Tue Mar 4 11:19:09 1997 - Message No. 458
From: Jorn Ronnow

Subject: Re: RE>TRAVEL FROM BEIRUT TO PARIS


>Armand Hadifé wrote:
>>I am planning to go this summer from BEIRUT to PARIS via Syria, Turkey,
>>Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovania, Italy and Switzerland.
>>Is the AT 1997 a good choice for such travel?

I friend of mine tested an AT, a Super Tenere and a Suzuki DR 800 in the
Sahara for a Swedish bike magazine. He told me that the Suzuki was best when
the road was worst, due to it's fine balance. Unfortunately, it broke down
like so many other Suzuki DR 800's. 

The Yamaha didn't break down, but looked quite old and worn after the harsh
treatment in the desert. Also, it wasn't very good off road. Ex Yamaha works
rider Jordi Arcarons was also part of the test team, and he didn't like the
Yamaha! It was nothing like the YZE 850 Paris-Dakar racer.

The Honda AT was the favourite of the testers, good both off road and on the
highways. It wasn't only well balanced and good to drive, it was also the
bike with the highest quality! It still looked like new when the desert
riding was over - maybe the most important thing for your trip, to have
something that doesn't break down.

>Sture wrote:
>I have thought of travelling from Sweden - Poland - Slovakia - - to
Rumainia, but I worry about that the AT would to much of a temptation to
some people.  /Sture Q.

My brother works in Poland, and told me one of his friends just bought a new
Toyota. When he parked his car outside his house, someone walked up to him,
put a gun in his side and said "give me the car keys". I thought they only
did like that further east...

(BTW: Someone stole my car about a month ago and crashed it several times.
It's now being recycled in the scrap yard.)

Keep sliding
-Jorn



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