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Ride Tales Post your ride reports for a weekend ride or around the world. Please make the first words of the title WHERE the ride is. Please do NOT just post a link to your site. For a link, see Get a Link.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 10 Dec 2008
mollydog's Avatar
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Not really a ride report .... more of a test ride report.
:r ofl:
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Last edited by mollydog; 21 Mar 2009 at 19:55.
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  #2  
Old 10 Dec 2008
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X challenge
Thanks for the useful test

Now I'm happy I decide a few months ago to buy 690 Enduro whith the 63 HP compared to Xchallenge.

What about the 690 enduro?Did you test already?

Regards,

Simon
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  #3  
Old 10 Dec 2008
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Glad you stuck with the DR650 Patrick. It's a great all-round bike as I'm sure the thief that recently stole mine will tell you...(I'm still adding to the the list of extremely painful things I'm going to do to this guy if I find him!!)
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www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...
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  #4  
Old 10 Dec 2008
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Good luck!
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Last edited by mollydog; 21 Mar 2009 at 19:57.
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Old 10 Dec 2008
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Actually I'll be sticking to my trusty old GS1150 for now, currently its on 100,000miles. Can't see me doing too much off road stuff here unfortunately though I really loved doing it and would like to do more. You just can't go off road on your bike in Scotland as generally all the land is privately owned and you'd need permission first, very dull... I'd love to live somewhere a) warmer and b) where I could actually go off road..

Here, its mostly idiotic kids who steal dirt bikes (they used a bolt cutter on my chain and presumably put it in a van) and then ride them about the wastelands near their housing estates and ultimately set them them on fire- ah, good old Britain, eh? I feel so proud...

Yeah, some the the kind folk we stayed with in the US and Canada even had left their doors open for us arriving- that just wouldn't happen here unfortunately!


Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
At least you've go the insurance pay out ....so you get a new bike out of the deal .... or at least some cash? (I hope?)

We in the US are shocked at all the bike theft in the UK. Nothing like that
happens here .... we just get lots of shoot outs, bank robberies and home invasions.

Only the HD guys and flashy new sport bike guys need be careful. I can leave my DR out all night in San Francisco, untouched. The cops broke up a bike theft ring in San Fran a few years back, discovered about 20 bikes in a warehouse. Guess what? One guy was a Brit, the other from Ireland!
Easy pickins over here I guess .... but really, no money in it.

Good luck! What bike are you considering next?

Patrick
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www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...
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  #6  
Old 11 Dec 2008
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690 E
Patrick,

Thanks for reply.

Since I bought(last june) the 690 Enduro,I did just only 3,000 kms,but let say 2,000 kms of them off-road.By my opinion the bike is very reliable,very easy handled and very,very powerful(imediately changed the exhaust).Like a dual sport bike I can recomend you this one.

Wish you a Adventurous 2009 and to find the cheapest 690!

Cheers,

Simon
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  #7  
Old 11 Dec 2008
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off-road
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeS View Post
Actually I'll be sticking to my trusty old GS1150 for now, currently its on 100,000miles. Can't see me doing too much off road stuff here unfortunately though I really loved doing it and would like to do more. You just can't go off road on your bike in Scotland as generally all the land is privately owned and you'd need permission first, very dull... I'd love to live somewhere a) warmer and b) where I could actually go off road..
Mike,

Great blog's Argentina/Alaska and Singapore/UK

Be welcome....come and live here in Bulgaria....still not off-road restrictions,you can easily go where you want...... from the west part of BG to the east part(black sea) through the mountains(from april to late october),really off-road paradise.
A lot of british came already.
Sorry for the stealed bike.

Cheers,

Simon
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  #8  
Old 11 Dec 2008
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Confused
Sometimes I get confused, it’s not because Mollydog doesn’t want to buy the G650X (neither do I).


Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
The first shocker came just lifting the thing off the side stand. Feckin' ell! This is a heavy bastard! No, I mean really really heavy!
You have tested this bike earlier, but obviously without this “shock”, how can that be?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
I stab the clutch and it barely comes up and power won't hold it up. So I figure "...Ok, so the power is up in the rev band." Nope. You can rev the nuts off it and no go. I mean this thing was slow!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
But the power .... it was the power I really noticed. My DR650 really was faster than the X Challenge. More power everywhere. How can that be?
Okay, so you think it was slow, but I seem to remember:

Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Good power, light steering, smooth power, good handling. Overall, pretty impressive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog aka Django Loco on AdvRider
The Euro bikes are very sexy and snappy and obviously have more power and cache than any of the current Jap offerings but for longer rides there are better travel bikes, IMO.
Quote is from here:
ADVrider - View Single Post - Best for Light Touring? TE610, 650X, 690E?



I like this one:
Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog aka Django Loco on AdvRider
There is no question the Euro bikes are a Class Act all the way. Beautiful bikes and a blast to ride. They are no doubt way better off road than the Japanese Dual sports. As you've said "... not in the same league".
Quote is from here:
ADVrider - View Single Post - Best for Light Touring? TE610, 650X, 690E?

I’m not sure what to believe. Well I know what to believe about the G650X, but not about this thread.
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