Dual Purpose/Adventure bike wanted

miweber929 · 01-07-2006, 12:24 PM

I have a huge hankerin' for an adventure bike, but dirt worthy and cheap, something like an XR650L (or an XR400, 600, 650R that has a street kit available), KLR650, DR650 or even some form of KTM e/xc.

Projects welcome and I'd like to keep the cost down to under $2,000, and the closer to $1,000 the better.

What I want it for is something for running the fire roads in South Dakota as well as trailing up north at my parents house near Ashland, WI. And running back and forth to and from work would be nice use of it too.

I have a great running 1984 XR250R with a rebuilt motor, tons of new and/or rebuilt parts, great tires and a great runner that I'd trade someone towards the bigger bike if you were interested or I'd sell it our right for $1,200 if someone was interested.

Let me know if you got something for me.

Mweber_54914@yahoo.com

phobiaphobe · 01-07-2006, 12:33 PM

Maybe you can talk SomeStrangeGuy out of his KLR.

I guess the "cheap" stipulation rules out a KTM 950 huh.

G-Force Junkie · 01-07-2006, 6:16 PM

Its going to be hard to do anything for under 2k. Check out www.advrider.com there are always bikes for sale.

wrecklessfool · 01-07-2006, 9:25 PM

check this out: Off road CBR 1000RR ??????

I'm doing the same thing but with an EX500 ninja! They have some pretty nasty tubeless tires out there. Just gotta do your research. Maybe make a few mods to the bike to handle the abuse but as long as you start with a bulletproof platform, ie: Ninja 500, you should get plenty of fun out of it. IMHO, I think a literbike is just insane though. Try looking at Metzeler Karoo tires and Avon Distanzia tires if you do decide to go this route! Good luck. -Jason

Ferris · 01-09-2006, 10:03 PM

Here you go, an 05 KLR 650 for $1500.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4603159612&rd=1&sspage name=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

DUX · 01-09-2006, 11:00 PM

Suzuki DRZ 400s, although the price will be higher than you're talking about. I think you can find some nice used ones in the 3k range.

Last year, when I went to the Intl Motorcycle show I asked the Honda and Yamaha guys to show me a dual sport that you could also take to the MX track for light duty (no big jumps, etc.)

Surprisingly, they both pointed me towards Suzuki without even trying to push their own brand. I'm still confused as to why Honda doesn't make a competitor for the 400s.

The 650L is just too tall and heavy. The KLR has a cult following. In addition it's been around for 20+ years as the same bike, so the after-market and forum support groups are huge. The military uses them, and just converted them to run on deisel fuel.

G-Force Junkie · 01-09-2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUX

Last year, when I went to the Intl Motorcycle show I asked the Honda and Yamaha guys to show me a dual sport that you could also take to the MX track for light duty (no big jumps, etc.)

Surprisingly, they both pointed me towards Suzuki without even trying to push their own brand. I'm still confused as to why Honda doesn't make a competitor for the 400s.

This year they would have pointed you to the Husky booth

Do you want a duel sport bike (dirt bike with a licence plate) or an adventure bike (semi dirt worth bike with good highway manners)? There very different, and I own a legalized XR250 and a BMW GS, and my father has a legalized DRZ400, before that DR350, XL500, XL 600, and XL250 so I have ridden them all extensivly. No thumper under 600cc is good for much distance and highway riding. Fat pigs like the GS suck for serious offroad. What do you really want to do? Remember, the less specalized a bike becomes, ths worse it becomes at everything else.