. This might be the last bike I buy so it’s not just for the 10k tour.
My sizes: 174 cm, 74 cm/ 30 in in-seam, 78kg,
Tour considerations
This is an adventure-tour, not a sports-tour. South east Europe holds adventure naturally within its landscape. It holds gravel roads, mountains and changing weather.
More rules:
- Budget: €10k with hard luggage. |deally less, of course.
- Servicing must be fairly easy
- Comfort is critical
- Manoeuvrability is a key consideration for me
- 80 litres of luggage sounds about right – having done tests with 70 liters of luggage.
- Serviceability and spares across eastern Europe
Many thanks to Orwell Motorcycles , Ipswich, UK, for their time and knowledge. I spent well over an hour sitting on a range of their bikes in the showroom.
