XT660R or KLR650 ??

[QMOTO]

Im at a loss as to which one I should go for so Im putting it out there for your comments
I plan to ride a fair bit of highway to get to destinations of interest such as roads out back of Raglan, Waikerimoana, even some South ISland roads and trails, I need a bike capable on the highway as well as a bike very capable off road.
To me the 2008 KLR is ahead on practicality but its a bit ugly, the XT660R (21 front wheel) is a looker but not so great on Practicality, ie small tank, luggage carrying capacity small screen etc
It sounds like I have made it sound like a easy decision ....go for the KLR650, I am however really keen to hear your thoughts on it.
I want to discover some back roads and obscure places I have never been to before without having any road limitations that I would have if ridden on a sportsbike.
Im keen to hear your thoughts

[cooneyr]

Im at a loss as to which one I should go for so Im putting it out there for your comments
I plan to ride a fair bit of highway to get to destinations of interest such as roads out back of Raglan, Waikerimoana, even some South ISland roads and trails, I need a bike capable on the highway as well as a bike very capable off road.
To me the 2008 KLR is ahead on practicality but its a bit ugly, the XT660R (21 front wheel) is a looker but not so great on Practicality, ie small tank, luggage carrying capacity small screen etc
It sounds like I have made it sound like a easy decision ....go for the KLR650, I am however really keen to hear your thoughts on it.
I want to discover some back roads and obscure places I have never been to before without having any road limitations that I would have if ridden on a sportsbike.
Im keen to hear your thoughts

Dont know a whole heap about either of these but my 2cents worth - dirt worthy to road worthy order would be (excluding a few)
DR650, XT660R, KLR650, F650GS Dakar, F650GS

The fuel injection would probably have slightly better fuel consumption and as long as you have about 200kms range then fuel is not too much of a problem in the SI unless you are doing lots of riding after hours then you need about 300kms.

Which seat is more comfortable for you? I dont mind the DR650 seat for 8 hours but others hate it. Other thing is the wind protection or lack there off. The XT660R doesnt have as much wind protection but that may not worry you either.

The XT660R will be slightly better on rougher stuff but if you are interested in gravel and sealed roads then the KLR650 will be all good. Other bikes to consider are Transalp, and the F650GS Dakar.

You probably already knew all of this already though.

Usual final comment - ride them both and see which one floats your boat.

Cheers
R

[NordieBoy]

The new DR650's have dropped in price again.
I think they're less than $8000 now.

[HDTboy]

Let me know if you want to demo an F650, or R1150

[QMOTO]

Let me know if you want to demo an F650, or R1150

Okay mate, done the F650 in the past, the KLR will eat it, would love a 1150 but to damn expensve for me unfortunetly mate, cheers for the offer

[HTFU]

where they selling them for less than $8000. Can't find it on website

[Crisis management]

I've not ridden either of them so can't comment on the merits.
However, that won't stop me dribbling on about other shit I know nothing about so.....

Based on my DR experiences:
Light weight and handling are more fun than driving elephants.
(having said that, despite my best efforts, other bikes / riders are still faster than that so maybe skill is a bigger contributor than bike)
Fuel capacity is nice, reserve at 180km's is not a fuel range it's a restriction.
Luggage carrying is neccessary.
A screen is bloody useful, wind at 110km's gets old in a hurry.
A comfortably seat is preferable......
A centrestand would be good?
You will fall off it, which one will get older first?

After all that, stop procrastinating and go and buy one, you can always sell it later like the rest of us!

[marks]

Hi Quasi

I have an xt660x which is a great road bike and a crappy trail bike. It would be better than the klr in just about every area other than off road.

The xt660 would be the fastest and most comfortable but the price difference is a killer - xt660r's are about 12 grand. Thats a massive hike over the klr650 or dr650.

Is there a reason you didn't include the dr650 in your list of choices? - I would have thought it would superior to the klr in most respects.

If I was choosing again I would most probably make the boring choice and buy a dr650 - it might have been designed in the 80's with technology from the 70's but it seems to still do the business at a sensible price.

*btw - a screen is available for the xt plus a bashplate. And at 15 liters the petrol tank is not a limiting factor - I easily get 220km and still have a couple of liters left.

cheers

Mark

[pete376403]

I've got an '08 (unless there is a better way of describing the updated version) KLR and I think it is excellent all round. Went away for a sealed road / gravel road trip last weekend http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...t=56309&page=2 with a DR650, dakar 650, KTM950 and an older klr for company. KLR performed very well, handled all I asked of it, was comfortable at speeds that would see me walking if stopped by cops, was more economical than the DR (but less so than the Dakar -EFI)
The DR was about $1k less at the time than the KLR, but the large tank, differnt bars. exhaust and other mods have taken the price beyond the $8900odd I paid.
I'd only consider the DR if I was into more hard core trail riding, but for adventure riding - which I'd say is riding on something legally described as a public road the KLR is great.

[NordieBoy]

where they selling them for less than $8000. Can't find it on website

New price list.
I'll see if I can confirm tomorrow.

[warewolf]

Based on my DR experiences:
Light weight and handling are more fun than driving elephants.

KTM 640 Adventure

(having said that, despite my best efforts, other bikes / riders are still faster than that so maybe skill is a bigger contributor than bike)

Yeah, no argument there. But the corollary is, a good rider has the skills to cope with many deficiencies in any bike. Us mere mortals need all the help we can get.

Fuel capacity is nice, reserve at 180km's is not a fuel range it's a restriction.

KTM 640 Adventure: 400km to reserve under mixed conditions (highway to 4wd track). Carries it lower than an aftermarket tank on a DR.

Luggage carrying is neccessary.

KTM 640 Adventure has a rear rack and hard luggage is an option.

A screen is bloody useful, wind at 110km's gets old in a hurry.

KTM 640 Adventure standard. 185km/h indicated and still accelerating... closed course private road occifer.

A comfortably seat is preferable......

KTM 640 Adventure standard.

A centrestand would be good?

KTM 640 Adventure standard.

You will fall off it, which one will get older first?

Umm, pass, next question. But has been around with only minor tweaks for ten years.

After all that, stop procrastinating and go and buy one, you can always sell it later like the rest of us!

Too right. Lotsa folks can't handle the vibes from a KTM 640 Adventure, or the seat height, or the buy-in price.

Shit stirring... who, me?!

[RedKLR650]

I've got an '08 (unless there is a better way of describing the updated version) KLR and I think it is excellent all round. Went away for a sealed road / gravel road trip last weekend with a DR650, dakar 650, KTM950 and an older klr for company. KLR performed very well, handled all I asked of it, was comfortable at speeds that would see me walking if stopped by cops, was more economical than the DR

Now obviously I am biased, but having now done nearly 30,000kms on the "Old Shape" KLR, I think for the money you'd find them pretty hard to beat.

Writer mentioned not liking the look of the new KLR, well I'm with you there, although mine looks more agricultural , there's a lot less plastic to damage WHEN you come off ( Not if, because if that's the case, then you're not adventurous enough : )

There are a 4 old style KLR650's on trademe at the moment, 2 brand new, and one identical to mine with a buy now of $8250 which you would find fairly hard to beat value for money........

Another advantage of the old style KLR is there is a HUGE range of aftermarket tweak parts you can get that have been produced and improved over the 20 yrs this model has been produced.

If it's reliable enough for the US military , it will probably outlast you

Give me a buzz if you'd like any specific questions answered

Cheers, Stu

[clint640]

Image is Nothing. Performance is Everything. I find the Yamaha & the Kawasaki to be equally visually repellent anyway :-)

Personally, if I had the likes of a ZX14 in the shed, I'd be looking to the lighter, dirtier end of the big thumper adv bike spectrum & something like a DR650.

Cheers
Clint

[Crisis management]

Shit stirring... who, me?!

Bastidge..........

[NordieBoy]

Shit stirring... who, me?!

Sounds like someone trying to sell a KTM640A

It's still orange though...