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23 Sep 2010
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Have had a DL650 since early 2008,I got as I wanted a bike that would travel well with a pillion. My Strom has now done a few trips in Europe & is great for two up touring,however the suspension could do with improving(upgrading rear & front before next trip)If you do decide on the Strom I would suggest changing the hand guards & fitting a fork brace as it makes a huge difference to the handling.
Personally I am not sure that it is worth the expense of another bike & getting her sorted when you already have one that you are used to & is sorted for travelling,yes the Strom is more of a tourer but as has been proven its not the type of bike but the will to do it that counts 
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Andy L
From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.
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23 Sep 2010
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Mate I have Bandit 1250, but have a look at MCN 15th Sept a guy took his SV while everyone else took the BMWF800GS, he managed it.
I would suggest if you are only doing limited miles off Rd why bother?
Stick to what you do know and save the ££ for the trip besides you know your bike how much your bike does mph handling, mods etc.
It all starts with a dream.
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We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.
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12 Oct 2010
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I think I am over-thinking this one... I am going back and forth between buy the DL650 and the add things ( bash,luggage etc ) or just "improve" a little more the SV ( bash, rear suspension and front suspension ).
I would really like a DL but here in Europe even a SH one with ABS costs 5000 euros... and this is without any addons. So I would rather spend these money on the trip itself.
I do not want to go on hard-core offroad. But I am really afraid that I will not manage the normal gravel/non-tarmac roads that I might find "here and there" with my SV. Do you know if back wheel and front wheel are the same between SV and DL? I want to determine if I could put DL size tires on SV ( 150 back and 110 front )
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13 Oct 2010
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the DL takes a 110/80 R19 59H on the front & a 150/70 R17 69H on the rear.
hope that helps
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Andy L
From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.
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13 Oct 2010
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Yeap, I also knew the same thing about DL. And "on the paper" SV needs 120 in front and 160 in the back. But the question is, could I also run 110 an 150.
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13 Oct 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AnjinSan
I think I am over-thinking this one... I am going back and forth between buy the DL650 and the add things ( bash,luggage etc ) or just "improve" a little more the SV ( bash, rear suspension and front suspension ).
I would really like a DL but here in Europe even a SH one with ABS costs 5000 euros... and this is without any addons. So I would rather spend these money on the trip itself.
I do not want to go on hard-core offroad. But I am really afraid that I will not manage the normal gravel/non-tarmac roads that I might find "here and there" with my SV. Do you know if back wheel and front wheel are the same between SV and DL? I want to determine if I could put DL size tires on SV ( 150 back and 110 front )
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You could fit a narrow semi knobbly 17 inch rear tyre on the front of your SV .
Several of the cheaper brands like Kenda and IRC do tyres in the sizes of 3.50x17 and I think Pirelli do a 120.90.17 .
If the tyre is directionally marked ,then put it on backwards.
Keep the speed down on the tarmac and you should be OK.
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"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."
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13 Oct 2010
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You can fit any size tyres that will fit in the swinging arm/forks, the only way to find out if your chosen tyres work is to try them and see.....or find someone else who has tried them, if you knew someone with a DL you could see if the wheels will fit yours. I think money spent on well set up suspension is never wasted:- improves ride/comfort, increases enjoyment,confidence,tyre wear(unless you start riding it like a racer), reduces stress and frees your mind to the scenery/traffic, it also gives your bikes frame and wheels a much easier time. You have to do as you see fit but you have a bike that's almost there, you could continue improving that and look for a DR that's not been abused......
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19 Oct 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oothef
You can fit any size tyres that will fit in the swinging arm/forks,
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No, not really. The tyre size affects cornering/handling, and a bit of awareness here would be useful.
In addition, if you have an accident with "any size tyres" you risk having any insurance claim thrown out, to say nothing of you being charged with a vehicle in an unsafe condition. You'll also have to inform your Insurer of any modifications - if you don't, they'll also use that as an excuse not to pay out. If you do tell your Insurer of this modification, don't say you fitted "any size tyres"!
The OP should be very careful of the advice that Oothef gives here. 
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19 Oct 2010
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As I said, the only way to find out is to try.....If the tyres are in good condition, insurers would have little or no case.I always have and always will fit tyres (and rims if necessary) to make a bike handle how I want it to, not how some development rider/engineer thinks it should.
I've a battered A/T with a 130 18 on the back, it doesn't suit, 140 is standard it had a 150 on it when I bought it, I can't see any insurer having a case that my bike is unsafe, they weren't interested when I told them about exhaust, seat, panniers.
When fitting different sized tyres you should ride carefully until you understand their effect on the handling, narrower profiles usually make steering quicker/more precise, fatter the opposite. then there's profiles........
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19 Oct 2010
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I second Caminando´s word of caution - radically altering your tyres is very risky, unless you know 100%, what you´re doing. And it might lead you to interesting situations with insurance, etc., if you´re involved in an accident.
Fitting knobbly tyres into a DL650 would not make it a perfect off-road bike (a tiny bit better, perhaps), and fitting the same on an SV (if you´re able somehow) would probably make it horrible on the pavement, and not really an off-road bike, either. There are other factors than just tyres, that make a machine suitable or non-suitable for something.
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19 Oct 2010
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Provided the tyres are approved for road use they should not void insurance in your home country .Check it out though because [thankfully]not every country is as anal as the UK with regard to insurance .
Tyres sizes are not uniform anyway and one manufacturer's stated size may actually be wider than another's.[I once had a 130-90 that would not fit inside the swingarm ,even though it was the standard size for that bike! ].
Once you are in Africa on your RTW nobody will care about your tyres .
ANY changes you make to the bike,such as heavy panniers , will affect the way it handles ,tyres are just another factor .You just have to adapt the way you ride to remain safe .
I choose tyres with the tread pattern that is most suitable for the terrain I intend to travel .For instance; Conti TKCs or Kenda Trakmasters for muddy unpaved roads and Distanzias/Anakees/Tourances for tarmac and dry gravel.It's simple and it is safer to have the right tyres for the job regardless of the original fitment.
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19 Oct 2010
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Very interesting discussion about tires. I would not dream of trying just any type of tires.
And I do not want to go fast, competition like anywhere... But from my very limited experience off-tarmac with the SV ( road tires ) was that in the mud/grass/wet track it can get really slippery. To my understanding a good pair of off-road tires would solve this (if going slowly ).
If I go with the SV then I know I will have portions of road without seal and so I would like to be able to do them without too much hassle... They would still be roads but I really cannot evaluate how hard it would be for me to go with street tires on Dalton Highy or on some African piste road. And again, speed is not an issue, steady and safe progress is...
That was the only reason why I was researching the possibility of putting 150 tires in the back and 110 in the front.
I know that whatever I do, SV will not be a real enduro. But then again neither is considered the DL ( by some ). And I just cannot convince myself yet that 6000 euro (1/3) of the money that I have, should go to a new bike instead of gas and so on 
Hmm it is good that winter is here... I will have a lot of time to think and plan...
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19 Oct 2010
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Yes the UK insurance situation is anal; we all know that - but try saying that when they disallow your claim. All carelessly given advice as we've seen on this thread is heading for disaster, legally and practically. Dont some people get the point that Insurers LOOK for reasons not to pay? That's all they want - not to pay.
Sure if you're in Africa etc it doesn't matter at all - you fit what you can get. But to recklessly suggest that you can fit any old tyre and just take a little bit more care is daft and dangerous.   
Anjin San isn't swallowing this poor advice, but others might.
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19 Oct 2010
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I think the situation in case of insurance claims or similar is pretty clear for all of us. So let's not get to flame up...
Unfortunately I do not have anyway the money to ensure the bike. Not for an international trip anyway. But I am interested in my own safety so the prospect of tire slipping on me is not too good.
But the question about the tires is not general : it is very specific to one point : 150 instead of 160 on the back. and 110 instead of 120 in the front. Let's say could I fit and use safely a pair of TK80s?
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19 Oct 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AnjinSan
Very interesting discussion about tires. I would not dream of trying just any type of tires.
And I do not want to go fast, competition like anywhere... But from my very limited experience off-tarmac with the SV ( road tires ) was that in the mud/grass/wet track it can get really slippery. To my understanding a good pair of off-road tires would solve this (if going slowly ).
If I go with the SV then I know I will have portions of road without seal and so I would like to be able to do them without too much hassle... They would still be roads but I really cannot evaluate how hard it would be for me to go with street tires on Dalton Highy or on some African piste road. And again, speed is not an issue, steady and safe progress is...
That was the only reason why I was researching the possibility of putting 150 tires in the back and 110 in the front.
I know that whatever I do, SV will not be a real enduro. But then again neither is considered the DL ( by some ). And I just cannot convince myself yet that 6000 euro (1/3) of the money that I have, should go to a new bike instead of gas and so on
Hmm it is good that winter is here... I will have a lot of time to think and plan... |
Anjinsan , people ride the Dalton on fulldress Harleys and Goldwings .
Your SV650 will be fine as long as you respect the weather and road conditions .
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