XT660R or KLR650 ??

[Quasievil]

New KLR ('08) seat is very good, maybe not quite in the same league as that on the BMW Dakar but light-years ahead of the vinyl crucifix that Suzuki put on the DR.

I rode me KLR for about 300kms yesterday, then jumped of straight onto a Dakar, yup the seat was nicer than the KLR, but Im finding me KLR seat is softing up a little the more I use it

Got to get some luggage soughted for it................any ideas ??

[pete376403]

I rode me KLR for about 300kms yesterday, then jumped of straight onto a Dakar, yup the seat was nicer than the KLR, but Im finding me KLR seat is softing up a little the more I use it

Got to get some luggage soughted for it................any ideas ??

I was going to get Pelican 1550 cases and make a rack but the Pelis are a bit pricey here. The Aus tool supplier Kincrome does some Pelican look alikes for about half the cost or you can get them even cheaper (KLR owners are notoriously cheap-ass) from Bunnings under the Craftech label at $99. Only downside is that they are only available in bright yellow. I bought a couple but haven't made the frame yet, so I mounted one horizontally on the rack in the meantime. Size-wise it will hold 4 x 6packs of cans plus a little extra space at the top. Couple of pics attached - flash didn't work on the camera so the lighting is crap but you'll get the idea. since then I've bought a topbox off tardme from a scooter shop in Onehunga. $45 including mounting plate. Not a Givi but not Givi price either

[timg]

Got to get some luggage soughted for it................any ideas ??

I got Givi E21 panniers on my Transalp and am very happy with them having used them for the first time going to the P/Penguin. They are reasonably small and no wider then the handlebars but hold plenty of gear. Also have a small Rjay's top box that holds a helmet. All up the E21's & mounting rack cost about $450. At some stage I'll get a set of larger Givi panniers for when we are 2 up touring. Cheers.

[ZeroIndex]

I rode me KLR for about 300kms yesterday, then jumped of straight onto a Dakar, yup the seat was nicer than the KLR, but Im finding me KLR seat is softing up a little the more I use it

Got to get some luggage soughted for it................any ideas ??

I think Fischer Price make a nice set of hard luggage for bikes

[Bass]

It's one of those things where you don't know the outcome until you try it.
I don't know if a modified one would suit me but I do know that the Corbin on DJ's machine feels good.
It's a hard one (no pun intended), but I will be spending so much money on the thing that I might as well get it right, especially since my arse is gonna be on it for the best part of 2 months continuously.

Wll I DID finally settle on a DR.
It arrives tomorrow.
The mods have started - bars and bark busters done, bash plate to be ordered today. It will receive a dose of Ohlins front and rear, probably early next year although I may get impatient and chat to Robert sooner.
I will see how many calluses the seat raises on my butt before deciding whether to change it.
Currently looking at a Wolfman duffle and extra bag to carry all the gear.

I am interested in other's opinions of appropriate riding clothing for Northern Australia around May/June. Will be 1/3 (or less) on road (seal) and 2/3 gravel, sand bulldust etc. Remember that we will be carrying extra water, fuel etc so bulky clothing cannot be stowed if we are not wearing it.

Wondering about putting a larger sole-plate on the side stand for use in the soft stuff.

Whaddayareckon?

[Bass]

Newby's impressions of adventure riding.
I put 250 miles on it yesterday and another 50 today (the current batch of DR's have imperial speedos). The mix was about 180 miles on seal and 70 miles on gravel - much of it loose, sharp and deep.

Pro's: -
This is huge fun! - why have I not done it years ago.

The handling through the tight twisties on the seal is amazing, especially since I discovered afterwards that the bike had been delivered with only 15 psi in the tyres front and rear. I begin to understand what motards are about.

The handling on well swept gravel is surprisingly good. The handling on deep loose gravel isn't. I suspect that's mostly me and that I need to go and do some work in soft sand, to get my act ogether.


Con's
The seat is appalling. That's why I only did another 50 miles today. My arse hasn't recovered from yesterday (and I expect that I will cop some flak for that remark). It has to go, but then these plans were already under way.

The shocks are mediocre and pretty wooden in the corrugations. Plans under way here too.

Intermediate tyres are well down on full knobblies in the soft, wet slippery stuff. However, that was to be expected.

First gear is pretty tall and when combined with a new, tight motor is pretty useless for slow careful negotiation of any obstacle. I expect that this will ease as the motor (which is a hymn to flexibility), frees up. Also, we will be taking some smaller front sprockets with us when we go to Oz


I am still interested in guidance as to appropriate clothing for riding in the outback.
Actually, I am interested in any input regarding riding a fair way off the beaten track in Oz - especially for any who may have been there

[NordieBoy]

Get the seat re-done by an unholstererlererer.

Then ride, ride, ride

[Transalper]

Newby's impressions of adventure riding.....

I think you pretty well got what you expected and/or expected what you got.

Definately not as easy as my CRF230 in deep loose shingle but if you take the bull by the horns and tell it where you want to go it usually responds fairly well.... (get up on the pegs and give it some gas, you ride it instead of it controling you.. something like that)

[Bass]

I think you pretty well got what you expected and/or expected what you got.

Exactly Right

Definately not as easy as my CRF230 in deep loose shingle but if you take the bull by the horns and tell it where you want to go it usually responds fairly well.... (get up on the pegs and give it some gas, you ride it instead of it controling you.. something like that

Thanks for that. I had already discovered that it tracks straighter in the loose with a bit of speed on. I struggled with the corners. However, I was in some reasonably rough stuff and hadn't seen a soul for more than an hour, so was taking it fairly quietly.
No major moments.