XT660R or KLR650 ??

[Bass]

Well I read everyone's comments in this and other related threads and have pretty much settled on a DR (with all due respect to Quasi). What it came down to for me was this - it's been years since I did any off road riding and I don't rate my riding skills as anything more than average. I am going to ride a bike around Australia and I am going to some pretty out-of-the-way places. Consequently I am gonna fall off. Probably I am gonna fall off several times.

While I liked the KLR - it's well set up, comfortable and pretty capable for the sort of trip I plan to do - it also has a fair bit of the vulnerable looking stuff hanging out in the breeze. The DR has much less sticking out to get broken off and is nearly 30 kg lighter which MAY mean that I fall off it somewhat less.
The fact that the guy I'll be riding with already has a DR and so the spares load is halved, just seals the deal.

For this trip the DR needs some work - like about $4,000 worth.
Bars
Bark Busters
Bash plate
Tank
Seat
Screen
Suspension upgrade (probably)
Front sprocket

The only ones on that list that don't also apply to the KLR are the seat and tank. Since the DR is selling for $8,000 and so is $1500 cheaper than the KLR, then the overall costs would be about the same for both bikes.

However, I am also looking at a larger/second oil cooler for the DR and so it may well work out more expensive in the long run. A chain oiler is also still lurking at the back of my mind
Just before it goes in the container bound for Oz, it will also get a new set of sprockets and some top quality "O" ring chain

Obviously, I will be spending some time on this beast before it goes in the box. Consequently, I expect to run into a few of you while doing it in the gravel.
Thanks for the help people.

[NordieBoy]

You may get change from $2000 for those upgrades.

[Transalper]

For this trip the DR needs some work - like about $4,000 worth.
Bars
Bark Busters
Bash plate
Tank
Seat
Screen
Suspension upgrade (probably)
Front sprocket

.

You may get change from $2000 for those upgrades.

Agreed, I did all that except the Suspension upgrade for about $1300 or $1400.

I'd say good choice if only because your riding buddy for the trip is on one too.

[K slider]

Ihad DR for 3 Years I found the suspension fine .I would still own it but the dakar seat is more comfy and the rotax motor has more grunt but the rest of the bike is a piece of Sh-T.
take a look at the 08 660 Tenere.
cheers Pete

[NordieBoy]

Agreed, I did all that except the Suspension upgrade for about $1300 or $1400.

Seat ?

[Transalper]

Seat ?

By the end if the week. I allowed $200 estimate for a local place to modify it similar to Js one. Should get some change out of that.

[Bass]

I really hope that you guys are right, but the numbers that I have seen mean that the tank and seat alone could top $1200

[Bass]

Ihad DR for 3 Years I found the suspension fine .I would still own it but the dakar seat is more comfy and the rotax motor has more grunt but the rest of the bike is a piece of Sh-T.
take a look at the 08 660 Tenere.
cheers Pete

The reason that I am looking hard at a suspension upgrade is that we will be travelling shortly after the wet season to beat the school holidays, when the places we will go tend to get overrun by 4 x 4's. Consequently, the graders may not have been through and so I expect to travel considerable distances on heavily corrugated roads and so administer a bit of a beating to the shocks

[NordieBoy]

I really hope that you guys are right, but the numbers that I have seen mean that the tank and seat alone could top $1200

Which tank and which seat?

[Transalper]

My 18.5 litre IMS Tank (now holds 20liters after a month or so of use) cost NZ$375 landed at my door as I detailed here.
My seat is my stock seat being modified to be wider, and maybe softer (can give more detail once it's done and tested). Having the stock one slightly modified is a lot cheaper than getting a flash one like corbin. Maybe it will not be as good as an expensive new one but we already done some big km days (700 to 1000km dirt and sealed) on our DRs so maybe my arse is tougher than that too.
My screen is kinda home made cost $40 including the screws. J is happy with hers, I'm still experimenting. Guess you could spend $200 or $250 what ever one of those big universal ones costs.
I put Pro Taper Contour Bars on. $200 + $69 clamps.
Cant find receipts at the moment but think the Bark Buster Brand handguards and fitting kit to suit the bars totalled about $260.
B & B Bash Plate was about $240 as well.
Front Sprockets are about $15.

If you shop around you may get the stuff cheaper, I just bought from guys I like rather than shop around.

[ducatijim]

Hah...18l won't get u squat in the outback. 30l Safari :-) .

[NordieBoy]

Hah...18l won't get u squat in the outback. 30l Safari :-) .

18.5L

Just enough left over for the squat.





What's a squat?

[Bass]

Which tank and which seat?

Hah...18l won't get u squat in the outback. 30l Safari :-) .

Yeah, Safari tank - gonna need well over 500 km range and don't want to be carrying jerrycans.

As for the seat - I have been giving serious thought to a Corbin. I have also been giving serious thought to McDonalds in Tauranga. However, I think that the original seat needs a bit more width for me. That means a new base and I don't believe that this is McDonalds forte (happy to be corrected).

[Transalper]

Hah...18l won't get u squat in the outback. 30l Safari :-) .

US$569 including oversized shipping from justgastanks.com
That's about NZ$770 and I wonder if the customs man will want to add some to that.

[Transalper]

...As for the seat.... I think that the original seat needs a bit more width for me. That means a new base and I don't believe that this is McDonalds forte (happy to be corrected).

How wide do you want it? Js seat is a bit wider than stock but still fairly hard. Hers is still the original base.

I do not doubt that if you spend the extra on a seat that it will indeed make you happy. For me not worth it. I'll just take a little mod of the original and be done with.