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Looking for some adventures

StromRider

StromRider

Road junky
Joined
Oct 31, 2011
Location
east bay
Moto(s)
VFR800
Hello all BARFers, I need your advise.

I used to live on the other side of the planet where I have owned a beautiful Honda CBR600 F4 which I truly loved and enjoyed - great bike!

Now that I have arrived at SF and the bay-area I am learning that there is so much nature and I am starting to think about switching from sport-bikes to dual-sport bikes, so I can enjoy both worlds :thumbup

There are many options and they are all new to me. BMWs, KTMs, Hondas, Yamahas, Suzukis - I need help!

I am going to use the bike on the highways daily to commute to work and would like to ride easy off-road trails on the weekends. I am quite big (186cm 200lbs). There is no real budget limit but it would be nice to spend around $8000. Reliability, comfortably and ease of use are most important to me.

Any recommendations ?
 
Honda XR650L
Been around for ever!
Long build history 1993 - 2012
Lots of aftermarket parts for this bike++
Reliability from a scale of 1 to 10 . Definitely a 10
Has electric start+
Draw backs Heavy 346lbs

2012_John_Deere_XR650L_Sloe_Dirt_Bike.jpg

http://dirt-bikes.findthebest.com/c...-2011-Suzuki-DR650SE-vs-2011-KTM-690-Enduro-R

Call the guys down at Hollister Honda they have some 2009 and 2012 on the floor by what there website says.
http://www.hollisterhonda.com/new_v...ru=999999999&ModelSearch=xr650l&submit=Search
 
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How long is your commute and what easy off road trails are you talking about? There's not much local dual sporting to be had. You generally have to travel for 2-4 hours to get to some, with a few exceptions.
 
The commute is just 20 miles from Orinda to SF.
Regarding off-road trails I don't know yet but I am going to find out.

After some digging I am thinking about the KLE 990 Adventure (S or R) with the BMW F800GS as a close second.

What do you think?
 
Sounds like you are talking more about adventure bikes than dual sport. Especially given your handle :) you might consider a V-Strom. Reliable, comfy, good value.
 
rodr said:
Sounds like you are talking more about adventure bikes than dual sport. Especially given your handle :) you might consider a V-Strom. Reliable, comfy, good value.
Click to expand...

That's right...

I wrote it on my newbie message (which miraculously disappeared from the forums) that I wanted to register as StormRider and StromRider is a typo :facepalm

I hear that the V-Storm is a great bike, but I am not attracted to it, I think I don't like it's over-sized front, but thanks for the idea.
 
luckett said:
Do you want this ^?

Or do you just want something pretty?
Click to expand...

Well, you have a point here, logically the VStrom will do what I want, but motorcycling is not all logic, there's a great deal of passion to it and I guess the VStrom is just "not my type"...

But thanks for pointing that out :thumbup
 
KLR 650. Dirt cheap and bulletproof... '87-07:

side13.jpg


Or... '08 and up:

2009-kawasaki-klr-650-5_460x0w.jpg
 
StromRider said:
That's right...

I wrote it on my newbie message (which miraculously disappeared from the forums) that I wanted to register as StormRider and StromRider is a typo :facepalm

I hear that the V-Storm is a great bike, but I am not attracted to it, I think I don't like it's over-sized front, but thanks for the idea.
Click to expand...

I second the vstrom being a great bike: I commute on it daily, rain or shine and go on many adventures: cheap to buy, easy to fix, easy to find parts, many happy riders (on adv as well) and always itches to be taken out on a ride, plus, you don't have seperation anxiety when eating a meal due to it being on the ugly side :)
 
SVBEESGAL said:
I second the vstrom being a great bike: I commute on it daily, rain or shine and go on many adventures: cheap to buy, easy to fix, easy to find parts, many happy riders (on adv as well) and always itches to be taken out on a ride, plus, you don't have seperation anxiety when eating a meal due to it being on the ugly side :)
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:thumbup...couldn't have said it any better!

And Stromrider - if you're not gonna get a vstrom, then why don't ya change your screen name...else we will be busting your balls fo' eva for not riding a vstrom with said name...:twofinger


T
 
Every time I see this thread title I can't help but think of:

[youtube]rMbATaj7Il8[/youtube]
 
Another one for the KLR, I don't think you can go wrong with the bike. But then again, I think that all the 650's would be great bikes. Having a bigger budget you could always look for a used f800 or you can go absolutely wild with a KLR! the farkles would be endless.
 
Hi Stormrider,

I understand exactly where you're coming from. California is a beauiful state, with a lot of great riding opportunities. From the sounds of it, you're interested in an adventure bike - something you can go touring on, without being afraid to get a little lost or taking a rutted back-road.

If you're not familiar with ADVRider, you might want to check that site out. It's a huge, global resource for touring, and you'll get a feel for what serious riders really like over there.

With your budget, I'd probably point you in the direction of a KLR or Vstorm 650. Both have good ergonomics for a tall guy, and a huge following with lots of parts, information, and support.

Lots of touring choices for you. You can head north up the coast, or north east and explore a massive network of fire-roads through the forest. Northeast is Mt. Lassen, which is stunning. East is the high sierra, and Yosemite. Head south along the coast as well, and south east for some amazing desert mountain riding. Can't go wrong, no matter which way you head.

I personally have a touring bike, but I think an adventure bike might be my next buy.
 
jimboFosho said:
Another one for the KLR, I don't think you can go wrong with the bike. But then again, I think that all the 650's would be great bikes. Having a bigger budget you could always look for a used f800 or you can go absolutely wild with a KLR! the farkles would be endless.
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I'll be the voice of dissent on the KLR. I've had one in the past and it's a fun bike. It's the best of the 650cc thumpers on the highway, but it's not a great highway bike. Backroads? Sure. Dirt? No problem. Highway? Meh. As MNB said, there's not a lot of dual-sporting around here. I took my KLR to Clear Creek several times, and it was a blast riding through CCMA. The ride to and from there? Not so fun. I sold the KLR and bought a Wee Strom, and it is infinitely better than the KLR for just about anything other than really rough dirt roads where ground clearance becomes an issue. I will eventually buy another "dual-sport" but it'll be with the notion of hauling it in my Tundra to wherever the good dirt starts.
 
JPK said:
I'll be the voice of dissent on the KLR. I've had one in the past and it's a fun bike. It's the best of the 650cc thumpers on the highway, but it's not a great highway bike. Backroads? Sure. Dirt? No problem. Highway? Meh. As MNB said, there's not a lot of dual-sporting around here. I took my KLR to Clear Creek several times, and it was a blast riding through CCMA. The ride to and from there? Not so fun. I sold the KLR and bought a Wee Strom, and it is infinitely better than the KLR for just about anything other than really rough dirt roads where ground clearance becomes an issue. I will eventually buy another "dual-sport" but it'll be with the notion of hauling it in my Tundra to wherever the good dirt starts.
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I agree that KLR is not going to be taking you anywhere in the lap of luxury. A dirtbike that can do the slab is going to be a compromise just as a highway bike that can tackle some dirt is also going to have to compromise. You'll hear this a million times regarding the KLR: 'because it can do (most) everything, it does not excel at any one thing.'
 
This is my advice, and the best of any here.

You obviously don't know what the hell kind of bike you want yet. And that is fine.

So go, get like a 10 year old KLR for like $2k. Decide if you like it on the highway. Decide if you really ride off road enough. Decide what TYPE of off road you like, whether its trips to OHVs, or fire roads, or unmaintained dirt roads, or actual trails in the Nat'l Forests.

If you don't like what the KLR offers, sell it for about what you bought it for. And try out a more expensive 'adventure' bike.

This is the most cost effective solution. Instead of dropping nearly 4k for just an acceptable VStrom (which are pretty much the cheapest adv tourers anyway), you only have to spend 2k for an older KLR.

If you like KLR, sell it anyway, and buy a newer more expensive KLR. You may find you like the dirt a lot more, in which case get an XR650L, and you may find the bikes pretty tall, so then get a DR650SE.

If you dont like or dont get to the dirt so much, get something more comfy.

BAM! You're welcome.

Edit: I didnt mind the KLR on the highway. I'd ride that thing at 80MPH all day, with D606 knobbies. The height makes it great on the freeway, and it's kinda narrow for lane sharing. I will say that 30+MPH winds will get exciting on full knobs. I had to actually ride the shoulder over 152 near the resevoir one night, I couldn't keep it in a lane at 65MPH lol. But those winds are screamin at times. I had ZERO problems riding the KLR for 200 miles of pavement. I actually miss that bike, because it was such an easy bike to own.
 
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Dual-sport and ADV type bikes in general are a compromise. You need to decide on what kinds of riding you want to do. Mostly paved roads with some easy gravel roads here and there? Go for something like the V-strom or 1200GS. Very little highway and lots of dirt, including single-track? Id recommend something like a WR250R or DRZ400. Something in between that will do everything and go anywhere? Then look at the KLR or DR650.

In general, the heavier the bike, the more work your going to do off-road and visa versa. I did TON of research before I made my decision to get my DR650 (just got her yesterday!). I had a KLR and it was a good bike, but just too heavy off-road. Good luck with your decision. Take a look at ADVrider.com, theres enough info on every dirty bike in existence there to give you a serious case of information overload, and the ride reports are epic!
 
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