How much can bikes carry?
 

I'm planning a trip in the future from Canada to Argentina and thought i was set on the KLR 650, but now im considering a smaller bike, a DR-Z 250 someone said but I have ridden hondas so i was thinking a CRF250L. The hondas are newer bikes, and i have no idea how many accessories they have and if they would be good for long travel, I geuss the DRZ is tried tested and true...

Ok so i did some searching but was unable to find what these bikes are able to carry. I am a big guy, im 225lb and stand 6foot 6, so i need a bike that Fits me and i can find parts for still.

I've found 2 panniers, a tank bag and a dry bag for camping equipment is enough storage for long term travel. It's all about the racks retaining the panniers, the more support they offer the more weight you can carry, provided there's enough adjustment in the suspension to suit. Some trail bikes require rear sub frame support to properly carry the required amount of weight for touring, which isn't an issue, support brackets are available fairly cheap and easily bolted on. I'm 6' and 100Kg, and carry about 30Kg of luggage, for me a 250 wouldn't have the legs for distance touring, at 6' 6 you'd make a 250 look like a Pee wee 50!

Again, have a think about the XR650R :-)

Little bikes can carry quite a bit, for instance the Yamaha WR250R is rated 408 lbs, which includes rider, passenger, fuel and gear. Figure 20 lbs of fuel and pannier racks and luggage about 40 lbs empty.

The limiting factor on little bikes is how fast you insist on going.

Travel through Asia and you have no doubt about how much a small bike can carry - any without a full family on-board plus assorted packages isn't even trying whilst the top guys carry loads that have to be seen to be believed. Whether you fit it (comfortably) at 6 foot 6 only you can decide.

The more I travel the more I think that small and the flexibility it gives is likely to be better overall - though I've yet to give up my KLR and actually put this to the test.

Bikes can carry almost anything :scooter:
On a 125 Honda Future underbone. Three months,12,000km,touring south/central Vietnam. Total weight of rider, pillion passenger, throw overs & rack bag 164kg.
Except for the crook suspension bottoming out on bad bits & some lack of power in the mountain we had no problems.
We leave Oz at the end of August for another three months touring North Vietnam on the same bike, with some suspension upgrades if possible.:mchappy:
The underbone is great for Asia, in Oz I would rather ride my KLR.

I'd do some test rides on the 250's .. see how they fit. Try the DRZ400 too. IMO, not much chance you'll fit any 250 properly and the DRZ400 may not suit you either ... but try them out.

The DRZ250 is the worst of the 250's .. :nono:. and I am a huge Suzuki fan. The KLR250 is not bad for a bigger guy, but still, no Cigar, IMHO. Rather have the KLR650. A well set up one is quite a good travel bike, IMO. But it takes a lot to make a KLR650 right.

Modern 250's are very narrow, (not comfortable) and with heavier rider, underpowered, under suspended. Now add luggage. SNAP! Not strong enough if riding rough terrain. The DRZ400 might make it ... if you fit on it. it's a good tough bike. Fit a wide seat ... Dunno, try it.

Honda's Dual Sports and KTM's are TALL. The XR650R is a great bike, good tall man bike, fast enough, reliable, but has a few negatives:
1. kick start only 2. no real sub frame so tough to carry much weight
3. out of production for 10 years so parts may be scarce. 4. Very low elec. output. (not street legal in USA)
But reliable and tough. You don't see many doing long distance, fully loaded, set up for LD travel. If you could fit luggage on one ... take it. Many for sale around here cheap ... with street legal kits fitted. Multi-Time Baja winner.

Also, check out Honda XR650L. This bike uses 80's era Air cooled motor, bike not changed since 1992 and still in production far as I know.

I bought new XR-L in '93. I never liked it but many LOVE them. Check out the BIG XR650L over on ADV Rider.
Negatives:
1. Weak rear subframe (needs bracing) 2. Air cooled only, no oil cooler. (smart owners add cooler) 3. Runs HOT (motor will not last if it gets hot)
3. Battery box on left side panel a very bad idea. 4. Needs suspension work, tank and more. 5. plan for top end rebuild at 20K miles. (to be safe)

The good: responds well to modification. Very Tall, so very good BIG MAN bike. Still popular, quite a bit of knowledge on this bike, bit of a project to make travel ready. Will FIT a guy 6' 6". Good off road, not so good on road. You can fit a better, wider seat that will make it truly comfortable. You just can't do that on a 250 or even DRZ400. Wide is good for a big buy who plans to spend 10 hours a day on the bike. Think about it.

I'm not the one to recommend KTM.

... look at and ride everything you can ... and probably like most ... you'll end up on a DR650!:D You can raise one up a bit, build up seat, lower pegs and it'll fit you. The more research you do ... all roads lead back to the DR650! Just nothing better out there for travel in a dual sport.
bier

Well today was test day, drove around town and went to the dealers, sadly Honda doesn't have an xr650l in stock and I was unable to find a dr650, tried just about everything else. The moment I sat on the klr I felt good, need to raise the bars up a bit but it's my size of bike hight wise the drz 40 felt nice and light but it just didn't cradle me like the klr. I'll try again later to sit on a Dr and xr 650, very curious to sit on the DR.

The 650's are going to be heavy bikes once I put some gear on it that's for sure but they definitely feel more solid. Wish I could have the opportunity to ride a fully loaded 650 and compare it to the 400 (with a wider seat) but I just don't see that ever coming true.

Lots of reading to do and hopefully I can find another dealer with a dr650. *update found one will go check it out asap*

Thanks for all your replies and information so far everyone.

Have you looked at the Honda CB500X? That's going to be my next bike.

Although not a dual sport, there are starting to be some nice mods for off-road.

Whist bikes can carry a lot of load .. those doing so are traveling very slowly over roads the rider knows well.
The manufactures speck is usually hidden in the riders handbook .. maximum weight includes the bikes weight, fuel etc .. so take one form the other and then take off your e=weight with your riding gear on and you have the max you might put on it ..

However .. you and the bike will be far happier with less weight .. Less is More.

definite Ups and Downs to small bikes. Really depends on WHERE and HOW you like to travel.

Max carrying weight is called: GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating).
I agree!
That's s great bike, affordable at $6000 usd NEW, gets good reviews all round. Is it the perfect bike for S.America? Could be.

A few things to think about:
It's clearly paved road focused. How well it handles knarly, rocky, dirt roads, deep sand, mud, I don't know. I haven't found any long distance ride reports on this bike. The 17" wheels front and back are great for twisty roads, but I wish Honda had followed Suzuki and the Vstrom and gone with a 19" front. MUCH better off road.

Toughness is another question mark. How will it hold up to bashing along hundreds miles of washboard? Dual sports are designed to do this ... I don't believe Honda designed this CB500X for heavy thrashing. Opinions? Experience?

Weight:
Though not extremely heavy, it's still a bit heavy for a 500cc twin at 430 lbs. wet. (195 kgs) Most 650 class dual sport singles are 60 lbs. lighter or more. DRZ400 close to 100 lbs. less weight.

The GVWR for the CB500X is 408 lbs. according to forums. (Honda don't list it on line) With Nick starting at 225 lbs. he should be OK even with 100 lbs. of extras. But certainly suspension would need upgrading as it will for nearly any
dual sport as well.

The 53 mpg is impressive for the CB500. Just about even with 650 class dual sports. But it only puts out 45 HP, so it should get good MPG with such a moderate HP number. Still, that is, IMO, an advantage in a travel bike: nice under stressed engine.

I'd say if you can stick mainly to pavement or easy dirt roads, the CB500X could be a great bike. But if you have to pass more technical tracks and fall down a lot ... the bike may not survive. Dual sports crash well, not sure about this Honda's crash-a-bility :innocent:

You can get suspension/shock work suited to your weight on nearly any bike but i think the main issue at 6ft 6" will be posture and ergonomics if you choose a smaller size (thats height not cc) bike you will need some custom work like a taller seat, bar risers & foot peg adapters to make them lower for along trip like Canada to Argentina

If not set some money aside for a good Chiropractor when your trips over

Nick:

I think there are additional factors you need to consider beyond just "how much can the bike carry". For example, a smaller motorcycle might not have sufficient braking power to enable you to stop safely if it is heavily loaded. You should be able to find out - pretty quickly and easily - what the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the motorcycle is. The GVWR is the spec that the manufacturer sizes brakes, tires, and structural integrity to, hence it is not wise to exceed that rating, most especially for a long cross-continent trip.

Another consideration that is worth mentioning is that "What you save on capital cost, you might wind up spending in maintenance". In other words, if you select too small a bike for the load you plan to carry, you might wind up spending more money on brake & tire replacement, clutch replacement, etc. than you would save on the lower purchase price, simply because the overloaded components will wear out faster.

I can't suggest a specific size of bike to you, but I do recommend you select a bike that has a GVWR adequate for the load you intend to carry. This is particularly critical with the smaller bikes... being 30 kg over the GVWR on a Gold Wing might only be a 5% overload, whereas being 30 kg over the GVWR on a 250cc bike might be a 20% overload.

Michael

Yes there definitely is more factors in play here then initially thought, I figured it was a good question to ask tho as around my farm I ride xr 100's hahaha.
I consider myself a light packer compared to most I meet while traveling, but I have never done this type of trip before and I plan to camp as much as possible so that will add to my overall weight compared to some. After sitting on all the bikes and learning what bikes have been very successful at this type of trip,
This thread has basically switched to a dr650 vs klr 650. And I know there is alot of information out there so it's time to start reading more into that category. Initially I asked the question because I read a few people saying the klr was a bigger bike then they needed and maybe a bit to heavy, but I'm a bigger guy than most and the DR now comes into play.
Hopefully someone else searches for this information one day because thank to your info I have rules out a smaller bike. :thumbup1:

You really must go large: Bigger is better. It helps with the image too :rofl:

http://www.thebrightstuff.com/summer...hen%20sink.jpg

I'll take my hat...:innocent::oops2:?c?

I ride a klr650 and it would be my choice. second a DR650