Where do you begin

[raftn]

I have done ALL my riding on the road, brough up in the city so never even been on dirt or gravel (intentionally). I want to get into some more adventoureous roads, mainly tackle gravel and some tracks, so I can see a few more out of the way places on a bike.

I dont intend to sell my Sprint, just looking for a good second hand bike that would full the above criteria. Budget say 6500-7500. Any sugestions. If I dont enjoy it then I will flick it off with out to much of a loss. It needs to carry a bit of luggage etc.

Secondly where is a good place to start riding. Tip of Coro pennisual? Riverhead....or just find a goat track some where.

e

[Oscar]

Dr650
KLR650 (If'n you want all yer mates to call you a cheap cahnt).
Wee Strom
640e LC4 (if you can stand the vibes)

[buggsubique]

Mate, you'll get swamped with opinions on "which bike", so perhpas in anticipation of that, have a think about what your "Adventures" will entail - ie long road hauls to get to long gravel roads, or shorter distances and perhaps more trail biased riding.

Have a think about how comfortable you want to be on the road vs how adenturous you will be off road (or if you will even go off road). There is no perfect adventure bike, but a good handful that do most things pretty well.

Hope you enjoy it!

[pete-blen]

I sort of had that delema a while back... I desided to get
back into bikes after a very long lay off... but as with you
what to get , what do I want to do with it..so after a lot
of looking, changeing my mined with just about every bike
I looked at... Road or duel perpose ?...
any way I got a 05 XR250.. not a big $ out lay..a good buy to see
IF i did want a bike or if just wanted to try to be young again...
I like it... so I will keep it... add a BMW F650 sometime...

So just buy something cheap.. to see if thats what yer after
to start with...

[Gremlin]

I went down that route a bit differently, staying with one bike, seeking the "do-it-all" bike, as I do a lot of long distance, and don't have the luxury of choosing the bike before the route, based on where I would go.

If you're wanting to start experimenting, I'd start with something small, like a 250 as they should be cheap and cheerful, easier to pick up as well, if you think you might drop it. If you like it, get something bigger, like a 650, and so on, but why spend the whole budget of 6-7k on the first bike?

Just another way of thinking... Play on some gravel roads first and as you pick up the necessary skills, start playing on trails etc, and find out what you like. Those that do trail type stuff rarely have something as large as 650s, as they're harder to handle...

[Maha]

What about something like this Rogee?..http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-407741940.htm

[Eddieb]

For where to ride, check out Suzieq's Auckland Gravel Riders club. There's a thread in where somewhere or they are on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Akd-Gravel-Adventure-Riders-Club/157663480965972

[Team Buffoon]

I like you had no off road experience bar a couple of classic trials on a 250 Monty. Had a 950 Adv but not the skills or balls to take it off road. I bought an 04 DR650 and had so much fun on two trips I have decided to upgrade to a newer one and sell it and the KTM. It is I think an 04 with just over 40k km. Bog standard apart from a bash plate. I will be selling it when I get back to NZ in about 10 days, asking about $4k. I am in Auckland. PM if you want some photos or more info.

[pete376403]

Team Buffoons DR offer is really good, but liike Buggs suggests, consider how far you need to go to get to the sort of riding you want. DR seats ( aka the vinyl crucifix) are less than sympathetic to long journeys. This is the main reason DRs have smallish gas tanks as standard.

KLR seats (especially the +08 models) are much better, as evidenced by the 23 litre gas tank. :yes:.

[Shewolf]

Hi raftn, welcome to the darkside...adventure riding is highly addictive, luckily you've come to the right place, therapy is useless...no possibility of rehab I'm afraid but you'll find lots of riding buddies here abouts.

As Eddie mentioned check out the Akd Gravel facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Akd-Gravel-Adventure-Riders-Club/157663480965972) - we have lots of events on and all have a learner component to get newer gravel riders up to speed. Next saturday I'm doing a Gravel 101 out Tuakau way which will focus on drills and techniques for gravel road riding and then we'll do some nice gravel in the area.

I've a spare 250 dual purpose bike on loan to any clubbies wanting to give it a go - just pm me for details.

Riverhead and up towards Puhoi is excellent training ground if you're North-side.

I did the ProRider (http://www.prorider.co.nz/motorcycle-training-courses.php?course=16) Adventure day 1 course yesterday and it's highly recommended for new to gravel or to hone skills if you've been riding a while. The gravel is a step up from country gravel road riding - but personally I liked the extra toughness.

There was a Triumph Tiger there with knobs on - it ate everything for breakfast and just sounded fricken awesome! :Punk:

[raftn]

Lots of awesome advice there for me, I dont thin k I want to do hardcor trail riding , more tarmac/gravel/.....and happy to travel the tarmac to get to the gravel!

Let the fun begin....

[banditrider]

Lots of awesome advice there for me, I dont thin k I want to do hardcor trail riding , more tarmac/gravel/.....and happy to travel the tarmac to get to the gravel!

Let the fun begin....

I think you're after a DL Roger...

[Padmei]

Lots of awesome advice there for me, I dont thin k I want to do hardcor trail riding , more tarmac/gravel/.....and happy to travel the tarmac to get to the gravel!

Let the fun begin....

The problem may be that you'll get bitten with the adv bike bug & a bike moderately good on gravel will have it's limitations. After a while you will probably want something not so much hardcore but more adaptable than a weestrom or similar.
There is always a compromise but you can't really go wrong with a DR/ KLR650 that will do what you want to do relatively cheaply.
I had a KLR that was really nice on the road as well as pretty competent off road.
i'd suggest you go for a ride with some other adv riders & try their bikes out - one will 'fit'.

[chasio]

Hi raftn, welcome to the darkside...adventure riding is highly addictive, luckily you've come to the right place, therapy is useless...no possibility of rehab I'm afraid but you'll find lots of riding buddies here abouts.

As Eddie mentioned check out the Akd Gravel facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Akd-Gravel-Adventure-Riders-Club/157663480965972) - we have lots of events on and all have a learner component to get newer gravel riders up to speed. Next saturday I'm doing a Gravel 101 out Tuakau way which will focus on drills and techniques for gravel road riding and then we'll do some nice gravel in the area.

I've a spare 250 dual purpose bike on loan to any clubbies wanting to give it a go - just pm me for details.

Riverhead and up towards Puhoi is excellent training ground if you're North-side.

I did the ProRider (http://www.prorider.co.nz/motorcycle-training-courses.php?course=16) Adventure day 1 course yesterday and it's highly recommended for new to gravel or to hone skills if you've been riding a while. The gravel is a step up from country gravel road riding - but personally I liked the extra toughness.

There was a Triumph Tiger there with knobs on - it ate everything for breakfast and just sounded fricken awesome! :Punk:

I was planning to do the 4th December course up Auckland way, so am pleased to hear your positive feedback. Could be good timing for the OP, as well.

Ooh PS - a cheapish DR with a seat upgrade might be perfect! I appreciate the comfort of my Freewind, but sometimes wonder if I might have been better with a DR.