Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted

On 12/01/2008 11:06 AM, Theo Bekkers wrote:
> Nigel Allen" wrote:
>
>> That brought back some memories. My first bike ever was a pushrod
>> engined C50 I bought (very second hand) in 1969 after my dad said
>> "There is no way you are getting a motor bike".
>
> My last 4 bikes have been pushrod engined. Is there something wrong with
> that?
>
> Theo
>

Down Boy!

I was referring to the fact that is was a /Honda/ with a pushrod engine.

Nigel
(Who cut his teeth on A10's and T100's)
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

"Nigel Allen" <"dna at edrs dot remove this com dot au"> wrote
>
> Nigel
> (Who cut his teeth on A10's and T100's)

That's one hell of a teething ring!

Cheers,
Dale.
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

On Jan 12, 6:07 pm, Damien <al.qa....RemoveThis@asio.gov.au> wrote:

>
> I like the specs of the V-Strom...but can they do something about the
> looks?

Suzuki call it "Theft proofing"

just do a cut and shut job on it
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3144695&postcount=1175


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

On Jan 12, 3:35 pm, "Nev.." <id....TakeThisOut@mindless.com> wrote:

> Has anyone suggested 2 x DL650 V-stroms yet? You might need to get
> one lowered a bit for her, but I think that's do-able. Buy a couple
> and you will probably *almost* get change out of $20K. They'd be
> alright for getting around Australia,

agreed (biased, I own a DL1000)

you will have to spend a little to convert them to be a little dirty,
bash plates, a little suspension work and some tyres

the Strom can be lowered with new dogbones and the 650 comes with a
lower seat that can be carved out a little to make it a little lower,
but it still is a tall bike

how much dual sport are you thinking? the Strom is a great dirt road
bike, but it is a little heavy for real dirt work

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

On Jan 11, 8:19 am, Nigel Allen wrote:
>
> Requirements include:
>
> They have to be tried, tested and tough and not mind being bounced off
> the scenery a few times.
>
> They have to be low-tech and capable of being cobbled back together in
> somewhere like Ulan Bator by the local blacksmith.
>
> They have to have easily obtainable spares.
>
> They need to be on the light side of heavy.
>
> They have to be simple to maintain.

Just as well you can't go with the R1200GS, because it meets exactly
none of those... if you were to go with an earlier R-GS:

- the R1100GS and the R1150GS are tougher to crash (but still oddly
fragile - then again, when that much weight hits the ground...) but
much, much heavier, and just as complicated and, thus, just as
difficult to fix out bush.
- the R100G/S and R80G/S are smaller, lighter, simpler and tougher,
but their age makes them sufficiently more likely to break down to
offset any of the mythical greater reliability inherent in their lower
level of tech.

If I was doing something like this, my pick would be a Honda XR650R or
a Yamaha XT660R fitted with the fattest tank in the Acerbis catalogue
(something would have to be done about the braindead routing of the
Yamaha's stock exhaust - around the bottom of the engine, like a
roadbike).
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

On Jan 12, 5:09 pm, Burnie M <burn....TakeThisOut@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>
> In particular note DR650SE dry weight 147kg and DL650 dry weight 194kg
> This is not only an issue picking up the bike but effects its handling
> on loose surfaces.

And even at 147kg (dry; with a big tank and some luggage strapped on,
that'll top 200kg easily), the DR650 is flirting with being heavy
enough to be a pain in the arse up or down the side of a mountain.
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

> If I was doing something like this, my pick would be a Honda XR650R or
> a Yamaha XT660R

What happens if you get the keys wet for the XT660R? I had a look at the
manual http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/community/service/manuals.jsp and
it had "Do not get the keys wet" typed.


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

<intact.kneeslider RemoveThis @start.com.au> wrote in message
news:db87960d-06eb-4e6e-bc20-8d905647b522@t1g2000pra.googlegroups.com...
>
> Just as well you can't go with the R1200GS, because it meets exactly
> none of those... if you were to go with an earlier R-GS:
>
> - the R1100GS and the R1150GS are tougher to crash (but still oddly
> fragile - then again, when that much weight hits the ground...) but
> much, much heavier, and just as complicated and, thus, just as
> difficult to fix out bush.
> - the R100G/S and R80G/S are smaller, lighter, simpler and tougher,
> but their age makes them sufficiently more likely to break down to
> offset any of the mythical greater reliability inherent in their lower
> level of tech.
>
> If I was doing something like this, my pick would be a Honda XR650R or
> a Yamaha XT660R fitted with the fattest tank in the Acerbis catalogue
> (something would have to be done about the braindead routing of the
> Yamaha's stock exhaust - around the bottom of the engine, like a
> roadbike).

Current thinking is the Suzuki DR650 with a Safari 33 litre tank, the Honda
XR and Yamaha XT are in the same catogry as the old BMW GS's too old to be
reliable. The Suzuki DR650 can be had for about $5,000 for a late model low
mileage unit (sold 2 of them myself in the last year), a tank is $650, bash
plate $140, a set of Andy's Strapz expedition canvas panniers for $300 and
some suspension mods (perhaps a Staintune pipe $850) and you have an
indestructable dual sport.

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

"Nigel Allen" <"dna at edrs dot remove this com dot au"> wrote in message
news:47868bf6$0$11970$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
> Hi Guys
>
> My S.O. and I are looking at a pair of (identical) dual purpose bikes
> sometime this year. Aim is to do some (more) touring/rallying in Aus and then
> later some overseas long distance stuff. Big dream is one of the long ones.
> India to the UK, UK to South Africa and maybe Canada down to TDF.
>
> Problem is that my S.O. is a little vertically challenged (166cm) so the
> original idea of a pair of R1200GS won't work. I'm thinking maybe a couple of
> earlier R80 G/S or even the later GS might be the go.
>
> Requirements include:
>
> They have to be tried, tested and tough and not mind being bounced off the
> scenery a few times.
>
> They have to be low-tech and capable of being cobbled back together in
> somewhere like Ulan Bator by the local blacksmith.
>
> They have to have easily obtainable spares.
>
> They need to be on the light side of heavy.
>
> They have to be simple to maintain.
>
> Any input/suggestions short of taxidermy (or trading her in) gratefully
> accepted.

How about the 650 GS?

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

"Boxer" <someone RemoveThis @nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:jQZhj.2319$421.141@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

> And in pristine condition, fully log booked 70,000 kilometres.

Classic widowmaker. How scary is it to ride?

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

"Fraser Johnston" <ftrust.TakeThisOut@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:5v0l1eF1kf8coU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Boxer" <someone.TakeThisOut@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:jQZhj.2319$421.141@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
>> And in pristine condition, fully log booked 70,000 kilometres.
>
> Classic widowmaker. How scary is it to ride?
>
> Fraser
>

Really uncomfortable more than scary, lots of power but after about 2 hours
I have had enough.

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

On Jan 14, 7:04 pm, "Boxer" <some... RemoveThis @nowhere.com> wrote:
>
> <intact.kneesli... RemoveThis @start.com.au> wrote in message
>
> > If I was doing something like this, my pick would be a Honda XR650R or
> > a Yamaha XT660R fitted with the fattest tank in the Acerbis catalogue
> > (something would have to be done about the braindead routing of the
> > Yamaha's stock exhaust - around the bottom of the engine, like a
> > roadbike).
>
> Current thinking is the Suzuki DR650 with a Safari 33 litre tank, the Honda
> XR and Yamaha XT are in the same catogry as the old BMW GS's too old to be
> reliable.

The XT660R is a current model.
The XR650R was introduced in 2000 and discontinued last year.

> The Suzuki DR650 can be had for about $5,000 for a late model low
> mileage unit (sold 2 of them myself in the last year), a tank is $650, bash
> plate $140, a set of Andy's Strapz expedition canvas panniers for $300 and
> some suspension mods (perhaps a Staintune pipe $850) and you have an
> indestructable dual sport.

Could be done a lot cheaper, too, but the DR650 is not the best choice
among the big enduro bikes. It's an old design, bulkier and heavier
than pretty much anything else in the class, and it can't even be
argued that the air-cooled motor makes them any more crashproof,
because they have an oil cooler which can be holed on a rock just as
easily as any radiator.

It's a real pity Honda discontinued the XR650 in favour of the CR-
F450X, rather than update it with the CR-F's suspension...
 >> Stay informed about: Dual Purpose Bikes - Input Wanted 

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