New Road Trail

[imitch]

Bit of background to my current situation,

Right now I'm riding an older model Yami TTR250 (2001 model I believe) and for the most part its great, I love the ride position and the ability to take it up foot paths/verges or cross sand patches, I haven't done a huge amount of off road riding, but when I have the it seemed to go great and was good fun, I mainly use it for commuting to work and occasional weekend ride which may include some off road. The only issue I have is that when cruising around 90kms or higher the engine shakes quite a lot and the bike sounds as though it's reaching it's max. I also find that the vibrations from the motor shake the mirrors making it almost impossible to use them unless I let off the throttle (I think this may also have something to do with the knob tires I have on it). That aside the bike starts first time every time and I definitely want to stay with a road trail.


I don't have my open class yet and will still need to wait a few more months until I can get it. I'm now looking to upgrade to a bigger bike for when I get my open class. The first two I have looked at is the XT660R and the KLR650, I don't know much when it comes to bikes so I would want something that doesn't really require a great deal of maintenance aside from very basic stuff.

A few things I'm not sure of though:

How well does these 600cc motors run at speeds of say 120kms, are they able to cruise a country road for extended periods without screaming like crazy?

My mate rides and R6 and while I'm not expecting a road trail to compete with the R6, when we both take off the lights will either of the road trails at least be fast enough to keep the R6 within a reasonable distance?

Can I expect the same amount of distance on a full tank as I get with my TTR250 (not thrashing it, just riding pretty steady)

Lastly, if the XT660R/KLR650 are no good can anyone recommend a decent road trail, capable of cruising at speeds of 120km comfortably and not require large amounts of maintenance, but still decent enough to take on off road on the odd occasion.

Thx

[filbert]

Suzuki DR650 will do all that you require besides outlaunch an R6 but it will do ok riding with road bikes, a bit heavy off-road but not as top heavy as the KLR or XT.

DRZ400E is quicker off the line and better off-road than the DR650 but revs higher and uses more fuel over 110 so not as comfortable.

[McGoo]

As above, a KLR650 won't come close to an R6 in a straight line, I'm not sure if any road/trail 600 bikes will. I have had a short ride on one, it was good for highway speeds, but it didn't feel like it had much power left when accelerating over 120. I think most bikes in this category will be similar, good for cruising but not hyper-speed warriors. But they will be a lot better than a TTR250.

Lots of people have these bikes and ride multi-month epic rides around the world, so they can't be that bad. I have heard reports that some 2998-onwards KLRs can burn oil, but you would have to look into that yourself to confirm it.

Maintenance-wise they are pretty good, fairly long service intervals. They are very simple to fix, no fancy electronics to be found really. I haven't heard of any unique maintenance problems with the KLR, it seems to be just oil, filter, valve adjustments, and chain oiling to keep them going.

As for other bikes, most road/trail bikes are fairly homogenous in the way that, say, Japanese sports bikes of the same capacity are. Yes, they are slightly different individually, but then they all do the same job roughly as well as each other.

[I Fancy Holidays]

husky te610?

[michael]

You'll be surprised how quick a dirty its off the line. Mates 511 husky, is quick I have to launch pretty hard to stay infront. of course that's only to about 70-80kays. (maybe I'm a shit rider, I dunno) theres a few tards around on rides that keep sport bikes honest.

[emrys74]

Husky's are worth a look and in motard trim will be all over sports bikes in the tight stuff but haven't got the long legs of the super sports, the big trail bikes are good for what they are but its not fair to compaire them to an R-6 my 650 berg cant touch an r6 when the road stragtens out and they are well up on power over the KLR and XT and a good bit lighter.

The KLR is pretty good value for what they are which is a budget adventure tourer ($8000 new) they should do 100kph all day and have a big tank so will have good range, they have a restrictor in them and can do with that removing and a better pipe on it will transform it but will never be a power house.

best to see what sort of riding your going to do and what your comfortable on and then look at options. maybe a street fighter would be more you. or your mates will be always waiting for you.

Had a mate get a Harley but the rest rode sports the Harley was gone after a few months. just wasn't the right bike for the riding he ended up doing.

[Brute]

Bit of background to my current situation,

Right now I'm riding an older model Yami TTR250 (2001 model I believe) and for the most part its great, I love the ride position and the ability to take it up foot paths/verges or cross sand patches, I haven't done a huge amount of off road riding, but when I have the it seemed to go great and was good fun, I mainly use it for commuting to work and occasional weekend ride which may include some off road. The only issue I have is that when cruising around 90kms or higher the engine shakes quite a lot and the bike sounds as though it's reaching it's max. I also find that the vibrations from the motor shake the mirrors making it almost impossible to use them unless I let off the throttle (I think this may also have something to do with the knob tires I have on it). That aside the bike starts first time every time and I definitely want to stay with a road trail.


I don't have my open class yet and will still need to wait a few more months until I can get it. I'm now looking to upgrade to a bigger bike for when I get my open class. The first two I have looked at is the XT660R and the KLR650, I don't know much when it comes to bikes so I would want something that doesn't really require a great deal of maintenance aside from very basic stuff.

A few things I'm not sure of though:

How well does these 600cc motors run at speeds of say 120kms, are they able to cruise a country road for extended periods without screaming like crazy? I have a TE 610 and have no problems cruising at 120

My mate rides and R6 and while I'm not expecting a road trail to compete with the R6, when we both take off the lights will either of the road trails at least be fast enough to keep the R6 within a reasonable distance? Define reasonable distance

Can I expect the same amount of distance on a full tank as I get with my TTR250 (not thrashing it, just riding pretty steady)what do you get now? I manage ~160 kms per tank

Lastly, if the XT660R/KLR650 are no good can anyone recommend a decent road trail, capable of cruising at speeds of 120km comfortably and not require large amounts of maintenance, but still decent enough to take on off road on the odd occasion.

Thx

I've done 12000 ks on my 610, valves checked at 5,000 (fine) and then 10,000 (just out of spec), cam chain is still fine, and the rest is just oil changes.

Dirt trim



Tard trim

[emrys74]

^^pretty either way its dressed

[imitch]

That dirt trim makes it look fkn sweet!, I think the real problem I have with my TTR 250 is the lack of power after 80kms, I would never expect the road trail to out launch the R6 as long as I can catch back up by err..speeding

Is the general consensus that the Husky will out perform the KLR/XT/Suzuki DR650?

[Falcore]

Only reason why a tard keeps a sportsbike honest is the fact of the manouverability.

Btw +1 for dr650. So much so I'm most likely buying one early next year

[filbert]

The husky 610 is a lot quicker but also more expensive in most aspects, I like the DR series because they are versatile dressed up they can be a desert tourer or cross the continent by road, stripped down they do ok in the scrub and still in the price region of the KLR

[buelllord]

I think the real problem I have with my TTR 250 is the lack of power after 80kms,
?

This thing sounds like it has not been derestricted because stock they wont pull the skin of a custard ............. I have derestricted my sons 2010 model and in all seriousness, it has probably doubled its horsepower.



buelllord

[inertia]

I would go a KTM 690 EnduroR

KTM Australia & New Zealand » Adventure » 690 Enduro R 2011

[dazza1968]

Nice bike BRUTE, Man that pipe looks wild .

IMHO A Motard is limiting and if you do like the odd sqirt in the dirt then i would suggest using a road friendly trail tyre . Best case scenario is having a set of dirt rims and then the motard rims r on the bike 90 % of the time (if that matches your ride times)


Which ever is greater i would set the bike up to suit. ancd just make sure its a convertable style of bike like the Suzuki dr ,Yamaha wr 450 ,
I have a crf450x to do both but you get pretty badly wind buffed at 120. Seat isnt the best so i can not say this bike wouldnt achieve what your after.

I tend to keep bike specific in my shed (all 2nd hand to start to keep it affordable) Ducati Multistada for all road riding with PSBr's , Honda Crf450x regoed for enduro style and quick zooms around locally and is fine for taking away and i have a yz250 2 smoker for all dirt riding as they r Quick, light to ride, a negative is 2 regoes and the room they take up but hey its still less than a car space

Regards Dazza

[orangeflash]

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13241106545153the ultimate road trail cr 500 e certainly no troble doing 120kmh or even 160kmh range can be short if your on the gas
and think of the saftey no one can say they didnt hear you coming
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BMvmyMAiWOo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Anklyne]

Re: DR vs KLR, from all the reading I've done, the DR650 seems to be a better choice. Both are good bikes and both will probably serve you well.

The stock tank is smaller on the DR, but it shouldn't be too hard to find one with a larger tank, or to get a larger tank for one. The DR is also lighter and simpler (air vs water-cooled), develops similar power and (apparently) responds better to minor tuning.

I've heard a lot about both older and newer KLRs burning oil, as well as some 08+ models having oval cylinders from the factory. A constant thing that's mentioned is the necessary, preventative 'Doohickey mod'. I did once manage to find a thread explaining what exactly it was and how to fix it, but unfortunately I can't remember what the mod entailed or where the thread was.

I've heard lots of good things about Husqvarna/Husaberg, except for the parts availability/pricing,
KTMs have improved a lot in terms of reliability, I think,
Honda is stupid for discontinuing the XR650R, and
Yamaha needs to make a WR450R (There was a problem with fuel pumps on some pre-08 (?) WR250Rs, but I think that was a US batch and has since been solved).

I think that's it
But that is just what I've read and pieced together. Best to do plenty of reading and form your own opinion.

[irdizzle]

[QUOTE

Dirt trim



Tard trim

[/QUOTE]

Sell me your bike IMMEDIATELY!!!!

[JDizzle]

Im in a bit of a similar situation myself, im looking at getting a xt660r though. Love the look and took one for a short ride and it was excellent on the road but can it still perform off road when the terrain gets harder? I would set it up for off road riding (new tyres, better shocks, bark busters, handlebars ect.) and try to strip as much weight as possible with a new exhaust system and removing all the bits it doesnt need.

[Falcore]

Are you referring to about how quick it can get through the bush or about hill/rock mud ability? If its the later really comes down to gearing an Tyres your running.

If doing a lot of road work generally a trade off to dirt ability in terms of Tyres an gearing.

[FRK]

Re: DR vs KLR, from all the reading I've done, the DR650 seems to be a better choice. Both are good bikes and both will probably serve you well.

The stock tank is smaller on the DR, but it shouldn't be too hard to find one with a larger tank, or to get a larger tank for one. The DR is also lighter and simpler (air vs water-cooled), develops similar power and (apparently) responds better to minor tuning.

I've heard a lot about both older and newer KLRs burning oil, as well as some 08+ models having oval cylinders from the factory. A constant thing that's mentioned is the necessary, preventative 'Doohickey mod'. I did once manage to find a thread explaining what exactly it was and how to fix it, but unfortunately I can't remember what the mod entailed or where the thread was.

I've heard lots of good things about Husqvarna/Husaberg, except for the parts availability/pricing,
KTMs have improved a lot in terms of reliability, I think,
Honda is stupid for discontinuing the XR650R, and
Yamaha needs to make a WR450R (There was a problem with fuel pumps on some pre-08 (?) WR250Rs, but I think that was a US batch and has since been solved).

I think that's it
But that is just what I've read and pieced together. Best to do plenty of reading and form your own opinion.

Are KTM really known for the unreliability? What are the servicing intervals for KTM bikes? I've had my eye out for KTM 525exc's