KLR650, XT600, DR650, F650 etc wellywood

**laRIKin** · 16th August 2006, 18:42

Originally Posted by far queue

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?

I'm not sure on SDU's DR as I do not ride it.

I will get her to reply to this thread.
But when we did the Brass Monkey we did two long rides between fuel stops.
That was from Palmerston to Timaru (144k's) and then to CH.CH (163K's) and she hit reserve both times I think.
Just before Timaru and about Dunsandel (25-30K's before CH.CH)
She has said that she hit's reserve earlier than you (F/Q) more than once.
Her bike may just have a bigger reserve (longer hose) or we are running lower gearing. From memory we are one tooth down on the front from stock.
I'm not sure really and could be talking out of a hole in my.......

**far queue** · 16th August 2006, 19:01

Originally Posted by lemans

...or we are running lower gearing. From memory we are one tooth down on the front from stock ...

Stock is 15/41. I run 13 or 14 or 15/44 depending on where I'm going. The brass was 15/44 for me and I was getting 16km/L. When we're playing at the Waimak I'm running 13/44 and I get ............ yep, 16km/L.

**Transalper** · 16th August 2006, 20:41

Originally Posted by Garry.W

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.

Tell u what, i owned a 2000F650GS (NOT A DAKAR) and for various reasons including some of the stuff mentioned in previous posts, now think of it as a horrible piece of.. anyway, to cut a long story short i reckon what ever you do, if you go for an F650 make sure you get one of the Dakars if only to get that 21 inch front wheel. That alone will make a huge difference to the off road ability of the bike over a standard GS.

Originally Posted by Oscar

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

I did, borrowed a mates 600 for a whole weekend then got back on the F650, and no prises for guessing what happened next. Gotta love that V-Twin engine.

**Ruralman** · 16th August 2006, 21:06

Originally Posted by chris

Why not. They don't have the top end cruising of the 650 but are OK otherwise.
. Trailer it there??!! It's a five minute job to whip of the mirrors and pack rack if fitted.
141KG brimmed.

The reason I suggested trailering it to a trail ride was if you put serious off road Knobbies on - many of these are illegal on the road (for good reason) and you'd feel like a ------ that had just spent a hour on a vibrator if you drove any distance on the seal, as well as tearing them to bits.

**Ruralman** · 16th August 2006, 21:09

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.[/QUOTE]

Have you or anyone riden the new DRZ 400 Motard - is the gearing on it any different.
I know the standard DRZ 400 will do 140km/hr on the beach but I wouldn't want to sit on it on the road for any time at that.

**merv** · 16th August 2006, 21:17

Originally Posted by Ruralman

Have you or anyone riden the new DRZ 400 Motard - is the gearing on it any different.
I know the standard DRZ 400 will do 140km/hr on the beach but I wouldn't want to sit on it on the road for any time at that.

Haven't ridden one but I suspect they'd have the same box ratios and maybe different final ratios but the close ratio would suit motarding where you've only got to slip clutch to get off the line and you're away. You aren't needing to plonk up tricky rocky slopes around tight corners and then blast along fast as well, you're trying to go fast the whole time.

**Ruralman** · 16th August 2006, 21:27

Someone also suggested a XR 650 - these are also great bikes and can handle the trail well with the right tyres. Can you get them with electric start tho? I have a neighbour who rides some of the trail trips down here on one. he's a pretty good rider and enjoys the bike till it gets stuck - then its a pig. It is also a pain to get started when hot - bloody frustrating when you've just picked it up on a muddy trail and you've got wet slippy boots, worse if you're under 6ft.

**laRIKin** · 16th August 2006, 21:33

Originally Posted by far queue

Stock is 15/41. I run 13 or 14 or 15/44 depending on where I'm going. The brass was 15/44 for me and I was getting 16km/L. When we're playing at the Waimak I'm running 13/44 and I get ............ yep, 16km/L.

I was about right with the mileage (144K's to about 10-11L of petrol) and the gearing is 14/43.
I have never worried about working out fuel economy, just tank range.

**far queue** · 16th August 2006, 21:54

Originally Posted by Ruralman

The reason I suggested trailering it to a trail ride was if you put serious off road Knobbies on - many of these are illegal on the road (for good reason) and you'd feel like a ------ that had just spent a hour on a vibrator if you drove any distance on the seal, as well as tearing them to bits.

This is what I run all the time, including down to the Brass and back. They're legal, I don't find vibration to be problem, my arse was fine, and they havn't torn to bits ... I'm not a trailer faggot

**Ruralman** · 16th August 2006, 22:19

Originally Posted by far queue

This is what I run all the time, including down to the Brass and back. They're legal, I don't find vibration to be problem, my arse was fine, and they havn't torn to bits ... I'm not a trailer faggot

Bit dark to get a pic of the ones on my KDX but they're med motocross tyres and the gaps are way bigger than on yours - for the mud, much of it steep as well, on the trips we do you'd do a lot of pushing with your tyres but they'd be great for drier tracks and the gravel. I can see why they don't vibrate much either from that tread pattern - what are they? How many Kms would you expect ?

**far queue** · 16th August 2006, 22:35

Originally Posted by Ruralman

... what are they? How many Kms would you expect ?

Here's the front one - they're Mitas E09's, and work well everywhere I've had them so far, including sloppy mud. I don't know that you can go too much more open and still be legal - not a problem on the KDX of course. Those pics were when they were new on - I've done around 2000km on them so far and they're wearing OK - hoping for 6000km from them and expect them to be completely rooted by then. That's what I got from the Pirelli MT21's I had on last.

**Garry.W** · 17th August 2006, 09:06

Originally Posted by Oscar

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

Not like you to hold back Oscar, but my intent was not to get you started on F650's. I'm first to agree with you about some of its limitations, but then every bike is a compromise of some sort or another. I happen to like my Dakar a lot, I've not seemed to have the problems of dogdy fuel injetion management and the like that others describe and it suits me for the type of riding I like to do. Sure, I get myself into some sticky situations and it's highly probable that in some of these situations (you know the ones where you think a WR450 would be nice) another bike would be better. Admittedly I have thought about switching to a KTM or the like from time to time, but then I go out again on the Dakar and love it. My intent in posting an opposing opinion on the Dakar is so that Bartman is reasonably informed in his ulitmate choice. Will you let me ride your LC4 when I see you up North soon

**Oscar** · 17th August 2006, 09:15

Originally Posted by Garry.W

Not like you to hold back Oscar, but my intent was not to get you started on F650's. I'm first to agree with you about some of its limitations, but then every bike is a compromise of some sort or another. I happen to like my Dakar a lot, I've not seemed to have the problems of dogdy fuel injetion management and the like that others describe and it suits me for the type of riding I like to do. Sure, I get myself into some sticky situations and it's highly probable that in some of these situations (you know the ones where you think a WR450 would be nice) another bike would be better. Admittedly I have thought about switching to a KTM or the like from time to time, but then I go out again on the Dakar and love it. My intent in posting an opposing opinion on the Dakar is so that Bartman is reasonably informed in his ulitmate choice. Will you let me ride your LC4 when I see you up North soon

I was holding back.
You should see what happens when I get excited (I do hold the record for generating the most abusive letters to Kiwi Rider Magazine).

And no.

You can't ride my LC4.

'Cause I'll have my LC8 - but if you ask nicely I might let you ride that...

**XP@** · 17th August 2006, 09:52

Originally Posted by Oscar

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

Done that, well almost. Sold my 125,000km old F650, borrowed a dr650 for a week then took delivery of a brand new Transalp :-)

The F650 was more than my bike, it was part of me. But the suspention was shot, power was not really there (second gear gone) it was getting a bit tired.

The DR was quick off the mark, but really buzzy on the motorway commute.

Then the Transalp fun, a bike that handled well, has all the gears and generally smooth. It does miss a little power in places, but then I look down and remember i want to keep my licence. Longish distance (300kms) was no problem even after a day on the desk chair.

Off road the stock tyres were sh1t in the mud... they can, and will, be changed. Gravel, nice and quick, the 21" front heaps nicer than the 19" on the F650. I swapped for a while with a DR650 and it is a world of difference, The lighter suzy massively easier in really deep sticky mud.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...92#post2919992

IMHO if you are looking for your main bike and you want to use it for everything then get a Transalp, or maybe a late model F650 Dakar. if your buget won't do one of these then a DR650 is good.
If you are going to have a small trail bike and a tourer look at the DL650 weestrom (these only have 19" front so limited tyres and gravel ability).