The "other" side of dual purpose

[Transalper]

DR650 two up with gear, unless you and your passenger are small people I wouldn't be too keen on that, although we did feel it was better for us when we went two-up than the F650 which was uncomfortable. Everyone is different though, and what works for some doesn't for others.
Transalp is sweet two up with gear. As I say, I'd like to give a KLR a try sometime. The KLR650 is said to be comfortable enough and already has the Fuel range straight out of the box. I think a fork brace is the main mod spoken of for a KLR. I don't mess with my engines.

[NordieBoy]

That is impressive !!
If you don't mind me asking, what have you done to the basic bike ... and what does it cost to get a basic DR650SE to that stage. (PM me if its a long list .. if you'd rather)

It's not a long list at all

All that was done to the bike in the pic are the tank, seat, screen and ScottOiler would have run about $600-700nz.
If you're short then that'd be enough.

I'm not short and I like tinkering

The seat, dash, carb, exhaust, bars, screen, forks, shock have all born witness to my ineptitude with tools.

The stuff I've done is covered in some detail HERE.

[pete376403]

I'd like to give a KLR a try sometime. The KLR650 is said to be comfortable enough and already has the Fuel range straight out of the box. I think a fork brace is the main mod spoken of for a KLR. I don't mess with my engines.

The '08 KLR has thicker forks than previous models so the brace may not be required. I've certainly not noticed any requirement for one (so far)
With the '08 the unthinkable happened - Kawasaki made note of things that people were complaining about with the KLRs and fixed most of them.

[Taz]

[QUOTE=Big Dave;1387963]There's a scale./QUOTE]

Here's my scale

[marks]

Here's my scale

3 bikes is about right

1 x trail bike
1 x lightish trail/adventure bike
1 x mile eater

[cooneyr]

Here's my scale

No need to rub it in. If you could only keep one bike what would you have?

Cheers R

[Transalper]

A DR650, after trying a fair few and having multiple regoed bikes in the garage I have made that choice and trimed down already.

The CRF that still survives in my garage as an extra is just a bonus, but if there were to be only one with my mix of sealed roads and the rest...DR650.

[warewolf]

3 bikes is about right

Snap!

No need to rub it in. If you could only keep one bike what would you have?

No question, KTM 9x0 Adventure - if two-up is a factor - or KTM 640 Adventure - if it isn't. I would take a 9x0 anywhere I'd take my 640, but I'd want more friends to help pick it up, and a bigger tyre budget to make more use of that motor and less chance of having to push it.

[Taz]

No need to rub it in. If you could only keep one bike what would you have?

Cheers R

Tough question - But if that were the case I'd get an F800GS. But for the price of an F800GS you can have 3 older bikes.........

BMW was 7k
XT was 7700 (new in 2005)
KDX was 4500
all up that's only slightly more than the price of a KTM640 Adv and the XT does every thing the KTM can do without the KTM's maintenance expenses.

[Motu]

Three bikes seems to be the way to go.I have the TLR200 for serious off road you wouldn't want to do on a real dirt bike.The DT230 for real dual purpose and the XT600 to eat road point to point.


If I could only choose one bike it would be the DT230 - it can be a real dirt bike if stripped down,a little heavy for it's size,but still lighter than an aircooled 250 trail bike.For the rest of the stuff it can out perform all the 650 class thumpers in all areas,they just don't see where it's gone.But it's not the bike you would spend a week doing a quick tour of the South Island on.

[cooneyr]

No argument that for the price of "the 1" bike you could probably afford 3 but the question was if you could only have one. I with WW on this one - KTM 9x0 adv cause my wife is starting to enjoy two up riding even though the DR650 doesn't.

Cheers R

[warewolf]

all up that's only slightly more than the price of a KTM640 Adv and the XT does every thing the KTM can do without the KTM's maintenance expenses.

You couldn't buy those three new for the price of a new KTM, nor used for the price of a used KTM. And having multiple bikes means multiple contributions to the ACC every year, to the tune of what, $225 per bike - more than my car!

Maintenance expenses? Don't you change the oil & filters on your XT?

[marks]

If I could only choose one bike it would be the DT230. But it's not the bike you would spend a week doing a quick tour of the South Island on.

thats exactly what I plan to do on my one in a week or two....

I have my reservations as well but I don't got nuffin else to take.

[Rosie]

thats exactly what I plan to do on my one in a week or two....

I have my reservations as well but I don't got nuffin else to take.

Have you done a cheap nasty seat remodel on it yet? I'm still amazed at how comfy the sherpa's seat turned out.

[marks]

Have you done a cheap nasty seat remodel on it yet? I'm still amazed at how comfy the sherpa's seat turned out.

Not yet

I'm concentrating on building solid mounts for my new ventura soft panniers. Given my temporary bag mount got pretty pretzeled when I inspected the undergrowth on EEE I'm making the new mounts SOLID.

The sheepskin makes a big improvement over the standard seat anyway (and makes a great pillow case filler).

cheers

Mark