What to look for when buying a dual-purpose bike?

**Paladin** · 29th May 2009, 12:03

Originally Posted by Oscar

I got a road legal DRZ400 that I'd be interested in selling.

That doesn't sound like a commuter bike or a comfy 2 up ride Oscar!

**Taz** · 29th May 2009, 12:11

Commuter bike is a honda GL145, Comfy 2 up is a goldwing what's in the middle?? Transalp I suppose.

**Paladin** · 29th May 2009, 12:25

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Commuter bike is a honda GL145, Comfy 2 up is a goldwing what's in the middle?? Transalp I suppose.

DR650SE !!!!!!!

**Taz** · 29th May 2009, 13:22

Want's comfortable 2 up bike......

**Paladin** · 29th May 2009, 13:31

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Want's comfortable 2 up bike......

I was kidding! Hence the:

**NordieBoy** · 29th May 2009, 13:43

Originally Posted by HungusMaximist

Slighty put off by the white wheels, that I've never ridden a KLX650 and really don't have a clue what they're about.

Comes with both dirt and motard wheels and big front disc for motarding as well.

**Oscar** · 29th May 2009, 14:21

Originally Posted by Paladin

That doesn't sound like a commuter bike or a comfy 2 up ride Oscar!

They're feckin' great around town.
Dunno about the pillion though...

**HungusMaximist** · 29th May 2009, 14:28

If it's any help, I can meet with you and talk over the various possibilities or, if you have a bike in mind, am happy to look at it with you....am highly trained in the foibles of DRs and KTMs
You really should buy that KLX in dunedin or a KTM640 but not a KLR, it's just too embarassing

Hey I appreciate all your advice so far. I'll take your offer of meeting up and having a chat.

I probably won't go for a 250 just because they're all too expensive and haven't got enough balls for what I need. I would love a KTM somewhere down the line, but at this moment I am still at Uni so I don't have enough $.

My Budget is really within the 5k mark, I can push it to 6 k if it's a fantastic deal.

So far, with my budget in mind, the DR650 is the leading candidate. DRZ are real nice but it won't be so good for a small tour or long distances, plus all the ones I've seen are outta my budget.

There's a real nice yellow 04 DR650 on Trade Me, however it's in Dunedin.

Before going into DR's and dual purpose bikes, I also considered a ER6N and a ER5. Got suggested also a GS500.

**warewolf** · 29th May 2009, 22:33

Tenere... dunno what they're like two-up (seat looks large-ish), a well-regarded if slightly rarer DP bike, at least in this part of the world.
Yamaha XTZ660H Tenere 1996

Or a Dominator, I had a 1995 model, pillion still talks to me...
Honda NX650 Dominator 1990 (includes go-faster KiwiRider sticker) Looks real tidy, probably never seen dirt.

**cooneyr** · 30th May 2009, 09:50

Originally Posted by warewolf

Tenere... dunno what they're like two-up (seat looks large-ish), a well-regarded if slightly rarer DP bike, at least in this part of the world.
Yamaha XTZ660H Tenere 1996

Or a Dominator, I had a 1995 model, pillion still talks to me...
Honda NX650 Dominator 1990 (includes go-faster KiwiRider sticker) Looks real tidy, probably never seen dirt.

That dommi is very very clean maybe it goes with the moccasins slipper you can see in one of the pics

The XTZ660 looks very similar to the XTZ750 (super tenere) in layout - in fact the seat looks exactly the same. My wife and I have done a few kms thousand kms now on the XTZ750 and find it is not too bad. I've put an aftermarket shock in it though. Also we are not little people, I'm about 6'2" and over 100kgs so take up "a bit" of the seat space.

Cheers R

**Underground** · 30th May 2009, 10:11

Originally Posted by warewolf

Tenere... dunno what they're like two-up (seat looks large-ish), a well-regarded if slightly rarer DP bike, at least in this part of the world.
Yamaha XTZ660H Tenere 1996

I've ridden that XTZ ,belongs to my son in law .Its real mint ,rides like a brand new bike.
They are a very capable adv bike and should be fine 2 up
(hows that for a plug?)

**HungusMaximist** · 30th May 2009, 10:13

Originally Posted by warewolf

Tenere... dunno what they're like two-up (seat looks large-ish), a well-regarded if slightly rarer DP bike, at least in this part of the world.
Yamaha XTZ660H Tenere 1996

Or a Dominator, I had a 1995 model, pillion still talks to me...
Honda NX650 Dominator 1990 (includes go-faster KiwiRider sticker) Looks real tidy, probably never seen dirt.

I don't know if I can take a big beast like that aye!

Pretty sold on the DR!

**Transalper** · 30th May 2009, 10:56

DR 650 two up can be a bit cramped on overnighters. I'm 60kg, 5'10" and my partner is similar.
Transalp was comfortable two up touring.
DR is a bit more drop proof and easier to pick back up.
Think you already have a bit of an idea of what to expect.
Might just have to get one and ride it a bit so you have a starting point for comparisons so you know which way to go on the next purchase.
I went from a CRB1000F to a BMW F650GS to a Transalp XLV600 to a DR650.
They all have plus s and minus s depending on the focus of the ride on the day.