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Any suggestions for a bike? Any suggestions for a bike?
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
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  #1  
Old 28 May 2011
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Any suggestions for a bike?
I finaly have some cash and like to get me a bike again. I live in Australia and I look mainly for a Road Trail bike . I want a bike with a pillionseat so I can take my girls with for a ride from time to time.
I like to spend not more than 6000 AUS$ and had there fore a look at a KLE500, KLR650 and DR650. All bikes are in this particular Pricerange with not to much K`s on the clook.
Today I had a testride on a KLE 500, it was alright, but I miss a bit the grunt in the lower end of the REV scale.
All suggestions are welcome or even other ideas of bikes wich will fit into my purpose!
Cheers Klaus!
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Old 29 May 2011
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The Kawasaki KLE500 is a reasonable traillee but some consider it to be a bit agricultural. My pick of the bunch would be a Yamaha XT600E which isn't entirely surprising given the fact I own 2 of them! lol.

Other bikes well worth looking at -

Honda XR650
Kawasaki KLR650
Suzuki DRZ400 - pretty useful offroad
Honda Transalp (XL?) - Twin

If you want a bargain then look no further than a XT6 (any version as all are legendary RTW bikes).
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Old 30 May 2011
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There are lots of XT600E's out there so in some ways that shows they can do the job and cheaply. I took z XTZ660 up to cape york. That was one up but with all the luggage it may as well have been two up.

I now have a DR650 which is proving to be grunty enough, cheap and tough. Heaps of people here have picks of these bike in all sorts of places.
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  #4  
Old 30 May 2011
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Yeah, the DR is also on the list.
I do not know in the moment wich direction I will go!
I will see If I get the chance to testride as well the KLR and the DR!
gixxer.rob, did you buy a new DR or second hand? Comming saturday I booked in a testride for a DR with 34000k`s on the clock for 5290$ wich I think is still negotiable.
Will see how it will go.
Cheers!
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  #5  
Old 31 May 2011
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Good luck with the DR, it's an awesome bike.
They sell brand new for AU$8000 in Sydney and there's usually good offers for used ones on the usual sites on the web.
As much as I like the DR, for riding two up over long distances it does not offer too much room. So give it a try with your girl on the pillion seat before you commit.
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Old 1 Jun 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KDSA View Post
gixxer.rob, did you buy a new DR or second hand?
I got mine 2nd hand with 9000k's on the clock. I think you should be able to move a bit on that price but they are a pretty tough bike and the price often reflects that.

As BikingMarco says two up doesn't leave much room for gear, depends on how long and where the trip is I suppose.
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Old 1 Jun 2011
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KDSA, given the passenger carrying requirement I'd be going for a Weestrom (DL650 v twin).

Much better than the KLE500 in terms of grunt, size, comfort and performance but not as much of an offroader as the DR/KLR/XT. Far better compromise (true dual purpose) bike though than any of the above.

There's a Weestrom in the flea market at ADV Australia right now for $5.5k.
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