What bike to buy?

[junkmanjoe]

I'm starting to think DR650 more and more now . i just missed out on one yesterday on TM for 4995 but they're popping up regularly. In the mean time i need to get rid of the freewind so i've put it on TM.
i have been going cross eyed looking at bikes and checking out reviews but the DR comes up trumps for most of the applications i would subject it to. will definitely be putting some new fruit on it when i get one if it's not already been pimped .what would be thefirst things to look at ?......i suppose protection and safety wise first ....then performance

i know of a XT 660 up for sale.. hes a kiwibiker chap.

JMJ

[irsh]

ha ha i knew a fight would break out at some stage ...keep it clean boys !!
the klr's are a nice bike but i want something with a little less plastic to break off.

dino3310 i have that xt 600 on my watch list alright but for the same money i'd probably opt for a DR650.

junkmanjoe How much is that xt660 going for and what year is it . i had a 96 xtz tenere660 a few years back . it was a nice big thumper but i kept having to put the plastics back together every time i came off .oh and the exhaust cracked and made it sound like a black hawk helicopter. i like the newer models though

[irsh]

i've been looking into the XT600E a bit more and they seem to have decent reviews . there's a couple of post 2000 models on trademe at the moment for the right money . how do they fair against the DR650 . the cc rating is perfect as it keeps it below the 600 mark to avoid being shagged by ACC

[dino3310]

i'll always rate the DR as a better bike but i am very bias

but there must be some good reasoning why the bike hire places use the xt600
you'l see the odd one still ticking over at 150k

[Woodman]

i've been looking into the XT600E a bit more and they seem to have decent reviews . there's a couple of post 2000 models on trademe at the moment for the right money . how do they fair against the DR650 . the cc rating is perfect as it keeps it below the 600 mark to avoid being shagged by ACC

Ask thepom (kenny) about them. He had a minter , well in the morning anyway.

[bishxt]

i've been looking into the XT600E a bit more and they seem to have decent reviews . there's a couple of post 2000 models on trademe at the moment for the right money . how do they fair against the DR650 . the cc rating is perfect as it keeps it below the 600 mark to avoid being shagged by ACC.

Having had my 02 XT600E for 8 years prior to it pegging out on the DB1k, I'd certainly rate it as a good bike does everything, goes most places and very prang proof (can testify to that after many trail-riding offs!). But after having had a DR for a month I'd agree with dino, other than the reliability which I've yet to find out It goes, stops and wheelies better and is generally an easier less lardy beast on the trails. Also the farkling bits seem much easier to come by in NZ than those for the XT....

[irsh]

hi guys , well I've still not managed to secure a bike and one of the reasons being nobody's been showing an interest in mine untill the other day . A guy is interested in doing a swap for the freewind with a 2001 DR650 and i'm pretty keen to accept the offer and the values seem about right. the one thing that has me concerned is the ks .they're up to 44k but by the look of the pics and the word of the owner it seems to have been well looked after and serviced regularly . in your opinion(s) would the high ks be anything to worry about with the DR engine or is there anything in particular to look out for aprt from the usual stuff...the guy is a mature man in his 60s and says he's only ever used it on the seal and a few gravel roads and he's had it since 10k . the bike comes with ,bash plate ,heated grips, comfy seat,bark busters etc and good rubber ....oh and wof and reg.
like i said i'm pretty keen but fools rush in as they say.

[NordieBoy]

Check to see if there is a small sticky-outy bit with a rivet in it on the base gasket under the cam-chain tensioner. If there isn't then the base gasket will need doing at some stage.

Apart from seeing if there is a whine in 3rd (my '01 didn't) there's not really much to look for.

[dino3310]

like i said i'm pretty keen but fools rush in as they say.

i know all about that


see if you can swap for a day so you can get her into ya garage, strip her and go over her with a fine tooth comb.
never any garranties with second hand mate, sounds alright though.