Took one for a ride today!

[NordieBoy]

Yes thats the one I saw there the other day. I'm going to go back and try it out if I can. It hasn't done many K's for an 05 model. I guess it will be pretty similar to the latest model, so will give me a good idea what they are like.
"Maruaders" !! Not sure if they would like that name or not ... lol

That's only $1000 less than a brand new one.

[Gizzit]

That's only $1000 less than a brand new one.

Yes I realise that. I won't be buying that bike, but will let them know I want to try it, with view of buying a new bike, if I decided I like the DR. It will be interesting to compare it against the 06 KLR I rode the other day.
Cheers.

[nallac]

What is involved in derestricting ? Do you mean a better muffler, air filter, carb jetting ?

Pretty much it.
open up the top of the air box ,(cut out most of it actually)

grind out the weld in the exhaust manifold (was amazed how big the weld was,must of been restricting the flow by 15-20%)

Rejet carbie with Dyna Jet kit (has different needle aswell)

I never changed my muffler as i couldn't justify the cost for one......
(actually more like the wife couldn't).

The above made a hugh difference to the power and a big hit to economy.
It made it so much more fun to thrash that the trade of in economy didn't worry me.
I went from about 20k's a litre to 15k's a litre.
Would run the tank dry at about 160K's.
But i never did find out what the economy was like riding it sedately...
Just couldn't help myself ,i was using it every day to work.

By the way i have never riden a Klr650 but i think the new ones are butt ugly
look to top heavy around the headlight tank area.

[pete376403]

By the way i have never riden a Klr650 but i think the new ones are butt ugly
look to top heavy around the headlight tank area.

The fairing / screen / side panels work very well from the riders POV. Couldn't give a shit what it looks like to others. I usually attend the Brass Monkey and when riding in the SI in mid winter, appearance becomes (very) secondary to how it keeps sub zero air off me. I'm hoping the KLR fairing works as well as the barn door on the front of the GS1100GK

[carver]

Two actually. The first was an early 89 model that carried me around WA while I took six mths off to explore that huge state.(later I bought a new KLX650).
I have also owned three XR's of differing capacity 500RB, 600RE, and two 250RE's. Ooop, thats four.
When you finally wish to ride these bikes in the manner they were built for, then you will be in a position to comment. Some how I think you don't even own a tent, let alone a full camping set up.
Kiss your arse?
I'd have to wait till or your little boyfriends had finnished

haha...yeah, fair call..
fuck tents man, i just keep riding..
i still think the DR is a much better adventure bike than the KLR...

[Qkchk:Me]

Yes I'm certainly looking at a 650 adventure style bike. I'm not interested in real off road riding. 90% will be sealed road, with 10% gravel, dirt road, with maybe some easy trail. The 08 KLR is my intended bike, but am open to trying others around that kind of price range. The DR and the KLR are very reasonably priced.

Me and Qkkid are in the same boat at the mo. Probably would like to do more light trail/firebreak/paper roads etc..... Have been looking at the DR650 since everone who has one just love them! Not trying to hi-jack the thread but how would a DRZ400E be like in comparision to the DR650? Ive heard they are better offroad than the 650 but are they any good on the road? (Would like to buy a motard kit for one as well if was the right bike)

BTW Gizzit, good job on the write up. I look forward to reading your next report.

[NordieBoy]

Me and Qkkid are in the same boat at the mo. Probably would like to do more light trail/firebreak/paper roads etc..... Have been looking at the DR650 since everone who has one just love them! Not trying to hi-jack the thread but how would a DRZ400E be like in comparision to the DR650? Ive heard they are better offroad than the 650 but are they any good on the road? (Would like to buy a motard kit for one as well if was the right bike)

The DRZ will be better off-road and fanging it on the road but it's taller than the 650 and the 650 has the nice lazy engine that never sounds stressed.

It's like comparing 600 and 1000cc road bikes.
The 600 will be better in the twisties but will need to be kept on the boil more whereas the 1000 will pull from whatever revs you want.
Longer distances you'd want to be on the bigger bike.

Another plus for the DR650 is it can be lowered easily.

[GaZBur]

Me and Qkkid are in the same boat at the mo. Probably would like to do more light trail/firebreak/paper roads etc..... Have been looking at the DR650 since everone who has one just love them! Not trying to hi-jack the thread but how would a DRZ400E be like in comparision to the DR650? Ive heard they are better offroad than the 650 but are they any good on the road? (Would like to buy a motard kit for one as well if was the right bike)

BTW Gizzit, good job on the write up. I look forward to reading your next report.

You asked a similar question here so I put my view there.

[Qkchk:Me]

You asked a similar question here so I put my view there.

Yeah just trying a different angle and was interested in the write up in this thread....... me bad.

[Gizzit]

Yeah just trying a different angle and was interested in the write up in this thread....... me bad.

Yes , regarding the 400, I hadn't considered that bike, as most of my riding will be on sealed roads, with some gravel, and much less ..dirt/dry clay. My need is more for using it on long haul rides on the rode, and commuting sometimes (wouldn't want my scooter sulking !! )
From whats been said the 400 is far better off road than the 650, so I guess it really depends on what you need. Maybe the 400 might be a bit tough to ride a long distance on the seal ... ? Someone will have done it for sure though
Hopefully I will get to ride the DR650 this arvo, so will report back.
Cheers,
Grant.

[Qkchk:Me]

Hopefully I will get to ride the DR650 this arvo, so will report back.
Cheers,
Grant.

Ha! Im just trying to organise the same thing but with a 400........

Would love to read what you think of the DR650..... and how much work it would be offroad..

We would be looking at 20% Road the rest gravel and as said ealier paper roads/firebreaks etc... However the hubby would commute on his but he woill probably buy a 650 as weight isnt an issue for him.

[Gizzit]

Ha! Im just trying to organise the same thing but with a 400........

Would love to read what you think of the DR650..... and how much work it would be offroad..

We would be looking at 20% Road the rest gravel and as said ealier paper roads/firebreaks etc... However the hubby would commute on his but he woill probably buy a 650 as weight isnt an issue for him.

Well ... I did get to ride a DR650SE this afternoon. It was an 05 model, in good nick with low k's. All of the riding was done on the seal, just like the ride I did on the KLR. Sorry I can't answer any questions regarding even gravel riding on either bike, but lots of others will be able to comment on what they have found.

First off, I found that like the KLR, I could get the ball's of both feet on the ground .. (who's ever heard of balls on ya feet ?? and I mean ... and do girls have them on their feet .... ?? - but I digress!).

The DR felt light enough to manage easily, and the tank/seat was narrow, so the whole bike felt narrower than the KLR. having said that, I didn't find the KLR to be bulky at all. The seating position, while quite good, was different to the KLR. The KLR certainly felt more relaxed and natural to me, but obviously it's a personal thing, and dependant on your size, limb length, etc.
The controls were just the usual basic setup that most bikes share. There was a speedo with trip odometer, and a separate small display with neutral light, turn indicator light, and I think a high beam indicator light. The display unit was a little difficult to see, as it was hidden by the clutch cable that crossed over the top of the unit.
I found, like the KLR, that first gear was reasonably tall, which I thought was a bit strange, given the dual purpose nature of the bikes.
However, after a clunk into first, I was away with quite a suprising amount of get up and go! The clutch was good, and the gearbox was pretty smooth.
In town, in 50K zones, I found 3rd gear was just right unless having to slow down too much for tin tops, when 2nd was happy to chug along ok.
Acceleration was really good for a single banger 650. I would say it is a little quicker accelerating perhaps than the 06 KLR, but would need to ride them back to back, to be sure. 120Kmh came up pretty easy, and I imagine that cruising around that speed would be easy. Like the KLR, it didn't feel stressed at all, and also like the KLR ... wandered on up to 140kmh quite quickly with a twist of the wrist.
What I did notice fairly quickly, compared to the KLR, was that there was a lot more wind felt on the DR. The screen on the bike I rode was standard, and this is virtually nothing. This, with the shape of the tank/radiator cowl, meant that it didn't provide anywhere near the amount of wind protection that the 06 KLR did. The KLR comes with a standard small screen, and tank/cowl shape, that I found, provided a reasonable amount of protection from the elements.
The handling of the DR was good. It was reasonably easy to flick from side to side, and felt stable through some twisties, and only requiring a single finger brake pull, to scrub speed off quickly. This was a major difference to the 06 KLR, which needed a good handfull, and the rear brake as well. In the same kind of situations, the braking power of the DR was a much better and easy to control, only requiring the use of the front brake.
Both the KLR, and today the DR gave a slightly vague feeling in the front wheel, while accelerating from around the 120 to the 140kmh mark. having said that, this is maybe more about my unfamiliararity with this style of bike, and/or may be a normal trait for a skinny tyre on a 21" wheel.

As for the seat ..... even the 06 KLR was a better shape and size than the DR in my opinion. I know I would find it bloody hard after an hour. While the foam in the KLR was too soft, and would also be painful I think, after an hour, the shape/width was better for me, so new denser foam would cure that.
I know if I bought either bike, ... I'd be off to Tauranga to get a replacement 'Rider" seat. (It will be interesting to try the 08 KLR, and see how much improved it is in the braking, and seat dept's).

On balance I found the DR to be a very good bike, and very good value for money, especially if you got a $K off it by buying during the Summer Fest deal.
However ...... for me .... I'm pretty certain at this stage that it's going to be a new 08 KLR650, especially if it is better than the 06 model I rode.

There will always be people that prefer the DR, or the KLR for whatever reasons. Either way you can't loose. They are both excellent value for money in my opinion.

[Skinny_Birdman]

After riding Lugzy23's '06 KLR during the Dust Butt, I'd be thinking seriously about a KLR if I was to replace the Transalp. I didn't get to ride it on the seal, but I thought it pretty suweeet on the gravel, with a nice riding position, and waaaay easier to ride quick than the much heavier Tranny, although the Tranny is smoother and more comfy. It also appears that the KLR is quite economical on gas, compared to both the Transalp and Nordie's (modified) DR650.

Anyway, it certainly completed the 1000km without any worse dramas than the small topbox mount issue, and apparently the US Army use them, so they can't be completely shit.... Oh wait, perhaps the US Army thing isn't the best recommendation....

[nerdneh]

Well ... I did get to ride a DR650SE this afternoon. It was an 05 model, in good nick with low k's. All of the riding was done on the seal, just like the ride I did on the KLR. Sorry I can't answer any questions regarding even gravel riding on either bike, but lots of others will be able to comment on what they have found.

First off, I found that like the KLR, I could get the ball's of both feet on the ground .. (who's ever heard of balls on ya feet ?? and I mean ... and do girls have them on their feet .... ?? - but I digress!).

The DR felt light enough to manage easily, and the tank/seat was narrow, so the whole bike felt narrower than the KLR. having said that, I didn't find the KLR to be bulky at all. The seating position, while quite good, was different to the KLR. The KLR certainly felt more relaxed and natural to me, but obviously it's a personal thing, and dependant on your size, limb length, etc.
The controls were just the usual basic setup that most bikes share. There was a speedo with trip odometer, and a separate small display with neutral light, turn indicator light, and I think a high beam indicator light. The display unit was a little difficult to see, as it was hidden by the clutch cable that crossed over the top of the unit.
I found, like the KLR, that first gear was reasonably tall, which I thought was a bit strange, given the dual purpose nature of the bikes.
However, after a clunk into first, I was away with quite a suprising amount of get up and go! The clutch was good, and the gearbox was pretty smooth.
In town, in 50K zones, I found 3rd gear was just right unless having to slow down too much for tin tops, when 2nd was happy to chug along ok.
Acceleration was really good for a single banger 650. I would say it is a little quicker accelerating perhaps than the 06 KLR, but would need to ride them back to back, to be sure. 120Kmh came up pretty easy, and I imagine that cruising around that speed would be easy. Like the KLR, it didn't feel stressed at all, and also like the KLR ... wandered on up to 140kmh quite quickly with a twist of the wrist.
What I did notice fairly quickly, compared to the KLR, was that there was a lot more wind felt on the DR. The screen on the bike I rode was standard, and this is virtually nothing. This, with the shape of the tank/radiator cowl, meant that it didn't provide anywhere near the amount of wind protection that the 06 KLR did. The KLR comes with a standard small screen, and tank/cowl shape, that I found, provided a reasonable amount of protection from the elements.
The handling of the DR was good. It was reasonably easy to flick from side to side, and felt stable through some twisties, and only requiring a single finger brake pull, to scrub speed off quickly. This was a major difference to the 06 KLR, which needed a good handfull, and the rear brake as well. In the same kind of situations, the braking power of the DR was a much better and easy to control, only requiring the use of the front brake.
Both the KLR, and today the DR gave a slightly vague feeling in the front wheel, while accelerating from around the 120 to the 140kmh mark. having said that, this is maybe more about my unfamiliararity with this style of bike, and/or may be a normal trait for a skinny tyre on a 21" wheel.

As for the seat ..... even the 06 KLR was a better shape and size than the DR in my opinion. I know I would find it bloody hard after an hour. While the foam in the KLR was too soft, and would also be painful I think, after an hour, the shape/width was better for me, so new denser foam would cure that.
I know if I bought either bike, ... I'd be off to Tauranga to get a replacement 'Rider" seat. (It will be interesting to try the 08 KLR, and see how much improved it is in the braking, and seat dept's).

On balance I found the DR to be a very good bike, and very good value for money, especially if you got a $K off it by buying during the Summer Fest deal.
However ...... for me .... I'm pretty certain at this stage that it's going to be a new 08 KLR650, especially if it is better than the 06 model I rode.

There will always be people that prefer the DR, or the KLR for whatever reasons. Either way you can't loose. They are both excellent value for money in my opinion.

On my 3rd DR650 the seat on 07 small tailight model is most definitely a more comfortable compound than the previous models.

[Gizzit]

On my 3rd DR650 the seat on 07 small tailight model is most definitely a more comfortable compound than the previous models.

Thats good! I wasn't able to try the latest models of either the KLR or the DR, so could only go on what I was able to ride. I am sure from what I have read, that both bikes are improved for this year.
You are obviously a real fan of the DR, being on your 3rd. Glad you enjoy it!
Cheers,
Grant.