What first bike for long tour?

[JPreston]

I'm having an early mid-life crisis and am due some time off, so I've decided to get a full bike licence through a direct access course, buy a used bike and go off round Europe for a month or two. So what bikes should I be thinking about?

Priorites are mechanical reliability and simplicity, upright and reasonably comfortable position, something popular so that I have a decent chance of getting spares/repaired while abroad, and decent range to a tank of gas. Costing no more than £1500 ideally, because there's a very good chance I'll end up abandoning it after a crash/mechanical failure. If both me and the bike make it back in one piece, something that I could commute on in future would be handy (so I'm not looking at proper touring bikes).

I've been recommended to consider the Honda XL650 Transalp and BMW F650. I won't be going off-road cross country because I'd end up completely lost, even so the roads are not good where I'm going so these enduro-type bikes seem appealing assuming they aren't too fatiguing on motorways. I'm mostly considering a Honda CB500S as a good all-rounder. What else should I be considering....?

[dave87]

Bandit 600 will fall squarely in your budget. The S is the one to go for, giving some wind protection.

Decent enough speed wise, but will be easy enough for a new rider to learn on, and parts are likely to be available all over the continent.

[Rave]

I was going to say a Transalp. Very popular indeed on the continent, so you sould have no trouble getting it fixed wherever. The F650 would be a bit better off road (though still not great) as it's lighter. I would imagine that it wouldn't be so good on the motorway.

A Kawasaki KLE500 would be a leftfield choice, I reckon it's probably be as good as the Transalp but since they reintroduced them a few years ago at a bargain price you may well be able to pick up a fairly new one for £1500.

Make sure you buy some good riding kit. I'd recommend two piece zip-together leathers ideally. I personally wouldn't ride on the road with an open face helmet, because I like having a nose and chin. I would also say that passing your test and then going off on a long tour straight away might not be all that wise. If you're determined to do it, get some advanced training after you pass your test- do a police Bikesafe course, or get a day or two's advanced tuition, there are plenty of places offering it. I'll be doing some myself if I ever get my bike back on the road.