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Thread: The "other" side of dual purpose

  1. #1
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    The "other" side of dual purpose

    Still bloody hot, not many new posts...so here goes:
    People seem to concentrate more on the "dirt" side of the dual purpose beasts, but what about their road manners?
    Been doing a day onroading....on the tarseal, ok bit of gravel, but mainly straight tarseal stuff...Of to Hawarden, across to Greta valley, Nape nape, back to Woodend.... Off to pick up take aways, buy milk, go to the shops etc...
    The bike loves the twisties, leans over like a real sportsbike... sits quite happy at 100 at 4000 rpm, but makes the rider happier a bit above that.
    It also loves the stop go city traffic....very user friendly.
    Any excuse and I am gone, "forgetting" things just so I have to go again..

    So what do I need to improve on it's commuting role?
    -topbox.
    -LOUD airhorn (Nautilus)
    -a mirror that doesn't flip over at speed
    -an oiler (Loobman or Scott..)
    -a lock
    I may also need some lighter riding gear....

    No matter what you do it will always be a compromise, either a bias to ON or to OFF road,...
    I will probably spend far more time on the road (tarseal or gravel) then in the dirt...
    So this week it will be Molesworth...,Rainbow,,and hopefully a variety of other little roads
    Opinions are like arseholes: Everybody has got one, but that doesn't mean you got to air it in public all the time....

  2. #2
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    Completely agree - went up to Otaki yesterday, beaut weather, and then instead of coming straight back, decided to go and see what was at the end of the Otaki Forks road - a nice windy sealed road that finishes with about 10km of good gravel leading to a camping site. So the days trip was about 200 km in all, with 20km (in and out again) of gravel. While the KLR is quite competent on the gravel, it's got really great manners on the sealed road, good handling and brakes, adequate power, comfy seat - just fun to ride. Yet most of the adverse comment I've read about KLRs seems to revolve around their weight and lack of power for off roading.
    Seems people are rating "adventure-type" bikes for how they handle the (maybe) 10% offroading they *might* do, while overlooking how well (or not so well) they do the on-road section.
    it's not a bad thing till you throw a KLR into the mix.
    those cheap ass bitches can do anything with ductape.
    (PostalDave on ADVrider)

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by pete376403 View Post
    Seems people are rating "adventure-type" bikes for how they handle the (maybe) 10% offroading they *might* do, while overlooking how well (or not so well) they do the on-road section.
    There is a reason for this. A road won't stop an off-road bike, but some off-road can easily stop a road bike. Same principle applies to tyres: a chunky knobby will work acceptably well on the tarmac, but a road tyre can leave you stranded off the tar. The 10% doesn't come into it. You've only got to get stuck once and it will ruin your day (and possibly that of your riding companions).

    Or put another way, pretty much any old dog will do on-road; they're all OK. But I would venture to suggest that comfort aside, the more powerful, better handling off-road bikes work better on-road, too. And comfort is something that is discussed heavily.
    Cheers,
    Colin

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve McQueen
    All racers I know aren't in it for the money. They race because it's something inside of them... They're not courting death. They're courting being alive.

  4. #4
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    The Beemer is friggin excellent. I was totally surprised how good it chomps up twisties, and is ideal for two up touring, on tar & gravel.
    Him mit der R1200 Bayerische Motoren Werke Gelende Strasse

  5. #5
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    \ Or put another way, pretty much any old dog will do on-road; they're all OK
    On that basis, everyone would end up on trials bikes. The older sort with lights. The would 'do' on road, but I wouldn't want to ride one 100km in traffic. It's all very well to say that anything will "do" on road, if one is only going to ride a few kilometres on road. But if the "on road" part of the journey is 200 or 300 km then "do" is another matter.

    Are you talking tyres , or other stuff ?

    Tyres are always going to be a comprimise. A full blown motocross knobbly would technically be usable (though illegal) on road. I wouldn't want to ride far on it though. And a block type road tyre can be surprisingly successful on mild off road stuff. But there's no way to get the best of both worlds in tyres.

    For the rest though, there's not necessarily a major conflict, assuming that neither environment is going to be a maximum speed thing.

    Off road requirements are things like protection (bash plates and such) , no sticky out bits, wide ratio gearing, simplicity , and tip-upside-down-in -the-riverability. Most of which do not serious impact on road rideability , assuming that one is not expecting pure sprotsbike race replica performance.

    And on road requirements are things like decent lights, fuel range, seat comfort, a high enough top gear (which should not be a problem with a wide ratio box).None of which should be a problem off road or on gravel.

    Handlebars can either be a comprimise, it's not too hard to find a setting that works OK for both. Or adjust them when changing over. Engine characteristics for off road are fine for road use if the "I'm a junior Rossi" complex is ignored.
    Quote Originally Posted by skidmark
    This world has lost it's drive, everybody just wants to fit in the be the norm as it were.
    Quote Originally Posted by Phil Vincent
    The manufacturers go to a lot of trouble to find out what the average rider prefers, because the maker who guesses closest to the average preference gets the largest sales. But the average rider is mainly interested in silly (as opposed to useful) “goodies” to try to kid the public that he is riding a racer

  6. #6
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    Thumbs up Road Riding on an offroader

    Quote Originally Posted by awayatc View Post
    Still bloody hot, not many new posts...so here goes: People seem to concentrate more on the "dirt" side of the dual purpose beasts, but what about their road manners?
    Been doing a day onroading....on the tarseal, ok bit of gravel, but mainly straight tarseal stuff... The bike loves the twisties, leans over like a real sportsbike... sits quite happy at 100 at 4000 rpm, but makes the rider happier a bit above that. It also loves the stop go city traffic....very user friendly.
    Any excuse and I am gone, "forgetting" things just so I have to go again..
    I will probably spend far more time on the road (tarseal or gravel) then in the dirt...
    So this week it will be Molesworth...,Rainbow,,and hopefully a variety of other little roads
    Couldn't agree more

    While I still get in a fair amount of off road stuff on the KLR, I do a fair bit on the seal too.....

    Decided to go round the block late thursday, so headed off on the KLR thruogh Arthurs Pass, stayed Thursday night at Hokitika, met up with a mate with a brand new GSX1000 and headed down the coast, Haast / Wanaka / Omarama / Tekapo / Timaru by 5pm Friday evening.... 1100km all up, and on the twisties the KLR easily kept up with the whizz bike ( Of course the straights were another story )

    And another thing. My mate on the GSX had to keep stopping to give his rear a rest due to the crap seat on that bike, the soft suspension coupled with a fair amount of foam gave a lot comfier ride on the off road bike

    When are you off up Molesworth? , I'd be keen

    Give me a text or buzz on 0274 342 372 if you're looking for someone to head through with......

    Cheers, Stu
    My KLR thinks it's a Hyundai - running happily at the red-line hour after hour.....

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ixion View Post
    On that basis, everyone would end up on trials bikes.
    Within the scope of "dual purpose" bikes - and all the qualification that implies - anything will do on road.
    Cheers,
    Colin

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve McQueen
    All racers I know aren't in it for the money. They race because it's something inside of them... They're not courting death. They're courting being alive.

  8. #8
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    Bikes generally have a enormous capability but they are usually restricted by the capability of the rider! John.

  9. #9
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    Eeeek
    I see the makings of a Dual Purpose slap down Bitch Fight emerging here.
    Bring it on ladies.
    Dr's suck!, KTM's are,errrr KTM's, and weido's ride KLR's
    As for Scrambler's (except for when they touch water, go on the beach, or try to cross ya grandma's front lawn.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by tri boy View Post
    Eeeek
    I see the makings of a Dual Purpose slap down Bitch Fight emerging here.
    Bring it on ladies.
    Dr's suck!, KTM's are,errrr KTM's, and weido's ride KLR's
    As for Scrambler's (except for when they touch water, go on the beach, or try to cross ya grandma's front lawn.
    So to summarise: Transalps, XRs, XTs and TTs for everybody? Sounds like my garage.
    Nobody knows what human life is, why we come, why we go,
    so why then do I know, I will see you in far off places?
    Stephen Patrick Morrissey

  11. #11
    I'm mostly a gravel road rider...I have off road bikes for off road,and a trials bike makes the nasty stuff fun.So I am on the road side of adventure - I ride dirt orientated bikes because they do the job well.....upright seating position,feet under the bum,wide bars,a motor that will pull well from low revs,made to rear wheel steer.

    But I don't think they are the ideal gravel road bike - some disadvantages are a high CG,rear weight bias,soft suspension.To me the better set up is a more ''classic'' style.....streettracker is the best way to describe it these days.Seeing as there is not much available on the market I will have to make my own.I have a project,but it is a long way off....so the next bike I get will be something I can turn into a backroad/gravel road bike.

    Actually the best gravel road bike I ever had is in my avatar - note the low CG,more forward weight bias,and a long 58in wheelbase.

  12. #12
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    Uh huh.

    XB12X is a great handling sprotsbike that happens to accommodate dirt roads too.



    Yes oldrider - xb12x = Ulysses

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Dave View Post
    Uh huh.

    XB12X is a great handling sprotsbike that happens to accommodate dirt roads too.

    Yes oldrider - xb12x = Ulysses
    What have they done to protect the belt drive from being damaged by the small stones and dust etc?

    The Harley that I rode the other week and alluded to in another thread, was ridden by it's owners back home from Wanaka through the Danseys Pass last week end!

    I was impressed, not because I didn't think Harleys can do that but I didn't think that the owners would, especially on "that" model Harley, it would have killed me to do it!

    I checked out the belt drive and it appeared fine, no obvious damage that I could see.

    Why am I telling you this story?

    Because the excitement expressed by both rider and pillion on their somewhat difficult introduction to gravel on a motorcycle was so great that they now want to do more of it!

    I suggested that they start looking at Buell's Ulysses or xb12x as I wasn't sure if they were the same bike.

    Anyway, if they enjoyed their introduction to venture biking on their Harley, I am sure they would love it on a Buell xb12x Ulysses.

    They have gone off home now, planning their next offensive, talking about getting a venture bike, leaving it at their batch and commuting back and forth on the Harley!

    Oh the dreams that motorcycles conjure up, good luck to them, we may have some new riding partners.

    Personally, I think it is exciting too. Cheers John.

  14. #14
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    I've been thinking along similar lines lately, and now want to ride a Triumph Scrambler.
    I thought elections were decided by angry posts on social media. - F5 Dave

  15. #15
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    Pleased to see different owners enjoy multiple purposes on a multitude of bikes,and defend that choice with a passion.Good on ya
    It would be a dull world if we all would be the same, buy the same bikes and do the same things...
    Dual purpose/multi purpose/ adventure can be defined in various ways.

    Me I am getting ready for my own little Molesworth adventure tomorow on my flying horse....
    happy trails
    Opinions are like arseholes: Everybody has got one, but that doesn't mean you got to air it in public all the time....

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