Classic singles and long way round

[garyboy]

https://bikehike.org/where-are-the-long ... bikes-now/ ... ((a bit confusing, as another movie also called `Long Way Down`)

"And what of the Long Way Round bikes – what happened to them?
Ewan’s GS was auctioned at a UNICEF charity event for no less than £85,000.
Charley’s went back to BMW to be used as a (very muddy) promotional tool."

I know what you mean ,Mag, its the same with fb, my new tv,, even my NC750 performance as the cpu thingy `knows` your mode of travel (fast, slow etc) and you got to work hard to get out of it ......... big brother knows best. lol

perhaps, on the pc, use a different browser ... Bing works fine for me, or Chrome or whatever.
but no idea on the magic phone .. can't Do that ll

also for info (I din know or forgot lol) ..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Way_Round

[adventure steele]

Superb replies everyone really enjoying reading everyone else's take on stuff and on those off you that experienced / wanted the xr's an dr's an xt's. Very interesting.

I've been actually giving it a load more thought today an the way the bikes have pushed towards 200kg+ being middleweights all parallel twins full off rider modes an 270 degree cranks galore for 2023.

Which only leaves us with a handful of lighter or single cylinder mainstream overland bikes really that arnt crazy focused or ktms in the Himalayan an the CRF 300L/Rally.
Obviously there's stuff like the ajp to.

Compared to all the Dr's and XT's WR's etc. I had a wander around a local importers today and it was nuts seeing the sheer amount of smaller CC trail bikes from the 70s 80s and 90s huge variety off stuff all with very low seat heights apart from the XR's was interesting.

For those that have been lucky enough to ride the dr650 an the original Tenere 600 how did they stack up against each other compared to say the DR350s and xr's really interesting learning

[johnnyboxer]

A new KTM 500 exc would do it too

[adventure steele]

Indeed RTW Paul used a ktm 500

[garyboy]

Remember that bike design direction of travel is dictated by market forces.
There is manufacturer competition ..as well as market viability of a potential product.
Economies of scale, mass production viability as well as cost of research and economic use of results etc, utilising factory layout and workforce knowledge and plant location.

These, and other factors do not always line up with what a particular biking niche sector really wants, as mass production has to actually turn a large profit, from huge distribution.

Return to basics/classic design, old product use and tooling etc, is as much an economic decision as what seems a retro direction or 'budget' product.

[Magnusson]

Exactly. Market forces, and legal requirements.
One of the reasons seats on bikes are so high today is customers demand high ground clearance and comfortable seating position, knees not too bent. That only gives one option.
As for looks. People rave over some one off bikes, so the manufacturers try to copy that. With varying degrees of results. Some are good, but most are not. The Katana springs to mind.
Higher weight is driven by the requirement for reduced pollution (FI, catalytic converters), increased reliability (water cooling, stronger parts) and lower prices (cheaper materials, I.e. steel instead of aluminium).

[Thedktor]

30 years old this year and still my favourite bike.

You wouldn't choose a 350 for long motorway trips, but for trails and back roads, its a joy.

IMG_20210811_095630.jpg (123.78 KiB) Viewed 1777 times

[adventure steele]

Looks superb Steve

[Scott_rider]

XR400R...a good action, short video



And XR600R...that hasn't been mentioned as a contender...a good action, short video as well

[Brenhden]

I once choose to do this on a DR350 in two days:

Screenshot 2023-02-06 171556.jpg (88.79 KiB) Viewed 1688 times

When I got back I chose to buy and DR650...

30 years old this year and still my favourite bike.

You wouldn't choose a 350 for long motorway trips, but for trails and back roads, its a joy.

IMG_20210811_095630.jpg