990 Adventure for sale.

**marks** · 27th October 2009, 07:08

Originally Posted by Crisis management

No, not anyone I know but it's a small world so we may see the bike around.

a synopsis please of why the 'holy grail of adventure bikes' was not for you?

and how do you compare your 640 to your old dr650?

**cooneyr** · 27th October 2009, 12:18

Originally Posted by marks

....and how do you compare your 950 to your old dr650?

Just back from a 1500km weekend with lots of seal, gravel, dirt, mud, river crossings, steep hills, riding in the dark over a track that was rutted, bog holes, steep gravel climbs and decents, wash outs, drop offs over bed rock steps yadda yadda yadda. All this will carrying full panniers and a tent and bed roll straped on the tail rack. For me (I'm 6'2" and 110kg) the 950 is THE bike to have. It went like a dream and took it all in its stride. Yes I would have been easier/faster on a road bike on the road, an enduro bike on the tracks and a 650ish on the gravel but for a do it all bike it's awesome.

Sorry off topic but this was just too good of an opportunity to rave! I had a great weekend despite the 380kms of riding up the seal in the pissing rain yesterday afternoon.

Cheers R

**junkmanjoe** · 27th October 2009, 16:01

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Just back from a 1500km weekend with lots of seal, gravel, dirt, mud, river crossings, steep hills, riding in the dark over a track that was rutted, bog holes, steep gravel climbs and decents, wash outs, drop offs over bed rock steps yadda yadda yadda. All this will carrying full panniers and a tent and bed roll straped on the tail rack. the 950 is THE bike to have.
Cheers R

Sounds like poetry in motion......

.................

JMJ

**Crisis management** · 27th October 2009, 20:36

Originally Posted by marks

a synopsis please of why the 'holy grail of adventure bikes' was not for you?

and how do you compare your 640 to your old dr650?

This won't get me into any trouble will it???

Ok, Holy Grailers to this side, defenders of the DR to that side…..

The first comment I have is more to do with the nature of Adventure riding, the huge amount of compromise that’s involved trying to find the perfect bike or least annoying compromised bit. For me (fairly obviously now) the ideal bike is around a 650 as I like to be able to take myself anywhere I want and to be able to extract myself afterwards so big, heavy bikes don’t work for me, I only weight 70 kgs and can’t pick the bastards up. The compromise really bits because of living in Auckland and the road distances that need to be covered to get anywhere interesting, that’s how I ended up with the 990.

Anywho to get onto some sort of topic, the DR650 was great for of road and reasonable for on road with limited suspension, seat and range but at a price that makes it a good basic bike, it coped averagely with the off road stuff but didn’t really set my heart singing due to the build quality and basic construction.

The 990, bought to cover road miles better but overpowered me in the off road stuff. It is a great road bike and long distance consumer, eats gravel with a howling exhaust and on open terrain is great off road. The limitations I encountered were in tight roads and tight off road conditions. The bike is capable of all this stuff but I found it hard work to change direction (lots of weight to move around) and limiting in the places I could go safely as I couldn’t pick it up. The big annoyances for me were the fuel range, the slightly twitchy fueling off idle and the wind buffeting, the last being areal pain in the arse. So, lots of fun on the road, on gravel and open fire roads stuff but not so fun in tight stuff.

I like doing the tight stuff…..this point is what got me back to the mid sized bikes.

The 640 covers most bases, it’s great off road and I can safely take it anywhere solo so I have my freedom back. The fuel range is good, the suspension wonderful and the power adequate, about the same as the DR bottom end with a bit more up top. Road miles still hurt a bit and I can see me choosing carefully which route I will take, having said that, the last 42 crossing event I left Auckland at 6, got to National Park at 10, did Fishers and the 42nd and was a bit tired but not sore that night.

As I said at the start, it’s about compromise and a couple of good examples are the following; I’m doing the Far North adventure ride in December and know I can have a decent go at the trail bike part of that ride on the 640, it’s the perfect bike for this.
Conversely, I was thinking of doing the Marlborough safari next year but would rather have the 990 for that due to the distance to cover to get there, the 640 needs more time to travel to make the trip enjoyable.

So, all good bikes in part, choose your poison.

**warewolf** · 29th October 2009, 20:52

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Conversely, I was thinking of doing the Marlborough safari next year but would rather have the 990 for that due to the distance to cover to get there, the 640 needs more time to travel to make the trip enjoyable.

Amen, but it's oh so enjoyable

The hard part about WLG/AKL on a 640 is it is such a long tiring day, 'cos of all the gravel detours along the way. Definitely NOT a case of the shortest most direct route.

Most of the reasons you list are exactly why I never went down the 950 route in the first place. Can't say I've regretted that decision. Would love to have one for everywhere I'd take a soft-roader, but I simply don't have the skillz or the brawn to take such a big beastie trail-riding.

**Padmei** · 30th October 2009, 17:43

Great synopsis Crisis. How about the vibes from the 640? Ridden a few & the owners don't notice them anymore? Is your experience the same?

I do love watching the WP suspenders go to work on ruff stuff. They look horn.

**Waihou Thumper** · 31st October 2009, 03:28

The 'vibes' from the 640A. The first time I rode one, I thought OMG, that is bad news, all the way down through my boots...The second time I rode one, it wasn't noticeable really, get it into top gear and she is smoothe.
Once my hands go to sleep, everything is fine after that...

These bikes certainly aren't as bad as the early ones as they have the counter thingy in them now...

The WP suspension is great, it has saved me a few times....

**Waihou Thumper** · 31st October 2009, 03:35

Originally Posted by Crisis management

The 640 covers most bases, it’s great off road and I can safely take it anywhere solo so I have my freedom back. The fuel range is good,

Conversely, I was thinking of doing the Marlborough safari next year but would rather have the 990 for that due to the distance to cover to get there, the 640 needs more time to travel to make the trip enjoyable.

So, all good bikes in part, choose your poison.

The 640A, im my mind is perfect for the longer trips and covering the distance. 1000Km days aren't an issue, metal roads and tar seal. I do take breaks and stand on the pegs, and as long as my Ipod still has the life in it, I keep going.
That is the thing with the fuel range, you tend to go further afield and stop less often, I think that is a bonus.
The 640 may take more time to get there, but not by much, and at the end of the day, you will still have gas in the tank and won't be walking with a can....

I have had both bikes and what was quoted before is right on the button, but having said that, I often think what would it be like on the 990 riding this track etc and am glad I have the smaller beastie.
I ride frequently with A 990A and have to hang back sometimes, not much fun getting peppered with chunks of mother Earth....

**Crisis management** · 31st October 2009, 16:02

Originally Posted by Padmei

Great synopsis Crisis. How about the vibes from the 640? Ridden a few & the owners don't notice them anymore? Is your experience the same?

I do love watching the WP suspenders go to work on ruff stuff. They look horn.

Not known as the paint shaker for nothing (Mark's a bastard)....yes they do vibrate but from my brief reading about them careful tuning, chain adjustment etc will get rid of a lot of them. Ask me again in 6 months.

The vibration however is simply a part of the bike rather than a problem, its the same as DRs blow 3rd gear....part of the experience.

**Waihou Thumper** · 31st October 2009, 16:04

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Not known as the paint shaker for nothing (Mark's a bastard)....yes they do vibrate but from my brief reading about them careful tuning, chain adjustment etc will get rid of a lot of them. Ask me again in 6 months.

The vibration however is simply a part of the bike rather than a problem, its the same as DRs blow 3rd gear....part of the experience.

yes, it isn't an issue, just a nice trait....WHEN it stops doing that, worry....

**junkmanjoe** · 31st October 2009, 16:31

ride what you want..dosnt mater what other people say...

at least you cant hear it passing cars 3 km in front....

**Fluffy Cat** · 31st October 2009, 16:52

Good thread the 640a looks a cool bike. And you guys are right the fuel range on the 990 is ummm....crap. I managed 200k's on a full tank before the warning light came on, the reserve will get me 40 to 50k,s more but its still bad. Then again it was good fun burning it. Could do with a 30l tank. Then it would be a bitch to pick up. Hou much does 30l of gas weigh?.

**Waihou Thumper** · 31st October 2009, 17:00

of water....30Kg give or take....given the density etc...

**Eddieb** · 31st October 2009, 18:16

Originally Posted by NZKTM

of water....30Kg give or take....given the density etc...

I think 1 litre of petrol is supposed to be something like .72kg so a bit less.

Still heavy though.

200Km's off the full 20-odd litres? I hope that was a lot of fun.

**dino3310** · 2nd November 2009, 14:36

Originally Posted by Fluffy Cat

Good thread the 640a looks a cool bike. And you guys are right the fuel range on the 990 is ummm....crap. I managed 200k's on a full tank before the warning light came on, the reserve will get me 40 to 50k,s more but its still bad. Then again it was good fun burning it. Could do with a 30l tank. Then it would be a bitch to pick up. Hou much does 30l of gas weigh?.

just a tad over 20kgs