KLR650, XT600, DR650, F650 etc wellywood

[Henk]

We've got a TTR600 and DR650. TTR has better suspension but no electric start and fuel range on the stock tank sucks. The DR has nicer motor and gearbox but is not as good off road. All these bikes are a compromise, figure out where you fit in the spectrum or better yet take a punt and figure out which way you need to move in a year or so, you'll have fun no matter what you opt for.

[merv]

Bartman10 if you are interested Mrs merv's DR appears in the pics on this thread http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=23838 because being a newbies ride I thought we wouldn't need too much speed and its nice kinda sitting upright when we do those sort of rides. This will give you an idea of what the DR looks like in lowered form. It handles well. Suspension is quite soft - kinda plush.

Two up I should really screw the back preload up but its such a bugger to change I leave it alone. Only problem then is in lowered form with the weight of two of us on it, it runs the chain quite often against the top roller and with that spinning it sprays chain grease everywhere. Just as well Mrs merv has a good bike cleaner on tap and he likes doing a good job http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=23078.

[Oscar]

I currently own an LC4E, but have owned an F650GSD.
I've also ridden the DR650 extensively.

The BMW is a modified road bike, completely unsuitable for anything more than very easy off-road.

Out of the bikes you mentioned, I'd buy the DR.
Others worthly of consideration would be a road kitted DRZ400, a XR650L or Transalp...

[sels1]

Interesting thread. I had an XT400 which was a lot of fun but a bit underpowered on the road. I then had an F650 which was fine on the road but cumbersome off road - tho ok on gravel roads and easy trails. Currently running a Tiger for mainly road use with some gravel backroads thrown in. But I am considering getting another trailbike and looking at the XT and DR as likely options. There seems to be a lack of these on the market at a reasonable price.

["D" FZ1]

We are not very close but we have a XT660X Demo in the shop now. Have sold a few and the guys love them.

[Ruralman]

I get 16km/L = 160km to reserve and 208km in total from the 13L tank. 16km/L is very consistant, it doesn't seem to matter how I ride it, except for long periods of open road at over 120kph when it drops to 14km/L.

I used to get around 17.5km/L when it was brand new which = 227.5 km per tank. But brand new they're set up too lean and was causing problems, once that was sorted the range dropped a bit. When I get around to fitting a bigger tank, I'll fit the dynojet kit and new airfilter, which will increase the fuel consumption some more, hence the bigger tank needed. But think of the power makes a big difference apparently.

I'm a bit surprised how much fuel you say the DR uses. Are any other DR riders getting about the same and what do the XT600 riders get? Obviously depends on the right wrist a bit.
One of the posts also suggests a DRZ 400 with the road legal bits - these would be a great dual sport bike, especially if you could get a spare set of rims for serious knobbies for proper trail rides (you'd have to trailer it there). Options worth adding would be a comfort seat and a larger tank. They're dearer than the DR650 new but they go really well and would be better on tight stuff. Have no idea what their fuel consumption would be like on the road as anyone I know with one has the off road model. They weigh in the low 120's kg before fuel.

[chris]

One of the posts also suggests a DRZ 400 with the road legal bits -.

Why not. They don't have the top end cruising of the 650 but are OK otherwise.

spare set of rims for serious knobbies for proper trail rides (you'd have to trailer it there).

. Trailer it there??!! It's a five minute job to whip of the mirrors and pack rack if fitted.

They weigh in the low 120's kg before fuel.

141KG brimmed.

[merv]

I'm sure our DR650 does easily over 20km/l though I haven't measured it lately. Ours is stock and I wouldn't alter it. They do run rather lean and take a lot of warming up and coaxing into life from cold because of that i.e. using the choke, but it seems to me all the Suzukis are like that if my old 250 and my Bro's 350 are anything to go by.

We've discussed DRZ400s on another thread too and my only comment about them and why I don't own one is they have a ridiculously close ratio five speed box for what really is quite a torqey engine. For the job Bartman is wanting to do I would say they don't fit the bill i.e long distance work.

[chris]

For the job Bartman is wanting to do I would say they don't fit the bill

Absolutely.

[far queue]

I'm a bit surprised how much fuel you say the DR uses. Are any other DR riders getting about the same and what do the XT600 riders get? Obviously depends on the right wrist a bit.

I'm sure our DR650 does easily over 20km/l though I haven't measured it lately.

Well, I definately get 16km/L. It's 10L to reserve, and I ALWAYS run out within 4km of 160km. I also work it out when filling up before hitting reserve sometimes. I'm a bit anal about knowing exactly how far I can go on a tank, and the distance of the trips I do, due to the remote nature of a lot of them. I don't know what consumption other DR650's are getting. Lemans? SDU? Do you know what you've been getting?

Merv, I'm probably as surprised at your 20km/L as you are at my 16Km/L That's 260km per tank, that would be great.

[merv]

You said you had rejetted yours or something didn't you? Ours is stock lean. Maybe I'll take it out this weekend and see what it does again. Mrs never really worries about such stuff.

Hell even my VFR does 20km/l if you don't race along at warp speed. It would only drop to 16km/l at very illegal speeds.

[Garry.W]

The BMW is a modified road bike, completely unsuitable for anything more than very easy off-road

Everyone is entitled to their opinion Oscar and sure the Dakar might not be as off-road oriented as your LC4E, but it is still well capable of more than just the very easy off-road stuff. Granted, they are a tad heavier (well lots really) than the others put up here as options but I've seen, and been in the odd position myself, to attest to a pretty good level of capability in some of the gnarlier stuff. Their real benefit lies in the Dakar's usuability in all situations from commuting; to the weekend adventure riding set; to the multi-day long distance safaris that are quite popular these days, particulalry for those where the choice for many is often limited to one bike in the garage.

Cheers mate, just my opinion

[far queue]

You said you had rejetted yours or something didn't you?

No, I said when I get a bigger tank I want to fit the dynojet kit and another air filter (freer breathing one) The only changes from stock at the moment are - snorkel removed from airbox, and mixture screw adjusted. The bike shop adjusted the mixture when the bike went in for it's 1000km service - 11500km ago.

... the Dakar might not be as off-road oriented as your LC4E, but it is still well capable of more than just the very easy off-road stuff ... I've seen, and been in the odd position myself, to attest to a pretty good level of capability in some of the gnarlier stuff ...

I'd go along with you on this, the Dakar is fairly capable, but it also depends on the riders ability, and willingness, to venture into the rough stuff. I think you need more ability to get away with the rough stuff on one, due to the weight as much as anything. For most people I would say it's not a bike to be venturing toooo far into the rough.

[Oscar]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion Oscar and sure the Dakar might not be as off-road oriented as your LC4E, but it is still well capable of more than just the very easy off-road stuff. Granted, they are a tad heavier (well lots really) than the others put up here as options but I've seen, and been in the odd position myself, to attest to a pretty good level of capability in some of the gnarlier stuff. Their real benefit lies in the Dakar's usuability in all situations from commuting; to the weekend adventure riding set; to the multi-day long distance safaris that are quite popular these days, particulalry for those where the choice for many is often limited to one bike in the garage.

Cheers mate, just my opinion

Don't get me started on F650's...
Firstly I wasn't comparing it to my LC4, but to a DR650.
BMW missed what could have been a fantastic adventure bike by sheer pig headed corporate stupidity.

In order to get a number that said 50hp, they went to fuel injection, but didn't test it enough. Mine was on it's eighth software version, and still ran like a bag o' crap. There was nought wrong with the old Rotax donk.

Let me ask you this, what is the number one attraction of big singles?
Their tractability and grunt.

So what, I ask you, is the bloody point of a big single that is peaky, and worse, won't idle under about 1500-2000 rpm??? Ever try riding one down a slippery greasey hill? No engine braking...in fact the opposite of engine braking...

Which leds me to the pissant rear brake.......I told you not to get me started...

{deep breath }

So what you end up with is a bike that's near twice the price of yer humble DR650 and nowhere near as capable for it's intended purpose. Not as good on the road, maybe, but you can buy yerself a damn fine commuter for the difference in price.

Lastly, if ya wanna be really depressed - ride yer F650 back to back with an XLV650 Transalp...

[merv]

Don't get me started on F650's...

So what, I ask you, is the bloody point of a big single that is peaky, and worse, won't idle under about 1500-2000 rpm??? Ever try riding one down a slippery greasey hill? No engine braking...in fact the opposite of engine braking...
..

I got a surprise at one of our lunches (4skins was in attendance) when our mate Mike was describing his F650 going downhill with the engine management system keeping it up to idle speed, compared to what I'm used to - on my brakes and make the engine slog down as low as it can just off stalling to hold traction. Not for me for sure.

However, the distances Bartman wants to run he perhaps shouldn't discount the BMW - they come in low seat height for the Mrs too. I'd say drop into Sawyers/Motorad and have a word to Brendan (one of the Silk Riders) about the pros and cons of them. I know they had electrical troubles on the journey. The DR while a good bike and we'll see if it fits his Mrs, might not have the support where he wants to go I suspect but then I know nothing about that really, just suggesting that research could be required on that aspect too.