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 adventure of my 10k tour and it’s 16 months until we leave, in May 2027. Here are the bike choices:
The best bike choices – Part 1 (Mid range)
If you want to see my reasoning, take a look towards the end of this article but first let us talk about the possibilities. in part1, the more serious end of the market.
Transalp XL750
This is the cinderalla 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 power level I would feel comfortable with. I like Honda and i’ve always loved the Transalp brand.
But, it’s plain. It has tubed tyres too which, for 10000km of mostly road riding, isn’t the best choice. It’s 208kg and has an accessible seat height but I can’t quite flat-foot it. The pricing isn’t high-value, but it’s fair.
€13079 new 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, however, do look good.
Dec 16th: I have an appointment to view a second hand one in the area. I’ll report.
Suzuki Vstrom 800 RE
This is the one that, on paper, is the best. But it looks so, so boring. 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 it at all.
The RE is low, efficient and good value, which puts it way up the list of sensible choices. I just can’t seem to warm to it though.
Suzuki VStrom 800 DE
Higher seat. Tubed tires. The DE looks like it means business but I fear it’s too big for me. The RE was already at my limit.
Because of the stance and spoked wheels it looks so much better than the RE.
Versys 650 tourer
The one that’s available second hand. Uninspiring but an absolute bargain.
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 my budget and there won’t be many of these around second-hand.
Triumph Tiger 850 Sport 2021-2024
Probably the best second hand option out there but…
Not available in Germany.
Torque, price, availability, accessories. It ticks so many boxes.
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 have been surprised at the build quality.
BMW F800S? F900GS.
I don’t want to join the BMW club.
Yahama Tenere 700
There’s a lower version of the Tenere that fits well. The standard version (here in light blue) is too high for me.
Yamaha Tracer 7 GT
A really good looking option at a good price and 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 way better than a VFR800 in that scenario! There’s a little bit of a boring factor and 72 hp might be tough when i’m used to 110 hp but I really like the looks of the 2025 Tracer 7 GT. (The Tracer 9 GT is less attractive to me, in multiple ways.)
Triumph Tiger 900 / GT
Good height for me but slightly over budget and potentially over-specified for me. Available second hand within budget.
The best bike choices – Part 2 (lightweight)
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 KLE500 SE
The Kawasaki KLE500 SE was Announced on 25th October 2025. Details and first-rides are not available at this stage but it looks like a low-cost contender and in the same category as the Honda NX500. Pricing in the UK is £6,599. (NEC announcement.)
I love the fact that something new, with a trusted engine, could add to the excitement, but it will be April 2026 before it’s available and I don’t expect first press reviews until Jan 2026.
An adventure tourer version could come with all the kit (luggage, heated grips?) and I hear that the rear ABS can be turned off. I’m a sucker for a slide. The NX500 doesn’t have that capability…
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 feels 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?
The best bike choices – Part 3 (Sports touring)
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 18 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: 173 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.
