Some basic questions for you adventurers..

[Nagash]

Wow, never seen this section of the forum before..

Anyway, i'm looking at getting my full license bike in about a months time and after 3 or so years or riding cruisers of all varietys of engine out put i'm actually looking at a dual purpose bike..

I just have a few questions that'll sort of let me know what to expect.

The bikes that have caught my eye are the Suzuki DRZ400SM, Honda Transalp, And the Kawazaki KLR 650 or KLX 400.. the DRZ being the one that's catching most of my attention.

I'm planning to do mostly commuting, with alot of on road touring, and just little bits of off road in the summer, just opoening up my options of where I can take the bike.

Things i'd like to know are like.. will it comfortable doing long distances on road or would I need a new seat? Would they be able to keep up around 120+ without rapeing it, and how off road exactly could something like the DRZ get with it's stock tyres.. they don't look too knobbly to me.. Cruiser logic, Knobbly = good off road, Smooth.. not so much...

If I took it out in the wet would it slide around like a.. well cruiser on ice.

Just general things to first getting into dual purpose riding.

Any and all advice would be much appreciated. Sniggers and jabs will be taken with a grain of salt..

Cheers guy

[FJRider]

By comparison to cruiser bike seats, those bikes you mentioned will have firmer seats. But unless you intend going long distance/long hours, it may not be too much of a problem. Build up to longer trips gradually, and you will get more accustomed to the firmer "feel".
Tyre choice is the answer to possible weather related "issues", but most motorcycle tyre outlets, have a good selection of tyre types to choose from. With (usually) good advice as to which would be best for you. There are good duel purpose tyres on the market.
120 km/h should'nt be a problem, depending on sprocket sizes that have been fitted by the previous owner. Not a biggie to gear it up a bit, especially if highway use, will be more than off road use.
They are good for commuteing, as they are narrow (good for lane splitting) and good low gear grunt. MANY never see dirt, with only ROAD tyres.

[Transalper]

The DRZ400SM is a motard, they messed with the suspenson and wheel etc etc to make a big shift toward sealed street riding so do not expect it to handle the shingle and more off road places as well as the 21inch front wheel, full suspension bikes.
Just as well you plan to do mostly sealed road stuff on it.

As FJRider said, don't worry about tyres, all the bikes you speak of can have sealed road orientated tyres.

[pete376403]

'08KLR650 is a bit more road oriented than (say) the DR650. That means its got a bigger tank, waaay better seat, better lights and brakes. the downside is it is a bit heavier.
Look at the amount of road riding you'll be doing compared to the dirt riding

[Big Dave]

You don't 'need' a 21" - or even a 19" - wheel to ride on a dirt road.

You only 'need' them to ride fast on the dirt.

Any of those motard style or road oriented adv bikes make fabulous urban weapons too.
Everywhere I ride in Auckland is becoming a maze of chicanes and speed bumps.

Long travel suspension and upright ergos make it all fun.

[NordieBoy]

Get the DRZ400SM.
Get a spare set of wheels.
Ride.

[marks]

'08KLR650 is a bit more road oriented than (say) the DR650. That means its got a bigger tank, waaay better seat, better lights and brakes. the downside is it is a bit heavier.
Look at the amount of road riding you'll be doing compared to the dirt riding

Even though you say the klr is more road orientated is it still enjoyable to ride gently though tracks like the Karapoti, Porika, Mangatapu?

The DT230 is great in the 'adventure' parts of the ride but the lack of wind protection and cramped riding position makes the road bits tedious.....

[Motu]

The DT230 is great in the 'adventure' parts of the ride but the lack of wind protection and cramped riding position makes the road bits tedious.....

A big NO on the cramped riding position from me - it's perfect for my build.Any straight bit of road more than 500 metres long is less than enjoyable on the DT230....but I tend to stay away from roads like that.

[pete376403]

Even though you say the klr is more road orientated is it still enjoyable to ride gently though tracks like the Karapoti, Porika, Mangatapu?..

Oh shit yes, and not just gently. Capital Coast Adventure was no trouble, and I've done Danseys, Hakataramea, Thompsons Track/Road easy. The only reason I haven't done a lot more off roading comes down to the usal time / money thing (if I've got one I haven't got the other)
The tyres you use will probably have more bearing on the difficulty of the ride than anything else. For the CCA I had full knobblies at each end, on the Brass (which is where I got on the other tracks) I had a Michelin Sirac on the back and the standard Dunlop K750 on the front - that combo was a little less confidence-inspiring in thick gravel, and downright hopeless in deep mud.

I notice you're in Wellington - come and have a look and a ride if you like.

[marks]

A big NO on the cramped riding position from me - it's perfect for my build.

I put bar risers on which helped but the seat footpeg distance is a bit tight for my 6' and my knees (which haven't aged well..) complain after a few hours.

Any straight bit of road more than 500 metres long is less than enjoyable on the DT230....but I tend to stay away from roads like that.

My DT is fine on any road longer than 500 meters as long as its on a trailer

Oh shit yes, and not just gently. Capital Coast Adventure was no trouble, and I've done Danseys, Hakataramea, Thompsons Track/Road easy. The only reason I haven't done a lot more off roading comes down to the usal time / money thing (if I've got one I haven't got the other)
The tyres you use will probably have more bearing on the difficulty of the ride than anything else. For the CCA I had full knobblies at each end, on the Brass (which is where I got on the other tracks) I had a Michelin Sirac on the back and the standard Dunlop K750 on the front - that combo was a little less confidence-inspiring in thick gravel, and downright hopeless in deep mud.

I notice you're in Wellington - come and have a look and a ride if you like.

Thanks for the offer - will pm you about popping over for a look

cheers


Mark

[Motu]

I put bar risers on which helped but the seat footpeg distance is a bit tight for my 6' and my knees (which haven't aged well..) complain after a few hours.

Now the DT230 is going again (after 18 months!!!) switching between bikes is interesting.The bars on the DT230 seem much higher than the XT600,even though they are the same bend - but standing the lower footpegs on the XT make the bars higher than standing on the DT.Which suits me as I prefer to be over the bars more off road.

Different bodies....different bikes - why isn't everything all the same?

[clint640]

I'm planning to do mostly commuting, with alot of on road touring, and just little bits of off road in the summer, just opoening up my options of where I can take the bike.
:

Although the DRZ400SM's are a bloody good deal right now & would make a great commuter, I think most of the 400's are probably a bit short-range for you intended use as above, although with a re-do of the seat, a bigger tank & maybe a little windscreen many of the lighter machines can be made into pretty servicable tourers if you like modifyin' stuff.

The KLR650 & the Transalp would also commute well & be much better touring machines. Other bikes with a similar focus you should look at are the BMW F650GS (Dakar) & the Yamaha XT660.

Cheers
Clint

[NordieBoy]

At the Nelson Motorcycle Centre.

Brand new in All Black.