XT660R or KLR650 ??

[sels1]

Okay mate, done the F650 in the past, the KLR will eat it, would love a 1150 but to damn expensve for me unfortunetly mate, cheers for the offer

Some random thoughts....
The F650 has good comfort level, you will have to do loads of Ks to get to some of the gravel bits.
The 1150 (and Tigers) are great on the road and medium gravel, but anything worse I would stick with a 650 - something you can pick up easier.
If cost is a factor how about the used market? - you are only going to get it dirty anyway.
The 650 Dakar would be a good option, if you could find one at a reasonable price.
But as someone else said, if you already have a sprotbike in the garage then something something more dirt capable would be better? DRs seem to be cheap and plentiful.
I used to have an XT - never let me down.
Watching this thread with interest as I am thinking of doing similar.

[The Big J]

All good stuff gents.
Many thanks for the input

Just a point, I have done on my KLR about 25000 kms over 8 months now and have broken the following parts off the top of my head.

- Soft bags, broke straps, burnt one bag, broke straps again on new bags x6, straps broke and rubbed new bags against tires x3, broke all straps on top bag had to retain with spare tie downs
- Fork seals, paid to have replaced in Argentina, they have failed again within 1500kms
- a few fuses
- ignitor coil currently has me stuck
- plastic radiator shrouds
- radiator guard fell off as I put grass underneath it on the salt flats
- broke clutch and brake levers when fell over off side stand at various times
- stripped brake calliper thread
- broken flimsy bark busters
- broken several pairs of sunglasses because I step on them while changing tires
- big dings in both rims, wouldn´t be adventure without those
- broke rear brake bracket attaching brake to bike
- broke doohickey, not my fault obviously but still
- in fall, bent handlebars, broke throttle tube and handgrips, damaged right footpeg thread, damaged myself...

the list goes on, some of it due to being a novice mechanic but things tend to crop up on most of us if you really use the bike for the dirt.

throw in brake pads oil changes etc and you consume a lot of stuff. Very convenient to be able to borrow your friends brake pads when you are 1000 kms away from the dealer. Share clutch levers, maybe try to pick up a CDI if it goes awry between you.

I would go the DR based on this logic as someone said way up the list.

[chris]

Has any body turned a dr650 into a road only/motard machine,(smaller wheels, gearing for slighter higher cruising speed etc). Also how would they go around say the coro loop chasing a few mates. What are they like 2 up touring?

Yep, the bike in the article is owned by my brother in law. It's very easy to do.

[chris]

The new DR650's have dropped in price again.
I think they're less than $8000 now.

A spanking new DR650 can now be had for $8000. It's part of the Suzuki Summerfest deal. They were a bargain at $9000 so $8000 is ridiculously cheap.

[clint640]

Has any body turned a dr650 into a road only/motard machine,(smaller wheels, gearing for slighter higher cruising speed etc). Also how would they go around say the coro loop chasing a few mates. What are they like 2 up touring?

Me mate Paul tours happily with the missus on his DR, but they're both quite small & travel fairly light.

I've also seen him deal to about 20 sportbikes in the space of 15km of twistys on it, on std wheels & semi knobby tyres. He is a bit of a freak but even mere mortals should be able to keep up with the Rossi wannabe crowd through the tight stuff if you've got the motard setup.

Cheers
Clint

[busadayz]

Yep, the bike in the article is owned by my brother in law. It's very easy to do.

Have read the piece, looks good too.
Am faced with selling my busa to buy a house. If i can get away with (financialy) would like to have at least something. This seems like a cheap fix for the soul. Dont know if could get used to the lack of power though.
Still anything is better than nothing.

[busadayz]

[QUOTE=clint640;1196195]Me mate Paul tours happily with the missus on his DR, but they're both quite small & travel fairly light.

I've also seen him deal to about 20 sportbikes in the space of 15km of twistys on it, on std wheels & semi knobby tyres. He is a bit of a freak but even mere mortals should be able to keep up with the Rossi wannabe crowd through the tight stuff if you've got the motard setup.


Thanks for that, my wife and i are around the 6ft mark so some fettling may be needed in the suspension department.
I have been around taupo a couple of times and been dealt to by motards many times. It seems like fun, must be something in it and it is alot cheaper IF you bin it.

[cowpoos]

your thinking of getting a yammie bro??? are you going all metro on us??


Go Green bro!!!

[QMOTO]

Gone and done it

Im the proud owner of a KLR650 2008 model and put about 300 kms on it today (heaps of gas left from one full) All I can say is what a awesom machine, hadles the roads nicley very capable on the road touring as well as the twisties, I also did about 60kms of gravel and a fair bit of small mud tracks in the bush, did the lot with ease, Love it !!
comfy and capable thats my first day comment, now to buy some maps

[Moki]

I recently picked up a '92 KLR650. After sorting out a few long-neglected issues, what I have now is an absolute blast. Love it. Very simple and easy to work on...and from what can tell very reliable as mine has done 108k.

Watch out for where you look for parts though- the carb diaphragm was perforated and need replacing. I went to a Kwak dealer and was quoted $250+. Didn't like that so did a bit of research and found that Harleys use the same CV40 carb. Same part cost $90.

Still ride an r1150gs Adv but the KLR650 far better of the road.

[NordieBoy]

Im the proud owner of a KLR650 2008 model

Oh well, hope you enjoy it anyway.

[Big Dave]

Colin's corollary

[NordieBoy]

Colin's corollary

You have a Corolla in your colon?

[Bass]

Gone and done it

Excellent!!
Thanks for the thread

[ducatijim]

Well, this is where its ended up?
Tank? Yes, buy in Oz and save NZ GST and considerable shipping. Oz Gst just too bad: Refundable when bike exported back to NZ.
Seat? You won't stand for the length/time/terrain covered on this trip for long.
Fan? Well, we won't be in Broome in 'high summer' not possible on a m/c in the 'wet'. Still very hot when moving slowly all thru the Gulf country to the Pilbara. Can be slow going over sections like Gibb river road, even in the 'dry'.
Suspension? Try 'pressing on' over washboard for long and see if you can keep the rear 'hooked up'. Sometimes many,many k's of continious washboard out yhere in roadtrain country, particularly likely just following the wet. Front would improve with some stiffer oil I think, but both ends need some more rebound damping( not available on stock).
Great bikes otherwise, DR's that is.