Psssssst! If you want to talk about bikes.....

[Meemuh]

what - no pic of Reddog down?

[Gat]

what - no pic of Reddog down?

Here's Reddog, he's away's up and ready to go!  

[Windblown]

When it comes to dual sporting I consider it to be broken down into three broad categories:

Adventure class  -   400+ lbs wet weight. Good for fire roads, two-track, and longish distances on pavement.  Their weight is not an issue until you start to get pounded in rocky terrain and the suspension gets overwhelmed,  or the front decides it wants go a different direction than you do in the mud. Not a bike that's easy to dab back up right and not a bike that most enjoy having to pick up off the ground often.

D/S class   -    300-399  lbs wet weight. Good for most off-road conditions up through moderate single track. Not a bike that's enjoyable to ride across multiple state lines as a rule (stick to shorter on pavement travels).  You don't want to have to pick it up multiple times in a day but an occasional drop doesn't make you cry.

Plated dirt bike Class  -   Less than 300 lbs wet. Up to any off-road task the rider can handle. Pavement usually viewed only as a necessary evil.  Gas range sucks as a rule unless you buy a big after market tank, which takes away from the point of buying  a sub 300lb bike. You don't really care if have to pick it up multiple times during the day, after all that's why you bought a dirt bike, to challenge yourself and your abilities and falling down is viewed as part of the normal day to day experience.

There are those who will point out that they can ride adventure class bikes to the depths of hell and return unscathed. Let me just say right up front I don't doubt that one minute. My view point is just an average riders viewpoint and as such is probably valid for the majority here.

My opinion on tires next.....  Hahahahahaha.

[R Doug]

Great summary Wind.  

Is the DR650 that much better than the KLR off-road that it could be considered a compromise between the KLR and WR or is that a stretch?  

I had a KLR for a few months UNTIL I tested a DR650.  I made the switch right away.  The DRZ400 and WR250R are even better off road.  But,   If you ever ride a Plated dirt bike, you'll do everything you can to make that your choice of bike.  Of course, the trade off is a bike which is not very friendly for long periods on road.  

As a friend of mine once said, you need the right horse for the course.  

[sammyseaman]

When it comes to dual sporting I consider it to be broken down into three broad categories:

Adventure class  -   400+ lbs wet weight. Good for fire roads, two-track, and longish distances on pavement.  Their weight is not an issue until you start to get pounded in rocky terrain and the suspension gets overwhelmed,  or the front decides it wants go a different direction than you do in the mud. Not a bike that's easy to dab back up right and not a bike that most enjoy having to pick up off the ground often.

D/S class   -    300-399  lbs wet weight. Good for most off-road conditions up through moderate single track. Not a bike that's enjoyable to ride across multiple state lines as a rule (stick to shorter on pavement travels).  You don't want to have to pick it up multiple times in a day but an occasional drop doesn't make you cry.

Plated dirt bike Class  -   Less than 300 lbs wet. Up to any off-road task the rider can handle. Pavement usually viewed only as a necessary evil.  Gas range sucks as a rule unless you buy a big after market tank, which takes away from the point of buying  a sub 300lb bike. You don't really care if have to pick it up multiple times during the day, after all that's why you bought a dirt bike, to challenge yourself and your abilities and falling down is viewed as part of the normal day to day experience.

There are those who will point out that they can ride adventure class bikes to the depths of hell and return unscathed. Let me just say right up front I don't doubt that one minute. My view point is just an average riders viewpoint and as such is probably valid for the majority here.

My opinion on tires next.....  Hahahahahaha.

Excellent post and I concur totally. Is that a Wiki quote on DP bikes? LOL

[scottzilla]

I welcome his opinion on tires.  

[Meemuh]

or pretty much anything else...it's learnin time.

[buls4evr]

 The DR650 is an excellent OR/ADV bike and is surprisingly capable of road speeds....much better than my DRZ400 for instance. We ride a big variety of OR terrain each year and my 2 friends do a great job even in those rock gardens on their DRs. The KLR is capable as an off roader but it is tall. We also ride with some of those out West. All the guys I have ever seen on 1 were 6-2 or bigger. Of course tire selection to match terrain is everything. The KLRs seem to need more suspension work than some also...but all bikes in the ADV class do in my opinion. This is especially true if you tend to ride in rocky areas.

 Thanks for opening a thread that actually talks about bikes and impressions instead of senseless personal bashing.

[DogBoy]

Lots of good options discussed in this thread. Give them all plenty of consideration before you eventually by a KTM.  

[R Doug]

Lots of good options discussed in this thread. Give them all plenty of consideration before you eventually by a KTM.  

 

[scottzilla]

Nobody goes from a KLR straight to a KTM.  Nobody.

[DogBoy]

Until now. You're a rebel. swim upstream. Push back at the incrowd. Mix some metaphors.

[scottzilla]

Get on the trolley.  Or, get off the trolley.

[phoenix]

Aprilia RXV 450 or 550

light weight, big enough to ride the highway and not a thumper (which might be sacrilegious).

but personally I will be shopping for a YZ250F soon.
highway riding and dirtbikes ain't a combination for me. Take it out there in the truck.

[scotteroni]

I have an 87 Honda XLl250R dual sport that is perfect for what i use it for.  That is exploring around my local area going out an hr or two in any direction, getting around on public roads to find the random trails, dirt back roads and power lines  from where I live. Even though it's not an XR it's still light and torquey with plenty of grunt with stock gearing.  I don't plan on taking it on the highway much and I don't plan on going on highly technical trails where I'd risk doing damage to my body and limbs. I don't race it, jump it or plan on going thru two foot deep mud bogs. It didn't cost me much and it's very easy to work on and it's not too pretty that I'm afraid to put another scratch in the fender or dent in the tank. The only thing I wish it had was electric start.  If I want to go for a long day trip on pavement to chew up scenery I have my 82 CB900C to turn to.

[Mike-H]

I have a ktm 530 exc (black) with a fan kit, acerbis 13 liter tank & an auxiliary oil cooler (adds 1/2 liter of oil)...it's super light weight (you do get what you pay for) & the 6 day knobbies (more like 6 mins) which still give no traction, lower gearing for single track work (& it will still do 80mph)....I started in the dirt 49 years ago & went back in 08 (on the ktm) best money I ever spent, it's a blast to ride in all conditions off road or on.....though I do confess  I usually transport it  in my pickup (to save the knobbies) ....buy one & you won't regret it.

[buls4evr]

  Just put a 3.9 gal Clarke tank on the DRZ which should extend my range to about 230 miles. The WeeStrom just keeps getting more dirt oriented looking all the time. Hmmmm....looks like I prefer to ride dirt roads more than asphalt it seems! Did you know that there is "another America" back down those dirt roads that many will never experience with their street only bikes? And the ability to also travel dirt roads will open up many more miles of riding that is not on maps. We are back to the original "scrambler" idea of the 60s and 70s only now we just call it "adventure" biking. I love this.

[Kraz]

Aprilia RXV 450 or 550

light weight, big enough to ride the highway and not a thumper (which might be sacrilegious).

The thing that gets me about some of these yupee'in medium sized singles is that they're based off a race motor that calls for lots of maintenance.  I think about longevity and maintenance requirements a lot when I'm bike shopping.

[DogBoy]

Agreed. The Aprilias are really pure race bikes. You have to pull the engine for the frequent valve checks and service intervals include piston replacement. Not practical for any real road use. Most are for sale as soon as the first major service is due. The bikes are awesome and may be the best sounding v-twin on earth    but they stand out as very maintenance intensive even among the other race bikes.

[buls4evr]

  Everyone but buls4evr and Scottzilla must be in hibernation mode. I  did a dualsport ride in NM last weekend that went well. There was a guy on a Husky 510 that rode with us and the bike ran great....except it only got 28 mpg! Man my old 2 strokes were better than that. How do guys with Huskys live with that? A 3 gal tank that does not go 90 miles is useless out here in the desert. He was always worried about where the next gas was. I could not live with that.