Opinions please: KLE500 vs KLR650 vs Transalp vs XT660

**mazz1972** · 22nd February 2007, 15:20

Hi folks

I’d be interested to hear your opinions please….

Hubby is looking at getting a dual-purpose bike, mostly for road riding but with a bit of gravel etc thrown in.

He’s interested in Kawa KLE500, but I think he should consider some alternatives such as KLR650, Transalp or XT660.

He’s not able to test ride any from the bike shops at the moment as he doesn’t get his full licence for another couple of months….but it would be useful to have your opinions on all round performance.

Really looking for something comfortable with a bit of go, but not a big huge bike. He's tall so height is not a problem.

He's not interested in a DR650 as he already has a road legal DRZ400.

I know he’d love to look at a Beamer F650 GS or Dakar but they seem to be a bit more than the budget allows. A Transalp may be as well.

Your comments/suggestions/gripes/raves would be appreciated!

**Ruralman** · 22nd February 2007, 16:38

If he's considering a Transalp then theres a bloody good second hand one just been traded on a Triumph Tiger at Thundersports in Nelson (Oldriders one).

Of the bikes you list the Transalp has the most road comfort and copes with gravel roads with ease. The KLR is more trail biased but still very good on the road but not as refined/smooth/comfortable as the T/A for bigger trips.

I don't have any experience with the KLE500 - they look OK and I have a mate with an earlier 400 version which goes well but he's pretty small and light. If your husband is bigger then I think you'll find the 500 is well behind the T/A for grunt, especially if you plan some two up rides.

I have done the Maungatapu track on the T/A and was really impressed with its ability to quietly pick the best line through tricky steep rocky tracks and pull away from very low revs without losing traction (unless I really wanted to give it a blast). I wouldn't want to do this on muddy tracks though - too bloody heavy but it doesn't sound like you want it for that anyway.

The XT 660 is probably the quickest but looking at them I think I'd much rather do a long trip on the T/A, especially with a lot of luggage.

**Garry.W** · 22nd February 2007, 16:56

Originally Posted by mazz1972

Hi folks

I’d be interested to hear your opinions please….

Hubby is looking at getting a dual-purpose bike, mostly for road riding but with a bit of gravel etc thrown in.

He’s interested in Kawa KLE500, but I think he should consider some alternatives such as KLR650, Transalp or XT660.

He’s not able to test ride any from the bike shops at the moment as he doesn’t get his full licence for another couple of months….but it would be useful to have your opinions on all round performance.

Really looking for something comfortable with a bit of go, but not a big huge bike. He's tall so height is not a problem.

He's not interested in a DR650 as he already has a road legal DRZ400.

I know he’d love to look at a Beamer F650 GS or Dakar but they seem to be a bit more than the budget allows. A Transalp may be as well.

Your comments/suggestions/gripes/raves would be appreciated!

All are good suggestions but buy my 2003 Dakar - ad is in latest KR mag and posted on here somewhere in the For Sale thread. It's in good nick, is a bargain at $9k and has a couple of good extras you won't get with other bikes (ABS and heated grips, crash bars etc.) I can chuck these in if that helps. If hubby is interested get in touch (021 220 6104 or evenings on 526 3417), you guys can ride and see what you think. House rules though - you bend you buy anyway

Cheers
Garry

**far queue** · 22nd February 2007, 18:40

Originally Posted by mazz1972

He’s interested in Kawa KLE500, but I think he should consider some alternatives such as KLR650, Transalp or XT660.

I haven't ridden any of these but from what I've seen, heard and read of them, and from what you say he wants to do with it my pick would be the Transalp, and as Ruralman says Oldriders is available and would be a bloody good one.

**timg** · 22nd February 2007, 20:54

Hi, I can't really speak from experience as I'm a recent convert to this class of bike, however I considered and test rode the BMW 'Funduro', VStrom 650, KLE500 & Transalp and drooled over many more before buying the Transalp. I wanted something I could use to commute, take fishing and two up touring. The Transalp seemed the best fit for me and my needs. Oldrider described it to me as a jack of all trades but possibly master of none, and that seems to be a fair assessment. It is very competent in all areas but there are better commuters, better off road bikes & better tourers, but few that can do all that the Transalp can. I've done a couple of back country shingle road/farm track day trips on it which it handled well with a novice rider. I've just done a day at Levels with the Honda Riders Club which it went really well at (Passed a Ducatti!

) and I learned heaps from. Really all the bikes suggested are good bikes. It's really a matter of finding or deciding what best suits you and your budget. I'd suggest the Transalp could suit your stated uses well

but I'm probably biased. Cheers, Tim

**RedKLR650** · 22nd February 2007, 21:12

Originally Posted by mazz1972

Hi folks
I’d be interested to hear your opinions please…. Hubby is looking at getting a dual-purpose bike, mostly for road riding but with a bit of gravel etc thrown in.
He’s interested in Kawa KLE500, but I think he should consider some alternatives such as KLR650, Transalp or XT660.Really looking for something comfortable with a bit of go, but not a big huge bike. He's tall so height is not a problem.

Hi there,

Having completed a ferw rides recently on a KLR along with some Africa Twin's and TranzAlps, I agree with some of the other comments as to them having more fairing etc for a long trip, but I love my KLR, and once rode from Auckland to Timaru in 16 hours, and could still feel my bum, so it wasn't so bad. If you're not really an adventure person, but just want the occassional shingle road trip, the KLE500 is more roadlike and I think would be more suited for the purpose you need it for. My neighbour is selling his at present as he's scared of shingle, so is going back to a full roadbike.

See the link below.

Attached is a pic. I have ridden his bike and it goes well, but I still prefer the KLR but the KLE is a good wee bike......
As Ruralman said, if you're still after an AT, Oldriders former machine is a great bike too :-)

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=43070

**mazz1972** · 23rd February 2007, 08:45

Thanks for all your comments!

Once hubby has the full licence in a few months and can do some test rides, I will be very interested to see what he thinks of the different bikes. At the moment he is basing his likes and dislikes purely on looks since he hasn't been able to ride any of them yet. It will be mostly road travel for this bike, but with the option of exploring those deserted gravel back roads etc. He's been riding offroad for many years, just been dead slow in getting his road licence.

Originally Posted by Garry.W

All are good suggestions but buy my 2003 Dakar - ad is in latest KR mag and posted on here somewhere in the For Sale thread. It's in good nick, is a bargain at $9k and has a couple of good extras you won't get with other bikes (ABS and heated grips, crash bars etc.) I can chuck these in if that helps.

He's seen the ad for your bike Garry - it was duly brought to my attention as he was reading KR a few nights ago.

Unfortunately we are not in a position to buy just yet. He has to sell a bike first, which is currently in bits, and I've had to put my foot down and make him wait until he has his full licence and can be properly insured, as I don't think it's worth the risk.

And he wants to build on to our garage/sleepout as we've gone from double + workshop to barely a single and it's just not cutting the mustard - our road bikes are in the sleepout.

Better go water that money tree...

**unhingedlizard** · 23rd February 2007, 09:02

Just my two cents, has he thought of trying a Kawasaki Versys?

**pete376403** · 23rd February 2007, 10:01

New '08 KLR650 is supposed to be available mid-March. A little more street oriented than previously, better suspension, brakes, seat and "revised" (whatever) cylinder head, better fairing and lights. Much nicer looking, but some might say putting something about putting lipstick on the pig. I've got one on order. Not sure about price but supposed to be "close" to the current '07 price of $9290
LOTS of info about them on www.advrider.com.

**mazz1972** · 23rd February 2007, 10:15

Originally Posted by unhingedlizard

Just my two cents, has he thought of trying a Kawasaki Versys?

He wont be "allowed" to think about that one....it's a tad beyond the budget.

Bloody nice looking bike though!

**mazz1972** · 23rd February 2007, 11:06

Originally Posted by pete376403

New '08 KLR650 is supposed to be available mid-March. A little more street oriented than previously, better suspension, brakes, seat and "revised" (whatever) cylinder head, better fairing and lights. Much nicer looking, but some might say putting something about putting lipstick on the pig. I've got one on order. Not sure about price but supposed to be "close" to the current '07 price of $9290
LOTS of info about them on www.advrider.com.

Wow that is really really nice! Cheers for that, you wouldn't know there was a new model coming out just looking at the website.

Didn't have much joy finding the specs other than "to be advised". Any ideas where to look? I'm looking for seat height, to see I would be able to ride it too

as I'm short which is why I've got the Sherpa (seat height 830mm).

When is yours due and what colour?

**SDU** · 23rd February 2007, 12:03

Originally Posted by mazz1972

Didn't have much joy finding the specs other than "to be advised". Any ideas where to look? I'm looking for seat height, to see I would be able to ride it too

as I'm short which is why I've got the Sherpa (seat height 830mm).

Good on you, I see you have your priorities right.

It is good to test ride his bikes out too but it is dangerous as you may end up having to buy two

**pete376403** · 23rd February 2007, 12:27

There is info about, just that Kawi make it difficut to find. Look here
http://www.kawasaki.ca/flx/model.php?s=3&l=en&m=1062 which is Kaw. canada.
I'm getting the green one (thats the only real Kawa colour, right?) just like my last new kawi, an F9 Bighorn back in 1972.
The suspension travel has been reduced (a little but), but stiffened, so that while the earlier models have a higher seat height, a lot of that travel gets used up just by sitting on it.

Mines ordered from Sawyers and delivery date is mid to late March

**mazz1972** · 23rd February 2007, 12:34

Originally Posted by SDU

Good on you, I see you have your priorities right.

It is good to test ride his bikes out too but it is dangerous as you may end up having to buy two

*off to buy a lotto ticket just in case*

**mazz1972** · 23rd February 2007, 12:38

Originally Posted by pete376403

There is info about, just that Kawi make it difficut to find. Look here
http://www.kawasaki.ca/flx/model.php?s=3&l=en&m=1062 which is Kaw. canada.
I'm getting the green one (thats the only real Kawa colour, right?) just like my last new kawi, an F9 Bighorn back in 1972.
The suspension travel has been reduced (a little but), but stiffened, so that while the earlier models have a higher seat height, a lot of that travel gets used up just by sitting on it.

Mines ordered from Sawyers and delivery date is mid to late March

Thanks Pete!

I think hubby will like the look of it and will show him tonight.

I got my Sherp from Sawyers - we will definately be paying a visit there once that full licence comes through!