650 thumpers

[Chippertheripper]

Who's rally front end is that? What do those run?

You thinking older/cheaper? Or branzynew? Maybe try to find a 17+ 701e instead? I hear the counterbalancer thing really is the bees knees. But then I'm susceptible to marketing.

I was about to call BS on the $5000 690e. Then I searched ADV-R on my phone while sitting on the hopper and found one right in MA. That'd work. No argument here.

Nomad travel tower for the 2019 KTM 690

I’m not committed to buying one or the next at the moment.
The husky is out. I can’t stand the look of it, as shallow as I know that is.

[csmutty]

Nomad travel tower for the 2019 KTM 690

I’m not committed to buying one or the next at the moment.
The husky is out. I can’t stand the look of it, as shallow as I know that is.

But you've owned so many ugly bikes...

[Chippertheripper]

Oh absolutely, but the husky won’t be one of them.

[breakdirt916]

whoa...bolted together and repairable, kewl!

[tls25rs]

The husky is out. I can’t stand the look of it, as shallow as I know that is.

I'm confused, they don't look all that different to me

[Chippertheripper]

Different enough.
I only know it doesn’t appeal to mine eyes. All things about the way they shaped the plastics and the color scheme.

[csmutty]

In this case I actually think you are choosing the ugly.

Husky is a better looking bike.

[Chippertheripper]

In this case I actually think you are choosing the ugly.

Husky is a better looking bike.

You gonna buy it for me so I can turn it orange?

[csmutty]

You gonna buy it for me so I can turn it orange?

Not with that attitude.

[Chippertheripper]

Well it appears we are at an impassé then.
That’s right, one with the funny E at the end.
So there.

[MattR302]

Check out the Husky TR650. It comes in dirt ("Terra") and street versions ("Strada"), it's got a higher-strung version of the BMW 650 single and FI.

For sale - 2013 Husqvarna TR650 Strada - $3,750 - Roanoke, VA | Adventure Rider

[Gixxer]

National Powersports Distributors

Husky 701

[nhbubba]

My eyes!

Damned near new retail?!? Oh yeah, it's a sumo conversion. Will probably sell easily.

[nhbubba]

This is what my main ride should be, arguably.

[Chippertheripper]

This is what my main ride should be, arguably.

That’s just a road king with sportier clothes and less “character”, right?
If I have to choose between the fjr and the rk, I’m keeping the Harley.
That’s as of this second, this morning.

[nhbubba]

That’s just a road king with sportier clothes and less “character”, right?
If I have to choose between the fjr and the rk, I’m keeping the Harley.
That’s as of this second, this morning.

I honestly dunno.

I had her out for the weekend and found myself struggling to make it through a tankful; only a bit over 200 miles. I remember doing days 2x that on the wee.
What gives? Have I gone soft or is this thing not the mile slayer I thought it was?!
Feeling all down 'n stuff. We'll see if I snap out of it.

You're likely right, that FJR is the same shit different day.

I think the big issue for me is the ungodly heat off the motor on the HD. I forgot what riding a big air-cooled motor in traffic was like. And I won't ride without gear. I hear the FJR (and the 1290 SA I nearly bought) also have heat problems. Par for the course with a big touring rig? Probably.

I'll say the RK bags are a treat to use. As is the cruise control. And I just LOVE the buckets of torque that thing rolls on. 20 MPH through Rockport or 80 MPH up 128, it doesn't care. And the bike handles way better than I ever would have expected.

Got a pass to do a camp 'n ride in early August. That may be the nail in the coffin. If the RK does not do that doody well.. we may be done.

[jimmycapp]

FJR (i had a 2008) was great for high mileage, two up. Just didn't find myself with a passenger often enough to justify that much capacity. Limited ground clearance was a problem with faster pace. Now I'm solo on a 1290 SAR and love it.

[breakdirt916]

Kurlon/Iglu - where there any 90’s/2000’s 400-650cc adventure bikes for me (that’s not the Vstrom) that had a twin? Don’t really want to do a 650 single on the street where I spend most of the time. Whatever the ex500 does on the street is good enough, just wish I had that turnkey convenience to romp on some bumpy rocky fire roads

[MattR302]

Kawi made a KLE500 dualsport with the same power plant. Might have to import one though, which would ruin your goal of being a cheapskate.

Seriously though, my DR790 feels just as capable and smooth as i remember my old EX500 was up until maybe 80-85.

There’s also older CB500X’s for sale for around $3000.

[MattR302]

Installed a pumper carb this afternoon onto the DR-790. Throttle response is quite a bit better than the stock carb, maybe not night/day difference but definitely significant. The PO had the stock carb jetting dialed in.

I got the pumper carb used, the jetting is as ProCycle (the big bore kit mfr) recommends for an opened airbox and aftermarket exhaust. Supposedly the jetting of the pumper carb really doesn’t need to change much, if at all, going from 650 to 790 cc. It seems to be popping a bit louder on deceleration, (but i only did a quick ride and didn’t have my earplugs in), and a bit more of an “engine braking” feel when rolling off the throttle. There’s a tuning manual online for this carb so I’ll lool into that more.

[MattR302]

3 bikes, 1 garage space.

Stock wheels (21/17) with 50/50 tires for dualsport rides


Street rim setup (19/17) with cheap 80/20 tires for general street riding, commuting, and easy dirt roads


Supermoto setup (wider 17/17) with track day rubber