Buying a dual-purpose!

[HungusMaximist]

Looking to purchase a dual-purpose for road-riding/commutinganything from 250cc-650cc.

KLR, XR, DR, CRF, etc.

Budget realistically around the 3k mark, but willing to strech depedening on how much I get my CBR for.

Saw a nice Yama XT660, can't afford it, but it looks nice!

The whole debate about 250s, 400s, 650s?

Economical factor is the massive plus! Can't be bothered with rebuilds.

Discuss!

*Edit, hitting the dealerships this week to try out heaps of dual-purpose in Aucks. Any dealership/name mentions be all good!

[thommo77]

Well, I chose the 250. I looked at bigger bikes (400's etc), but Im not the biggest and the 250 can be chucked around a bit over 3-4 hours without too much strain. This is older, but looks pretty good for age, and the guy looks like he's treated it well (work, receipts etc):
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-204797387.htm

[buggsubique]

depends what sort of adv riding you're gonna swing towards mate. I ride a DR-Z 400 and did 1000km on it in one day in Jan. I put up with it on the road cos I love making a prick of myself offroad and the 400 lets me be a right obnoxious prick. If you want to travel in comfort or want to carry loads then look bigger, if you want to go off rd heaps look at the DR / XR option, otherwise look at something with a bit of fairing and bigger tank to do the road hauls on.

[CrazyFrog]

I'd go for a road legal DRZ400 as well, best bang for your buck. Reliable, economical (as long as you're not running open airbox mods with loud exhaust), but think about how much distance you'll be doing on it, as 300kms days on the crappy enduro seat can hurt.
Longer legs than 250's obviously, don't need to thrash them as much, lighter than a 650 for trail work (but less comfy).
Browse the threads here, plenty of comparisons out there.... enjoy shopping.

[buggsubique]

(as long as you're not running open airbox mods with loud exhaust)

yeah I really should go stock again... or not.

[Waihou Thumper]

but think about how much distance you'll be doing on it, as 300kms days on the crappy enduro seat can hurt.

I rode the Husaberg over 600Km in a day, sure it hurt at the end but it was from fstigue, not a sore arse. The enduro seat isn't great for touring I agree, but stand on the pegs, suck it in and drink a bit more coffee...

Even riding over 600km on the KTM, I gotta stand on the pegs, might be me but it might be the vibration, the lack of horsepower or the way you are sittingup all the time?

[buggsubique]

I'd give my left nut for a windscreen some days...buzzing along on the road, copping the breeze the whole time can wear you out over the course of a day. But then I just take a little detour through a rocky river bed, up a firebreak etc etc and it's all worth it!

[bart]

I'd give my left nut for a windscreen some days...buzzing along on the road, copping the breeze the whole time can wear you out over the course of a day. But then I just take a little detour through a rocky river bed, up a firebreak etc etc and it's all worth it!

I'm with you man. Big grins when you finally get to the good stuff.

[Padmei]

the lack of horsepower

On the 640? Man you have to ride a KLR someday - not much horsepower but oh so much smoother to ride.

[pampa]

I did around 750K on a day end of year on the south Island on my G650 and it was Ok. I was tired but it was bearable and the seat wasnt an issue may be the lack of windscreen in some parts. I'm with Buggsubique (wouldn't give anything for the windscreen tho) and what counts for me is a more manageable bike offroad but then its about what u prefer or plan to do. My previous bike had a windscreen and it was better on the road and bit heavy offroad (an F650GS Dakar).

My 1.1cent worth without discount

Cheers,
Pampa

[Padmei]

I don't honestly think you'd get anything that doesn't need a lot of work for around 3K. Still hopefully I'm wrong

[Waihou Thumper]

I don't honestly think you'd get anything that doesn't need a lot of work for around 3K. Still hopefully I'm wrong

I think you gotta spend $5000 to make it a good ADV bike

[Waihou Thumper]

On the 640? Man you have to ride a KLR someday - not much horsepower but oh so much smoother to ride.

Funny you should say that...
The first time I went for a test ride on the 640A, I thought the vibration was way too much, big time!
It took me another visit south and a longer ride, and now I love it....
It has plenty of Horsepower, cruises at 120Kph all day and off road, mirrors off, tank a little empty, it performs like a trail bike with a gorilla on top of it...

[marks]

you might get a DT230 for 3-4k

happy at 100km/hr - can do 300-500km days
as quick to 100k as DR's/KLR's
capable on just about any surface
reliable
light(ish)

you can end up feeling a bit like the motorcycle rider in Gumball Rally (if you are old enough to know what I'm waffling about) but you cant have it all

[Waihou Thumper]

you might get a DT230 for 3-4k

happy at 100km/hr - can do 300-500km days
as quick to 100k as DR's/KLR's
capable on just about any surface
reliable
light(ish)

you can end up feeling a bit like the motorcycle rider in Gumball Rally (if you are old enough to know what I'm waffling about) but you cant have it all

Finding something 450cc or more will be worth more...
There is a gap in the market for road legal 450cc and above, especially the Enduro/road legal bikes..
I found the Husaberg 450, great! Then, for the long road I went KTM 640A.
The DR, the KLR, the XT etc are all considerations. I never went for the BMW Dakar. The range, the cost and the things that go wrong when you are half-way over the Motu sort of dissuaded me....