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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.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 27 Sep 2017
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Yamaha XSR 700 Scrambler
… or should that be Desert Schled?

Anyway, trying an XSR7 for Morocco this autumn; a ’poor-man’s T7’ with a fruitier, 270-degree motor than the Rally Raid CB500X I used a couple of years back (and which remains one of the most viewed posts on my www, so people clearly like this concept).

Like any bike of this size/configuration, should be fine for getting there (unlike my recent WR250) and good enough for the pistes I ride (also unlike WR which ate them up and spat them out).

Once travel-ready, tanked up but unloaded the XSR has come in ~10% lighter than the CB-X (199kg vs 221kg) though I can’t say I really notice.
It did cost much less than half to set up though, even if the Honda is probably 15% more economical and my adaptions are fewer and cruder.

Nice low seat too, even with the +10mm Wilbers, but I expect that Motech ’Spoiler’ will get good and spoiled.

Main changes: 19-inch front wheel; RURTS; Wilbers shock; K60s.
Looking forward to the ride. See the website for more.
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  #2  
Old 27 Sep 2017
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Any chance of a side on shot? It could be I might actually like the look of it which not something I often say about a bike designed after 1990.
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Old 27 Sep 2017
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Know what you mean - a lot of modern-style bikes are hideous; I think it's those headlamps.

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Old 4 Nov 2017
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Now a bit dustier but doing good.
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  #5  
Old 4 Nov 2017
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Interesting.

The Honda weight mentioned in the original posting surprises me: seems like a lot for a 500cc bike.

As for the Yam XSR:
There is a "wispy" kind of light coloured "stripe" showing in the side-on pic of earlier posting, from the subframe to the pillion foot peg - is that some kind of stiffening of the rear subframe or something to stop soft luggage swinging against the rear wheel?
In any case, the subframe of the bike, as designed/manuf originally, seems to be on a longish lever arm - how is the subframe performing viz a viz carrying the weight of the luggage and bouncing around off-asphalt?

The radiator looks pretty vulnerable to stone damage - like lots of other bikes of course.

The under slung exhaust reminds me of the 650 Versys that I owned a few years ago - the Versys had quite high ground clearance but the exhaust always gave an appearance of being vulnerable, hanging out there between the wheels.
To what is the "aluminium-appearance" bash plate attached on the XSR? Perhaps the engine casing?

I guess the XSR is a bike for oneup riding: I can't imagine a pillion wanting to be on the short OEM seat for too long.
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Old 5 Nov 2017
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CB-X weight was tanked up with all the RR kit.
XSR the same, but I'm using lighter/minimal gear.
Dry showroom weights are about 10% less.

Quote:
something to stop soft luggage swinging against the rear wheel
Correct, but was a bit too high to be effective so added stick of bamboo, pillions to indicators.

Subframe is as solid as a CB-X or 660Z. I'm sure it could manage metal panniers etc, but my baggage is minimal anyway.

Yes, many rads appear vulnerable to stones or side falls, but not happened to me yet.

I like the under pipe idea:
Low CoG
Partly protects the engine
used XSR pipes go for 100 quid
Super slim profile at the back for baggage
nothing to burn the bags

I thought about adv-ing a Versys a couple of years back, but it was a heavy (212kg wet) road bike and the much more suitable CB-X came out.

Spoiler attaches to footrest or engine mounts and something at the front - forget what - engine mount? It's pretty flimsy but better than nothing.

Pillion don't know, loos tiny but better than a WR250R!
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