First Bike Purchase - Street or Dual Sport - Thoughts + Considerations Appreciated

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Re: First Bike Purchase - Street or Dual Sport - Thoughts + Considerations Apprecia

Lucky you... the link provides tips for taller riders as well. That's another good reason for dual sport as taller riders can feel cramped on street bikes.

Friend who is 6' 4" only felt comfortable on the KLR650.
 
stevie t said:
DRZ is a great bike, if you are not going to do a lot of single track/woods stuff, the vstrom may present more options for you, can take it most anywhere, and it will cover the pavement no problem...
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Don't you mean if he IS going to do a lot of single track/woods stuff. I can't imagine lumbering through anything tight on a vstrom, but that's probably because I have a DRZ.


OP, you live in Simcoe Country, home of SCORRA and a bunch of trails. Get the DRZ400S and go have fun. Join the OFTR and next year get out to the ODSC and Rally Connex training days, you'll learn tons and have fun doing it.
 
Re: First Bike Purchase - Street or Dual Sport - Thoughts + Considerations Apprecia

stevie t said:
DRZ is a great bike, if you are not going to do a lot of single track/woods stuff the vstrom may present more options for you, can take it most anywhere, and it will cover the pavement no problem..
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Fixed too many commas, the simcoe forest tract is fun, we ended up on it a few weeks ago.
 
First Bike Purchase - Street or Dual Sport - Thoughts + Considerations Apprecia

I'm 6'3 and my DRZ-SM was just fine for size. The seat, however, was a source of soreness after a while.

I picked the SM since I spent most of my time on the roads anyway
 
Wr250 would be a better choice lighter with similar power and a 6th gear.

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OP is good sized boy - 250 might be a stretch on the highway tho the 6th gear is good - miss that all the time on the KLR...prevents gearing it low enough for tractoring and high enough to cruise at sensible rpms
 
Wr has fuel injection and makes almost the same power as the Dr despite being smaller displacement, better suspension as well.

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No lots of other differences more reliable motor fuel injection etc etc.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 
Damn that's an interesting bike.

http://rideapart.com/2013/05/rideapart-review-yamaha-wr250r/

2013_Yamaha_WR250R.jpg


hmmmph learn sumptin new every day :D
 
In the end, I found a DRZ 400s. Went for my first ride this evening - 60 kms through the back roads around my house - Awesome.

Of course, I could be riding a smoking dog turd and I would have had the time of my life... I'll update some impressions a few months out...

IMG_0316.jpg

Dave The Dual Sport Riding Accountant.
 
Good stuff - I'm looking at exactly that bike or its identical cuz the KLX400 for Australia.
Swap the ST1100 for it and turn the KLR650 into the tourer.
Fun machine...enjoy - keep an eye on tire wear if you are commuting - front in particular will cause you issues on road and off.
 
I've been monitoring this thread for awhile and thought I'd throw my two cents in now.

I've owned both road bikes (standard and sport) as well as my current DS (BMW Sertao) and can say they both serve a different market.

If you like speed, acceleration, cornering, and want to belong to the SS "lifestyle" then a sport bike is for you. I loved my Ducati, it was my dream bike and, despite its torture rack ergos, I rode the wheels off that thing loving every single mile.

However, I longed for a bike that can go anywhere. When my Duc met an unfortunate end in the Adirondacks last year, I went to a dual sport and haven't missed a beat. I found out that speed and acceleration were never my "thing", hitting the road for parts unknown definitely are.

What about the DR-Z400? Well, my buddy and I (he on a V-Strom) hit the Nipissing trail earlier this month led by someone on a DR-Z400. That thing is an absolute blast; it has long legs to get through any terrain and plenty of power to keep up with our 650's on pavement though it is more "buzzy" at highway speeds. It seems to weighs half of what 650 DS weighs which makes it an ideal DS bike. I don't think the subframe can handle carrying heavy loads so two up cross country rides are probably out of the question, but everything else is doable on that bike.
 
Um, it might just be my eyes but…That plate looks to about ready to fall off.Congrats on the bike. I’ll have me another on/off road fun machine sooner rather than later.
 
What about the DR-Z400? Well, my buddy and I (he on a V-Strom) hit the Nipissing trail earlier this month led by someone on a DR-Z400. That thing is an absolute blast; it has long legs to get through any terrain and plenty of power to keep up with our 650's on pavement though it is more "buzzy" at highway speeds. It seems to weighs half of what 650 DS weighs which makes it an ideal DS bike. I don't think the subframe can handle carrying heavy loads so two up cross country rides are probably out of the question, but everything else is doable on that bike.
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Yup, it and the KLX400 are the same machine - even parts are interchangeable. Cop in Australia who is hard core off roader and keeping my ST1100 also says they are bullet proof and the thing is 110 lb lighter than my KLR650 which is going to be moved to 80/20 road tires off the 606s and I'll put the touring screen on.

Looking forward to plodding around on one of the 400s - will get an auto-clutch for it. Hope I can swing a deal even trade for the ST1100 but I'll bide my time. Either this year or next will snag a 400 Suz or Kawi
 
Re: First Bike Purchase - Street or Dual Sport - Thoughts + Considerations Apprecia

MLadin said:
Get a used supersport and a motocross. Best supersport riders are also motocross riders. Best of both worlds!
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Best ss bikers out there on the streets tearing everyone elses a holes.... yes all riders from dirbike, motocross, supermoto backgrounds.



OP if your in the 250cc ninja range, get a yamaha wrx 250 supermoto, its faster and all round more fun, and better at building your skills.

if you are looking at 500cc bikes, get a gs500 etc, it will be helpful for your hiway commute, but thats about it, if you want to be a bad ***** rider, get a drz 400, or a yamaha 250 supermoto, and ride them like you stole it.lol

three years, you'll be bored of a ninja 250 sport bike, in two weeks. with a supermoto, you'll NEVER get bored. I still ride mine every now and then even though i've moved up to killing 1000cc super sports.
you can crash a supermoto a hundred times and nothing major happens to it, crash a 250 ninja sport one time, its done.
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