Best complement to a feej

[chivvalry]

So that front cowling sheds about a hundred pounds?

 

[UberKul]

Buy what your buddies are riding that way you will get the most out of the bike in ride time. If you plan on riding solo choose a bike you can pick up by yourself after dropping. If you don't you will stick to the roads you could have taken your FJR on anyway.

I have a hard time putting singletrack and Strom in the same sentence. :blink:

Picking an adventure bike from a demo ride means you will buy the most comfortable bike. To get a handle on how the bike will perform you must ride if off road, not likely if buying new. Careful of that BMW and KTM Kool-aid, great bikes but they sell lifestyle like Ferrari sells red.

 

[chivvalry]

Good advice... most likely solo riding would be the norm. So the difference between a klr and a weestrom on single track is that great?

 

[UberKul]

Good advice... most likely solo riding would be the norm. So the difference between a klr and a weestrom on single track is that great?

I think that depends on your definition of single track. Most dirt bikers would not put KLR or DR in the same sentence as single track due to weight, ground clearance and suspension. Single track includes rocks, tight trail turns, stream crossings and mud (if your lucky). Maybe where you are from it may be more tame and rolling enough that bikes have made single track trails that resemble bicycle trails?

If single track by the above definition is in your future then yes, the weestrom will put you in your grave. The DR and KLR can do some single track but not too much technical stuff. These are the best affordable all-rounders in my opinion.

From your question it sounds like you might want to take "single track" out of your primary use criteria... or start shopping for a third bike! :yahoo:

Disclaimer: I have a 2002 DR650 I am prepping for Alaska (good excuse to pimp a bike) and wanted something I could ride to the end of a secluded trail and not die trying to get it back out by myself.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Just over a year ago, I bought a 2005 KLR for adventure touring...Just like you are describing. I sold it in August.

The bike was great off-road. I had a set of Dunlap D606's, progressive suspension up front, and good off road pegs. Those things transformed the bike, but riding the paved road sucked!

That bike had to scream to maintain 80. Part of the problem was me. I wanted to be able to ride it like my FJR on the road, but I shoulda known better.

As said above, I guess,"single track" means different stuff to different people. I had that KLR in some knarley places, but knew better than to try to catch loads of air or ride it like a WR450...

I've been on really good technical rides with guys on Wee-stroms, GSA1200's and GS800s. The other bikes kept up just fine through some of the worst stuff.

Personally, I'm gonna find an 800GS and suit it up. With a good set of knobbies, it wont dissapoint me. It can handle the highway, there's tons of aftermarket, and it is a highly proven platform. It and the Wee will go just about anywhere you want.

I should note that I sold the KLR for $200 more than I paid for it. I rode the crap out of it, but did put money into it. It was NOT a ride from New Mexico to Alaska bike. I'm hoping the 800 will be.

 

[Fred W]

+1 - I had a similar experience with my KLR, only it didn't take a year for us to part ways.

I live in an area of New England where you have to ride an hour (or more) to get to the good dirt roads. I had the D606's on the bike and had bought a set of Kenda dual sport 80/20 tires to try and get it to be less painful on the tarmac, but ended up just selling it off and buying a more street worthy dual sport. That was a Aprilia Pegaso, which suited my riding much more than the KLR.

Pegaso is long gone now too, and when I started looking for an Adventure Touring bike I set out looking for a Vstrom, the big man sized one, not the wee. No, it is not really single track worthy. "Single track" here is just overgrown 2-track anyway. IMO, Adventure Touring bikes do not generally need to traverse single track. Handling long stretches of dirt roads (2 tracks) is pretty much what puts the touring in Adventure Touring.

It's all a big compromise where to get one thing you must give up something on the other side. I'm happy with the 'strom for what it is. Though it would be nice to also have a real dirt worthy bike for the gnarly off-roading. The best bet for that might be to use that bike with a trailer!

 

[chivvalry]

I think removing single track from the criteria for bike 2 makes the most sense. Certainly sets me up for bike 3 in the future and i think I'm looking more for something that will easily handle very rough fire roads and maybe some atv trails... I think my definition of single track is probably candy butt single track vs. Iron butt single track.

 

[FastSpy]

I added a Husky TE630 to compliment my 2010 FJR..

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

My KLR is heavily modified and I have taken it into serious mud, puddles, hills, mountains, single track and it was fun but picking it up was a ******. Camping on it was a great time. In the tight twisties it is more fun than the FJR. I rode it on highway 250 miles or so and it hurt. I'd get an aftermarket seat if that was a big part of the plan. If I had to do it again I would because the price can't be beat. By the way, the KLR from 2009 is a GENII and built for more wind protection on highway. My 2009 (most of the first year bugs were worked out) cruises easily at an indicated 70, can do 75 but not 80. On the other hand, handlebar risers, aftermarket pegs, NERF bars, doo-hickey job and some other goodies means I would take it anywhere. Stock gearing is for road use and many swap the front sprocket for off-road work. A downshift and I have no trouble passing in most situations. I met a man who went around the world on a Vstrom. I met two that went around the world on KLR's. I am so know a man that went to Alaska on a KLR, beat it to death and parted it out, getting the majority of his investment back. I vote a KLR (GEN II if a lot of highway, GEN I if more gnarly stuff. Aftermarket part availability and online forum help is endless.

 

[chivvalry]

Sounds like if I want a dirt bike I can take on the highway then I want a KLR but if I want a road bike I can take in the dirt I want a vstrom....

 

[Mr Bill]

Sounds like if I want a dirt bike I can take on the highway then I want a KLR but if I want a road bike I can take in the dirt I want a vstrom....

You mean the FJR ain't no dirt bike? Oh no Mr Bill........

 

 

 

 

This little 650 has over 60 ponies and weighs less than 300 lbs. Can you say Giddyup?

 

[chivvalry]

I added a Husky TE630 to compliment my 2010 FJR..

Gorgeous pics... Looks like that is more in the klr class than the vstrom class, yes?

 

[Fred W]

I added a Husky TE630 to compliment my 2010 FJR..

Gorgeous pics... Looks like that is more in the klr class than the vstrom class, yes?

That's way beyond the KLR class. It's more in line with the KTM class.

That Husky and Mr Bills' KTM are true dirt bikes that can be ridden on the road. Great in the dirt, not so much on road.

The KLR is a middle ground bike. Like the Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L. They can do both about equally well, which is to say not very. Not rugged enough for truly gnarly single track and you'll be sore as hell after 4 hours in the saddle on the road.

The V-stroms are, as you say, a street bike that has mild dirt capabilities. I compare these more to the Yamaha S10 and BMW GS'es. They're great on the street, but barely capable off road. Good for riding rural dirt roads, but forget about any serious dirt riding. Loose stuff like deep sand or mud and these porky pigs are down faster than you can sneeze. Even riding power lines is a big workout on a 'strom.

So, you see, there is no free lunch. Everything has a trade off. You have to decide how you will most use the bike and buy the one that does that best.

And of course you can always try to farkle them to accentuate your needs.

Or don't decide. Just buy one of each.

 

[beemerdons]

I added a Husky TE630 to compliment my 2010 FJR..

Gorgeous pics... Looks like that is more in the klr class than the vstrom class, yes?

That's way beyond the KLR class. It's more in line with the KTM class.

That Husky and Mr Bills' KTM are true dirt bikes that can be ridden on the road. Great in the dirt, not so much on road.

The KLR is a middle ground bike. Like the Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L. They can do both about equally well, which is to say not very. Not rugged enough for truly gnarly single track and you'll be sore as hell after 4 hours in the saddle on the road.

The V-stroms are, as you say, a street bike that has mild dirt capabilities. I compare these more to the Yamaha S10 and BMW GS'es. They're great on the street, but barely capable off road. Good for riding rural dirt roads, but forget about any serious dirt riding. Loose stuff like deep sand or mud and these porky pigs are down faster than you can sneeze. Even riding power lines is a big workout on a 'strom.

So, you see, there is no free lunch. Everything has a trade off. You have to decide how you will most use the bike and buy the one that does that best.

And of course you can always try to farkle them to accentuate your needs.

Or don't decide. Just buy one of each.

Fred W has given a fantastic analysis: There is no free lunch and every dual sport moto has a trade off factor. I personally like the BMW F800GS / F650GS Twin platform because I can comfortably ride "Salma Hayek" from my home in Chandler, Arizona on the Highways and Autopistas to Creel, Chihuahua Estado, Mexico; a thousand miles away.

In Creel I lower the air pressure to 22 front and 27 rear and then ride 500 miles throughout the dirt roads of Mexico's Copper Canyon. When I reach the Sea of Cortez at Huatobampo, Sinaloa Estado I simply reinflate my tires to 35 / 40 and ride the thousand miles back to my Arizona home.

My BMW F650GS Twin is absolutely incapable of true single track, but then again so am I as a rider, but for getting to and from the dirt over long distances and then riding many miles on dirt roads: You just can't beat the BMW F800GS bikes!

 

[NMRoadRunner]

I also ride an 89 honda TransAlp, it's a 600 V twin. Heavy enough for the highway , but will single track with ease. I'm going to Alaska and am going to ship the TransAlp up first, I'll ride the FJR up, swithch to the TA, run on up to the top, then return ship the TA and come home on the FJR. My wife has a cousin there who's going to help with the shipping part, Sweet! Go to ADV.com, you'll get all the advise to want and then some.

 

[chivvalry]

That's way beyond the KLR class. It's more in line with the KTM class.

That Husky and Mr Bills' KTM are true dirt bikes that can be ridden on the road. Great in the dirt, not so much on road.

The KLR is a middle ground bike. Like the Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L. They can do both about equally well, which is to say not very. Not rugged enough for truly gnarly single track and you'll be sore as hell after 4 hours in the saddle on the road.

The V-stroms are, as you say, a street bike that has mild dirt capabilities. I compare these more to the Yamaha S10 and BMW GS'es. They're great on the street, but barely capable off road. Good for riding rural dirt roads, but forget about any serious dirt riding. Loose stuff like deep sand or mud and these porky pigs are down faster than you can sneeze. Even riding power lines is a big workout on a 'strom.

So, you see, there is no free lunch. Everything has a trade off. You have to decide how you will most use the bike and buy the one that does that best.

And of course you can always try to farkle them to accentuate your needs.

Or don't decide. Just buy one of each.

I'm liking this idea more and more... of course it will be more difficult to get past my Chief Financial Officer (wife).

 

[chivvalry]

This little 650 has over 60 ponies and weighs less than 300 lbs. Can you say Giddyup?[/color][/size][/font]

What bike is that? Fred said KTM but what model?

 

[Mr Bill]

This little 650 has over 60 ponies and weighs less than 300 lbs. Can you say Giddyup?[/color][/size][/font]

What bike is that? Fred said KTM but what model?

690R.

 

Like Fred said, but worse, I could go 1 hour on the stock saddle on the road. I have a corbin now and can go 2 hours.

 

The 690 has a bullet proof LC4 motor that has been around for ages and holds 2 quarts of oil that needs to be changed every 3k miles. Unlike KTM's finicky race engines that need oil changing every day.

 

I was torn between this bike and the Yamaha 250. That motor is the same as the R1, just three less pistons. It makes 30hp the same as the KLR and it weighs in at 300 lbs.

 

In this picture of the years first DARC ride there were half a dozen big dual sports. They were dropping like flies and none made it to the end. I ride pretty slow and have not dropped the 690 yet, but the weight is a big deal when your sliding around on the roads here in the Northeast. I'm the same weight as the little 250's and with the 650 low end grunt it's an easy bike to ride.

Got his bike up now where did that kickstand go....

 

[dcarver]

I can put the weestrom single vs dual track vs street argument to rest with pix.

The Wee can do this

Which ended here and note that these truly offroad vehicles made the grade too <_<

Than again, on the way got see stuff like this - which the Feejer never would..

But then <ominous music> this happens - see the hill? Not so big, huh? Not soo bad, huh? Well, trust me, no freaking way the Wee is making it... So now the decision, turn around, backtrack? Risk getting caught off the established trail? Where oh were is my dirtier dirt bike?

</ominous music>

Here's one hill climb on the Wee

At least the Wee can go down hills - note the single track.

..and is also good with water crossings - here we just crossed the lake

The next day we went to the MX races where I got second place

On a serious note, when the weather gets nasty and you're expecting heavy rain/sleet/snow/ice I much prefer the Wee of the Feejer

But when the dirt road gets like this, the Wee is too heavy, too wide, too much to handle

..and when in those conditions, this is gonna happen..

.

.

DIRT NAP Time :****:

I hope the pictorial helped

 

[Fred W]

I also ride an 89 honda TransAlp, it's a 600 V twin. Heavy enough for the highway , but will single track with ease.

I'm betting that we have considerably different definitions of "Single Track" in various parts of the country .

This is what New Hampshire single track looks like

(note the close spaced pilings at the trail's entrance to restrict quads):



This is one of the few single tracks at the Hopkinton-Everett riding area, not far from me in southern New Hampshire. I've actually ridden that particular section before on my XR400 (back when I still had it) along with my son on his XR200. But we also quit where they did at the end of the second video.

If you look closely as they cross the dirt road at the very end, the trail actually continues on up a vertical through a huge rock garden. I think you'd seriously need a trials bike to get up most of that. :huh: