|
to be fair the ktm 390 adventure is not out yet so who knows what it will be like, the engine has been around a good while and I've not heard any horror stories but the new cost will probably similar to a used honda with the RR kit.
The Dr is 90's tech as in very old school but it works but the cbx is bang up to date. Jenny has proved how good the honda's can be with the RR kit. Is there not anyone local to you that could let you try out the honda and the dr for a comparison:mchappy: |
Quote:
And I think that is the crux of discussions like this on the internet - everyone things they need a faster, lighter, higher-performance bike - but that really only [begins to] matter/s in a competitive environment - if you're just trail riding, playing with your buddies, and especailly if you're traveling, then you really are never going to be pushing the envelope of what the bike can actually do - not if you have any sense of self-preservation [and of your bike], and in all cases it comes down to the rider, not the bike. Of course I'm aware that in general, having something smaller and more nimble feeling is going to help a wider range of riders when off-road - certainly it can be less fatiguing, and/or help you get away with a clumsy mistake more often, and similarly makes it easy for more experienced riders to push their own envelope further (for info. Juan was riding my own XT225 in that video, and that is the bike I tend to take to Moab for messing around on the really technical trails there) - but ultimately, and particularly on this forum which is primarily concerned with longer-distance and multi-day/week/month type overland travel, the requirement for outright 'off-road' supremacy is very much second fiddle to the 'all-round' ability [and general comfort and reliability/low maintenance requirements] of a particular machine. As I say, the DR650 is a great large-capacity dual-sport - it would certainly be my personal preference over the seemingly ubiquitous KLR - even if it meant having to spend some money to upgrade the suspension, seat and gas tank (and maybe a screen, although personally I don't find those essential) to make it more suitable for longer-distance travel. note. I understand that some people choose to re-lace with a 19" front rim (rather than the stock 21") to help lower the bike a little, improve the on-road manners, and allow a wider range of more adventure/dual-sport tread pattern tyres to be fitted. Similarly, the KTM690 (or Husky 701) is a wonderful open-class enduro bike, that also happen to come fully street-legal - but they are hard-core and edgy, and very tall - and for most riders, they don't actually need 12" of travel to ride around the world comfortably. Personally, I was looking for something that would eat up the huge distances you get in North America, while still being manageable on pretty much any trail you'd find on a Garmin map. The nice thing about the RR CB is that it gives you all the refinement of larger twin-cylinder ADV bikes, but is that little bit smaller and lighter, which immediately pays dividends if things do start to get gnarly. Hope that helps with your confusion! Jenny x ps. I apologise for ending up spending much more than 2 cents on this conversation - but trust you consider it was money well spent.... https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...wj7t2CS-XL.jpg photo. You can even get a bit silly if you really want to ;o) |
Well, now that Jenny has all but convinced me to go for the Rally Raid CB, does anyone want to convince me that the DR is the bike I should go with?
When I initially sold my V-Strom, I fully intended to replace it with another V-Strom. I really like the second generation. But after I got out to Colorado, I thought maybe I should get something a little more off-road worthy. I'd always been a fan of the DR650, even though I'd never ridden one. So that's when I decided I'd probably get a DR650. But then I went to the Overland Expo in Arizona a few years ago and saw the Rally Raid Honda at the Giant Loop tent, and I was amazed. Then I was in a dilemma. I really think I'd like both bikes... I have to admit, the Rally Raid kit is quite a bit more expensive than I was expecting, nearly doubling the cost of a used bike... I'm not sure I can swallow that. Jamie |
Based on your descriptions of yourself, you should have noticed by now that all bike choices are temporary, and all can be reversed, revised, or added to. Buy whichever one you want, for whatever reason--just don't get paralyzed by the belief that which you choose will really make much difference. The choice between action and paralysis matters; the choice between a CB and a DR not so much.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Mark |
Quote:
*Or if you have the space and finances [and still like it] - just keep it and add to the collection ;o) Jx |
Quote:
What you need to look at is the total cost of the bike you want - sure, if you buy a secondhand bike and fit a series of brand new high-quality/high-performing parts to it you may well be essentially doubling the original price of the bike - but that is because you were starting out with a more affordable platform in the first place - and in the case of the CB with the Rally-Raid kit, you're still only looking at the price of a brand new bog-stock KLR. Ultimately if you want high-quality suspension and wheels on any bike, you're going to have to pay the corresponding price - and if you walk around the parking lot at any Horizons Unlimited event [for example] there are certainly plenty of people who have sunk at least $2000+ into modifying and personalising their bikes to improve them for overland travel - it really is the nature of the discipline. As you've ascertained, I imagine either bike is going to serve you well for the proposed use - I'd get a ride on an example of both if you can, then tot-up what it's going to cost to prepare either to the specification that you want, and go from there... Jx |
Quote:
The fact of the matter is that the Rally Raid kit is more expensive than I remember it being when I first discovered it a couple of years ago. It adds significantly to the cost of the bike and I have no choice but to take that into a purchase decision. I don't doubt that the Rally Raid kit is high quality, but high quality or not, I still have to decide if it's worth it to me. ...and I'm typically not one to go overboard customizing my bike like the people at Horizons Unlimited or other groups. I put 135,000 miles on my V-Strom and it was for all intents and purposes, almost entirely bone stock. Sure, I rebuilt the forks once or twice just as a matter of course, but I used the same factory parts. I had the stock rear shock rebuilt, again, because it was worn out. I installed engine guards, skid plate, luggage, and a more comfortable seat, but outside of that, it was as I bought it, and it did everything I asked of it. I don't need to customize my bike because a bunch of other people who get together now and then choose to do so. Jamie |
Quote:
There is nothing to compare between those two, apples and oranges. |
Quote:
I'd love to go with a smaller bike, but from my research, there isn't a 400cc or smaller bike that will reliably go well over 100,000 miles. That's pretty important to me. Part of the intended purpose is that I'll put 20-30,000 miles on per year. I'm sure they're great bikes, but I don't want to have to replace the bike or the engine every 18 months. Jamie |
Quote:
|
Quote:
In most of the world, 125 and 250 bikes are the norm. I'd much prefer to ride one of those, but I also want a bike that has very good long-term reliability. It's too bad so many people think a 400cc bike is small, because if they were more mainstream, I'm sure something in that size would better fit what I'm looking for. So it's a compromise either way. Jamie |
How about a choice you haven't mentioned just to confuse things Jamie?
*you said your VStrom 650 was great except for Primarily the Weight and Ground clearance ... and of course - money matters for making this happen without having to add too much in accessories to the bike to make it worthy of your goals ... so ... *what if you looked at a bike that weighs 100 lbs less than your 05' Strom - 385 lbs vs 485 lbs - no aftermarket fuel tank needed - significant!! *Stock - it has nearly 3/4 of an inch more ground clearance than your 05' Strom (stock is 7.1" v 05' Strom 6.4"), possibly more ground clearance available with an off roadish tire vs stock tire say gets you to an inch - 7.4" overall -significant - ish:) - though I will mention that suspension travel is down to your VStrom @ .85" less average front to rear - have to mind your speed a bit to maintain the extra clearance of this bike ... *NEW - at RETAIL is $5399-$5699 -that's $1,000 to $1,300 dollars cheaper than the DR650S or CB500X stock versions (not the RR version) and you can find deals on end of year models or lightly used versions I'm sure ... *is available with abs or not depending on your preference and how much you off road *has good after market support for accessories for crashing, skid plates, hand guards, factory luggage, etc... * and will go the distance you require for longevity - anecdotal evidence of 100000km on the same engine in this bike ... and here you go ... The Specs https://www.kawasaki.com/Products/20...AV-_-LEARNMORE And a few reviews - first one has good comparison and longish video with info related seemingly to your dilemma - how much road / off road is in YOUR mix https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocia...iew-bikesocial 2018 Kawasaki Versys-X 300: Project Bike Intro - ADV Pulse And the distance question answered ... - same engine in this bike - https://kawasaki.com.au/general-kawa...over-100000km/ If I were to ditch my 2015 VStrom and my 2007 DRZ400S - I'd seriously consider this bike - and if it comes out in the 400 motor they put in the Ninja at a similar weight - I can almost guarantee selling both and making my 2 in to one ... might just go there anyways ... Not sure how to add photos - but try these ... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...se-western.jpg http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-view-east.jpg http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...se-western.jpg http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...orado-utah.jpg Best ... Outwest ... riding |
So.... Jamie Z - did you pick a bike yet? Interesting news I saw that may be worth investigating if you're still undecided ...
from another article on the web ... "At an early morning conference Thursday, Kawasaki announced to its dealers that the venerable KLR has seen its final year of production. The news was broken to Kawasaki dealers prior to the opening the doors of the AIM Expo to the media. I spoke to a Kawasaki representative who verified that the KLR has indeed been discontinued. Existing inventory will still be available, but production has been halted. The representative said that Kawasaki would continue parts support for the foreseeable future. When asked if Kawasaki had plans for a KLR replacement, the representative said that he did not have any more information. But he did say that Kawasaki was planning to introduce four new models at EICMA in November. Asked about what kinds of bikes would be included in the four new models, he said he did not have any details and referred me to the Kawasaki website" https://www.kawasaki.com/ Hmmmm! outwest ... riding ... |
Quote:
But as you say, with a life expectancy of +/- 100,000km, that's just not the lifespan I'd like. I'm looking for double or triple that. Perhaps I'm asking too much. I'm coming from much larger bikes. My first bike was a Honda ST1100 and when I bought it, it had around 50,000 miles on it. I rode it for about 18 months before having a wreck. It had around 80,000 miles on it at that point, if I recall, and I never needed anything at all. Riders regularly got 200,000 miles out of that bike with no trouble. Same with my V-Strom. I read of several reports of riders getting over 200,000 miles on it. And until I sold mine, I fully intended to do the same. The Versys is interesting, but I feel it is just too small to have the long-term reliability I'm interested in. I have to find a good compromise. Quote:
Whether the KLR is discontinued or not doesn't play a role in that decision. I have not decided on a bike yet. And I'm not in a big hurry. I did go down to the local Honda shop a few days ago. I'm a Costco member, and they offer discounts on new vehicles, including Honda motorcycles. Unfortunately, I was a bit surprised at the cost of a new CB500X ABS. Even with the discount, the dealer wanted $6750. Add tax in there and it's over $7000. And then add in the Rally Raid, and I'm a good bit over $10,000. Holy crap. So... I've been perusing used bikes, and I've seen a few in the $4500-$5000 range that are in good shape with low miles. None of those are anywhere near me, though. So I have to be patient and see if I can find one closer to me. Now that I've really gotten into the meat of making a purchase decision, purchase cost has really bubbled up to the top as a big factor. Initially, I was budgeting around $7000 for a used bike and the Rally Raid. Well... both used bikes and the Rally Raid kit are more expensive than I was initially counting on. So... I'm still shopping. My needs haven't changed. I'm still leaning toward the CB500X. The DR650 is still on my radar. I just have to see if I can find the right bike for sale. Jamie |
If you find a Cb500 with a RR kit on it already that would save you some cash.
I have ridden on btw: RR equiped CB500X and I liked it. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 23:08. |