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!

Ah well. Like I said, welcome to the site

[ducatilover]

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

[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