xcgates
0
For the record, I should probably state what my bike history has been. In high school I thought motorcycles were stupid and dangerous. By my sophomore year in college, I wanted one, and the summer after I bought a bike, had a friend ride it over, and took the MSF class, in that order.
First bike is an '85 Kawasaki ZN700, in-line 4, shaft drive standard
Second: '07 Ducati ST3 (little bit of a change. )
Third: '79 Suzuki GS850G in-line 4, shaft drive standard
Notice anything? The old bikes are heavy, though the ST3 isn't exactly a lightweight. None are exactly forgiving of anything other than sealed surfaces. I haven't ridden the Suzuki much, and haven't had the Kawi running in a couple months, but from memory the Kawi was easier to ride on dirt roads than the ST3. Never ridden, much less owned a dirt-oriented bike.
I'm thinking about a dual-sport to replace the Kawasaki that I can ride and not care if it gets beat up, I don't have to worry as much about bumps in rough pavement, I can take the occasional dirt road, and also commute on.
I want to be able to sustain 80 mph as indicated on a GPS.
Preferably I'd be able to go faster than 80 to pass. Don't need much acceleration, but a bit would be nice.
I want to be able to cruise all day on it, but I have a pretty sturdy backside.
I want to be able to fit a tank that turns the bike into a super-tanker.
i want to be able to kick it over when I get upset, and be able to pick it up after.
I want to be able to strap down a dry-bag or some other form of luggage.
Both for trips, but more regularly, shopping.
Good gas mileage would be a plus, but I care more about miles per tank.
Here are the options I've determined. Distinctions between the models, like the two DRZs, the different Yamahas. Any advice on ranking them from dirt-oriented to street-oriented? Any I should rule out based on what I want?
KLR650 - Pretty road-oriented, and heavy.
DR650 - Seems like it would be a good balance between dirt and street
DR-Z400(S/SM) - might be too small to run on I-10?
XR650 - Top speed is 70 mph or so?
The various Yamaha 250's, specifically WR250X - expensive, but fuel-injected. Really no clue about them other than being fuel-injected. Seems like they would be the best for dirt, worst for the road?
Husky 610(?) - Other than rumors of not being able to pack much weight on the back, a question mark sums up what I know pretty well.
::EDIT:: I'd be inclined to leave the engine stock, probably at the most change carb jetting, or maybe something like a different cam? Certainly nothing hugely expensive like the bigger displacement kits. I'd be doing things like changing the seat, adding a GPS, things that affect the comfort.
::EDIT #2:: I test rode an XR650L which got me thinking about this stuff when I barely noticed that I had gone over a curb, much less was riding around on grass that would send my other bikes skittering around. No problem with the seat height either. I'm fairly tall, and definitely on the lighter side.
::EDIT #3:: Doing some more interwebs browsing, and 26k mile valve check intervals on the WR250R?!?!!!! I have to say the 7.5k valve checks on my Ducati are killing me. Especially when I put an unexpected 4k or so on in a month.
First bike is an '85 Kawasaki ZN700, in-line 4, shaft drive standard
Second: '07 Ducati ST3 (little bit of a change. )
Third: '79 Suzuki GS850G in-line 4, shaft drive standard
Notice anything? The old bikes are heavy, though the ST3 isn't exactly a lightweight. None are exactly forgiving of anything other than sealed surfaces. I haven't ridden the Suzuki much, and haven't had the Kawi running in a couple months, but from memory the Kawi was easier to ride on dirt roads than the ST3. Never ridden, much less owned a dirt-oriented bike.
I'm thinking about a dual-sport to replace the Kawasaki that I can ride and not care if it gets beat up, I don't have to worry as much about bumps in rough pavement, I can take the occasional dirt road, and also commute on.
I want to be able to sustain 80 mph as indicated on a GPS.
Preferably I'd be able to go faster than 80 to pass. Don't need much acceleration, but a bit would be nice.
I want to be able to cruise all day on it, but I have a pretty sturdy backside.
I want to be able to fit a tank that turns the bike into a super-tanker.
i want to be able to kick it over when I get upset, and be able to pick it up after.
I want to be able to strap down a dry-bag or some other form of luggage.
Both for trips, but more regularly, shopping.
Good gas mileage would be a plus, but I care more about miles per tank.
Here are the options I've determined. Distinctions between the models, like the two DRZs, the different Yamahas. Any advice on ranking them from dirt-oriented to street-oriented? Any I should rule out based on what I want?
KLR650 - Pretty road-oriented, and heavy.
DR650 - Seems like it would be a good balance between dirt and street
DR-Z400(S/SM) - might be too small to run on I-10?
XR650 - Top speed is 70 mph or so?
The various Yamaha 250's, specifically WR250X - expensive, but fuel-injected. Really no clue about them other than being fuel-injected. Seems like they would be the best for dirt, worst for the road?
Husky 610(?) - Other than rumors of not being able to pack much weight on the back, a question mark sums up what I know pretty well.
::EDIT:: I'd be inclined to leave the engine stock, probably at the most change carb jetting, or maybe something like a different cam? Certainly nothing hugely expensive like the bigger displacement kits. I'd be doing things like changing the seat, adding a GPS, things that affect the comfort.
::EDIT #2:: I test rode an XR650L which got me thinking about this stuff when I barely noticed that I had gone over a curb, much less was riding around on grass that would send my other bikes skittering around. No problem with the seat height either. I'm fairly tall, and definitely on the lighter side.
::EDIT #3:: Doing some more interwebs browsing, and 26k mile valve check intervals on the WR250R?!?!!!! I have to say the 7.5k valve checks on my Ducati are killing me. Especially when I put an unexpected 4k or so on in a month.