Help Scotty decide on an Expedition Moto...

[goodtimes]

...But when you get a bunch of guys together, you start racing corner to corner.

And that is where "intended use" goes out the window. There is a fact that is not well known outside of the moto world. Testosterone makes your right wrist rotate much faster than your brain tells it to. :roost:

I wont name any names,but, I know a guy around here, with German made 650, it gets over whelm in slightly moderate difficult terrian. I would see Baja eating that bike alive. Which of course, those bikes aren't made for such a thing.

To keep things in context....it all depends on what you are doing (in my newb-assed opinion ). If you are pre-running a race...you are friggin crazy if you take a BMW (Scott, you're listening, right?). If you are with a bunch of guys on KTM's, hondas, etc....good luck keeping up. If you are cruising the back roads, camping, not in a hurry, and are NOT playing "follow the leader"...I think a BMW would survive Baja just fine. But the instant the testosterone takes control of the throttle, or you decide to try to follow that group of KTM's....the BMW becomes the wrong bike.

66Landy...For commuting to/from work, and weekend trips on relatively easy roads/trails...the BMW is fine...and I'm sure the KLR is as well. While commuting, I am getting just shy of 70mpg on my BMW. It is just heavy enough that I don't get blown all over the freeway, yet light enough that I can pick it up without to much trouble if I drop it off road (and yes, I have). But I urge you to be very realistic with yourself before you buy....figure out exactly what you want to do on the bike. Take Kermits post to heart...he is right. The dual sports are definately NOT dirt bikes. If you are racing, blowing down single track, or chasing an adrenaline rush down in Baja...you really should be looking at something besides a dual sport. And never, ever underestimate the power of adrenaline while riding...you just want to go faster and faster...and faster.....

 

[66Landy]

Goodtimes:
As for the speed thing, been there, done that way too many times - - but on the street when I was a couple decades younger! If I am to be completely honest with myself, what I need is a plain, old, average (BORING) commuter bike so I can get on and off the Ferry without having to wait in line. But what I want, is something that will let me ride a fire road now and then, and go tooling around on very easy off road adventures, no single tracking or baja anything for me! I'm considering the bigger bikes so I don't get blown around in Puget Sound weather.

If I were going to do Baja, I'd make the same decision as everyone here, one bike for adventures, one for Baja! Anyone know where one of the ex-Marine diesel jobs can be bought? :sombrero:

 

[goodtimes]

. . . what I want, is something that will let me ride a fire road now and then, and go tooling around on very easy off road adventures, no single tracking or baja anything for me!

For that purpose, pretty much any of the dual sport bikes are perfect.

 

[Clutch]

For what Brian is using his GS650 for, it is absolutely perfect. A V-Strom would be at home too.

If everyone was on similar bikes, everyone would be having a blast.

Give everyone XR 100s to blast around the track...I am sure smiles would follow.

Too bad it cost to fricken much, I would have a quiver of bikes, one for each purpose....the list is a long one. Just keeping two maintained is expensive.

Would love to get a pair of Triumph Bonnevilles for my girlfriend and I to do weekend trips on. Just a basic no frills bike...I'll bet I would have a grin ear to ear.

Goodtimes:
But what I want, is something that will let me ride a fire road now and then, and go tooling around on very easy off road adventures, no single tracking or baja anything for me! I'm considering the bigger bikes so I don't get blown around in Puget Sound weather.

This would be fun....have read/seen the Motorcyle Diaries?

 

[goodtimes]

If everyone was on similar bikes, everyone would be having a blast.

You know, you are probably right. It seems that the performance gap on moto's is even greater than the performace gap on 4x4's.

 

[Clutch]

When I borrow that KTM 640, we will be a little closer. It will be nice to compare the two.

I haven't seen the bike yet, I am assuming it will look like this.

 

[Christophe Noel]

I've saddled up on a few of those bikes you listed. I had a '94 Honda XR650L. Not bad. If you get in the dirt, it's a heck of a lot better than the KLR I borrowed for a 15 day trip. That thing is a pure pig off road. The XR650 felt a bit more nimble but was still a handful when things got hairy. A medium sized water bar in the trail on anything over 400cc was scary.

I logged mucho miles on a Bimmer GS650 in Alaska, BC and various other points remote. It would require lots of mods to be a formidable off roader.

If you're going to be quickly moving off road, I'd perhaps look into some of KTM's dually bikes. I've ridden the KTM 950 Adventure and while it made me want to ride to Terra del Fuego, it truly scared to poo out of me. HUGE. I would love to try that 650 Adventure. Very cool.

My alltime favorite isn't available here. When I lived in France I owned a Honda Africa Twin 750. The pig of pigs off road, but it really was fun. If it fell over (which it did often) it was a project to get it upright again.

Depends what you want to do. Explore? Go 650cc. Zipp through the rocks and brush? Go with something 400cc-ish.

 

[Scott Brady]

Hey Christophe!

Thanks for the post. You are just a wealth of experience my friend.

My moto plans are still completely in the air right now. I am going to borrow/rent an XR250x from a friend here in Prescott for the prerunning. Perfect bike for that.

Unfortunately, major cost overruns on the Arctic trip is cramping my options on the dual-sport, so I am going to regroup and put together a plan, including talking with some of the OEM's.

 

[Christophe Noel]

Scott,
If you get a chance, stop into Southwest Sounds and Cycles just off the square on Montezuma. Ed Furbush is a mega fan of KTM. I've played on his 950 Adventure. He also owns a Duke and a 400cc something or other. I think he currently has a deposit on the only 650 Adventure slated to arrive in AZ this spring. He's a fun fella and a wealth of KTM info. Great source for bicycle stuff too since you are a rider....who needs to join us on Sundays!!!

Speaking of the VStrom, I just sold a 1000cc V-strom last month. I wouldn't take that thing through a sand box, forget an entire off road section.

One of the popular budget bikes I come across is the Honda XR400. I've got a bud that would easily let you take it for a whirl if it would help your cause.

Ciao

 

[etbadger]

As usual I am way way late to the party, but my input would be for something on the style of an XR250 or 400.

For the back of our van we went with an XR250 with plate. Reasoning being:
- Its able to do 65-70 on the highway with Amy and I on it as long as its not too steep a climb. (I wouldn't do it for hours though, as thats full on the throttle)
- I can pick it up over and over again off-road. (which would be happening a lot if you are doing a lot of jumping, rutted climbs, etc)
- Simple maintenance (fill tank, change oil, screw adjust valves when needed).
- about 250mile range on a 5gal aftermarket enduro tank.


I do wish it had a magic button for when I do dump it and have to kick to clear out the carb.


An XR400 or similar might be a bit more appropriate for a primary bike. Still perfectly capable offroad, you will pay more weight and fuel consumption though.

I have a friend with an XR400 who has a couple sets of rims with different tires/sprokets so he can use it to commute, race super-moto, and ride trails. No issues I know of and it is used daily all year round, and not gently either.

-e

 

[Scott Brady]

Erik,

What makes your post so damn cool (other than it being a good post) is that I know just where you are typing it from :bowdown:

How's the view?

I need to get an Air Card and do some work from up there too.

 

[etbadger]

Erik,

What makes your post so damn cool (other than it being a good post) is that I know just where you are typing it from :bowdown:

How's the view?

I need to get an Air Card and do some work from up there too.

The view is awesome. Lights silhouetting Thumb Butte out the window right now. The wind is another matter. Gusted to about 50+ mid-day, a few trees down today that I could swear were not there yesterday, and we ended up pulling the top down about 2pm because we were getting tossed back and forth (stuff falling off shelves and such) :yikes:.

Overall an awesome place though. We spent a couple hours yesterday and today hiking around on the trails and road network up here.

-e

 

[Scott Brady]

There is an 07 KLR650 near me available with a new Corbin seat and two wind screens. 2,000 miles on it and only $3,900.

I am REALLY considering it right now. Even if I learn on it, farkle it and do a build series in Overland Journal on it for a year, then sell it, it will make a great deal.

Am I crazy?

 

[goodtimes]

Nope. But a '08 would make a better story.

Either way, you should have one.....

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

There is an 07 KLR650 near me available with a new Corbin seat and two wind screens. 2,000 miles on it and only $3,900.

Thats a great deal man! Great bike too!

KLR650 is a great all around bike for the $, tons of aftermarket products offered as well!

I put a jet kit and a pipe on an 05 for a buddy of mine and he said it was a new machine after we dialed it in!

Make sure you look into the "Doohicky" thing as preventative maintence before taking it on any long trips.

Here is a link:

http://www.klr650.marknet.us/doohickey.html