T he more you know the harder it gets. Back in '73 the choice was simple. There was BMW - and then there were British bikes. Also the British factory, though strife ridden and doomed, was enthusiastic. BMW on the other hand were very luke-warm about the whole thing, and they haven't changed much since.
Every Japanese firm is a contender.
Bikes are now designed specifically to cope with conditions that were a severe challenge to my old Tiger. The range of choice is tremendous. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Motoguzzi, Cagiva, KTM, Aprilia, Triumph, BMW, even Ducati, all have bikes to consider. You notice that I've left out Harley Davidson. It is true that my friend Dave Barr rode one around the world, and that was with most of his legs missing, but he didn't have a very good time doing it.