long distance bike trip

[JosephToulouse]

greetings everyone!!

I'm sure there are lots of folks on here that have read a few,(or several) motorcycle adventure
books.....I have,very enjoyable. My question is; Has anyone here done any serious touring on a
Voyager XII, like Europe, South America,etc? It seems like BMW's and KLR's are the bike of choice.
Just curious..........I have rode through several states, but never out of the Country.

Also........if You have........any major Mechanical problems?

Ride Safe!!

Joseph Toulouse

[SgtSlag]

To your direct question: No.
==========================
An indirect, obtuse answer...

In 2009, my wife and I rode a then 30-year-old, 1979 Honda CB750K, with all of 12k miles on it, circling Lake Superior, through Ontario, the UP of Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and Minnesota, 1,935 miles. We rode two-up, all by ourselves, no one to help us. We ran through four days of rain, in Canada; we had the bike loaded pretty heavily, aside from the two of us! That 30-year-old bike had one failure, the entire trip of nine days of riding: the throttle grip came off in my hand, on the second day in Canada. We went to the local H-D repair shop, got some grip glue, and we were back on the road within an hour.

As to riding abroad on a Voyager, I would not hesitate. We've ridden our '93 through southern Ontario, and eastern Manitoba, and we live in SE Minnesota.


Now, back to being on point to your question...
No matter the make, year, or style, mechanical machines can, and do, break down. Search Netflix for, "The Long Way Round", and, "The Long Way Down." These are documentaries about two guys, and a cameraman, all on motorcycles, and their support group in SUV's, making trips around the world, and from northern Scotland, to the southern tip of Africa. They are quite entertaining to watch, as well as informative. There are also books on international touring which have great information. Cheers!

[kjsett]

To your direct question: No.

Now, back to being on point to your question...
No matter the make, year, or style, mechanical machines can, and do, break down. Search Netflix for, "The Long Way Round", and, "The Long Way Down." These are documentaries about two guys, and a cameraman, all on motorcycles, and their support group in SUV's, making trips around the world, and from northern Scotland, to the southern tip of Africa. They are quite entertaining to watch, as well as informative. There are also books on international touring which have great information. Cheers!

That was Ewan McGregor and his acting/motorcycling friend Charlie Boorman. Wikipedia:
A motorcyclist since his youth, McGregor undertook a marathon international motorcycle trip with his best friend Charley Boorman and cameraman Claudio von Planta in 2004. From mid-April to the end of July, they travelled from London to New York via central Europe, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberian Russia, Canada and the United States on BMW R1150GS Adventure motorcycles, for a cumulative distance of 22,345 miles (35,960 km).[35] The trip included visits to several UNICEF programs along the route, and formed the basis of a television series and a best-selling book, both called Long Way Round.[36]

The Long Way Round team reunited in 2007 for another motorcycle trip from John o' Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa.[36] The journey, entitled Long Way Down, lasted from 12 May until 5 August 2007.[36] McGregor's brother Colin joined the motorcycle team during the early stages of the Long Way Down journey,[36] and his father Jim also rode on sections of both Long Way Round and Long Way Down.[37][38]

McGregor appeared in a two-part BBC documentary in April 2012 entitled Ewan McGregor: Cold Chain Mission in which he travels by motorbike, boat, plane and foot to deliver vaccines to children in remote parts of India, Nepal and the Republic of Congo. The trip was part of his work as a UNICEF Ambassador.

I really enjoyed those 2 series, but be warned, language is pretty rough at times (if you are sensitive to the "F" word).
I don't think the Voyager (in either incarnation) would survive that trip. Buttttttt, there was quite a lot of Europe and even Russia/Ukraine that it would do fine on. Now, that was over 10 years ago, so don't know how the roads are now.
Personally, I think they could have found better bikes (even they preferred another brand), but BMW sponsored it, so you take what they give (aaaawwwwww).
I am desiring to go above and below the borders in the next couple of years, but other than short distance south, won't be any time soon.
Enjoy if you make it.
Ken

PS. I would go through the bike and check everything you can think of before heading South (or North) because of availability for shipping/locating parts. Oh, and don't scrimp of gas, higher price usually means better gas down there (different standards). Stick to known brands (previous travel in other countries, just not on a motorcycle.

[debron]

An important consideration for Central and South America - a lot of the roads are unpaved and could be in any state of repair or disrepair. The BMWs and KLRs that make these trips are usually Adventure or Dual Sport bikes, not road bikes like the XII. So, consider the roads before you go!

[hank43]

An important consideration for Central and South America - a lot of the roads are unpaved and could be in any state of repair or disrepair. The BMWs and KLRs that make these trips are usually Adventure or Dual Sport bikes, not road bikes like the XII. So, consider the roads before you go!

Those types of bikes are also required when riding in California. They don't pave the roads here, either.

hank

[kjsett]

Point of note: Pan-Am highway ends south of Panama City. There are no roads connecting Central and South America. For those who wish to make that trip, you have to contract for air or sea transport (only one adventurer has ridden it, and he took weeks/months).
I did read a story about an English lady who road a bike from Alaska to as far south in Chile that you can go. (FOUND IT):
Lois on the Loose: One Woman, One Motorcycle, 20,000 Miles Across the Americas
by Lois Pryce (2003)

She also road across Africa including crossing the Sahara all the way south to Cape Town (2006).

Check it out:
http://www.loisontheloose.com/about-me/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[debron]

An important consideration for Central and South America - a lot of the roads are unpaved and could be in any state of repair or disrepair. The BMWs and KLRs that make these trips are usually Adventure or Dual Sport bikes, not road bikes like the XII. So, consider the roads before you go!

Those types of bikes are also required when riding in California. They don't pave the roads here, either.

hank

I thought the whole state of California was paved!!!

[Gato]

2008 Kissimmee, Fl to South Canyon, Las Vegas and Utah. 7,000 miles in 13 days (4 in Las Vegas). Get a BUN BURNER 1500 MILES IN 36 HOURS patch from Iron Butt Association. ( Kissimmee, Fl to Amarillo, Tx).

Couple times Kissimee to Chicago, couple more Kissimee to New York and Pensylvania. All of that in a Yamaha Royal Star Venture 2006. I trade it with 78,000 miles for my Voyager 2012. Never a single issue with the Venture. I'll see if the Voyager hold my trips. Hopefully next Year I can make Colombia! There is a new ferry from Panama' to Barranquilla, Colombia.

[FBT]

It wasn't a Voyager, but several years ago a friend of mine took his Harley Sportster and took off from Jacksonville, FL and rode to Sturgis. When the bike event was over, he headed north and followed the US border to the Pacific, rode south along the west coast all the way to San Diego, and followed the US border as best he could through the southwest, then Texas, and back up along the Gulf Coast. He got home from his ride, pulled the bike into the garage, unloaded, and put it up for sale. He had the bike sold within a week, and swore off riding after that....for about 6 months. Bought a Harley Road King, and took off on another perimeter adventure so that he could complete the loop. He actually took his wife along on this ride, and when they got home, he didn't sell the bike for a change.