Dual Sport Bikes

[He Man]

Frames are hollow anyway, wether there is fuel in them or not. (look at your monster frame) The frame should be tougher than most gas tanks. And if you go down hard enough to compromise the fuel holding ability of the frame, you might have bigger problems than having enough gas to get home.

What if you crack the frame on a regular bike? Is it safe to ride?

 i mean OIL* i am thinking of buell for some reason (tghey have fuel in swingarm!)

If i crack the frame, it can still be ridden, abiet slowly to a repair station, if you crack the frame and it holds oil, you loose your oil and you cant ride anywhere even if you were to mend the frame. Also, its not weldable because the metal is contaminated. youd have to clean it, and then weld it, before refueling (if it were just bare metal a simple grinder would work just fine.. thats why it seems like a bad idea for a real off the grid bike.

With the KTM and husky bikes it becomes a question of reliability, and matienance. i want something that i can maintain on the road with just some simple tools. Ive not looked at KTM since there  arent that many to look at around here. I tried going to a dealership to look at some bikes, but dualsports are not popular.

[MendoDave]

Well check out that Honda. It looks like a pretty good bike. If I had extra Money for a Bike I would seriously consider that one.



sorry about the Ad.

[kopfjäger]

If you want a single, hands down the KTM 690 Enduro.

[d3vi@nt]

I've been looking a lot at the BMW F650 GS and F8000 GS. The Dakar would be sweet, but they're on the tall side. They all get great mileage, have a huge after-market parts selection, and can be had used for a reasonable amount.

[SpikeC]

 Tall bikes can sometimes be lowered. Butt that might deviate from stock, and no one here would ever think of doing such a thing, would they??

[ungeheuer]

If you want a single, hands down the KTM 690 Enduro.

I agree.

And I also dont agree.

If you want it for what is the factor IMO.

I started there....  KTM 690 Enduro was top of my list.  Costs over twice as much as the humble DR650 I ended up with, but that's not why I ruled the superior KTM out.   For my needs, riding alone in places not that remote but still with high likelihood of seeing no other humanity maybe for a day or two....  what I wanted above all was simplicity.  I wanted to know that if it broke, that there'd be a reasonable chance I could bodge together a get-me-home fix.  Least amount of electronics.  So sophisticated machines like the KTM I ruled out.  DR has no fuel injection, so no fuel pump to fail.  Can be started if its battery is dead....  valves need no shims or anything more complex than a small spanner and screw turner.  No watercooling, no water pump to break, no coolant lines to get damaged in an off.  And there will be offs.  But it does have shortcomings.  The stock suspension is crap.  Its carby-fed fueling is imprecise and relatively thirsty compared to modern fuel injected machines.  It's stock seat is a torture rack.  I know Australian prices are irrelevant to you.... but I spent $5000 buying the bike..... and probably another $4000 making it be the best DS for MY needs.  Some say I've spent too much money making a silk purse from a sow's ear.... but I'm very happy with the end result.

On the DR I'm happy cruising all day at 110km/h on the highway, and just as happy riding dirt trails.  It's my ideal do everything compromise bike.  Brilliant at nothing, competent at everything.  

Better distance tourers around?  Sure.  Much better other choices.

Better off road machines?  Easily outclassed by almost everything else with purely dirty intent.

BUT....  sounds to me like you're not really looking for a thumper?

800cc BMW parallel twins, XC800 Triumph... maybe even the V-Strom...  are all more road biased machines with dirt back road ability.

[bob795]

Get a Husky you will love it  

I bought one myself several months ago ... a new left over 2011 TE 630. This past month I've been commuting on it every day and only commute on the monster about once a week.

Anyway, I bought the TE630 cause I want to have a DS bike or an adventure bike for touring and dual sport riding. The bikes that were on my list were: Hypermotard 821, Tiger 800 XC, F800GS, Sertao 650 and Husky TR650. The TE630 wasn't even on my list cause I thought it was no longer available. As for Japanese dual sport or adv bikes, they are not available here.

The T800XC and F800GS I found to be too big and too heavy. I ride alone ...so I want a bike that is light and easy to lift when dropped. A bike that can be easily lifted by myself alone when I'm tired after a long ride. The few times I dropped my bike it happened when I was tired after a long ride. So I scratched the T800XC and F8GS. I then test rode the Hyperstrada, but was not impressed.

There's still Sertao 650 and Tr650 on my list. I visited the Husky dealership again, which is also the BMW dealership here, to try those two bikes. Not test ride them but just to sit on them cause I read that those two bikes are tall, and I'm about 32" inseam.

Anyway I got there and saw this TE630 ... I didn't see it when I was there previously. The salesperson told me that they're selling it at a discount, cause it's a 2011 left over. I sat and all three bikes and told the sales to hold the TE630 while I do some research on the bike.

After reading the TE630 threads on ADV rider forum, I decided to buy it cause from I what read, it's a solid bike, a reliable bike with no probllem  ...and after the discount it's half the price of a Terra or Sertao.   I had my concerns about parts availability since it's a discontinued bike and the KTM take over, but I figure I'll deal with that when it happens. That's why I need two bikes ... if one is broken I can ride the other one  

So, after a month commuting on it, I really like it. I worried about the height of the bike ... It's a tall bike and I can only flat foot on one foot (32'' inseam) but turns out that's not a problem at all. It handles really great. Riding at slow speed, filtering through traffic jam is really easy. I find the balance is really good. It's good on road.

I haven't taken it for a long ride yet, but now that I'm familiar with how the bike handles I plan to do a long ride next weekend. It's good on road and I'm sure it will be as good off road.

[Moronic]

I've been looking at picking up a dual sport while i figure out what I'm going to do with the monster (trying to get rid of the motor/ecu first). I know some of you guys have dual sports so speak up with what you prefer!

I'm looking for something that can cross the country and is easy to service. Everything seems to point to a DR-650 for me but id like to get some other ideas. I'm a big fan of huskys (they are sooooooo perrrrrtyyyyy) but ive heard they are a NIGHTMARE in terms of service intervals. Id like it to be a little on the shorter side (ive got a 32" in inseam and dont mind riding something thats taller than me, but i have to atleast be able to single leg one side and have my foot dangling on the other) for the sake of comfort. Those 37+ inch Hondas are ridiculously tall so they are out of the question.

Any preferences? I know there arent many dirt roads around here, but the bike im intending to get is going to replace the monster completely i think. I can't seem to find the right multi right now, the market is DRY!, and even if I do, i dont think i can live with having the older DS1000 motor or even DS1100 motor again.... and the new multi....well. $$BLING BLING$$ that i dont have!

Well I recently had a chance to put a couple of hundred country miles on a late-model Multistrada and thus to discover that my Monster felt much more comfortable and engaging over distance. Which did not conflict with my experience of other big new dual-sports tried over the past year or so, which I had thought might replace the Monster. So my suggestion is ... be careful what you wish for. At least see if you can borrow a bike of this sort and see if it is really what you want.

Now my bike has a 15mm taller, custom built touring seat, which makes an enormous difference to comfort. And custom valving in the shock, which makes a similarly enormous difference. 'Bars and footpegs are stock.

What I have realised is, the forward upper-body lean that you get on a Monster is much more comfortable over hours on the bike than the upright postures of typical dual-sports.

Your spine is stretched in an arc, rather than compressed, and bumps coming up through the seat act at a tangent to that arc rather than vertically up the spine and compressing it further.

And you ride balanced on the breeze, with your helmet in clear air.

Anyway, just a thought. I know you've had disappointments with Ducati engineering.

One other thing that bothers me tho: if you're worried an 1100 DS motor will feel like a let-down, I can't see you loving a Japanese big single or vee. Nice as those are in their own ways.

[Dirty Duc]

Yeah, the Vee with the added weight doesn't feel much faster than the baby S2R in a straight line.  It doesn't seem as fazed by going two-up.  The Wee definitely left something on the table compared to my monster (except for comfort in the pillion seat).

I usually run the Vee with a shorty windshield so the wind can be windy.  I find the stock one to be terrible for the helmet buffeting, but it helps keep the cold off.

[He Man]

I am going to end up with two bikes in the end, one will be the faster more fun bike and the other is the slower but reliable bike. I dont expect my dual sport to be fast, i expect it to be reliable.

In regards to the monster, ive ridden it quite far and had no problems with comfort. I do agree with you on the posture. it keeps my back in a good shape, but it really puts a strain on your lower back after a few thousand miles of riding. Usually ill switch my cruise control on and stretch my back a bit without much issue.

I dont want to jump off topic, so black on topic!

I agree.

And I also dont agree.

If you want it for what is the factor IMO.

I started there....  KTM 690 Enduro was top of my list.  Costs over twice as much as the humble DR650 I ended up with, but that's not why I ruled the superior KTM out.   For my needs, riding alone in places not that remote but still with high likelihood of seeing no other humanity maybe for a day or two....  what I wanted above all was simplicity.  I wanted to know that if it broke, that there'd be a reasonable chance I could bodge together a get-me-home fix.  Least amount of electronics.  So sophisticated machines like the KTM I ruled out.  DR has no fuel injection, so no fuel pump to fail.  Can be started if its battery is dead....  valves need no shims or anything more complex than a small spanner and screw turner.  No watercooling, no water pump to break, no coolant lines to get damaged in an off.  And there will be offs.  But it does have shortcomings.  The stock suspension is crap.  Its carby-fed fueling is imprecise and relatively thirsty compared to modern fuel injected machines.  It's stock seat is a torture rack.  I know Australian prices are irrelevant to you.... but I spent $5000 buying the bike..... and probably another $4000 making it be the best DS for MY needs.  Some say I've spent too much money making a silk purse from a sow's ear.... but I'm very happy with the end result.

On the DR I'm happy cruising all day at 110km/h on the highway, and just as happy riding dirt trails.  It's my ideal do everything compromise bike.  Brilliant at nothing, competent at everything. 

Better distance tourers around?  Sure.  Much better other choices.

Better off road machines?  Easily outclassed by almost everything else with purely dirty intent.

BUT....  sounds to me like you're not really looking for a thumper?

800cc BMW parallel twins, XC800 Triumph... maybe even the V-Strom...  are all more road biased machines with dirt back road ability.

^This is where I am going at. the DR650 is bomb proof on paper and people tend to repeat this over and over again. The KTM 690 and the Husky T610 are two of my favorites, but i need to know how reliable the electricals are on it. if i dump drop the bike into a shallow river by accident, will it still run sort of deal. Can i put really shirt grade fuel in it and still run? (or rather is it a high compression engine?)

The NC looks really cool! I am going to look into it, but i dont think itll really fit the bill, it seems more like a try all be all bike that might end up not being good at anything really.

[cyberswine]

I wanted reliability and economy and finally chose the KLR over the DR because the consensus on the various forums was that it is the better choice for on road work.  It cruises the slab easily at 70 and will be easier still when I get a 17T sprocket on the front this spring.  I have been really happy with it, I put on a Sargent seat (mandatory) and lowered 1" front and rear as my leg length is the same as the OPs and I can now flat foot it.  Took a chunk out of the side stand, that's really all it needed.  Can't beat the cost, economy and simplicity and it is super comfortable even for long days.  Put 8K touring miles on it this year and planning more than that next year.  There are certain simply resolved caveats:  see KLR650 forums for years of collective wisdom!  Great community, almost as good as this one 

[He Man]

i looked into the KLR650, i dont think its the bike for me. I keep going back to the DR650 for its simplicity.


Ironically, as much as I want to look at one, all 4 of the ones i am interested in (within an hour of NYC) will not respond to their emails. Im not sure if my email is going to their spam box or what but it really sucks cause im ready to buy NOW.

[the_Journeyman]

I've long been a Suzuki guy, and would choose a DR650 if I was buying a big thumper.  I would choose it over the XR650L.  I know there is a HUGE difference between a 650L and a 650R.  The R isn't street legal unless someone has made it that way and lighter and more powerful. 

Parts are very plentiful, big knowledge base etc. with the DR650. The modern KLR is great, BUT if I went with a KLR, I would have to go prior to them getting the big bikini fairing.  The DR650 is a very simple machine, and can be easily field serviced if you're prepared with the appropriate tools and spares.

Go do some reading on Thumpertalk, they have a section just for the DR bikes.

JM

[He Man]

So i finally got a chance to go and take a look at a DR650 today until the dude says he wont be back till 7pm cause his family get together just threw in an extra event.(its dark out by then). its 45 and the roads are wet. Neither of which really bother me since ive been there and done that many times before. Its only 1 hour from my house on a sunday when theres little drivers and its calm.

The issue is, its going to be wet and 45-50 for the next week or two during the times i have time to go.

Should I go now? or later.

BTW its a 2007 DR650 with 9.5k miles and some mods, exhaust, skid plate, carbs rejetted, and vapor trail tach.

[the_Journeyman]

Sounds like a pretty nicely sorted DR, I would certainly look at it.  I would go sooner than later.

JM