Help Scotty decide on an Expedition Moto...

[Icewalker]

Scott - go with your instincts. BMW Dakar. I did a slew of research and rode everything before I bought mine. For long trips they are streets ahead - sure they are a heavier dirt bike (ever tried taking a KTM 950 in the dirt) but they have a proven round the world record.

take a look at the striking vikings website

Also for additional information - this place is the tops

www.advrider.com

Jeff

 

[Scott Brady]

Jeff,

Thanks for the feedback. I have been checking out ADVRIDER for several months and absorbing the info.

Speaking of the Viking, I am reading his book right now

 

[Hltoppr]

When you get the Dakar, we'll take a few days and go to Mazatlan and have some cold cervezas with Glen....:ylsmoke:

-H-

 

[Clutch]

 

[Scott Brady]

:smileeek: :bowdown:

Street legal?

 

[goodtimes]

:smileeek: :bowdown:

Street legal?

With that, who needs streets?!?!?!

 

[Clutch]

:smileeek: :bowdown:

Street legal?

Disclaimer:I have some links to ADVenture Rider...that forum can be a bit crass...(Scott feel free to delete)

I don't think those HIDs are street legal, but, those 950SEs come from the factory street legal. That bike is in this thread...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154019

I was thinking of getting an KTM Adventure, but, The Super Enduro might suit my needs better...AND...you can get passenger pegs...so you can scare the crap out of your sweetie!

I met a guy (A.K.A. Ignore Amos) who is into the adventure/ralley bike thing, we went riding the other day on the dirt bikes...here is what happened.

My version...then his story is in a link in my story.

http://www.arizonatrailtalk.com/cgi/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1167455569

 

[winterhk]

Hey Scott,

Somehow I caught a link over here from ADVrider and thought I'd chime in. I'm in Prescott and have a couple of bikes and experience on more than a few if you ever wanted to get together and chat. I've seen your Taco around town and it always catches my eye, as I used to do some minor expedition-style wheeling in various Land Rovers I built in the past. Now, I just ride bikes. I've just sold a DRZ yesterday, but still have an XRL and am hopefully picking up an XRR this weekend. I'll be down at Ignore Amos's house (the guy with the stick in the temple ) for the AMRA races. We're going to be racing the Baja .5k too, on a 525. Feel free to PM or email me if you want to ride any of my bikes.

Also, if you check out my website, you can find pictures of trips in my Rovers and on my bikes. I've done Baja, the Great Divide and some other cool longer trips. I've got a set-up I use for camping off the bike that works well. I'd be more than happy to show you what I use.

Brian

 

[BajaTaco]

Brian, Welcome to ExPo. Glad to see you made it here. Scott and I were just discussing the bikes tonight again, and he and I were agreeing that for us, a bias towards the "dirt" side of the spectrum will ultimately be the choice, as it would be too frustrating to "lack" in this area, even if it requires offering up a considerable compromise in the "street-ability" of the machine. Longer travel, knobbier tire selection, a bit more squirrelly... whatever it takes. Hopefully we'll get to meet up soon

Chris (fellow Prescottonian)

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Maybe this will help

(yes, that is the US/MEX border fence in the background!)

 

[mike h]

Scott - from what little I know of your riding tastes, I think you will prefer a bigger bike simply for the expedition capabilities. A 650 with a large tank is the only bike that makes sense for LD (long distance) adventuring. They aren't that difficult to pick up when you drop it, they can hold a lot of gear, and they work well on the open road. Just like the venerable 22R motor trying to push an overbuilt 4runner, the midsize on/offs simply cannot handle the weight of LD trips.

I've had (and sold) a Yamaha XT650 and Suzuki DR650. Today I would choose the Kawi or Honda 650. The KLRs enjoy massive aftermarket support and a cult following, both brands offer bulletproof reliability. You can sleep in a broken truck for a few days; a broken bike is a whole different level of vulnerability.

I lust after BMWs and LR Defenders, but at the end of the day the cost of ownership and limited repair facilities in North America conspire to move them towards the bottom of my 'reasonable decision' tree.

You can find plenty of solid used bikes for a season of riding, and often can sell with little to no $$ loss. That lets you try one for a while, and if you love it, maybe it's worth buying a new(er) model. The 650s hold their own on the open road, anything smaller gets blown around too much for my tastes, for all-day riding at 65+ mph. The displacement of the motor contributes little to overall weight, and the HP gains are worth it. Wet weight is always higher, but we need fuel to go deep.

Tires often suck - you'll mire in tire decisions just as bad as we do for trucks.

I've migrated to LD sport touring bikes, riding a Kawi Concours 1000 last year and now a Honda ST1100, both bikes have 7 gallon fuel tanks and swallow ground amazingly fast. It took a while to get used to the weight (these are fat bastards at 700lbs) but they feel almost nimble at speed. A bigger bike is much more comfortable (relative term here) for 500+ mile days.

As you've realized, the right bike for Baja and a trip to Alaska isn't really the same bike... but working backwards, the perfect baja bike would be miserable to Alaska, while the perfect Alaska bike would be pretty fun in baja.

I'm going to leap to the conclusion you own (or have seen) the Long Way Round DVD?

m.

 

[Scott Brady]

Mike,

Thank you so much for the advice and taking the time to respond. You make several important points in my mind.

I have finally conceded defeat on the whole compromise position (I thought I could build a bike that covers the range of capabilities that my Tacoma does). So, my plan is to buy a used street legal dirt bike like the 650L or 525 KTM and use it to run around Prescott and do the prerunning for Baja. Then sell it and buy a proper expedition bike for my TAT trip. I will just not be happy without a cool "ExPo" style bike for the long run.

And, I might just get crazy and buy both at the same time, but only get a dirt bike for the prerunning. A used 250X would be pretty nice and would be super easy to sell.

 

[Hltoppr]

....very good idea! However, I think you'll find it very nice to have two bikes...and will just end up keeping 'em both!

eepwall:


-H-

 

[SOAZ]

Scott,
I've ridden a 650L (uncles bike) and the XR650/400 both. If you are going to get a different bike for the true long distance stuff anyways I'd make sure the 650L is what your looking for. If you're prerunning baja you could get tired of the sloppy handling of the 650L. The 650L is basically a 1990 xr600 as far as capabilities. It was never updated with the xr650. The xr650 is a whole lot lighter when it went to an aluminum frame in 2000. It handles more like a dirt bike. It will handle the bumps and rough roads of baja a LOT better.
As far as the 525exc. That bike is my future baby. I have only good things to say. The only thing the KTM loses to the XR, is the fact that the XR could be thrown off a cliff and I'm pretty sure it would receive maintanence on the way down. The KTM actually requires some occasional attention.
The XR runs on sand and 80 octane pemex better than anything should...
Oh, I just noticed the 250x comment. Great bike, BUT even if you no super fast racer it will seem like its standing still when you are on a smooth dirt road or paved road where everyone else is able to do 70 and your pinned at 55. (I was the one stuck going 55 and it was frustrating)

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

If you're prerunning baja you could get tired of the sloppy handling of the 650L. The 650L is basically a 1990 xr600 as far as capabilities.

Handling and suspension is very easily and drastically improved for less then $1000. Remember Scott Summers WON many many many baja 1000's on the XR600! Remember Scotty B is a big guy, so regardless what bike he buys, he WILL Have to dump some $ into the suspenions to do this: :roost:

It was never updated with the xr650. The xr650 is a whole lot lighter when it went to an aluminum frame in 2000. It handles more like a dirt bike.

Some of that is a good thing! Last thing you want to try to do in Baja after a long day of prerunning is have to KICK start a bike! Sorry, couldnt resist! For what its worth, i ride fairly frequently and all of the 650R we ride with seem to have some weird quirks as far as coolant overflowing and very hard to start once at temp. My sloppy bike just needs a push of a button!

It will handle the bumps and rough roads of baja a LOT better.

Again, suspension mods can remedy most of the woes and get it close to the R and not break the bank! Fork Braces and the correct springs and valving change the bike so much, you would swear its a differnt machine!

As far as the 525exc. That bike is my future baby. I have only good things to say. The only thing the KTM loses to the XR, is the fact that the XR could be thrown off a cliff and I'm pretty sure it would receive maintanence on the way down. The KTM actually requires some occasional attention.
The XR runs on sand and 80 octane pemex better than anything should...

Cant comment on the 525exc, as i havent ridden one yet, but DAMN are they gorgeous!