My brother just picked up a 2010 KLR this past summer and loves it. He is slowly farkel-ing it out. I am looking at used KTM 640s on ADV, a bit more money but they seem to be more off road performance oriented.

As a lifetime dirt bike rider and former multiple class winning MX racer, I have never understood the fascination with these overweight large bore "dual sport" bikes".

I just watched a bunch of Youtube videos to see what it is all about..... OMG, I could easily ride at least twice as fast on a little dual sport XL350 from the 80's and 4 times as fast on a MX bike as most of these "adventure riders" are riding these expensive monstrosities on what amounts to dirt roads and firetrails.

Guys, this is not off-roading....

I just don't get it.... Using these things for off road work makes about as much sense to me as using a school bus for a track day at Mid-Ohio. :D

Yah, I know..... Different strokes and all that.... Sorry for the interjection of reality according to Tim :D

A buddy of mine did the continental divide route last summer over a few weeks. It's not hard core single track, it is touring off the beaten path enjoying the outdoors.

ditching that youtube ... jays writeups and pix are way better


http://jammincdr.blogspot.com/




If things pan out, my brother and I plan on riding the TWAT (trans wisconsin adventure trail) late this spring. And eventually doing a route crossing colorado, maybe down through moab and onto to our family place near cedar breaks Ut. using OHV trails and paths as much as possible.

Other weekends I'll be roadracing, or at the MX track as my budget and body allows. No reason not to do it all and it makes a great excuse to buy more motorcycles :D

Dlockhart, thanks for posting the video..... Those bikes look MUCH more capable of enjoyable off road riding.

David, the KTMs are much better for off-roading than the KLR. Just don't expect them to tour the highway at 70 all day. They'll rattle your body to pieces.

I have to agree. I have no intention of doing any serious off-road riding. An occasional fire-road is about it. Looking more for long distance comfort, good handling in the twisties and on the slab, room for a pillion and the ability to carry a few things along. Can't imagine why you'd take an expensive, heavy bike into a serious off-road situation.

come on and play

a little dirt, blood, and a good scotch at the end of a day does a body good. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat1.gif


@ motion I'm thinkin of finding a set of supermoto wheels too, and burning up my take off supercorsas and melting dead rains. :eek::D

Tim, I think they are just real world bikes for the roads found all over the world. I would ride one on any fire road or dirt road I am likely to encounter. I wouldn't want to off road one.

you picked well. here's mine

http://ksjcorpus.smugmug.com/Motorcy...12_UZFUr-L.jpg

Great looking GS, choc. What was the shipping cost on your bike?

I've been spying advrider for a dual sport. I was thinking about a 650GS, but didn't think they'd take drops to well. Plus, I wanted something lighter and more dirt oriented. Looking at a modded klx250s or stock wr250r yamaha. Grab a set of supermoto wheels, and it's ON!

Tim,

My real reason for riding the bigger bikes is that as I get older I seem to like torque over high rpm horsepower. That said I am rarely off road.

Joe A

Just under $600 door to door. I used Federal. Fingers crossed.

They're not off road bikes, they are multi-road bikes. Big difference. No better bike to ride across the US and down to the tip of Baja. Highways, back roads, twisties, mountains, dirt roads, fire roads, all good. Moab, Pismo or Rubicon, not so much.

I would love to do some riding like this. Been looking at the KLR650 for just this kind of stuff and for doing an Alaska trip. Doing an Ultimate Alps Edelwiess tour in 2011, so it will be awhile before I will be able to do the Dual sport thing.

Although a great road bike, I've always thought the big GS was to big and expensive of a bike to be ridden like that. If I'm going off the paved road, i want a bike I can drop and scratch and not give a crap about.

Choc,

Shoot me a pm, I have some new parts left of from my GS (a new windshield and throttle miester cruise control that I never installed). I'd be happy to send them your way.

Bill

PM sent. Thanks Bill. Happy to pay you something for them.