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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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  #16  
Old 23 May 2014
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Originally Posted by Chasbo View Post
Ok, first some background. I am looking for a good bike to RTW. I will be doing the ride in small bites rather than a continuous journey. I want something that is as comfortable off road as it is on and low tech/maintenance is key as well. So FI is out as is lots of electronics. I also plan to travel light. I will use soft panniers and bring camping gear and keep what I carry to a minimum. I am going to try to keep the gear weight under 40 pounds/18kgs. I am about 200lbs/90kgs. After a lot of research, I have narrowed it down to the Honda XR650L and Suzuki DRZ400S. The bikes are very similar in terms of specs and I find myself torn at which would be easiest to live with on the road. I like these models as they have both remained virtually unchanged for a couple decades, have a lot of aftermarket support and are readily available where I live.

Are both equally easy to get parts for around the world?

Is one head and shoulders better than the other?

Which would you choose amongst these two?
Both will give you a numb but in no time. Mod the seat boi
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  #17  
Old 23 May 2014
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Originally Posted by Chasbo View Post
Yeah, Paul is the man. I got his border crossing book. I chose SA/CA as my first leg because it should be the easiest for me to do. I will be following him like a hawk to see how he does on the BAM. I am well versed in bike maintenance, so working on the SXC doesn't bother me, it's just the fear that I will be miles from anywhere when it decides to act up.
Sounds good! I'm thinking once you're out on the road for a while you'll tune in to your KTM, learn it's sounds and ways. Hopefully any changes would be noticed in time, do a repair, replace worn parts. The longer you go the better you'll be able to diagnose and analyze issues ... hopefully catching things before any serious problems arise.
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  #18  
Old 23 May 2014
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Been reading with great interest.

Having toured on the XRL, I found it underpowered (my mate says the L is for 'lazy')and 'cramped' (I'm 6' 4").

The single biggest advantage of the XRL above any other bike (KTM and DRZ included) that will make me choose it again: easy maintenance and reliability.
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  #19  
Old 24 May 2014
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Originally Posted by Squily View Post
Been reading with great interest.

Having toured on the XRL, I found it underpowered (my mate says the L is for 'lazy')and 'cramped' (I'm 6' 4").

The single biggest advantage of the XRL above any other bike (KTM and DRZ included) that will make me choose it again: easy maintenance and reliability.
All good! keep oil cool, keep level to the top. XR's based on 600's of that generation burn oil running fast on highway or going full throttle through deep sand all day long. Watch the level.

Maintenance IS EASY! Very nice ... but if run hard (HOT), valves don't stay in spec too long. Don't let them close up. Poor oil means pitted cams and clacky engine.

Also, IMO, XR's demand good quality oil, (synthetic). Since there is NO oil cooler, synthetic makes a BIG difference. It's Honda's old school air cooling, not even close to the Air/Oil cooled DR650 Suzuki SACS system ... which never over heats! (55,000 miles on mine )

Even though I ditched my XR-L within a year of purchase new (1993), I rode and toured with buddies who kept XR-L's and put lots into them. In early 90's the XR-L was the top dual sport bike. But most All eventually gave up and sold them off. Out of about 7 Honda riding Baja buddies, only ONE still owns and XR-L today. Another buddy has an old XR600R. (better bike IMHO)


70 year old Bob, still wringing out his XR600R. Bob is 6'8". 2000 miles of stuff like this. Happy every day

I made only one Baja trip on my XR-L ... but later made several Baja rides with buddies riding XR-L's. Stuff happens in Baja. Baja eats bikes alive. I saw bent and broken sub frames, seized wheel bearings, broken battery boxes and over heated motors that when taken apart were ruined. (Yes, they ran, but made no power and smoked)

Not all the XR-L's did this ... but the maniacs who rode them like race bikes nearly all paid the price. A few were kitted with over bore kits. Big trouble.

The smart guys fit oil coolers, modified the battery box (Baja Design's used to have a kit), put on a quality aftermarket pipe and reinforced the sub frame ... and let Precision Concepts work on the suspension front and rear. (Team Honda)

The XR-L is TALL ... but the distance between seat and peg is short, so yes, it is a bit cramped for someone 6'4". At 5'6", fit me perfect ... but I could not touch the ground!!

Like every dual sport bike ... the XR-L seat was never made for hours riding. Corbin and others made seats for the XR-L. At one time the XR-L was the star bike in the Baja Designs catalogue. But faded fast when the "new" XR400 came along in about 1997 or '98. A very fun and capable bike ...
even has an oil cooler!

Chris Haines Baja tours still use the XR400 on their tours. Here's a few mixed in with a few CRF's back in '08. They preferred the XR400, cheaper to keep.

Agree, the XR-L is sluggish. I fiddled with my Carb for months ... could never get it to run right or have that snap. "Lazy" is quite accurate IMO!
But the basics are all Honda and mostly good. If the right mods are done and right equipment fitted, it's a good bike and IS reliable.

Baja is extreme torture ... I've seen lots of bikes go belly up there. Including several KTM 520, 525, old 640's. Also XR250 (mine), XL600's (mine and a buddies), KLR's, WR450, CRF450X. None of these bikes were race bikes but were ridden pretty hard by pretty good riders. Stuff happens.
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  #20  
Old 24 May 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Squily View Post
Been reading with great interest.

Having toured on the XRL, I found it underpowered (my mate says the L is for 'lazy')and 'cramped' (I'm 6' 4").

The single biggest advantage of the XRL above any other bike (KTM and DRZ included) that will make me choose it again: easy maintenance and reliability.
Did you uncork it. Mine is jetting and modded and it pulls great. You can make it way more powerful for under 500 quid but as you say, it the low tuned under stressed engine that makes it dependable.

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  #21  
Old 24 May 2014
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
On my DRZ I had soft bags and a big roll bag. A fair bit of weight but I was crossing Africa for 7 months. I don't know the exact weight but I had lots of tools and spares. I did the 3x3 power on my DRZ and had a sports exhaust and up-jetted for power. I still struggled to cruise at 65mph. I tried all sorts of gearing but the bike wasn't powerful enough for lower ratios 'with luggage'.. Kills were a pain. I was travelling with a guy on an old battered F650GS and he left me behind with ease.

The DRZ is a fine bike. It's simple, reliable, lightweight and has decent components. I would happily do another trip on one but only if it was an off-road based trip. I would pack MUCH lighter and stay away from highways.

The XRL is in the same category as the DRZ but with a bigger engine. They are just as reliable but obviously more powerful and a little more thirsty with it.

The XRL is also a very TALL bike. I'd say a little more vibey than the DRZ too. It's got a much weaker rear subframe but it's very simple to strengthen.

The XRL is hugely popular in the USA. There are sooooo many parts available. It's been going in it's current for for over 20 years. You can also get a Corbin seat for it too which it DEFINITELY needs. As does the DRZ.

If you're based in the UK or Europe then outfitted a DRZ is much easier. However, the XRL has a strong following. You can get almost everything you need for an XRL from Gab at Zen Overland. He did a RTW on his XR650L and swears it's the best bike for the job.

Tell me about your trip... Where are you going and what terrain are you covering ??
Ted i would get 88mph out of my total standard DRZ400S on motorways which was max speed, not comfy but i screwed it like that for hours sometimes, not sure why you struggled to get 65mph and you had mods
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  #22  
Old 24 May 2014
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Originally Posted by Squily View Post
Been reading with great interest.

Having toured on the XRL, I found it underpowered (my mate says the L is for 'lazy')and 'cramped' (I'm 6' 4").

The single biggest advantage of the XRL above any other bike (KTM and DRZ included) that will make me choose it again: easy maintenance and reliability.
it is fact a standard DRZ is very very low maintenance, you should not tarnish its good name by putting it in brackets with a KTM when referring to maintenance issues
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  #23  
Old 24 May 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd View Post
Both will give you a numb but in no time. Mod the seat boi
Whichever bike I go with, I will have XPC build me a touring seat. I don't go in for monkeybutt...
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  #24  
Old 24 May 2014
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Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400 View Post
it is fact a standard DRZ is very very low maintenance, you should not tarnish its good name by putting it in brackets with a KTM when referring to maintenance issues
Oh that hurts Wesley, now I have to go tell my bike thatit's alright to be orange and high strung!
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  #25  
Old 24 May 2014
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Sounds good! I'm thinking once you're out on the road for a while you'll tune in to your KTM, learn it's sounds and ways. Hopefully any changes would be noticed in time, do a repair, replace worn parts. The longer you go the better you'll be able to diagnose and analyze issues ... hopefully catching things before any serious problems arise.
I am doing the TAT solo next year on the SXC and will get to see how it handles an extended trip like that. If it proves to be too high strung, I am leaning towards the DRZ.

oh how I wish I had the money to burn on a 690E!
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  #26  
Old 24 May 2014
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Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400 View Post
Ted i would get 88mph out of my total standard DRZ400S on motorways which was max speed, not comfy but i screwed it like that for hours sometimes, not sure why you struggled to get 65mph and you had mods
Several guys in my group have (or had) DRZ400S, all would pull past 80, more like 85 mph ... at which point I'd slip by (barely) on my DR650 ... which could struggle up to about 95 mph. Maybe Ted had super low gearing? :confused1:

Although must say ... even my old "E" model DRZ would top out at 80 mph.
It was not pleasant at that speed however. The S is better on highway for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400 View Post
it is fact a standard DRZ is very very low maintenance, you should not tarnish its good name by putting it in brackets with a KTM when referring to maintenance issues
Stock for stock I'd agree. I've ridden with buddies riding DRZ's ... going for days at 80 mph, then off road. Never seen a problem with one. KTM? Not so much.

But still, a good mechanic who really knows the KTM and keeps up on the shorter maintenance intervals ... can have a pretty reliable bike.
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  #27  
Old 24 May 2014
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post

But still, a good mechanic who really knows the KTM and keeps up on the shorter maintenance intervals ... can have a pretty reliable bike.
KTM is the better bike for sure but does need alot more maintenance and second hand parts like of ebay are not so available so you will be paying out your ass

Basic if my DRZ was to sh@t itself anywhere in the world with in a 10 minute search on ebay i could have the part brought sent to my family home and then fedex out in days.

KTM????

and as Ted said regarding the XRL

"I prefer the xr650l .. However, parts have to be imported from the USA if you're in Europe"

Availability to source parts fast was another reason on choosing the right bike
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  #28  
Old 24 May 2014
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I did say that... Then I thought a little more.

The engine in the xr650l is the same as the nx650, fmx650, slr650.. There are parts globally. The forks and shock are compatible with the xr600 as is the exhaust, discs etc. Service items available everywhere too.

David silver spares can so get ANY Honda part from any bike if its still made.


The best thing about these bikes. Drz included, is that you can fit generic stuff very easily. Bodywork, lights, bars, controls etc.

I would never leave the civilised world on a KTM. Fantastic bikes for sure but they like going bang and falling apart and parts are not easy to source in the 3rd world.

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  #29  
Old 24 May 2014
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Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400 View Post
KTM is the better bike for sure but does need alot more maintenance and second hand parts like of ebay are not so available so you will be paying out your ass
I'd say "better performance bike off road", but "better" can have a variety of interpretations ... as a traveler's bike, reliability and easy maintenance has to trump pure performance, no? (does for me anyway!) Also things like comfort, vibes, packing ability et al ... all must be factored in, yea?

But preaching to the choir here ... And cheap is important too ... and KTM parts can be expensive. True, lots DRZ & XR-L used parts cheap online. KTM? Not as much, but stuff is out there ... if you have the time and help.

Quote:
Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400 View Post
"I prefer the xr650l .. However, parts have to be imported from the USA if you're in Europe"
I did not know that.
I thought Honda sold the XR-L in UK/EU, no? In any case, having parts shipped from USA would probably be CHEAPER than shipping from EU ... and parts prices themselves would be a lot cheaper too sourced from USA.

The trick is having someone at the receiving end to expedite parts through local customs. Not so easy. Checking in with your local embassy can sometimes present a solution.
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  #30  
Old 24 May 2014
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This is a NX650 RDO8 Honda Dominator. Same engine as XR650L. The better ratio gearbox too.

Already gusseted subframe, proper battery box, rear luggage carrier and comes with an aluminium sump guard which is actually quite good. 17/21 wheels and you can completely overall for suspension for about £400.
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Honda XR650L or Suzuki DRZ400S-uploadfromtaptalk1400951924072.jpg  

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