650 thumpers

[nhbubba]

Itching to mix up the garage again.

[Paul_E_D]

With a dinosaur?

[black]

big red pig? they make a e start for them now

[nhbubba]

I'm getting 403's whenever I try to post suddenly. It's wild. All I want to do is jibber jabber about buying motorcycles!

[black]

I'm getting 403's whenever I try to post suddenly. It's wild. All I want to do is jibber jabber about buying motorcycles!

I think you exceeded th lifetime post limit on NESR

[MattR302]

I’m in the same boat actually. I was working on a trade with my Tiger 105 for a DR650 with sumo and stock wheels, but then the guy decided to keep it and store it for winter. If I made that trade, I would probably sell my track F4i and my DR350, and get a 200-250 dirtbike.

DR650 sumo for twisties and a few track days a year
DR650 with 50/50s for dirt road and light ADv riding
KDX? to try my hand at woods/trail riding next year
Grom for a stupid fun 100mpg commuter

I wouldn’t really have a bike good for interstate long distance or 2up, but those each only happen like once a year for me.

[breakdirt916]

I personally enjoy the jibber jabber...I learn a lot and also discovered and enjoyed the notion that variety is the spice of life

[nhbubba]

I’m in the same boat actually. I was working on a trade with my Tiger 105 for a DR650 with sumo and stock wheels, but then the guy decided to keep it and store it for winter. If I made that trade, I would probably sell my track F4i and my DR350, and get a 200-250 dirtbike.

DR650 sumo for twisties and a few track days a year
DR650 with 50/50s for dirt road and light ADv riding
KDX? to try my hand at woods/trail riding next year
Grom for a stupid fun 100mpg commuter

I wouldn’t really have a bike good for interstate long distance or 2up, but those each only happen like once a year for me.

Yeah.

My $0.02: get the KDX. Great bike for the $. Owning a 2-stroke is fun and different. And lets get real, you're not going to own a 2-stroke road bike, so it might as well be the dirty.

[nhbubba]

The basic gist is this. I currently own a Harley FLHP (Road King), an SV650, a WR450F/SM conversion, and a KTM 200 XC.

The WR was purchased to race Boxshop. I think I'm done racing for a while, possibly done riding race tracks for a while even. If I do return to Boxshop it'll be on a gas 'n go mini.

This summer I plated the WR and put 50/50 rubber on the 21/18 hoops. It is a really great bike, but not quite what I'm looking for out of a 50/50 dual-sport. It does NOT like to cruise. It isn't keyed and my paranoia melts down when I take it to town. And the sub-frame is too weak for carrying shit. None of this surprises me. I'm probably going to be looking to sell it come spring.

I want a mild/not wild ADV'er back. As most of you know, I had a DL650 for years and loved it dearly. Looking to flip the WR for something like that, but lighter. Family obligations require this be a relatively revenue neutral trade.

I've ridden the DR650 and KLR650. I like the KLR a lot. Or at least I really get it. I figured a cheap KLR was my jam. Although the BMW G650 GS jumps out too. They made a special edition that had 21/18 wheels and looks like it might not suck.

[csmutty]

Did you say light and then refer to a klr650?

[nhbubba]

Lighter than a V-Strom

[csmutty]

Lighter than a V-Strom

52 lbs lighter. I guess that's significant.

[iTGbuDeeV]

i've been drooling over XR650 flat track/ scrambler builds. they are so simple that it seems like a good first real moto customize project. problem is i can't find one cheap enough to justify the attempt right now.

[Kurlon]

I wonder if a stroker CRF250L Rally would scratch that itch?

[nhbubba]

Kevin W's photos made it seem worth the $.
Can you get a 250L rally for the kind of scratch I'm talking? I suspect not.
WR-R is a stretch.
And those all still have bikini seats. I'm looking for a road bike that pretends to do dirt. Not a dirt bike that pretends to do road.

That said. Door number three is dump the WR, the 200 and go visit the KTM man for a brand new 300 XC-W. Plate it, invest in a 2nd set of wheels, and figure out how to beef up the sub-frame.

[Kurlon]

The subframe seems like something Adam could replicate easily with much beefier stock, but I don't think you'd like the 300 as a primarily street machine if you don't like the WR now?

[nhbubba]

You're right. And the 200 is just too sweet.

I think I'm keeping the 200 for the duration. Will kick the SV to the basement and into hibernation. It's worth less to others than it is to me.

Only thing left to wheel and deal is the WR. So beit.

[MattR302]

My DR350 is a great small/mid size dual sport, simple and reliable. If I lived in an area where I was <30 mins or so from trails and good dual sport riding, I would probably keep it forever.
There's a bunch of good dual sport riding in Western Mass/Catskills area, but that's a haul to slab there on a 350. And since I would have to trailer to any real woods riding, I might as well get something more purpose-built than the DR350.

That's why I'm thinking a dedicated 200-250 dirty, plus a big thumper/lite ADV bike might be the ticket for me.
Procycle makes a 790cc big bore kit for the DR650 too...

[backinthesaddle]

How about the new KTM 690 SMC. Cool ad they have for it on YouTube. Wonder how many guys will get one and try to jump out of a parking garage.

[Paul_E_D]

THe SMC is the ticket. Or the enduro version. That bike is single track and highway capable. You can't really even call it a thumper anymore with two counter balancers. Feels and even sounds more like a twin.

[tls25rs]

THe SMC is the ticket. Or the enduro version. That bike is single track and highway capable. You can't really even call it a thumper anymore with two counter balancers. Feels and even sounds more like a twin.

Not sure I'd want to hustle the 701/690 around on single track. Highway and some dual sportish trails/class 6 roads maybe but true single track that bike is awfully heavy for. A 701 enduro or the 690 enduro would be a sweet backroad/class 6 road/relatively easy to medium two track ripper though.

Might be slightly out of the budget constraints for nhbubba though.

[nhbubba]

I'm sure I'd LOVE a new 701 or 690 enduro. Haven't sampled one yet. Mostly by intent.
I worry the seat is too narrow and there is NO wind protection. But sure, I'd try it in the name of science.
But I suspect they are at least 2x my budget here. Talking sub $5k here.

[golden chicken]

I'll make you a good deal on an '05 Suzuki Boulevard S40.

[breakdirt916]

even if the 690 was more work in single track, it's a better bike than the 650 fat fart bikes

[csmutty]

Not sure I'd want to hustle the 701/690 around on single track. Highway and some dual sportish trails/class 6 roads maybe but true single track that bike is awfully heavy for. A 701 enduro or the 690 enduro would be a sweet backroad/class 6 road/relatively easy to medium two track ripper though.

Might be slightly out of the budget constraints for nhbubba though.

Uhh the 690smc is 18lbs lighter than the dr650....