Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat
There's always been a strong case for simple and rugged bikes for long distance travelling. But equally there's also a case for using more modern bikes that aren't (or shouldn't be!) prone to old age/wear-out failures on the road. If they made DR650s today I'd be there like a rat up a drainpipe, but they don't, and I don't want to start a 30,000 mile trip on a bike that's already got 30,000 on the clock, however reliable they're claimed to be.
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Oh yes they do... e.g. 7000 US Green backs at https://suzukicycles.com/dualsport/2023/dr650s and other North American establishments of repute
An aside: I own 5 motorcycles, from 1988, 1993, 1995, 2004 (all carbed Hondas: 2 (proper 750) Af Twins, a Transalp and a XR650L) and a 2006 (Suzuki DRZ400s).
Nothing to do with rose tinted-ness. I just like what I have and often snigger in a inverted snobbery sort of way at the modern "travel bikes" (often overly high tech Eurobombers and Enfield Himalayans  that never make it out of Europe) that roll into my local bike travellers' haunt in Bulgaria.
Having said that, many eastern Europeans and Germans who arrive at Motocamp Bulgaria, or I meet on the road, know the worth of the good old Japanese technology, so I'm not always sniggering  And those that ride the old iron are often a great deal more interesting to talk to than the nouveaux riche whale f0reskin tw@tsuit wearers  (off topic, my bad  )
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