Or the KLR650 - fine on trails bit heavy for steep and rutty - tractor like pull and so many accessories.
What is you inseam tho?
it's 35" seat ( can be lowered )
This will tour at moderate speeds ( thats' my goal in Aus this year after mostly trail and forest track last year.
So a better windscreen and seat and I;m okay to go 500k + a day at 100 kph.
There is a balance for gearing but the front gear is easy to change.
Prices are stable and the motor bulletproof - I bought my first one for 4k and sold if for 4.1k a year later.
There is a huge fraternity of KLR650 riders around the world and really the weight is not that bad for a 650 but it's called the oil tank on stilts for good reason.
Big tank is nice 25 ltrs so range is excellent on road or off and you can find them tricked out with al sorts of goodies.
this is really nicely kitted out and that's the top of the price zone and the newer model
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...sories-Excellent-condition-W0QQAdIdZ423691507
Strip the gear off and its a decent trail warrior weighing 386 dry. The differences from the pre 2008 are here and a good assessment.
http://www.klr650.net/2008_kawasaki_klr650_review/
You'll have no issue on stuff like this
and decent streams. And most of the accessible off road are like this. S Ontario sucks for legal off road so being able to enjoy the ride to the better areas in the north is important.
No question the 400 is a wickedly good offroad that can do on road but I think the KLR can be adapted better and if this is your first venture off road then not a bad choice.
You do need to learn to pick it up yourself
Add bark busters to it first thing. Tire choice is tricky - I'd tend to say go full 50/50 if you are intending to get into the trails and mud and some hills.
Of course as mentioned two sets of wheels is ideal but I'd say in S Ontario 50/50 or 70/30 ( currently I'm 50/50 on the front and 80/20 on the rear. ) Hwy/offroad.
Everything is decently priced on the pre - 2008 as there is 20 years of the same model as a market.
my set up in Aus pre mud, bark busters and 50/50 front tire.
This river was simply too wide for us to cross so 110 km back in 35 degree heat - we were only 8 km from the pub on the hwy when I took this.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m269/macdoc/travel/australia%202012
/Screenshot2012-03-07atMar72012105232AM.jpg
The KLR had no issue with this
Tho a muddy hill later taught me I still could take a fall ( tires mostly ), need new rubber AND bark busters - riding out with a broken clutch called on some rusty skills.
These guys were/are serious off roaders and so have bikes similar to the 400 mentioned - but they never tour them and the muscle guy on the right road most of the way home on the gravel shoulder at 100 kph to save his knobbies.
much fun tho.
Here's the KLR 650 thread
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=742912
and the Cairns area thread
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=757409&page=15
The CREB track is legendary - I'm not likely to ever ride it as it's only accessible in the dry season.
This was the closest I got -
this is the same crossing in the dry season from the Cairns riders Creb run - the KLR650 would tractor through that easily but you would want to alter your gearing.
and this sign is to be taken seriously - some vehicles end up helicoptered out.
But all of this is just 30 min to an hour from my home in Cairns.
You'd need to get into Northern Ontario to find good riding and the legal aspects are a horror
But still being able to poke down some trails is very much fun. BTW there is a BMW off road course available and you get to ride their dual sports which are similar to the KLR650. but go on up to the 1200s dualies. Those are not my cuppa.
1BQgL!-v6)w~~48_20.JPG)
