big adventure bike. BMW vs Triumph.

[vash]

playing email TAG with the craigslist guy.

[yazhound]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Anything bigger than a 650 single shows you are not serious about riding off road.

DR650 set up for off road is hard to beat. Does well on the road single up that is.... While bit too big for tight single track it does everything else well. Just a great all around bike!

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by yazhound

DR650 set up for off road is hard to beat. Does well on the road single up that is.... While bit too big for tight single track it does everything else well. Just a great all around bike!

Yaz: You nailed it....I'm looking for a DR650 right now. The big plus for me is a little lower seat height than my XR560L that I'm selling to my brother.....A DR650 with a big tank, carb kit and pipe + my KTM 625 will have my off-road needs covered.

[MMARSH]

Didn't read past the first page....

But I literally just got back from a week of off road riding and camping on the big bikes in Death Valley. There were four of us. A 2017 Ducati Multistrada Enduro, A 2015 KTM 1190, A 2015 KTM 1290 and me on my 2015 GSA. All the bikes were outfitted with TKC80s or Mefo Adventures. We all had tent camping gear and all but the Ducati were running soft bags for this trip......We did Eureka dunes, Steel pass to Saline Valley, Goler Wash, Titus Canyon and some other places i dont know the name of. This was my first time exploring DV off road, so I was just following my buddy on the 1190. All of us on this trip have smaller dirt bikes.....Would they have been easier over the some of the really rough stuff ? adsolutley no doubt about it. We all picked up our bikes at some point on this trip and had we crashed them while hustling them down a sandy or rocky road at 70mph, they wouldn't have fared to well. But we are already planning our 1000 mile Idaho BDR and it will definitely be on the big bikes....

FYI, the only bike that had any significant failures were the KTMs. The 1190 bent a front wheel enough so it wouldn't hold air. Hammered it back in place, pumped it up and rode on. The 1290 lost its shock (bad seal) on the third day. Kudos to KTM in Las Vegas. He rode 2 the bike 2 hours there and they were waiting to install the new shock that they had pulled off a new bike that was on the showroom floor....He was back with the group by dinner.

Oh something else. Although we were all on big bikes, I was the only one of the four of us that knew the easiest way to lift these bikes up. There is a technique. If you try to lift them like a 250, its going to be a long day if (when) you drop them a lot.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Anything bigger than a 650 single shows you are not serious about riding off road.

There's off road riding and there is non paved riding. I'm not riding my single from southern California to Prudoe bay. (granted I don't even consider that off road) I'm also probably not going to routinely ride my big bike on black diamond single track trails. different tools for the job......

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by vash

i thought i was pretty clear...i am not going off road much.

this is a get away from anyone and everyone, and everything road tripping machine need. i dont like those full dressed touring bikes, so i asked how an adventure/tour bike was..and i love the sound and feel of that bigass triumph. but i see way many more BMW here.
there is a huge club here in sonoma wine country.

To answer your question. Test ride them both. Get the one that talks to you.. You cant go wrong. Only you know which will float your boat.

[varmint]

Since we've drifted away from the original criteria, may I suggest....

[vash]

not to hijack my own thread. but here it goes.

what about a quick discussion of 800CC vs 1200CC?

again, very minimum dirt..long hauling..like chasing those crazy pelicans to AK. will the 800 be super buzzy?

[MT930]

If your going big might as well go all the way.

I have no experience with the 800 CC variant. It a lighter bike for sure.

[vash]

DAMN IT!!

i havent ridden a bike in years. last bike was a Ninja 600. i was just dipping my toe into a track visit when i went and got married and sold the thing. the previous 600 sport bike broke my leg.

i swung my leg over the big XC last night and was snapped back to happier times. i suppose my old helmet is at Goodwill (thanks to the love of my life), so no test ride, but it was super familiar feeling. i think i only have a hidden pair of Ku****ani gloves hidden from the "uber anti hoarder". i fit beautifully. the bike was not too tall as i was worried about. i could have popped it into first and just puttered off.."i got this"

my wife still green lights the deal. i'll call AAA today for an insurance quote. i dont remember motorcycle insurance costing this much, but it is still about the CC's right? but i am gobs older.

the dilemma? my wife also green lighted a front yard AND back yard remodel..some pro landscaper. the quote makes my nose bleed. SOB!! hard for me to stomach both yards and a bike. even tho she said it is cool and we have the cash.

[intakexhaust]

I too have the itch again. Been out of it for some years. Though, just the other day my HVAC repair guy came over for some chit-chat...... in a wheelchair. Really bad shape from a wreck in the dirt. I mean really, really bad. Jeopardized his livelihood. My mind starts spinning about it but such is life.

Has anyone really explained the BMW GS-A appeal in deep exploring, single tracks? Slop wet to very loose or rutted trails? I get the bigger cap. fuel at 7/8 gal. but wet weight this bike is pushing 570 lbs..

Anyways, I see no gain in the larger CC / hp class at the expense of weight in the dirt, single tracks, deep off trail exploring. It makes it a chore.

On a practical conviction, I found my old KLR650 pretty much satisfied all I needed. Also see lots of used ones on the market, but most are beat up. My thing is keeping the weight in check and suitable tires for a happy medium application. It had plenty enough to hang at 80 mph on the asphalt roads getting to the off sections.

Additional to consider, depending on the trip:

Comfort- windscreen (mid size)- quick on-off, must have Acerbis handguards, possible saddle change or have it custom modded by a specialist motorcycle shop. Take the dirt bike 'profile' off and go for a flatter, wider butt design. Made a significant improvement in my comfort. Probably the best thing I ever did for it.

Storage- rear pannier rack for soft packs. Save a bundle by using the bicyclist type from Ortlieb, with some DIY or tailor in adding straps. Same company makes for the German company Touratech.

Other considerations depending on how remote you travel, might want a larger / aftermarket fuel tank.

------ Another I had seat time with is the Suzuki DR650. My nephew had one and then sold it before letting me know he was planning to. I forget exactly what year it was but definitely would recommend. With the stock fuel tank filled, believe it scaled in around 360 lbs.. Even if going up in fuel capacity with an aftermarket tank, its way light compared to that BMW. Also, the DR650 is highly reputable, bulletproof and a nicely balanced tool for the job.

Lastly- If lucky to find a clean vintage Yamaha XT600, I could see having one again. Had one many years ago and was the most simple reliable machine. Kick start too. Not the power of the two above, more piggy off-road but oddly had a compromise for fun on canyon roads. I suppose due the lower seat height. If I recall the negative was in the fuel economy. Maybe its my like for nostalgia but its fun seeing old school reliable still ticking on.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by varmint

Since we've drifted away from the original criteria, may I suggest....

Awesome looking stunt machine.

[varmint]

why the hell is the picture right side up on my phone and upside down on the desk top?

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by vash

my wife still green lights the deal. i'll call AAA today for an insurance quote. i dont remember motorcycle insurance costing this much, but it is still about the CC's right? but i am gobs older.

This was a it of a surprise to me when I started riding again after a break - age doesn't seem to mean **** when you're talking moto insurance, it's all about displacement and type of bike (sport bikes, esp).

[wayner]

Originally Posted by vash

not to hijack my own thread. but here it goes.

what about a quick discussion of 800CC vs 1200CC?

again, very minimum dirt..long hauling..like chasing those crazy pelicans to AK. will the 800 be super buzzy?

Get the 800 and we can switch up from m time to time

[vash]

i think my wife was abducted and cloned..the woman living in my house said, "go big or go home".

hope my wife is okay whereever she is.

[jorian]

Get going before she changes her mind and calls the landscaper.

[nostatic]

A few thoughts:

1. buy a new helmet. You don't need to spend a ton, but you only have one head and comfort and safety is kinda important.
2. get full gear. If you can afford to buy the bike, you can afford proper Moto boots, pants, jacket, gloves.
3. insurance should be cheap if you don't carry comp and collision. Cost depends on the bike - it is akin to cars.
4. 800 vs 1200. If you're only riding solo, a good 800 is fine. If you want to do a lot of 2-up or heavily loaded touring or have a serious hooligan itch, then going big is likely better. My Triumph 800 would run out of breathe when pushed hard at altitude. My R1200GS just keeps pulling.
5. try not to break your leg and watch for coyotes.

[DanielDudley]

https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=suzuki+dr650&fr=yhs-mozilla-001&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pipeburn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F06%2F06_06_2015_skate_g oat_suzuki_DR650_01.jpg#id=0&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pipeburn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F06%2F20_06_2016_Suzuki_ DR650_Mamba_Garaje57_03.jpg&action=click

[gsxrken]

Originally Posted by jorian

Get going before she changes her mind and calls the landscaper.

Originally Posted by vash

i think my wife was abducted and cloned..the woman living in my house said, "go big or go home".

hope my wife is okay whereever she is.

Vash all kidding aside, you have to move fast.