Work hard. Play hard.

[AR15L]

never knew that, thought they were like 50/50

I've yet to find the perfect one. I don't think it exists.

KLR650 with meat on rims and shock changes.

OK, I'll give you that one.
BUT... it should come that way from the factory.
For a toy, replacing the tires and shocks are not cheap. For the good ones at least.

[STED9R]

never knew that, thought they were like 50/50

I've yet to find the perfect one. I don't think it exists.

KLR650 with meat on rims and shock changes.

OK, I'll give you that one.
BUT... it should come that way from the factory.
For a toy, replacing the tires and shocks are not cheap. For the good ones at least.

Tell me about it. Just the high end rear shock alone was $800+ then progressives and emulators in the front, the cheap route, was going to come up to over a grand. Figured out a way to add a bit more nitrogen to the rear and adjust rebound. Also changed pivot angle by making up a set of lowering links. It's better, but not a grand better.
As far as tires, hell, for $100 delivered and 45 minutes of time, both tires can be swapped out and experimented on. I've gone towards about a 80-20 split as I want more mileage and have gotten tired of tires singing to me at freeway speed.
The KLR is closest to true dual but, being that way also makes it not good at any one thing. Much like if you wanted a good licensed dirt bike, get KTM or even those fancy Triumphs, more freeway comfy and speed friendly go BMW. And none of these will do the opposite worth a shit.
One of the reason why quite a few people turn the Verysis into a so called dual sport but there your right back at dumping $'s into a ride off the floor that was a cheap alternative to a $18k BMW.
If KLR would come out with a 650 or even 500 carbed twin and added a more positive rear suspension and adjustable front, and maybe rear abs, there would never be any reason why they wouldn't outsell every manufacture, every year....

[Jraysp]

I realized this weekend that my XR 650 is definitely more of a dirt bike then a street bike. It did alright on the highway but she was screaming hard at 70 mph on the blacktop.

[STED9R]

I realized this weekend that my XR 650 is definitely more of a dirt bike then a street bike. It did alright on the highway but she was screaming hard at 70 mph on the blacktop.

The Honda stuff is more dirt orientated. You did fine keeping up and didn't fall back much. Did see how I could outpull you pulling onto slab but think that's more due to me being able to lay it over further on a take off and your high center of gravity, saw that in the twisties also. On some of the rough stuff, the Honda seemed to be more stable on the back end and kept the tire planted more. That washboard sucked dead ass and I was just there for the ride hoping I wouldn't see my back end pass me.
The screaming at speed and always trying to up shift to find another gear, get another sprocket 1 tooth up. Makes a big difference and will help a tad on freeway mileage. And if you plan on any true freeway travel, 70 won't cut it and it's always nice to have extra top end to get out of or away from bad things.
I wouldn't attribute the take off speed to weight, not saying your, er, um heavyish, but with my tools, parts and full bags I can account for another 40 lbs and mine may have 50 lbs more dry than yours in stock form. Think it just has to do with the ride height.
The Honda did great and in defense, tipping it over like that, it happens all the time and there's no help when side hilling and coming to a stop, when it's top heavy to begin with!
I'm putting a friggen heater on mine..........

[Jraysp]

I realized this weekend that my XR 650 is definitely more of a dirt bike then a street bike. It did alright on the highway but she was screaming hard at 70 mph on the blacktop.

The Honda stuff is more dirt orientated. You did fine keeping up and didn't fall back much. Did see how I could outpull you pulling onto slab but think that's more due to me being able to lay it over further on a take off and your high center of gravity, saw that in the twisties also. On some of the rough stuff, the Honda seemed to be more stable on the back end and kept the tire planted more. That washboard sucked dead ass and I was just there for the ride hoping I wouldn't see my back end pass me.
The screaming at speed and always trying to up shift to find another gear, get another sprocket 1 tooth up. Makes a big difference and will help a tad on freeway mileage. And if you plan on any true freeway travel, 70 won't cut it and it's always nice to have extra top end to get out of or away from bad things.
I wouldn't attribute the take off speed to weight, not saying your, er, um heavyish, but with my tools, parts and full bags I can account for another 40 lbs and mine may have 50 lbs more dry than yours in stock form. Think it just has to do with the ride height.
The Honda did great and in defense, tipping it over like that, it happens all the time and there's no help when side hilling and coming to a stop, when it's top heavy to begin with!
I'm putting a friggen heater on mine..........

I wasn't trying to rip to hard since I'm still in the break in period too. So I wasn't going all out when we would take off. It felt pretty good on the gravel. However, those washboards were something else. That was some of the worst stuff Ive been on in a long time. Im pretty impressed at how well it did hauling my big ass around though. It didn't seem to have any problems getting going. And the suspension held me just fine. Being 325lbs I was wanting something I knew would haul me around good and I think the Honda was the right choice. Im glad I was stopped when I went over though. And Im glad you guys were there to help me lift that thing up. Ha ha. You don't realize how heavy they are until its on its side and you just crawled out from under it.

It was definitely cold up there at the top of the pass. However, I don't think I even noticed the cold due to not being able to see but about 3 feet in front of me. That was nerve racking. But we made it!

[STED9R]

Ha!!!! When you went down my first thought was, why in the hell are you trying to dig a trench with your nose! Didn't realize the visor was doing the digging!
I thought yours was doing the washboard pretty damn well. I kept watching nate swing his ass from side to side trying to stay up.
Think that Honda is perfect for Bethel ridge for flying, just enough power and weight.

[Sparkeee1978]

You guys all have some pretty big bikes. I have heard good things about that Yamaha WR250R as a 80 dirt / 20 street. there is also a 290 big bore kit for about 600$ for more oomph I guess later. I weigh 180, and am curious if you guys still think a 250 is too small. Brian

[cmica]

You guys all have some pretty big bikes. I have heard good things about that Yamaha WR250R as a 80 dirt / 20 street. there is also a 290 big bore kit for about 600$ for more oomph I guess later. I weigh 180, and am curious if you guys still think a 250 is too small. Brian

always gotta go bigger


no I know what you mean I like my 125yzf but you get on the 250 and you always have to hang on. Maybe next summer bike is in order

[STED9R]

You guys all have some pretty big bikes. I have heard good things about that Yamaha WR250R as a 80 dirt / 20 street. there is also a 290 big bore kit for about 600$ for more oomph I guess later. I weigh 180, and am curious if you guys still think a 250 is too small. Brian

250 isn't to small and will run circles around mine in the woods. Depending on what you plan on doing with it, a small cc bike is more agile and would be something I would have if my trips just involved low speeds to and from the woods.
Hitting the hard top at freeway speed for a few miles then getting off road, it's perfect.
Rolling down the freeway/highway at 70 for 20-30 miles then hitting the dirt, you'll wear her out faster but it can live for a certain amount of miles. Making a run to Spokane on it, you'll be renting a truck to bring it back.
If you stay on side streets keeping the rpms down and not really winding it out that's just fine.
I use mine for travel. I may ride 200 miles on I-90 to ride a 50 mile gravel road, have a good dinner and overnight it somewhere. A 250 isn't going to do that for very long without some kind of damage. Even the Yamaha 350's take a beating running up at 75 mph for a few hours but can somewhat do it, but right back to wearing it out faster.
Short runs aren't that much of an issue but winding a small cc out trying to maintain traffic speed on the highway for distance isn't healthy for it.
There's nothing wrong at all with a smaller cc bike, all depends on how it's used.

[AR15L]

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/tire-mefo-explorer-rear-dot-dual-sport-130-80-17-or-5-10-17-f650-f650gs-93-07-g650gs-g650x-country-xl600v-transalp-klr650-others



They call this a 50/50 tire. I like how it looks but w/o riding it there is no way to tell.

[STED9R]

that looks like a real good rear, even a front in that pattern would be good but may sing after 50-75% wear.
I rolled on a set of Avon Gripsters.
Rear looks really good with fairly wide grooves while tread is thick in the center and thins down on the sides so the lugs don't roll in a turn, I like the rear and aside from snow, it did better than I thought it would last wknd. The front is questionable, although aside from some sliding in a slow roll trying to crawl up the side of a rut that it wouldn't bite and I had to give the bar a hard knock to jump up it didn't have any wash out. Tread isn't all that thick and have a feeling it's a 8000 mile tire, pretty much normal dual sport wear length but am looking for a 10k set. Looks like it'll hold up real good on pavement at speed and heavy turns though so will see next weekend on a 800 mile trip.

[AR15L]

I guess I should of put up the front.

[STED9R]

Front looks as good for dual use as the rear.
As far as singing to you at freeway speed, I'd venture to guess at least 75% wear before it does, and even then not to loud if you keep jumping tire press up and down to wear even.
Prices?
Got the Avon gripsters , made in England, for just over 2 bills.

[AR15L]

Front looks as good for dual use as the rear.
As far as singing to you at freeway speed, I'd venture to guess at least 75% wear before it does, and even then not to loud if you keep jumping tire press up and down to wear even.
Prices?
Got the Avon gripsters , made in England, for just over 2 bills.

Rear $150
Front $115

[AR15L]

I must exit this thread.
As much as I wanted to get back to getting a good dual sport it's time for me to admit I'm not as tall as I used to be. Go ahead with the jokes, it doesn't change the fact that a 29~30" inseam really can't be changed. These new, i.e. better, bikes seat heights all seem to start at 35".
Yeah, once I'm on, I can ride but I can't back up or even push it forward.
I'll have to admit... I'm a munchkin.