Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted

IK Laboratories wrote:
> G-S wrote:
>> intact.kneeslider.TakeThisOut@start.com.au wrote:
>>
>>>>> <snipperoo>
> >>>
>>>> You are talking about an enduro bike when the thread was "Dual
>>>> Purpose" a
>>>> good Enduro bike is hardly a "Dual Purpose" bike.
>>>
>>> You've been advocating the DR650; that's an enduro bike, too...
>>
>> IK... generally I agree with most of what you say,
> > but not this time.
>
> You're right... there are more elegant ways I could be needling Boxer
> than using his own approach of pretending to be pedantic and obtuse on
> him...
>
>> The DR650 is far from being an enduro bike, for a start
> > it's way too heavy and it doesn't have close to enough
> > suspension travel.
> >
>> It *is* a dual purpose (road/trail) bike but in the
> > classic style, not the modern road orientated style.
>
> The DR650 is in a similar boat to the KLR650; it came into being 20-odd
> years ago as a dirtbike, then stayed pretty much the same while
> everything around it got narrower, lighter and better-sprung until it
> couldn't plausibly be called a dirtbike any more... kinda like today's
> sportsbikes becoming tomorrow's sportstourers...
>
>
> Dualsports would be bikes like the Africa Twin, the Tenere (the new one
> coming out should be interesting), the F650 and the Aprilia Pegaso...
> middle-aged dirtbikes like the DR don't quite fit in the same pigeonhole...

When the DR400 was introduced (I had one of those) it was called a
road/trail bike.

Ditto the DR500 when it was introduced.

And again the DR600 was called a road/trail bike.

And finally when Suzuki started making the DR650 they called it a trail
bike (they dropped the road/ finally as it was a clumsy term).

Road/Trail = dual purpose (note... not dual sport which is different).


G-S
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

On Jan 17, 9:14 pm, G-S <ge....RemoveThis@castbus.com.au> wrote:
>
> IK Laboratories wrote:
>
> > Dualsports would be bikes like the Africa Twin, the Tenere (the new one
> > coming out should be interesting), the F650 and the Aprilia Pegaso...
> > middle-aged dirtbikes like the DR don't quite fit in the same pigeonhole...
>
> When the DR400 was introduced (I had one of those) it was called a
> road/trail bike.
>
> Ditto the DR500 when it was introduced.
>
> And again the DR600 was called a road/trail bike.
>
> And finally when Suzuki started making the DR650 they called it a trail
> bike (they dropped the road/ finally as it was a clumsy term).
>
> Road/Trail = dual purpose (note... not dual sport which is different).

My bad; I *did* read your original "dual-purpose" as "dual-sport"...
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

I think the "road" part of the "road/trail" tag is basically a means of
identifying a trail bike that can be registered as per ADR.

Thats only my general opinion

Daron
TS250X <- road/trail


<intact.kneeslider.DeleteThis@start.com.au> wrote in message
news:3e0e2b9e-a094-4981-81c3-af8f0eeab37f@l1g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 17, 9:14 pm, G-S <ge....DeleteThis@castbus.com.au> wrote:
>>
>> IK Laboratories wrote:
>>
>> > Dualsports would be bikes like the Africa Twin, the Tenere (the new one
>> > coming out should be interesting), the F650 and the Aprilia Pegaso...
>> > middle-aged dirtbikes like the DR don't quite fit in the same
>> > pigeonhole...
>>
>> When the DR400 was introduced (I had one of those) it was called a
>> road/trail bike.
>>
>> Ditto the DR500 when it was introduced.
>>
>> And again the DR600 was called a road/trail bike.
>>
>> And finally when Suzuki started making the DR650 they called it a trail
>> bike (they dropped the road/ finally as it was a clumsy term).
>>
>> Road/Trail = dual purpose (note... not dual sport which is different).
>
> My bad; I *did* read your original "dual-purpose" as "dual-sport"...
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

<intact.kneeslider.TakeThisOut@start.com.au> wrote in message
news:15481856-76ad-44d5-9973-5c721aab2b71@21g2000hsj.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 14, 7:14 pm, "Fraser Johnston" <ftr....TakeThisOut@iinet.net.au> wrote:
>>
>> How about the 650 GS?
>
> Since you're still primarily a car guy, I'll try to frame this in
> terms you'll understand the most easily...
>
> ...the BMW F650GS is the bike equivalent of, say, the Renault Scenic.

I'm buying one in March for a cross Australia trip and to be my around town
bike. Most comfy bike I have ever sat on.

Fraser
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

On Jan 21, 7:06 pm, "Fraser Johnston" <ftr....DeleteThis@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> <intact.kneesli....DeleteThis@start.com.au> wrote in message
>
> > On Jan 14, 7:14 pm, "Fraser Johnston" <ftr....DeleteThis@iinet.net.au> wrote:
>
> >> How about the 650 GS?
>
> > Since you're still primarily a car guy, I'll try to frame this in
> > terms you'll understand the most easily...
>
> > ...the BMW F650GS is the bike equivalent of, say, the Renault Scenic.
>
> I'm buying one in March for a cross Australia trip and to be my around town
> bike. Most comfy bike I have ever sat on.

So, when you made your initial suggestion, you were really fishing for
validation, right? You'd made up your mind to buy a particular bike,
and you were looking for people to confirm what a good choice you've
made.

The 650GS is stingy on fuel, easy on tyres and chains, quick enough to
freeway speeds and none-too-popular with people who fix damage from
wheelies gone wrong with shady parts; that all makes it a top-notch
commuter bike.

Buying one for a coast-to-coast trip when you already have a Blackbird
in the shed doesn't compute. If you're going to cross the Nullarbor on
the tarmac, the bike with 140hp, big fairing and a 300km cruising
range is going to do that better than a 45hp single with a flapping-in-
the-breeze riding position and weaving tendencies above 120kph. If
you're planning to cross the Nullarbor off-road, why have you settled
on a bike which won't make that trip without a support truck?
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

On Jan 22, 12:00 pm, "Fraser Johnston" <ftr....DeleteThis@iinet.net.au> wrote:
>
> The main reason I was going to cross Aus on it was because they are heaps
> cheaper over east than they are here. So flying over and riding back seemed to
> be a good idea. I've got a mate who is dead set keen on the idea as well. The
> plan is to come back via alice springs to see a bit more of the country. I've
> done the nullabor and it is a bit boring as batshit.

Good plan. The Stuart Highway between Adelaide and Darwin via Alice
Springs, and the roads through the top end of WA, between, say, Broome
and Geraldton, are all rivetting compared to the Nullarbor...

> After doing a bit of research I might got the R1150GS.

So, you want something for around-town work because your carbed
Blackbird is too big and awkward in traffic - or words to that effect
- and one of your candidates is a bike which weighs 30kg more, has a
taller seat, is about a foot wider and is likely to cost about twice
as much as a carbed Blackbird.

Can you see why you're difficult to take seriously?
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

Fraser Johnston wrote:
> <intact.kneeslider.RemoveThis@start.com.au> wrote

>> ...the BMW F650GS is the bike equivalent of, say, the Renault Scenic.
>
> I'm buying one in March for a cross Australia trip and to be my
> around town bike. Most comfy bike I have ever sat on.

Don't buy the Scenic for your trip. Is this going to be like the PI trip? No
show.

Theo
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

<intact.kneeslider DeleteThis @start.com.au> wrote in message
news:a4a8d3d4-4995-46e6-b778-0dae1a94c4a1@p69g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>> I'm buying one in March for a cross Australia trip and to be my around town
>> bike. Most comfy bike I have ever sat on.
>
> So, when you made your initial suggestion, you were really fishing for
> validation, right? You'd made up your mind to buy a particular bike,
> and you were looking for people to confirm what a good choice you've
> made.
>
> The 650GS is stingy on fuel, easy on tyres and chains, quick enough to
> freeway speeds and none-too-popular with people who fix damage from
> wheelies gone wrong with shady parts; that all makes it a top-notch
> commuter bike.
>
> Buying one for a coast-to-coast trip when you already have a Blackbird
> in the shed doesn't compute. If you're going to cross the Nullarbor on
> the tarmac, the bike with 140hp, big fairing and a 300km cruising
> range is going to do that better than a 45hp single with a flapping-in-
> the-breeze riding position and weaving tendencies above 120kph. If
> you're planning to cross the Nullarbor off-road, why have you settled
> on a bike which won't make that trip without a support truck?

The main reason I was going to cross Aus on it was because they are heaps
cheaper over east than they are here. So flying over and riding back seemed to
be a good idea. I've got a mate who is dead set keen on the idea as well. The
plan is to come back via alice springs to see a bit more of the country. I've
done the nullabor and it is a bit boring as batshit.

After doing a bit of research I might got the R1150GS. Seems most people
selling 650s are selling them for the bigger bike. I have been doing a bit of
two up touring and some gravel bits which the blackbird is no fun at all for.
Every weekend I go to the gun club which is down 5ks of limestone road so I'm
not going to need a serious offroad bike but something dual purporse would be
just the ticket.

Fraser
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

Fraser Johnston wrote:

> After doing a bit of research I might got the R1150GS. Seems most
> people selling 650s are selling them for the bigger bike. I have
> been doing a bit of two up touring and some gravel bits which the
> blackbird is no fun at all for. Every weekend I go to the gun club
> which is down 5ks of limestone road so I'm not going to need a
> serious offroad bike but something dual purporse would be just the
> ticket.

Err, the R1150Gs is not a bigger version of the 650 Fraser. It's barely by
the same manufacturer.

Theo
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:46:22 +0900
Theo Bekkers <tbekkers DeleteThis @bekkers.com.au> wrote:
>
> Err, the R1150Gs is not a bigger version of the 650 Fraser. It's barely by
> the same manufacturer.

I reckon what he really needs is a T series Guzzi.

Easy to work on, tough as old boots, can do most gravel and limestone
roads (not all that happy over big rocks though) as well as mud and
sand.

Low seat, good handling, can fair it up or not as you please.

Pity I just sold mine....

Zebee
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

<intact.kneeslider DeleteThis @start.com.au> wrote in message
news:149d961c-3a22-4694-a259-666554ad8936@v17g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 22, 12:00 pm, "Fraser Johnston" <ftr... DeleteThis @iinet.net.au> wrote:
>>
>> The main reason I was going to cross Aus on it was because they are heaps
>> cheaper over east than they are here. So flying over and riding back seemed
>> to
>> be a good idea. I've got a mate who is dead set keen on the idea as well.
>> The
>> plan is to come back via alice springs to see a bit more of the country.
>> I've
>> done the nullabor and it is a bit boring as batshit.
>
> Good plan. The Stuart Highway between Adelaide and Darwin via Alice
> Springs, and the roads through the top end of WA, between, say, Broome
> and Geraldton, are all rivetting compared to the Nullarbor...
>
>> After doing a bit of research I might got the R1150GS.
>
> So, you want something for around-town work because your carbed
> Blackbird is too big and awkward in traffic - or words to that effect
> - and one of your candidates is a bike which weighs 30kg more, has a
> taller seat, is about a foot wider and is likely to cost about twice
> as much as a carbed Blackbird.
>
> Can you see why you're difficult to take seriously?

I'll probably sell the GS when I get back over here. For a commuter I reckon
the new Hornet replacement might be the go. At the moment the VTR 250 is
absolutely brilliant for around town work.

Fraser
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

"Theo Bekkers" <tbekkers.TakeThisOut@bekkers.com.au> wrote in message
news:4795760e$1@news.bekkers.com.au...
> Fraser Johnston wrote:
>
>> After doing a bit of research I might got the R1150GS. Seems most
>> people selling 650s are selling them for the bigger bike. I have
>> been doing a bit of two up touring and some gravel bits which the
>> blackbird is no fun at all for. Every weekend I go to the gun club
>> which is down 5ks of limestone road so I'm not going to need a
>> serious offroad bike but something dual purporse would be just the
>> ticket.
>
> Err, the R1150Gs is not a bigger version of the 650 Fraser. It's barely by
> the same manufacturer.

Yeah but just the ticket for the trip I'm planning and a bit of touring and
running down the dirt roads to the gun club and a friends farm. Most of the
riding I am doing 2 up at the moment. Decisions decisions. I think I just
need about 3 more bikes. : )

Fraser
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

"Zebee Johnstone" <zebeej.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:slrnfpb221.g3m.zebeej@gmail.com...
> In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:46:22 +0900
> Theo Bekkers <tbekkers.TakeThisOut@bekkers.com.au> wrote:
>>
>> Err, the R1150Gs is not a bigger version of the 650 Fraser. It's barely by
>> the same manufacturer.
>
> I reckon what he really needs is a T series Guzzi.
>
> Easy to work on, tough as old boots, can do most gravel and limestone
> roads (not all that happy over big rocks though) as well as mud and
> sand.
>
> Low seat, good handling, can fair it up or not as you please.
>
> Pity I just sold mine....

I just had a sit on a Norge. : ) And the new Bellagio which is a lovely
looking bike.

Fraser
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted