Thanks. That’s a great combination. I was in a similar situation and had a 2021 Africa twin. I really liked that bike except the electronics. Sound was awesome. I ended up needing the money for something else at the time so sold it. Got the Rally and have loved it. I’m not very good off-road either but a combination of the Rally and some off-road training that I’m starting Tuesday next week should help me improve. Hopefully I’ll be making a video series of the training and then I’ll be taking the Rally all over the Philippines for a video series.

Great - I've liked & subscribed, so look forward to reading your adventures. I've got some bascs on the Rally - crash bars like yours, bash plate and tail tidy. At ~110 Kgs with riding kit, I'm going to get the suspension sorted: I'm looking at K tech or Rally Raid.

@@riggers7480Appreciate the support, thanks. The Rally RAID really did transform the bike. I hear the KTECH is decent too. The main thing for me was to stop the bike pogo sticking. It now feels great.

I’ll be starting to tour around the Philippines and creating video series in the next month so you may want to stay tuned for those videos as I’ll likely go into what works and what doesn’t as well as show the scenery in various places.

@@Tripleb6036 i am in australia i have motorbike opens

The VStrom 650 is available good choice here. It really depends on the type of riding you’re going to do. If it’s just touring then you can’t go wrong with the VStrom as it’s reliable and very comfortable. It’s easy to rack up the miles on. If you’re going to do more off the beaten path riding then I prefer the Honda CRF 300 Rally for that as it’s so light and easier to manage off-road. It’s still quick enough to pass traffic here unless you’re on the expressways in Luzon.

@@Tripleb6036 what about the Africa twin is it too pricey in the Philippines i am hoping to visit the Philippines soonish

@ I had a 2021 Africa twin the base model 1100cc. No doubt it’s a great bike but I hated the electronics on it and sold it. They’re not overpriced here, I think around 950,000 Pesos for the base model. You really don’t need all that power on the roads here. Saying that, I have a VStrom 800DE now and really like it. Cost is 699.000 pesos new I think. You can also get the Tenere 700 here, priced around the same as the VStrom 800DE. Honda also have the Transalp which is a little cheaper at around 600,000 pesos. One to maybe consider is the CF Moto 450MT which is readily available and only around 330,000 pesos. FYI the Honda Rally is only 300,000 Pesos here which is much cheaper than I’d pay in the UK or Europe for it. Having owned loads of bikes here if I could only pick one for everything it would be the Rally or the L model. They can be serviced virtually everywhere, parts are easily available and they’re cheap to buy and run plus light compared with the others. It’s not just buying the bike you have to consider. Getting parts for more expensive bikes can be slow, servicing has to be done in the main cities plus the weight of them makes it less fun exploring off-road and on tracks compared with the smaller Hondas.

@@Tripleb6036 i might be going 2nd hand as well to buy 1

So happy to hear that both you and the bike are doing well. Here’s to the next 7000 miles.

Well I’ve had 3 VStrom 650’s, a 1000 and a 1050xt so in top trumps I win. Therefore I’m right 😂

Mine were too. I rode all over Europe on a 2009 VStrom and it did everything I asked of it.

Haha me too. Probably just a local putting along on a Honda wave or something similar.

It depends where you are going to be in the Philippines. Most towns have motorbike dealers selling Honda, Kawasaki etc. something like a CRF 300L or Rally is perfect for the roads here and much cheaper than in the US too. If you want something more powerful then you can get a good range of bikes here. Africa twins, VStroms, Z650, Z900, MT07, MT09 and many more. Just google Honda , Kawasaki , Suzuki big bikes Philippines and you’ll be able to see what’s available. I’ve found Honda and Kawasaki is cheaper here than in the UK. Suzuki and Yamaha a little more expensive.

@ thank you , basically I’m staying in Alabang when I’m in Philippines, it’s everywhere around Manila , for weekends going to Batangas my friends have big beach house where , it’s 2.5 hours drive , and I see all that traffic and understand, big bike will be to much for this roads,so for big bikes may be good time only night time 😀but in general I think something middleweight, will be great ….main question naked/ADV/sport tourist , tiger sport 660/versys /tenere 700 , may be multistrada v2, may be mt 09

@ I do t know the roads up there as I’m in the Visayas but my preference for a middleweight bike would be an ADV for comfort and the ability to hit non paved roads too. The VStrom 800DE I bought is excellent. I’ll be adding more videos on it to my channel in the New Year. Tenere 700 would also be a good choice although not quite as powerful or comfortable.

@ that’s what in my mind , if I will go little bit more far and open road It’s better have something with more power and comfort, and also because sometimes roads not good nice have ADV , but for city traffic it will be better have something smaller, same deal with everywhere you need to own 2-3 bikes 😀but I’m looking what I can get here , and it’s not much choices interesting they have 650-660 cc and after 1000cc luxury bikes

@@aleksandrkorovin1524for city riding you can’t really beat the comfort of a scooter. I went for a Honda ADV160 which is what they call a maxi scooter. Automatic, storage under the seat and big comfortable seat. Combined with a bigger bike for getting out of the city they work well together.

They’re coming in the new year once I’m back in the Philippines.

Hey , no worries as I’m back in the UK for a while longer yet. Sounds like you’ve gone to town on the bike. Have you fitted everything yet? I’ll be back in Cebu in a few months time. Planning lots of rides.

GoPro hero 11 black currently. Flat picture profile then graded footage in resolve. I think was shot in 4k30 with an ND filter on.

@@Tripleb6036 Thanks for the reply! I hope you get the chance to visit Bacolod City in Negros. If you ever come by and want to have some quick off-road fun, just let me know-I'm here!

@ you’re welcome. Thanks for the invite. I’m probably going to do a trip there next year some time and do a Negros loop. What do you ride?

@@Tripleb6036 I ride dual-sport and dirt bikes, and I also have a couple of smaller scooters. I feel like I'm ready to move up to a bigger bike now, and after reading your review, I'm strongly considering the CRF 300L Rally.

@ Are there some good tracks near Bacolod? The Rally is a really good bike. I’m back in the UK at the moment but back to Cebu in January. Then I’ll be taking the Rally on some long trips around the Philippines and start uploading videos again.

Sounds like the L will suit you better. Always fun to mod it to your liking too. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Hi and thanks for the sub. This is called the vegetable highway, going south from Carcar city , Cebu.

@Tripleb6036 wow...nice backroads... and bike too...tnx for the reply

Hi mate, Thanks for commenting. I live in Cebu for most of the year but im currently back in England for a few months. Will be back at it again over there in the New Year. Where in Cebu/England are you?

@@Tripleb6036ohh i see, my home town is in Carcar City but im in suffolk ipswich right now working. However i will spend my holiday Christmas and new year back in Cebu.

@@GGsai4not so far from me then. You got motorbikes over there?

@@Tripleb6036 i do have scooter and sniper150 but im planning to buy a suzuki mid range bike like sv650. Is it good for a long ride base on the road condition in cebu ?

@ the sv650 is not really built for long range stuff. It can do it but it’s more of a fun bike as it’s lightweight and quite quick. It really depends what kind of riding you do. V-Strom 650 is perfect for long range although maybe a little heavy and also overpriced in the Philippines. I have a Honda Rally and it’s just about perfect for the roads in Cebu. Cheap too and easy to get serviced by local dealers rather than in the city. I’ve got a ton of videos on it on my channel.

I think for daily commutes in the city it would be fine but there are probably better choices.

Hi Chris, yeh, Ive done the big bikes here and the Rally/CRF are pretty much a perfect size for where I am. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the bike if you get one.

Thanks for your comment. Honestly, it’s not even something I’ve considered given how many dodgy scooters are on the road here. If it’s a problem , I’ve kept the stock exhaust and can spend 20-45mins swapping it back out temporarily.

Why not? 👀

@@Tripleb6036 too big🤣

I’m on Cebu island. The Rally is much more capable off road .

Thanks so much. Glad you found it useful. I was always amazed at how well the 650 handled. I guess that’s why I’ve owned 3 over the years. Great bike.

I had to import it direct from the uk. Took 5-6 days to arrive.

That’s ridiculous. I paid 31,590 danish kroners for mine. My VStrom 800DE only cost me 3,337 danish Kroner more than the Rally does there 👀 better get a 🚲 in Denmark 🇩🇰 then.

Haha I’d give it a go as long as someone helps me pick it up for the 20th time 😁

Fingers crossed 🤞

Thanks.

Definitely prefer the CRF, it’s not as quick but I love that I can go anywhere on it

Yep, all LED for us here in the Philippines.

Should be perfect

It definitely would.

I’m really not sure to be honest. I’d expect there something available though as it’s a popular bike.

Your climate over there will be similar to the Philippines. Hot and humid I guess. The Rally would be the one I’d go for.

@@Tripleb6036 Cheers mate!

It depends on the size of your passenger I’d say. In the Philippines it’s fine.

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven’t really explored the north yet but plan to do so when I am back in the Philippines next year.

It’s not available here. I’m old enough to have grown up before ABS on motorbikes so I don’t mind not having it.

Hi, yes I bought it here in the Philippines. List price is 309,000 pesos.

Thanks Pawel. The weight put me off the MT450 and I cancelled my order. The gearing also wouldn’t sit me at an appreciably higher speed than the Rally to be honest. I’ve done all those mods to my CRF300L. It definitely brings the engine to life.

There is, the rally is slightly taller I believe but it squats so much in stock form the seat heights are almost irrelevant until you actually sit on them.

GoPro hero 11 black. Shot in 10bit protune flat profile then colour graded in Davinci resolve

That’s what I read. Mind you, I don’t like the original one much.

Ah thanks for the heads up. I will stick with what I’ve got then. Haha haven’t done that yet although there’s lots of cold springs here so I might just plan routes around them and dive in 😁

Thanks for commenting. Appreciate it. How much is the 300 Rally in Thailand?

@@Tripleb6036 Around 4600 euro's😅

Have a look at dork on the road’s (or in the road, I can’t remember) channel as he’s a larger guy and I know he had a rally and rode it all over the place. I’d say it will be fine but he may have a little more insight.

I have a 250l and I'm 210 lbs and have tusk hard bags 3.5 gal fuel tank. You will definitely want to upgrade the springs at minimum everything else will be fine. I can run 70mph all day long.

I’m more than happy with the stock tank. It’s enough for a decent days riding for me. You’re heading towards 400km range

Haha thanks. Luckily I cut it short or I could go on all day 😂

DRZ is great but it’s not available in a lot of countries. I wish they’d release an updated one.

Both those bikes are still carburated right?

Perfect. Thanks