Thinking about The Grand Challenge, what bike?

**nzspokes** · 24th November 2011, 08:01

Im thinking about the grand challange next year. Currently im on my Ls but shoult be on 6F by April.

So with a very small budget of 2 to maybe 3k, what bike should I look for? Have seen some nice Yam XJ600s on TM but not saved the money yet.

**Blackbird** · 24th November 2011, 10:19

Anything that's comfortable. I've done it on a BMW K100 RS (twice), a Honda Blackbird (twice) and a Street Triple (once). The Street Triple was the most comfortable of the lot and caused no physical probs whatsoever. Speed really isn't a consideration provided you can maintain speeds around the legal limit as you have to average 67 km/hr. You don't have to be too precious about what bike, just set it up to be comfortable. Mind you, people have done it on everything from a Suzuki RG 50 up, so depends on how hard you want to make it for yourself!

I still hanker doing it on a Honda C90 cub!

**nzspokes** · 24th November 2011, 11:37

Well I did 1K over the weekend with an average of 72kph on the road. But that was over 3 days. Only pain I had was in my right hand, thinking about on of those criuse control things so I can rest it. We also had a lot of breaks.

But doing it on my 250 would drive me nuts.....

**Gremlin** · 24th November 2011, 12:30

As Blackbird touched upon, the GC has been done on a massive variety of bikes, and really, almost anything could be used. Last year a guy finished on a GN250, and I think the previous year, the same guy had to go home for a short while, when his electrics failed and rode the rest of the night holding a torch.

One key thing would be comfortable. As you mention with wrists, you'd want something that puts you in a comfortable position on the bike, because you're going to be there a while. Little strain on wrists, you'll see a few using a sheepskin cover which is an easy mod. Protection from wind is optional but handy, as it doubles as protection from rain and cold as well. Even found it's useful in fog, as it isn't your visor getting hit with fog. Unexpected but handy.

Tank range, it's really best to be able to do 200-250km or more. Obviously, more is useful, but if your body needs a stop every 200-250km, then having a 350km range, which you can't double as such, won't be that useful. Fuel during the night sometimes requires a bit of planning, and the less you have to detour for gas or avoid stopping every 150km, the better.

The rest is really the rider. Ride at a consistent pace, avoid frequent long stops and look after yourself, eating and drinking at each stop (plus a toilet break), to stay in good condition.

**nzspokes** · 24th November 2011, 12:58

Im pretty up with looking after myself, I used to be a long distance cyclist(not that you could tell now). Thinking of running a camel Back bladder in a tank bag. The wrist thing will probably change with a multi cylinder bike, the single vibrates all over the place.

I like the look of this, http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=426291130

**nzspokes** · 24th November 2011, 21:17

So tonight when I popped over to see Alec at SME motorcycles to get a carb jet for my trail bike he had just finished working on a 80s GSX750E. I begged a sit on it. Perfect fit. Asked him about them and he rates em and can get parts easy. Ive had my eye on this bike, http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=372528953

. Only problem the finance I got offerd to by a bike turns out to be dodgy and huge intrest rate. Bugger.

But I think one of the GSX750s would work well.

**Taz** · 24th November 2011, 21:21

They're a nice bike.

**DrunkenMistake** · 24th November 2011, 21:25