Buying a dual purpose bike

[chasio]

Well it’s all on

After a brief bout of excitement over an XR600 a few months ago - sadly cut short by an unexpected tax bill - I have budget for my first bike. I’m not limited to a 250 as I have a full license courtesy of 15 incident-free months and 9000kms on a 200cc Vespa.

I’m going to run both for a few months while I get sorted, then sell the scooter in early summer. I’d prefer to keep both (as was the plan with XR) but can’t afford to. So I have to get a machine that will do a trouble free daily commute of 20kms each way in Auckland traffic (including filtering) as well as providing access to some more interesting roads and hopefully some multi-day touring.

Budget is about $5k, maybe $6k at a push. Once my skills improve I may look to add a more dirt capable machine e.g. KLX but don’t tell Mrs Chasio (though I’m sure she has her suspicions already)

Right now I’m thinking that I’ll go for one of:

Freewind XF650 – Probably my first choice for the right one (not least as seat can go down while I get used to it) but they seem to come up infrequently. But there is one here already quite well set up.

KLE500 - I quite like the idea of a twin in traffic and the KLE’s looks (call me weird) but they seem to be disliked for some reason. This one is low kms but a bit far in Whangarei.

Pegaso – Preferable to me over F650 with lower seat and not being a BMW; but not the Cube as I have read reports of high maintenance costs and later models will be too pricey, lovely as they are. If I’d had $9k and been quick enough I know a beauty went through here recently, but it was too pricey for me.

F650 - Not so keen on BMW and I’d prefer a post 2000 F650GS for refinement, but only high mileage ones are available around my budget

I’ve ruled out the Canyon on parts and maintenance issues and the KLR on height (I’m 1.78 and essentially an old noob) and price for a later model one. The XT600/660 is a maybe but I suspect would have similar challenges to a KLR.

DR650’s are seen as the weapon of choice by many, but commuting and touring comfort is going to be more important than trail ability and I also believe I’d struggle with my budget for a K7 or later with reasonable mileage. I could be persuaded by a good one, I guess.

I can do oil and pad changes and the like, but am not going to be up for any properly skilled work. I need something low maintenance that will hopefully work every day. I also know I need to sit on a few to figure out fit and comfort but I probably need another bike lesson before I take one out!

So I have two questions:
- Does my shortlist make sense given my expected requirements?
- Is anyone local and willing enough to help me out by looking over the Freewind in Kaiwaka and/or KLE in Whangarei?

Cheers

Chasio

[Sidewinder]

get a dr650 there bang for buck and have enuf top end on the road and you can pick them up cheap secondhand

[Eddieb]

Why only a K7 or later DR if you are willing to go earlier in other models?

Buy one, ride it, love it, they haven't changed in years that I am aware of so I don't see any advantage in going for a K7.

And you won't have to upgrade later cause it'll do everything.

[nallac]

as sidewinder has said a Dr650 would be my choice(having owned one before)
but in saying that, the freewind looks like a well set up machine for that price.

I would/will check it out for you if i can get a chance to get away from the kids.
haven't had a chance to check out Kaiwaka suzi since they opened..

[chasio]

Fair question - I thought the K7 had some useful improvements e.g. seat but as you can tell, I'm no expert. Yes I could go older but I'd prefer lowish mileage.

Plus it's that old question of screen & tank upgrades to get what the Freewind (I know very similar underneath) already has.

[awayatc]

My Aprilia Pegaso has 25000 kms on the clock and is in excellent condition ....I might let it go for $6000......

I am very happy with my Pegaso....it is indeed more road oriented then the DR 650 and the like.
It tops out at 180, but can happily sit at 120/140 all day.
Seating position, handling braking etc are a joy.
Starts always on first push of the button and has a lovely deep twin exhaust sound.
Lighter then the BMW, better looking and way more fun to ride.
Only downfall is the Fuelconsumption (15 km per liter) which seems to be on par with DR 650, but the BMW uses far less.
Parts are not always that easy to get.....
Have got 2 bikes at the moment and I will have to sell one of them at some stage....
Still undecided, since the Aprilia is so easy to live with...

[clint640]

Good luck mate, shopping for a bike is fun, you are looking at some pretty sensible choices for your intended use, that Freewind could be a good deal. Also remember that a DR650 with a redone seat & a screen fitted is functionally pretty similar to the Freewind, the DR won't look as purdy, but then again it won't get as scratched & broken if you dump it on gravel.

I don't think there's much wrong with a KLE500, It's just that they never sold em in the 'States so you don't hear much about them. That one looks like quite good value considering the low kms.

Cheers
Clint

[chasio]

Thanks for your replies - a couple of PM's will follow after work!

[Garry.W]

I'd take a KLE over the Freewind any day.

Decide what you'll use the bike most for. If it's more commuting than anything else a twin is a good idea. The KLE will be good for longer trips away as well and still quite capable going adventuring. Brand new they we only about $8k until Kawaski stopped importing them here last year, parts are still widely available these models (in fact they have to be for another 7 years) and if you've found one that suits your budget, then that's a bonus.

Garry

[Crisis management]

I'm not going to suggest any particular bike but maybe a query as to the use you expect to put it to. If it's mostly sealed road and the odd gravel road then get a "roady" bike, if it's gravel, beaches and any farm tracks etc you can get to then look to an "off road" bike. Bear in mind that there is a teeny chance (yeah, right) that it will get biffed over a bank or down a gravel road fairly soon after you get your paws on it, so consider whether it is a bike that will wear its scars in public or will be repaired & repainted pronto.

Maybe that decision is a bit of a big ask at this stage of your adventure riding career so, if your not sure, get a cheap 250 "trail" type bike and thrash that around the place until you can decide.

[socialites]

Fair question - I thought the K7 had some useful improvements e.g. seat but as you can tell, I'm no expert. Yes I could go older but I'd prefer lowish mileage.

Plus it's that old question of screen & tank upgrades to get what the Freewind (I know very similar underneath) already has.

Hey Chasio, I will make you a screen no problem, come look at my DR and you will see I made the bash plate, the screen as well as the panier racks and they all look factory at a "sheds" price. I also did a mod to the rear tail light/mudgaurd that also looks factory. Go for the DR mate, you will not be sorry.

[buggsubique]

I just sold my DR-Z 400 and think I may actually end up getting another one if a big Africa Twin at the right price doesn't come along... They're f*cken good bikes.

[Waxxa]

As far as a Kawasaki choice is concerned, instead of the KLE500 what about the KLR650.

More off road orientented.

If most of your riding is going to be multi-day road touring have a look at the KLE650.

[NordieBoy]

Value for money (cheap) and good for shorties the KLE500 and XF650 win the road biased adventuring stakes.

[chasio]

As far as a Kawasaki choice is concerned, instead of the KLE500 what about the KLR650.

More off road orientented.

If most of your riding is going to be multi-day road touring have a look at the KLE650.

I'm more looking road biased. I hear the later KLR's can cut the mustard but I think I'd be out of budget on a later one. A 2007 just went in Welly for $6500 on TardMe, but still a bit steep for me.

If you'd sell me your Versys for $6k, I'd be very interested