Cagiva Canyon 500 vs Kawasaki KLE 500

**HTFU** · 16th July 2007, 23:22

I have been riding a year now on my GN250 which I am going to keep. Have done 20000 km of what will be my normal yearly riding habits i.e road and gravel rides around the king country, commuting 120km round trip between Otorohanga and Hamilton on the weekends and 400-500km round trip Coromandel to Hamilton/Otorohanga in the summer from the beach. Have set the GN up with straight bars and dual purpose tires and it has done me well since I have been on a learner/restricted license this past year. Open throttle it will sit on 110 which is the speed I generally travel everywhere at. I find it really comfortable to ride and have done trips from Otorohanga to Kaitaia only stopping for fuel etc and my commute in summer from the beach is fairly long but not a problem. Bike just lacks power for passing which is my biggest issue on the windy roads where I don't want to be held up.

Budget is stretched at $8000-9000 and both the KLE 500 and Cagiva Canyon 500 retail around there. Have looked at the specs for both but really would like some user feedback on each bike. I know the KLE is a bit heavier being a Parallel twin and water cooled but would like to know how each is on the fuel, cruising performance and comfort and reliability. I am only 175 cm tall so seat height is an issue . Also cannot see any NZ based Cagiva website so a bit weary of this brand. Here is one on trademe for $8000 they have 4 for sale.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-106402031.htm
My other option was to look at a second hand suzuki v-strom 650 but would prefer to have the bike from new as this purchase will be it for a while which put the v-strom out of budget. Plus not that happy with Suzuki New Zealands re-intro of the GN250 from China and subsequent quality problems I and others have had, combined with their poor warranty support for obvious warranty problems i.e speedo, rev counter, every bulb, muffler, rust, fuel switch and wiring.

Appreciate any information.

**Hillbilly** · 17th July 2007, 03:37

The KLE500 is the better choice. There will always be parts, and if you want a single as an alternative, take a look at Kawasaki's KLR650 pictured below.

**JimO** · 17th July 2007, 07:23

Triumph NZ are the nz agents for cagiva

**limbimtimwim** · 17th July 2007, 08:30

Make sure you sit on what you are interested in.

The seat high on paper is only one factor in several that effect how well you can get your feet down. Don't discard the idea of a particular bike because the spec sheet makes you think the seat is a bit lofty.

I am comforatble on my DR-Z, and I am about your height, because the bike is extremely thin and light. The spec sheet makes the DR-Z seem almost impossible for me, but once on and moving, no problem!

**Ruralman** · 17th July 2007, 11:11

Originally Posted by Robignevil

I have been riding a year now on my GN250 which I am going to keep.

Budget is stretched at $8000-9000 and both the KLE 500 and Cagiva Canyon 500 retail around there.

Appreciate any information.

My question is why keep the GN?
If the next purchase is likely to be it for quite a while then I agree with a previous post that the new KLR 650 should be looked at in addition to the KLE 500. But why keep the GN - an extra set of insurance, rego etc and theres nothing that you would do on it that the others won't do, differences in fuel consumption will be small and over a year a lot less than the extra costs of having 2 bikes.
The 650,if you can fit on it (the new one is meant to be a bit lower than the older model) will be a bike you will be happier owning for a long time. The KLE500 will still struggle a bit to pass logging trucks etc without plenty of room, especially if you're loaded up. If you trade the GN it will give you a little more $ to spend.
Just my 2c worth.

**Garry.W** · 17th July 2007, 11:41

Have fun

**terbang** · 17th July 2007, 11:50

The KLE is a fantastic little bike that has been around for a while but the Cagiva has a great lineage as well that will put a big grin on your face. I went the Cagiva way (navigator) and it is perhaps a bit of an orphan but it is clearly a fine Italian motorcycle and I am very pleased with my choice.

**HTFU** · 17th July 2007, 14:38

I do a lot of off-road running, hunting and fly fishing around the area and have been using it to get to the entry spots and then leaving the bike in the bush. Not wanting to do that with a bigger more expensive model covering it in crap and blood etc and a target for locals with nothing to do. Plus partner and bro will use it from time to time so would rather keep it.

Would get $1000 max in the condition it is in. Really tried to look after it as I got it new, but with all the things that have gone wrong with it I lost patience with the local shop and eventually motivation to fix the problems and keep it in original working condition.
All the wiring burnt out on a short that somehow the fuse did not prevent, so had to do home repair as shop refused to warranty it, muffler is rusty from a crap warranty repair on the baffle, and speedo and rev counters have stopped working for the second time. Therefore general condition is average for the 20000km it has done, I have serviced it every 4000km with good oil and filter but the other stuff out of my control has made the bike worthless, does not look like any of the Auckland GNs you see on trademe with 500km on the clock and still showroom shiny. Just over a year old so don't want my new bike to go down the same path. Will also start using it down the beach to get to some surf casting spots so will be running it into the ground so to speak. Will keep up the washing and servicing though.

Want the new bike for the long trips I have to do to get to work and for the odd touring trip in the future. The new bike, what ever it is, will be doing the miles but hopefully everything else will hold up for as long as the motor does. Five years from now can see all that will be left of the GN will be a solid motor and some wheels (they are alloy so in theory shouldn't rust). Feel a bit ripped off with my first new bike experience so hoping for a bit more luck this time around and some good kiwibiker advice to see me right.

**Oscar** · 17th July 2007, 18:18

Hi Rob

Are the guy we met on the Awakino-Te Anga road earlier this year?
Fish & chips at Kawhia?

If you are, yer well ready for a bigger bike - the boys were well impressed with how you punted that GN.

Anyways, I digress - whomever you are, we just torture tested a Cagiva Canyon and it came through with flying colours. See here on ADVRider:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...hlight=Awakino

Probably the only drawback for the Cagiva is that weren't many sold so resale could be problematical. Apart from that, the Canyon is stupidly good value for money (you can buy two for the price of one GS650D), and both from a build and component point of view, superior to the Kawa. I understand that the next Kiwi Rider will have a full test on the one that Strech is riding on that ADVRider report (and that one is for sale).

**NordieBoy** · 17th July 2007, 18:52

Why do I have the music from that episode of the Simpsons running through my head?

"Canyonairo! Canyonairo! Canyonairo! Blah blah blah"

**HTFU** · 17th July 2007, 20:03

Are the guy we met on the Awakino-Te Anga road earlier this year?
Fish & chips at Kawhia?

Indeed that was I. It was my first ride in a group so learnt a heap that day. Was nice of you guys to invite me along for a bit of your journey and shout me lunch, funny f**kers I must say.

Changed my bike setup, put on some better rubber since and done another 15000km so do feel ready to progress to something a bit bigger.

People here seem to recommend both bikes, so not really any clearer at this stage. Resale won't be a problem as I will be hanging on to the next ride like the GN so the Cagiva looks ok to me and at $8000 new seems a good buy. But just saw the new 2008 KLR 650 at $9300 which is now more like the KLE 500 in body shape with screen and semi fairing so this could be an option. I do want something that is going to give some protection in the winter and all three of these bikes seem to have it. Will be a matter of sitting on them if I can get a chance (Hamilton shops had no KLE or Cagiva bikes when I was last up). May have to make a trip to Auckland.

**Ruralman** · 17th July 2007, 20:15

Originally Posted by Robignevil

Indeed that was I. It was my first ride in a group so learnt a heap that day. Was nice of you guys to invite me along for a bit of your journey and shout me lunch, funny f**kers I must say.

Changed my bike setup, put on some better rubber since and done another 15000km so do feel ready to progress to something a bit bigger.

People here seem to recommend both bikes, so not really any clearer at this stage. Resale won't be a problem as I will be hanging on to the next ride like the GN so the Cagiva looks ok to me and at $8000 new seems a good buy. But just saw the new 2008 KLR 650 at $9300 which is now more like the KLE 500 in body shape with screen and semi fairing so this could be an option. I do want something that is going to give some protection in the winter and all three of these bikes seem to have it. Will be a matter of sitting on them if I can get a chance (Hamilton shops had no KLE or Cagiva bikes when I was last up). May have to make a trip to Auckland.

If you can ride the 650 and stretch the budget to reach it then buy it - at the end of the day there is no substitute for cubes, especially on longer trips and with loads. The KlR 650 is another step in refining a bike with a very long lineage and with a huge worldwide following - it is a very well sorted machine.
I have also witnessed how well the old version can go with a crazy bastard like Red KLR650 on board (Hi Stu - OK maybe not crazy, just enthusiastic). When you ride in a group with a few riders on bigger bikes on longer trips it is a lot easier if you have the extra cc's to help pull back into the group after passing manoevres etc - if you are going to own it for a long time then you will end up doing a few trips like this.
That must be 4 cents worth now!!

**HTFU** · 17th July 2007, 20:32

If you can ride the 650 and stretch the budget to reach it then buy it - at the end of the day there is no substitute for cubes, especially on longer trips and with loads. The KlR 650 is another step in refining a bike with a very long lineage and with a huge worldwide following - it is a very well sorted machine.

Thanks for that. Do you think at my 175cm 5 foot 9 the KLR wouldn't be too high. Will be doing mostly gravel and road no dirt stuff (as far as I can crystal ball gaze)