Hyperspace,what bike for adventure trails, tracks, gravel and tarmac [Archive]

navek

1st February 2010, 08:20

Hi All knowledgable bike types
Having recently upskilled to novice in trail riding skills in last 11 months from ziltch to able to get there, finally got bike suited to my personailty/skills KTM 400, (great bike)for weekend trails but now wish for more 'Adventure' type bike for comfort over longer and longer km's on road and gravel but still capable in trails. Most importantly short legs make this challenging. My list BMW 650 GS great seat height lovely on road, bad small front wheel low ground clearance, KTM 690 too tall, KTM 990 too big & tall?, Yamaha Tenere very tall, need about 880cm seat height for ease of road use ie stop and not fall off. Value any ideas experiences and suggestions. Have sat on BMW F 800 GS and manageable height but weight? I am 5'5" 70 kgs but very happy with it! But in the older age g:mellow::blank:roup!

Crisis management

1st February 2010, 08:34

Welcome to the world of compromise.
If you are just starting off in adventure riding I would suggest something cheap & cheerful like the DR650 or KLR650 you can crash & thrash until you figure out whether it is something more road or off road capable.

Otherwise, out of that list it's the 690 and as long as you can get one foot down you will be fine. If you are riding the 400EXC happily at trail level (it's heavy trail bike) you won't have a problem with the 690.

Good luck....(try refining your thinking on exactly where you expect to take this adventure bike)

NordieBoy

1st February 2010, 08:48

Sounds like a lowered DR650 may be ideal.

navek

1st February 2010, 08:50

Thanks for the quick start. Been on recent organised adv rides with Mike Britton, found the long road/gravel sections tiresome on the 400, and hope to do longer adventure K's later. Looking at the KLR.

marty

1st February 2010, 08:53

Hypermotard 1100 with all-terrain tyres?

Crisis management

1st February 2010, 08:59

navek

1st February 2010, 08:59

Will google that, a bit out there?

navek

1st February 2010, 09:02

Will look at that, Thanks

navek

1st February 2010, 09:07

I set out to be able to ride rural any place, anytime, love the backblocks but need the challenging in roads through farm, bush and forest tracks. Also maybe any country? I have lots to do, wife willing!

dino3310

1st February 2010, 10:12

this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-268975312.htm or http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-268090854.htm i would say an XR 600/650 or KTM525 would be awesome but the seat is very high

veny

1st February 2010, 17:34

It doesn't look like this one sold.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=265753037

Add some crash bars & lowering links and it might just be your ride.

I'm an aging gent like yourself and have no regrets getting one.
The bigger and heavier the bike, the less risks you take, IMO.

thepom

1st February 2010, 18:00

I,m with Nordieboy...klr has too much plastic to break....and of course the doohickey....lowered suzi dr would be ideal...

george formby

1st February 2010, 18:33

My formative years on bikes were aboard 2 smoke 125's & 250's. I used to ride mile's on & off road & never found the bikes lacking. Nowadays all that is really available is the DT 230, low seat height, soft suspension but a great tractable motor. If you are not looking to leap off big jumps it could be worth considering. Quick on the road & very manageable off road. The downside is they are as rare as hen's teeth.

veny

1st February 2010, 18:55

I,m with Nordieboy...klr has too much plastic to break....and of course the doohickey....lowered suzi dr would be ideal...

$450 motech crashbars for plastic.
Doohickey fixed on 08 and later. Perhaps replace the spring at a later date.
http://www.topgunmotorcycles.com/2008klr/08_klr_page3.html

NordieBoy

1st February 2010, 19:01

A lowered DR feels like a 250 until you pick it up out of the mud.

I'd try to have a go on a KLR and a normal and lowered DR.

Woodman

1st February 2010, 20:29

Dr or KLR, both need a bit of farkling but are basically bulletproof.

navek

1st February 2010, 20:45

Hi Veny
Just had a look very tidy, a serious contender. Risks? its all risk but great fun!
Thanks

navek

1st February 2010, 20:55

Great site on the KLR, thanks Veny.

pete376403

1st February 2010, 22:12

I,m with Nordieboy...klr has too much plastic to break....and of course the doohickey....lowered suzi dr would be ideal...

Fightin' talk, boyo - I'll see you a doohickey and raise you a third gear. (And you can change the doo without splitting the cases )

Gizzit

2nd February 2010, 19:08

Hi there,
Like Nordieboy, thePom, and others have suggested, .... I would also say take a good look at a Suzuki DR650. They are bullet proof, and lowered, would most likely suit you well as an adventure bike. At 5'5" it is harder to find a suitable 'adventure' bike to comfortably ride - or balance easily, when coming to a stop. The DR650 is not heavy, and you can lower them about 40cm with suspension adjustments front and rear. You can also get a lower seat if needed.
IMHO, especially for the money .... they are very hard to beat !!

BUT , ...... the only way to decide ...... is try different bikes, to see what is right for YOU !! We all have our favourites :)

Good luck :niceone:

marks

2nd February 2010, 20:07

Fightin' talk, boyo - I'll see you a doohickey and raise you a third gear. (And you can change the doo without splitting the cases )

actually - you dont normally have to split the cases on a DR when 3rd goes - it nearly always splits the cases itself

Given your weight and height I would go the DR route - the KLR is a tall heavy mofo off road

pity the DR is so damn bland

warewolf

2nd February 2010, 20:20

pity the DR is so damn blandpot. kettle. black.

Eddieb

2nd February 2010, 20:33

Given your weight and height I would go the DR route - the KLR is a tall heavy mofo off road

pity the DR is so damn bland

From the KLR thread

I don't think I've ever ridden anything that feels as strangled and stodgy as a dead stock klr... (stock DR is better IMO - but not by much)

marks

2nd February 2010, 20:45

pot. kettle. black.

From the KLR thread

Blandness has nothing to do with capability or performance - only character - and the KLR has character/personality while the DR has none

I would enjoy riding the KLR around the country but I wouldnt take it anywhere knarly whereas the DR could be ridden around the country and be taken somewhere knarly - I just wouldnt look forward to doing either on it.

Padmei

2nd February 2010, 20:52

A lowered DR feels like a 250 until you pick it up out of the mud.

I'd try to have a go on a KLR and a normal and lowered DR.

Agree with Nordie here. If you want a faired bike great on the road the KLR is great. If you want a trail type bike go the DR.

NordieBoy

2nd February 2010, 21:37

pot. kettle. black.

With green highlites :D

Woodman

2nd February 2010, 21:39

Its been ages since we had a dr vs klr stoush.

marks

2nd February 2010, 21:51

Its been ages since we had a dr vs klr stoush.

its because we are comfortable in our superiority

and the noisy DR riders sold their gaymobiles and brought cruisers

zeRax

3rd February 2010, 06:17

im 5"5 65kg

:P

2008 DR650, FCR39mm carb and gsxr1000 exhaust, plastic ims tank, bash plate and handguards, love it every time i ride

all i want for my bday is a quick remove screen for long highway stretches.

i go trail riding on the dr650, and i dont think its in its lowered position, i will cut an inch out of the seat before i lower it, dont want to lose ground clearance, just gotta get round to cutting up the seat :o, slightly tall, but still comfortable, just when it gets gnarly in rivers and stuff theres no hope of putting a foot down, just have to open the throttle :XXXXXX gets pretty exciting !

bout ur best bet imo, its heavy to pick up, but not as heavy as a klr ! :P and not as tall etc as ktms, and its cheap, and really really good ;x

i had my klx400r with lowering links, normally quite tall bike, was very very comfortable on that, but road is alot more comfortable on the dr650 :X

navek

16th February 2010, 07:20

Hi reRax
Will look at DR, thanks

merv

16th February 2010, 12:23

Hi there,
The DR650 is not heavy, and you can lower them about 40cm with suspension adjustments front and rear!!

mm brother mm, cm are a bit bigger.

Gizzit

17th February 2010, 05:41

mm brother mm, cm are a bit bigger.

Quite right Merv ..... a slip of the finger ..... 40cm is exagerating things a smidgen !!! 40mm is the right number !! :D

navek

6th March 2010, 21:30

Padmei

7th March 2010, 07:14

Nice choice Navek. They look hot & nice engine. Let us know how you find the seat. We were talking about them yesterday & that seemed to be the only bad thing about them.

cave weta

7th March 2010, 08:12

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the input and have now bit the bullet, have F800 GS. Reasons, low seat height, 21 " front wheel, good ground clearance, relative low weight and low vibrations, good range of accessories. Just have to explore back blocks BOP/Waikato, etc any riders from Tauranga?:calm::calm::calm:

Hey Navek- Im in Waihi- I run an adventure enduro tour business.
Ive just bought myself a BMW F650 and Im keen for some gravelly backroad action!
Ive also got places that I can take you up here that will put hair on your chest if you are keen?

Handy Hint for the day: when you are replying to a person on here- hit the 'reply with quote' button that will embed what you are refering to into your post- then it will make more sense for others who come in later to read it.

dino3310

7th March 2010, 09:42

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the input and have now bit the bullet, have F800 GS. Reasons, low seat height, 21 " front wheel, good ground clearance, relative low weight and low vibrations, good range of accessories. Just have to explore back blocks BOP/Waikato, etc any riders from Tauranga?:calm::calm::calm:
well im from there i just dont live there,
nice bike mate real nice:yes:

Ive also got places that I can take you up here that will put hair on your chest if you are keen?

Handy Hint for the day: when you are replying to a person on here- hit the 'reply with quote' button that will embed what you are refering to into your post- then it will make more sense for others who come in later to read it. or even multi quote.
Hey CW is it still posible to do thompsons all the way over, did it in my teens but havent been up there for 20 odd yrs, when my pigs running again i wanna head over the track, do some visiting then back over again

cave weta

7th March 2010, 09:54

Hey CW is it still posible to do thompsons all the way over, did it in my teens but havent been up there for 20 odd yrs, when my pigs running again i wanna head over the track, do some visiting then back over again

If I was gonna do it I would do it right now! the weather is perfect- no rain in the last 3 weeks. Take a minimum of 3 riders.

dino3310

7th March 2010, 10:29

would love to do it now. 3 riders shite is the eastern side still rough as gutts :woohoo:
it use to be an adventure trying to guess who was who under all the mud, hard work but shit loads of fun:Punk:

cave weta

7th March 2010, 10:32

dino3310

7th March 2010, 10:40

saweeeeet :woohoo:

junkmanjoe

7th March 2010, 12:03

9fiddy country dino mate......................

JMJ

dino3310

7th March 2010, 12:14

Not really mate, we use to hit it with XR500s etc in the 80s.
eddie had his one up there on the western side, i wouldnt touch it after rain, piss on it and you'l bog down to your tank:lol:, not sure about the eastern side but what i get from CW it would be pretty knarly, but hey its ADV, worth a shot.

Waihou Thumper

7th March 2010, 12:40

Don't even try the Eastern side unless you are on a AG bike, that would be the perfect bike for that! I hear there is a jeep still there buried up to the windows! There are puddles there that would swallow a whole 990A! Never to be seen again...:)

Gizzit

7th March 2010, 13:43

navek

10th March 2010, 06:53

Hey Navek- Im in Waihi- I run an adventure enduro tour business.
Ive just bought myself a BMW F650 and Im keen for some gravelly backroad action!
Ive also got places that I can take you up here that will put hair on your chest if you are keen?

Handy Hint for the day: when you are replying to a person on here- hit the 'reply with quote' button that will embed what you are refering to into your post- then it will make more sense for others who come in later to read it.

Great Cave Weta, can we meet up sometime for coffee. Keen as mustard for a ride. I went out for a short ride on Sunday but it was such a great day ended up going up over the forgotten highway to Whangamonoma, got my passport then back to Tauranga via New plymouth. Had a great ride.

Don't know the protocol here can we exchange contact details??

navek

10th March 2010, 06:57

Nice choice Navek. They look hot & nice engine. Let us know how you find the seat. We were talking about them yesterday & that seemed to be the only bad thing about them.

Spent all day on Sunday Tauranga Whangamonoma New Plymouth home Tauranga about 650Km seat was great, big fat region just back from the lowest part of the seat if you wish for better bum padding, but for short arms you have to stretch a little but not uncomfortable. Its a great bike, but still to test on more knarly roads.

warewolf

11th March 2010, 07:02

Don't know the protocol here can we exchange contact details??Absolutely, but do it via Private Message (click the username for a menu). You don't want your personal information on the public forum where it'll be visible to everyone on the internet, and sucked up by search engines to be stored forever.

You can also fill in your private info on your profile, then add someone to your friends/contacts list. Only those people can see that information - and makes it an easy way to share your current info with all your contacts at once.