Looking at getting a new bike - Which one?

[Big Dave]

My only beef with the DR is the seat - an hour and I'm done.
Had a burn on a DL650 the other day - mucho comfier.
1000 is good all week.

[Crisis management]

Oooooh, disparaging the DR!


Your right tho, mind you I can usually last 6 hours before total anal oblivion sets in!

There's a few other issues with the DR tho, needs a larger fuel tank, decent exhaust, re jetting and better suspension, a screen, new bars and a wider rear rim wouldn't go astray. Nothing $2000 won't fix.

Other than that its perfect-ish......

If your starting out with adventure riding, I wonder if a cheap (small/old) dual purpose trailie wouldn't be worth a go. Experiment on that and then get a better bike once you know what sort of riding you will be doing.

[windboy]

You'll never get the perfect compromise on any adventure bike. They will either be too traily or too roadie... If gravel's all your after, weight isn't too much of an issue really as long as you have a decent pair of tyres.... So you have heaps of options quasimoto.

If you're serious about offroading it through real nasty stuff, you want something no greater than 400cc; and we all know how gutless that feels on the open rd...

no win situation?

[cooneyr]

Oooooh, disparaging the DR!


Your right tho, mind you I can usually last 6 hours before total anal oblivion sets in!

There's a few other issues with the DR tho, needs a larger fuel tank, decent exhaust, re jetting and better suspension, a screen, new bars and a wider rear rim wouldn't go astray. Nothing $2000 won't fix.

Spend the money to personalize and it is still a cheaper bike that almost every other 650 out there.

Cheers R

[PeteJ]

Another tourer/offroadish bike that may suit that particular need is the Honda Varadero. Sort of a Transalp on steroids but clearly more biased to the sealed road (VTR1000 engine detuned for lower rev torque). Cast wheels, combined honda breaks (i've tried them on a VFR800 and was impressed), fuel injection, etc... $18k brand new.

http://www.honda-motorcycles.co.nz/b...elID=190&type=

Good luck, let us know what you get.

Windboy.

Have had my Varadero for a bit over 4000km now, and am starting to form a few impressions.

I did the Gentle Annie and a few of the Central Plateau gravel roads this last weekend, a total of >1200km in the 2 days, maybe half of that on gravel. Lots of ice and some snow as well as the gravel; the bike likes it all fine, the only drawback being that the standard Bridgestone Trail Wing tyres are NBG on smooth wet seal (or black ice).

One main reason for buying it is that my wife is 182cm tall, and nothing else on your list (or ours) was at all comfortable for her. The Tiger was diabolical.

I also have a VTR, so it was a good idea to have the familiar power plant. I have had nothing but good experiences with Honda reliability over the years (and I have owned at least 10 other makes of machine for extended periods, so I can make knowledge-based comparisons).

The standard 28 litre fuel capacity is another good idea - 350km and still another 4 litres in the tank.

I have offroaders for offroad, road bikes for road, racers for racing. This machine is exactly what I bought it to be: an allroad all-weather tourer that is equally comfortable for the pillion on all roads and in all weathers.

[tri boy]

You all know what I would suggest.
The pillion issue may negate it. Also the lack of wind protection.

[NordieBoy]

There's a few other issues with the DR tho, needs a larger fuel tank, decent exhaust, re jetting and better suspension, a screen, new bars and a wider rear rim wouldn't go astray. Nothing $2000 won't fix.

Tank - Done.
Exhaust - Done.
Re-Jet - Done.
Better suspension - On it's way
Screen - Done.
Bars - Done.
Seat - Done.
Lights - Done.
Bashplate - Done.
Horn - Done.
Handguards - Done.
Gearing - Done.
Tyres - Done.

Yep - Less than $2000 total.
Wider rear rim - Not needed.

[timg]

Im Lookng into this subject as well and as a serious Adventure bike the Transalp aint anywhere near it, its one of those bikes that doesnt know what it is, its not a good raod bike, its not a good adventure bike,

Oh shit. Don't tell my bike that! Having taken me thru the back blocks of the Rakaia/Ashburton Gorges, up the Mt Olympus access road (read deep shale shingle slips), playing in the Waimak mud, and past Duccati's (ok...riden by a new owner) on track days it might decide it's not up to it after all.

Sure, it may be a jack of all trades and master of none, but I reckon it's a fairly competent all rounder. Certainly it's far more competent than I am. Suit's me & the missus for the riding we do anyway, which is a little bit of everything. Cheers.

[windboy]

I know what you saying timg, not everyone gets the tranny...!

[warewolf]

not everyone gets the tranny...!

A lot of blame can be laid on BMW's superior marketing strategy.

[RedKLR650]

Im Lookng into this subject as well and for me a adventure bike should be capbale in the dirt gravel and somewhat on the highway, for me my list is
in this order
KLR650 08 model
DR650
XT660 (new 21 inch front moel)
Dakar (unlikely to expensive

Im favouring the KLR as its cheap and packed with good features, like big tank, big luggage carrying ability, comfort.

I dunno but I reckon Adventure means a bit of highway them no sealed roads for as long as possible...........ie go on a adventure, who knows what you will be riding on, half the list above would struggle with weight and fuel load.

just my thinking at the moment

Oh anyone want to buy a ZXR1400 ???

Hi QUASi,

Pleased to see someone else rates the KLR650. They've never had much of a following here in NZ, yet in the states they've virtually reached cult status due to their reliability and ability to be customised. As you said, big tank, comfy seat, 21"front wheel, and relatively grunty for the price. Would definately reccomend an aftermarket front fork brace and SuperMoto 320mm front disc as braking and front fork rigidity are two places it will let you down. Having done around 60,000km around Europe on my old KLR600, and over 26,000 km on the 650's I'm pretty happy in general.

As discussed, all adventure bikes are a compromise in one way or the other, you just need to figure out which way you lean towards

Cheers, STu

[pete376403]

Picked up an 08 KLR on Friday. Never rode the previous model so nothing to compare it to, but this new on is niiiice!!!
Very smooth (and not even with the qualifer "for a single") at 100 - 110, very good lights (only ridden it at night), brakes were a little wooden for the first 20 kays but getting much much better. Thats about all I've been able to rate so far (100kms) but going to a ride over the 'Takas tomorrow so hope to learn a bit more. Things I definitetly want to change - the rear numberplate//tail light mount hangs down way too far and the rear brake hose routing is a little weird

[RedKLR650]

Picked up an 08 KLR on Friday. Never rode the previous model so nothing to compare it to, but this new on is niiiice!!!
Very smooth (and not even with the qualifer "for a single") at 100 - 110, very good lights (only ridden it at night), brakes were a little wooden for the first 20 kays but getting much much better. Thats about all I've been able to rate so far (100kms) but going to a ride over the 'Takas tomorrow so hope to learn a bit more. Things I definitetly want to change - the rear numberplate//tail light mount hangs down way too far and the rear brake hose routing is a little weird

Having had 3x KLR's over the years, the best bit of advice for running in a big single, is to make it work up and down the gears and rev range for at least the first 500 km's. Find a nice shingle road, and work up and down, up and down the gears and rev range. A long run in top gear is about the worst kind of run in for this type of bike.

I'd love to hear other comments on this opinion, but I've had good success with this formula over the years, and all the mechanics I've spoken to also tend to prefer this idea.

What are the standard tires on the new KLR ?

Congratulations on your new purchase

Welcome to the KLR club

Cheers, Stu

[NordieBoy]

Having had 3x KLR's over the years, the best bit of advice for running in a big single, is to make it work up and down the gears and rev range for at least the first 500 km's. Find a nice shingle road, and work up and down, up and down the gears and rev range. A long run in top gear is about the worst kind of run in for this type of bike.

Yep, good warm-up and lots of smooth under load acceleration (no more than 70% or so throttle) and engine braking.
Give those rings a chance to bed.
You may even be able to feel it getting stronger.
It was very noticeable on my XR250.

Change (and check) the oil and see how it wheelies

[Howie]

Picked up an 08 KLR on Friday. Never rode the previous model so nothing to compare it to, but this new on is niiiice!!!
Very smooth (and not even with the qualifer "for a single") at 100 - 110, very good lights (only ridden it at night), brakes were a little wooden for the first 20 kays but getting much much better. Thats about all I've been able to rate so far (100kms) but going to a ride over the 'Takas tomorrow so hope to learn a bit more. Things I definitetly want to change - the rear numberplate//tail light mount hangs down way too far and the rear brake hose routing is a little weird

congratulations on the new bike Pete. I got my 07 model late last year, there are a few KLR websites around with info on mods to the numberplate/ tailight mounting system not sure if they are up to speed on the 08 model yet. Look forward to meeting you sometime.