Dual Sport bug....

[gregrnel]

Any dual sport riders out there? What do you have? How do you like it? I'm looking at keeping the miles down a bit on the Duc and taking advantage of a friend's 10 acre spread with some knobbies.

[Speeddog]

[AkLiz]

My first bike was a dual sport (I still own it - it's my travel bike).  It's an '07 BMW F 650 GS - the last year the F was still a thumper (now the thumper version is the G 650 GS.  Confusing, yes I know).  It's pretty capable, but if I was doing tons of dirt track, I'd want something lighter...maybe something like the KLX 250 in the bottom two photos (me taking an offroad skills class last spring).  I love my dual sport as much as I love my Duc, but I love them for completely different reasons.  For one, if I dump my F, I pick it up and laugh, because nothing broke or if it did, it's a cheap fix.  If I drop my Duc, I pick it up and cry and whine because it's expensive.

[ungeheuer]

I have the bug.... but not yet the bike.  I considered KTMs - coz they're sexy  .  I really like the Yamaha 660 Tenere.... if it wasnt such an overweight fat pig.  But instead, I decided the underrated plain Jane will fit this bill nicely. 

Looking for a sow's ear of a DR650 to disprove the silk purse theory.  Watch this space  .

Already have me some "new" forks to replace the stock pogo-sticks  .

[ollie]

yep definately got the bug.

I've got a DR650, pick up a late model second hand bike spend a few dollars on the suspension, get a long range tank, fit some decent racks then load it up and you've got an inexpensive, reliable, bomb proof bike that is capable of  taking you almost anywhere.....well at least thats what I did.

i did a solo 7000km trip last year mainly on dirt and desert tracks out through central Australia, and the planning for this years trip is already underway

heres some pics from last years trip

[ungeheuer]

I've got a DR650, pick up a late model second hand bike spend a few dollars on the suspension, get a long range tank, fit some decent racks then load it up and you've got an inexpensive, reliable, bomb proof bike that is capable of  taking you almost anywhere.....well at least thats what I did.

See? That's what I'm talkin' about .  Tell me about your suspension mods....

[zooom]

I have the bug.... but not yet the bike.   

+1 even though I have the Cagiva Gran Canyon, I view it more as a sport tourer for me...I occasionally think of a DRZ400 or perhaps a DR650/XR650L/KLR650/XT600 for to have a bad weather, no idea what road conditions I am going to encounter, just ride the piss out of it and not care how dirty it is except to clean it only when I need to do maintenance kind of machine...because there are some guys who I know who just will all of the sudden turn left/right/whatever off of a perfectly twisty piece of road to head up a trail/fire road to some unchartered or unexplained piece of exploration and I just can't see myself dumping or getting stuck with the CGC, as it is kind of a pig generally speaking...

[dennisd]

See my signature line.

I've upgraded the springs on both.  Had them since new.  I believe Suzuki coined the term "dual sport".  The 350 is not the greatest on long pavement rides (especially since I put 2 teeth larger rear sprockets on them) but they are light enough to be fun on tight trails.  I like air cooled simplicity, no radiators to bash on trees miles from nowhere.

[gregrnel]

Whew! So, it's not just me. Holy smokes ollie, that looks like a hoot. Another reason I wouldn't mind a ds is for the occasional winter ride, like you say, if you dump it, just get back on and ride away. I'd have to go with a low seat height, I'm 5'6".

[KRJ]

  I have a real nice XR650L I would sell,  '03 with 2300 mi.  needed "more power" so I installed a JE piston with a little more comp. ,Hot Cams cam,cleaned up the ports,FMF header with custom muffler. made a huge increase in power and ridability, without going too far and reducing engine life, could still use a flatslide carb, but now It's tuned well and starts good hot or cold, runs smooth and clean. I just don't ride it much and need to sell to someone who will.  I'm located in Colo. can post pics if any interest, will post on For Sale board... 

[bulldogs2k]

CRF230L over here.  I used it as my trail ride and commuter on the highway.  Damn thing is so light I can pick it up off it's wheels.  Get's me through any terrain, commuted to school at 70 mpg and parked it anywhere without the worries of theft.  Best part about it, air cooled motor uses 1 qt of oil and doesn't require a paper oil filter, just a strainer that you clean off. 

Oh and betty gets up to 70 mph!   [moto] 

[AkLiz]

Ollie, your DR650 looks exactly like my husband's.  Same extended fuel tank, and the stock blue fender   He loves it (I can't comment as I haven't ridden it).  He says it's a lot more nimble than my "pig of a bike" (that's what he calls my BMW) 

[gregrnel]

Hey bulldog, that's kind of what I'm looking at, the CRF230L, great gas mileage, light and flickable. Lower seat height as well.

[bulldogs2k]

Hey bulldog, that's kind of what I'm looking at, the CRF230L, great gas mileage, light and flickable. Lower seat height as well.

Ya, it's cheap if you get them used.  It's not fast, but the 6 speed transmission wins my vote over the xt250.  In short, it's a small bike that can do big things. 

I even kept up with my friends KTM 640 adventure when we hit the local trails. 

[Punx Clever]

The honda xr650 is a solid motor that's been around for ever, competes well in the most grueling of environments and has a lot of aftermarket support.  The downside is that they are big, heavy bikes by modern standards.