Help me spend $9000 (KLR650, DR650 or F650 Dakar...)

[bell]

Keen to hear some views/comparisons on the current crop of big singles: Kawasaki KLR650, the Suzuki DR650 and a 2000 model BMW F650 Dakar. I'm 6'3"/190cms and have a bony arse so a tall bike with a comfy seat is a must. I mainly do road miles but seek out gravel when I can! There's about $9000 to spend and that's what the Beemer is going for (done 21,000 kms, excellent condition including nearly $1000 worth of panniers/topbox.)

Anything else worth looking into? DL650 V Strom maybe? XR/XL 650 Honda?
Thanks, bell.

[Deviant Esq]

Welcome to KB bell!

'Fraid I can't offer you much help with your choice of bike... I could help spend some of your money though, if you like. All that money burning a hole... must be such a burden! :shutup:

Ah well. Like I said, welcome to the site :cool:

[ducatilover]

i would say a honda 650 twin [transalp?] or zuki dl650... nice engines:Punk:

[The_Dover]

The VStrom is a fuckin nice bike. I had one for a few days and they are great fun just a bit big for lane splitting down Dominion Rd.

[XTC]

I've got an XT and love it. Really needs a bigger tank tho. Lots of good low km XT's out there for cheap. My pick of the ones you've listed would be the KLR650. 23L tank as std and comfy seat. You'd probably get a new one for 9K. On 2nd thoughts get the beemer.

[bell]

Cheers for the welcome!
Yeah the V-Strom is plenty big enough, felt like it'd be good for more than a few hours in the saddle...unlike the DR or KLR. Do the VStrom go back a few years? Might pick up an 04 model for under 10k?

[Motu]

The KLR650 has been going unchanged for years,so it's pretty well sorted,and it's almost the only dualsport they get in the US,so there are heaps of extras made for them.The DR650 has been around awhile and is a solid machine too,the XT600 must be almost off the showroom floor,as I've seen a few XT660s out there,it's been around for a year overseas so should have the important bugs ironed out.Don't overlook the Transalp in that size range,it sits inbetween the big singles and the more street bikes like the DL650 WeeStrom,if you are doing road with a bit of gravel tossed in I'd go for a Transalp.

[bell]

There's a lot to be said for a decent sized tank I reckon. The 23L tank on the KLR would be great. 17L on the Beemer and a fairly pissy 13 on the DR I think...methinks it's nice to plan a trip without having to call ahead and see if the petrol stations on your route will be open when you're passing through.
Right about the Transalp Motu, but there's not many 4 sale round the country at the moment from what I can see.
I'vre been doing my homework on the Dakar. Early models had a few bugs with their stalling/surging but I think that can be reasonably easily fixed with an update from the techs when they do a service.

[What?]

Of the 3 you have listed, I would go for the BMW (NOT just coz I own one). It has by far the best road manners, and still as capable as the others in gravel. Possible downside is that everything on it is electronic... The BM will go 300Km to "reserve", then you still have 4 litres left, which should get you another 90Km before you have to push it. The stalling/surging problems you mentioned, if it suffered them, should have been fixed by now, assuming it has been serviced as per schedule.
The Kwak would be 2nd pick, but the DR wouldn't even make the list for me - too agricultural in this day and age and a limited touring range.
New price on the Kwak is 9 grand + on roads.

[rogson]

Good bike for a tall rider and has a very comfy seat is the Honda XR650L (i.e. the one with the air-cooled motor). Also, IMO has better dirt-bike feel than KLX, DR and BMW.

[myvice]

The KTM is a bit of fun too, the bemer feels heavy for what it is...
Sorry, no help from me!

[bell]

Hey thanks for all the input folks. Lots of useful stuff to keep in mind. Electronics and fuel injection on the F650 do make me wary compared to something with carbs. Any estimate on range out of that 23L tank on the KLR at 100-110km/h?

[XTC]

Hey thanks for all the input folks. Lots of useful stuff to keep in mind. Electronics and fuel injection on the F650 do make me wary compared to something with carbs. Any estimate on range out of that 23L tank on the KLR at 100-110km/h?

I've got 15L main tank and an auxilary tank that holds 8 litres I can go 340-350kms before reserve (2litres) so thats 340-350 on 21 litres and the XT's are thirstier than the KLR. some have said they have had 500kms out of the KLR tank....

[Oscar]

Some nice choices there:

The Honda XLV650 is prolly the best all round long distance adventure bike.
The Dr650 is very competent anywhere and you should be able to get a brand new one for that money.
The Dakar is the best road bike, but is easily the worst off road and has is just, well - not up to the standard of it's bigger GS siblings.
I like my LC4, but I'm the first to admit it's no road bike.

[Adamski]

Yea XR650 R or L or 600 :spudguita


You could chuck a new tank on the bike of your preference, I put a 21l Ascerbis on my 96 XR600 and was able to do 300-500kms desert/ road riding on a filling.

All depends what kinda riding you'll mainly do

[Transalper]

I had a 2000 F650GS for 3.5years and hated the way BMW had made maintaining the thing so complicated and costly compared to my previous bikes (mostly Hondas). The GS has a 19" front wheel which I found not so good in shingle when compared to 21" wheels. (The F650-Dakar has a 21", wish i had tryed a Dakar).
Now days i ride a 1996 Honda Transalp and I reckon it does better as an all rounder than the F650. I have more fun in the shingle now and my occasional pillion says she now fells more comfortable too. The Transalps much smoother and feels like it has more room. I have put Givi luggage and crash-bars on it and reinforced the bash plate as the stock one is only plastic.
The DL650 V Strom caught my eye too as I believe it has better power but I was put off by the Mag wheels (not rock friendly) and another 19" front wheel and has no stock bash plate to protect that low hanging oil cooler.
Before i bought the F650 i almost bought a DR650 but decided i would miss the on road comfort too much as i still do more sealed road milage than dirt when touring.

[Oscar]

I had a 2000 F650GS for 3.5years and hated the way BMW had made maintaining the thing so complicated and costly compared to my previous bikes (mostly Hondas). The GS has a 19" front wheel which I found not so good in shingle when compared to 21" wheels. (The F650-Dakar has a 21", wish i had tryed a Dakar).
Now days i ride a 1996 Honda Transalp and I reckon it does better as an all rounder than the F650. I have more fun in the shingle now and my occasional pillion says she now fells more comfortable too. The Transalps much smoother and feels like it has more room. I have put Givi luggage and crash-bars on it and reinforced the bash plate as the stock one is only plastic.
The DL650 V Strom caught my eye too as I believe it has better power but I was put off by the Mag wheels (not rock friendly) and another 19" front wheel and has no stock bash plate to protect that low hanging oil cooler.
Before i bought the F650 i almost bought a DR650 but decided i would miss the on road comfort too much as i still do more sealed road milage than dirt when touring.

I've owned a F650Dakar and agree wholeheartedly.
I also rode a Transalp recently and I think that it is the best all round adventure middle weight. The Wee Strom is not really a full on adventure bike like the Honda...

[XTC]

Yea XR650 R or L or 600 :spudguita


You could chuck a new tank on the bike of your preference, I put a 21l Ascerbis on my 96 XR600 and was able to do 300-500kms desert/ road riding on a filling.

All depends what kinda riding you'll mainly do
Got a pic of your 2007 XR400?

[clint640]

The Kwaka KLE500 might be another option, they're selling them new even cheaper than a KLR.

Cheers
Clint

[sels1]

Welcome aboard the site.
I guess the best answer is to try them out and see what you feel happiest on. I have the early F650 and found it a very comfortable road bike that was quite usefull offroad, but not as good a dirt bike as my XT. The Daker is a good bike, probably the better all - rounder. the GS version is more road oriantated - better 2 up etc but depends on your useage. The V Strom I test rode once was surprisingly more fun than it looked - more so than the TransAlp which was competent if a little bland. The SuzDR and the kwacka are better trailbikes, but harder on your butt on the road.
Have fun trying them out (they are all basically good bikes) and choose the one that fits you best.

[FlangMasterJ]

A KTM LC4 would be the ducks nuts.

[warewolf]

For mainly road use, sealed and gravel, I would suggest the so-called softer road-focused options like the Tranny, Wee-Strom or F650 rather than the more trail oriented models like the XRL/DR/KLR/XT. My KTM 640 Adventure is an absolute weapon in the rough, but comparatively uncomfortable on the motorway...but its the compromise I wanted. The Honda NX650 Dominator was probably a better all-round bike for formed roads, particularly with an Ohlins shock.

Ride 'em all, buy the one that tickles your fancy. If it turns out to be not what you want, it's easy enough to buy a different one. You'll be wiser next time and have a clearer idea of what you desire - and that may change over time.

Big tanks are over-rated. The 640 Adventure has 25+ litres which can do over 580km at steady legal highway cruise. The issue is that due to typically varying throttle loads you don't know if it has 10L or 20L left, and the reserve warning is only 2.5L (1L less than the book suggests). When full, it is unnecessarily heavy at the front, so I try to keep the fuel load to a minimum, rarely full fills but rather top-ups to cover each trip. After several trips, you have no idea how much fuel is in there! I've heard big tanks on air-head boxers can be prone to petrol tsunamis which don't help the handling; I've not noticed this on the KTM, just that it's HEAVY when full, and the suspension settings could do with being changed between full and nearly empty.

I've never found reason in NZ to need more than about 250-ish km range. (I'm sure it is there somewhere, just that I haven't experienced it... yet.) There's no point in being a supertanker when your riding mates have to stop every 180km!! Although it is useful when the ride leader cocks up the fuel stops and you have to keep two or three bikes running to the next servo...:niceone:

An alternative is an auxiliary tail-mounted tank for those occasional longer trips. Plenty of Aussie manufacturers. Can be ported from bike to bike, unlike a large primary tank which is bike model (and worse, model year) specific and exhibits the drawbacks listed above. They also splay your knees somewhat more noticably - not very lady-like! :innocent:

Re: carbs vs the electrickery on the F650; the latter returns (reportedly) amazing fuel economy which you should factor in to your costings, particularly if you do big miles.

Hope this helps.

[csanson]

There is a review in the latest Kiwi Rider of the 2006 Husqvarna TE610. It has a 12L tank, however the review reckons the suspension is now too biased towards offroad usage. I used to own a Honda NX650 Dominator and nothing since has surpassed it - although my current XR650R is suprisingly good on road. (If it had a bigger tank, electric start and pillion pegs it would be almost perfect). The Kawasaki KLE500 is rather heavy at 180kg. There is a continium from the XR650R , TTR600, DR650, KLR650, Transalp, BMW 650, KLE650, to the V Strom. My ideal dual purpose bike would weight no more than 150kg, have a 15L tank, be a 600-650 single or twin, have a 21 inch front wheel, electric start, skid plate, a minimal fairing, pillion pegs and be a reasonably modern design.

[Oscar]

My ideal dual purpose bike would weight no more than 150kg, have a 15L tank, be a 600-650 single or twin, have a 21 inch front wheel, electric start, skid plate, a minimal fairing, pillion pegs and be a reasonably modern design.

KTM LC4E (sans fairing).

[clint640]

KTM LC4E (sans fairing).

Amen Brother! ...add a lil windscreen & the lack of fairing ceases to be a problem.

csanson's dirt to road continuum is a good guide. The LC4E sits in between the TTR600 & the DR650, & the XT600 level pegs with the DR I reckon.

I dunno why Honda dont make an E-start Adv version of the 650R, It's a great motor. If KTM can sell about 7 different LC4 variants y'd think that Honda could do an XR650SMR & XR650ADVR at the very least.

Cheers
Clint

[carver]

i have just brought the KLR, for the reasons:
comfortable seat (beats the DR by miles)
23l tank!
water cooled engine
more power than its simialrly priced rivals
cheap enough and tough enough to drop a few times
the US Army's choice of bike
virtually unchanged in 15-20 years (cheap spares, proven tech)

to make a better dirt bike just change your gearing and put some decent knob's on it, here in the waikato i prefer soft terrain knobs, cause of the topsoil and clay here, but they wear fast.

hope its of some help

carver:first:

[clint640]

Cool. If you haven't found it already advrider.com has heaps of info on the KLR's in the Thumpers section.

I'm organising a ride in July that will suit a KLR pretty well:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=592614#post592614

Cheers
Clint

[slob]

...although my current XR650R is suprisingly good on road. (If it had a bigger tank, electric start and pillion pegs it would be almost perfect)...My ideal dual purpose bike would weight no more than 150kg, have a 15L tank, be a 600-650 single or twin, have a 21 inch front wheel, electric start, skid plate, a minimal fairing, pillion pegs and be a reasonably modern design.

I'd second the XR650R - if you value performance over convenience. Unlike the BMW, you could do some proper off-roading with it. European bikes of equivalent performance to the XR would cost much more.

On the other hand, the KLR650 would be a good compromise - it sits smack bang in the middle of the road-offroad spectrum.

[Adamski]

XR650R setup w/road legal? I know the L does so I guess not hard to convert the R.

The performance in the dirt (I remember my XR600s) combined with an ability to do 600kms in a day and take it does it for me :blah:

Still if road was your main go you could do a lot more with comfort on the BMW. The XR type bike seats and vibration get a bit tiring after 2-300km. Sore butt and arms may develop:sick:

I'm still hoping on that XR400 ... :wait: