Dual purpose bike choice

[fredintoon]

Francois posts OT to the XS650 site that he could use a dual purpose bike for his work as a forestry engineer. He asks if he should buy a KLR650, a BMW650 single or a V-strom650. To which I have added "other" Anyone here care to give an input?

[prometheus578]

Customers loved them

Worked on many KLR650's, Fred.
Just the usual stuff... services, valve adjustments, chains, tires etc.
Can't recall anything bad about them from a mechanic's point of view.
Use the same 29mm valve shims as our bikes.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Fred,
My friend Ron has a KLR650 a Vstrom 650 and a KTM955. Yeah he likes the rough stuff. He says the KLR is the best for the trails and bushwacking the Vstrom is hiis favorite for dirt roads and hardpacked trails . So it depends what conditions your friend will be riding most of the time.
Oh the KTM is too much of everything too heavy too much power too tall.
The Vstrom with full knobbies is not pleasant on paved road.
Phil

[webbcraft2150]

My X bro-in- law is a bike cop in Albuquerque and they use the KLR's. He loves it. "His" bike had over 20k on it last time I saw him and the only thing replaced was tires and chains. He even chased down a burgler down several flights of stairs in a multi story garage, he caught em.

[barberad]

I have had the XLR 600, KLR 250, BMW F650 and some good hours on a DR 650. I suppose it depends on how much off road time we are looking at. I liked the BMW a lot, however the cost is up there a little bit more than the other bikes and I think if mine wasn't third hand when I bought it I would have had a tough time taking it off the road. Also, depending on how close he is to a dealer, he may have a tough time getting the BMW worked on it if need be. You get more looks with the BMW dirtbike, but its not "really" a dirtbike. The Vstom is really comparable to to BMW but it's also got a better price, especially used. More long distance riding comfort with these two. The Kawasaki has been around for a long time and has a pretty good rep, as well as the fact that the price is really good compared to the other bikes. The other choices are the Honda XR650L and the DR650 if you want the more off road bike in an air cooled model. So IMHO he has decide how much off road time he will be doing and how sad he'll be when he wipes out (($$$), it's a dirt bike afterall. Just my .02.
Dan

liquid cooled:
Vstrom (http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suz...m_650_2008.php)
KLR650 (http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/kaw...lr650_2007.php)
BMW (http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/bmw...dakar_2007.php)
Air cooled:
XR650L (http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/hon...650_l_2008.php)
DR650 (http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suz...650se_2009.php)

[Shuriken]

I have an 80s model Honda XL500r. All of the modern bikes are tuned for mid to top-end performance, so that's where you'll find the horsepower when riding one. My bike is tuned for low to mid range performance. I am using different sprockets as well. The result is 55mph is as fast as she goes but she'll pull any hill short of vertical, even when riding two up - with ease. Wheelies in 1st and 2nd.... Good gas mileage... Perfect for the kind of trail riding I do. I'd get a 650l for road use, though.

[madmax-im]

Kawasaki Versys

This bike is a great dual purpose machine...got this link from another m/c forum ...lengthy but very informative reading...
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...wasaki-versys/

[Paintman]

Dual Sport

Hey Fred i have 2 KLr's one is an 84 other a 92 i just picked up i love em i go everyplace, one has 28K on it had to do a cam chain and fork seals other only has 6k on it. i ahve no real complaints.

John

[Jerry]

My assistant has a KLR 650, commutes to work with it on occasion and goes off-road, mostly old Jeep trails, with it quite often. He says it has been a reliable bike and works well across a wide range of road conditions.

Another option in an older, smaller bike is the Yamaha DT series. I've been keeping my eye on a DT 400 that is for sale but in rough shape. Guy wants $300.00 as-is. If you do a search on DT 400 you will turn up a couple threads that discuss the DT series.