I don't know the first thing about adventure riding. When I think about what it means I imagine riding on my motorcycle wearing a tent like a backpack, being constantly covered in mud, and sleeping on the side of the road. For years, I have been riding street and dirt (at the state park). The longest distance I've ridden in a day thus far is 200 miles. I want to plan a short, easy trip but I don't know how to start. What's a good all-around bike for riding on and off road? What are the absolute essentials that I need to bring when I do go? I'm in California and my dream is to ride around the border of the United States, drawing the shape of the country on my bike. I'm sorry if I sound naive, but I am, and I need some guidance. Also, please forgive me if this is the wrong place to post this and if there are any existing threads about this, please point me in the right direction. Thanks for any input.
don't know the first thing about adventure riding. When I think about what it means I imagine riding on my motorcycle wearing a tent like a backpack, being constantly covered in mud, and sleeping on the side of the road. For years, I have been riding street and dirt (at the state park). The longest distance I've ridden in a day thus far is 200 miles. I want to plan a short, easy trip but I don't know how to start. What's a good all-around bike for riding on and off road? KLR if you are poor, BMW if you are rich. What are the absolute essentials that I need to bring when I do go? Credit card. I'm in California and my dream is to ride around the border of the United States, drawing the shape of the country on my bike. Use a Sharpie, it will be easier. I'm sorry if I sound naive, but I am, and I need some guidance. Also, please forgive me if this is the wrong place to post this and if there are any existing threads about this, please point me in the right direction. Go west, young man. Thanks for any input.
Answer a couple of questions for us. 1. How much time do you have to travel? 2. How much money have you saved for this journey? 3. Have you thought about a daily buget for this trip? 4. What is your body size? This has a lot to do with what type of bike your looking for. 5. Are you gone to carry a big load. 6. Camping or stay in hotels. 7. If you drop the bike, can you pick it back up loaded or unloaded by yourself? 8. Chain drive or shaft? 9. Popular brand with dealers and mechanics through out the country. 10. A bike with a great forum group and large number of members that can advise and help along your journey. 11. What time of year are you planning on leaving and what part of the country are you going to visit during that time of year. Many more questions that can be asked, but this should be a good start. BeachGuy BMW K75 6 months in Alabama and 6 months in Costa Rica.
I'd like to start off small, so 3 days, 2 nights. No set amount since I'm not sure what I want to do yet. If I think about it, I'd like to spend at most $50 a day so that might mean camping some. I'm 5'10" and 140lbs, which means I'm thin. I won't be carrying a big load. A small tent, a change of clothes, toiletries, some tools, and as yosmitetom suggests, a credit card. Camping (if I can help it). I can pick up an unloaded bike. A loaded bike might be trickier. Chain drive, since I know how to adjust a chain. I was thinking Kawasaki KLR 650 since it's cheap but I'm not particularly partial to any one brand. I'd like to explore the west coast a little more in the upcoming fall months. I might ride from San Francisco to Yosemite, do some bouldering in camp 4, sleep over, and see what comes up next. Thoughts? Thanks for your responses :)
We're headed across New Mexico and Arizona the up to LV and over to UT. It will be an adventure for sure. I would recommend a KTM 690 Enduro R. It is the swiss army knife of bikes.
I would love to get a KTM 690 Enduro R. It's about twice the price of a KLR 650, though. Is it really twice as good? I'll definitely have to go scope one of these out this weekend.
Alucard<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> I see by your profile that you currently have these two bikes: SV650 and a TTR-125. <o></o> <o></o> My first question to you would be: why are you looking to by another one for three day trips to start off with? <o></o> <o></o> Are you going to be riding with a buddy with a bigger bike which is dual sport or solo? If solo your SV650 should do a great job to begin you adventure.<o></o> <o></o> The $50.00 aday should be do-able if you’re not trying to ride big mileage days. Gas cost will eat into this figure. Your food cost and overnight accommodation expense can be controlled with a little planning. Fuel tank filling because of big mileage days is another.<o></o> <o></o> The money you will spend to get another bike (bike cost, insurance, registration and tag and taxes) at this time will buy a lot of farkels to make either bike you have do the job. <o></o> <o></o> Your SV650 will handle country gravel and dirt roads along with the slab. This having been said, I’m not talking about real bad forest roads and back wood roads and Rock’s. From what you stated in the first post you’re in the new learning curve mode. Learn what you want without going broke with your new desire. Then when you know what you want go for it.<o></o> <o></o> Now speaking about what bike to buy, what is your inseam in inches? Less than 30” don’t forget that most of the 650cc and bigger dual sports out there are pretty tall when in the saddle. A tippy toe on the ground and trying to back one up empty or fully load is almost impossible to do.<o></o> <o></o> I know that there is a diverse group of rides out there and each one thinks his ride is the best and only one that makes reality in their world. My opinion and I do mean my opinion (is not open to criticism). Having owned two different KLR 650’s and having ridden them as far south as <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Costa Rica</st1lace></st1:country-region>, I can make these statements.<o></o> v Don’t buy new.<o></o> v Buy one which is low mileage.<o></o> v Buy one which has been set up for traveling (side bags, large rear rack, everything else is a plus), not one which is set up for the weekend wild man who will ride it anywhere. You know the type (ride it like you stole it).<o></o> v Take you time looking and buy cheap. They are out there!<o></o> v If you buy cheap, when you’re finished with it you can sell cheap.<o></o> v Parts and mechanics are everywhere for these bad boys.<o></o> v Great forum support and advice abound for this bike.<o></o> v Every other brand of real dual sport bike out there have there names starting and finishing with $$$$$$$ signs. Just break one and try fixing them.<o></o> v Remember my opinion is not open to criticism. Friendly disagreement is fine.<o></o> <o></o> If you are going bouldering, take the TTR-125 drop the gear off at the camp site and have a blast.<o></o> <o></o> Hope I have added some confusion to the subject at hand.<o></o> <o></o> BeachGuy<o></o>
I guess I'll give this a shot.... Adventure riding is different for everyone... What do you wanna do? For me, it's riding a single cylinder dirt bike on challenging terrain... for others, it might be a trip to Alaska, or South America...etc... the adventure is for you to decide... A good all around bike? See question 1 and go from there. Not sure I'd ride a single to Alaska, but doing 200 miles a day, offroad, in the Michigan UP, it fits. After riding Cannontrek V and WAAAYYYY over packing, I've realized you don't need much. The essentials go way down with cc's. On my GS, I bring what I want. On my Husky TE610, I bring alot less. From your last remark, longer distances on the road seems to be what you like right now (this might change....) Determne how you wanna do it and try a mini run (4 corners of Cali maybe...). Personally, if I lived where you do, I'd love to explore Baja on a big thumper.... Hope this helps!
I agree with Beachguy. I would do some adventures on the SV650 before investing in another bike. I had (still have but now for sale) a FZ6, which is basically the Yamaha equivalent to the SV. This class of bike are quite well touring bikes. I put 3400 miles on mine in about 9 days of riding before. They do have plenty of cargo capacity and are comfortable enough. I did decide to sell the FZ6 to buy a KLR650 (more like sell the FZ6 to pay off the KLR650 I bought!) because I wanted to do more serious off road. But the FZ did fine for dirt roads up in Vermont. You can still definantly have an adventure on a SV650. A 2-3 day trip, I suggest just take some cash, strap a tent, 2 outfits, and a sleeping bag on the back of the SV and just hit the road.
Thank you for the great responses. To answer one question; yes, I'll mostly be traveling with someone else who owns a bigger dual-sport bike, and I'd like to be able to keep up. I worry about slowing down any trip I go on with him or flat out not being able to negotiate the terrain on my bike. I took some time this weekend to look at some motorbikes both new and used. I found that the KTM 690 Enduro R just didn't fit me at all (much too tall). The BMW G 650 GS felt great and so did the F 650 GS. The KLR 650 was also a great fit. I've no idea how these bikes run in comparison to each other, though. But first things first, I think you guys are right and I need to go on a mini-adventure on my SV. So i'll try to do that as a start. Then I'll be able to get an idea about what I want and what I need. I do want to be able to cover more miles so I think i'll have to fit my bike with a working windscreen because as it is now, I am being beaten to a pulp by the wind. I just don't want to do too much with it because I do ride this bike at the track quite a bit. I'd love to be able to ride my TTR to Yosemite, but it's not street legal so I'd have to outfit it first. Also, it has a top speed of 40mph so it may take a while... Lastly, I do plan on seeing Baja on a motorbike, I just don't know if it'll be on the SV. Thanks, guys.
I have an 06 KLR and have lots of extras on it. The KLR is not a great hi-way bike. It likes to cruse at about 105-110 km/hr. It's a work horse with great milage and a good range between fill-ups. I have been looking at the F800GS but the sticker price is steep and I'd have to add a few things that I'd loose in getting something else. Figure out what you want to do/ride and then get a used one and spend the money that you saved on adventuring!! But DAMN that F800GS is a nice bike
Honda, Yahama, Kawaski, Suzuki, BMW or KTM dont matter. Get a Dual Sport Bike, small enough to enjoy and go. I have had most of the above, favorite bike is the Yahama 1976 DT400 Mountain Bike, The Honda xR650l is fine for most anything, the KTM is the bomb I have a 990 adventurer. However, I just spent a few days in Colorado on my WR250R and will probably get ride of the Honda. It did 98 percent of everything I asked of it. Worked its ass off. 65 down the highway, ground thru the woods like a trooper and altitude never changed the performance. Bottom Line, get a bike, put knobs on it, carry the smallest possible pack, forget the back pack, less is much much more, and turn off the pavement the first chance you get and start riding. The rest will work itself out to fit what you want.
I know you have been riding dirt for years, but there is nothing like practice and learning new skills. Get a training DVD at www.aussieadventurerider.com.au .
Hmmmm....I'm debating between selling my v-strom for a 690R or keeping it and getting a 450EXC. I noticed you have both an EXC and a 690R. Do you do long distance riding in your 690R? I love how low maintenance the vstrom is, so that is kind of a big deal if the 690R is my only bike(for a while at least). To the OP, you should join iphorde. Seems like an awesome ride and its always nice to have experienced ppl around when you're learning the tricks.
Get a BMW R1200GS. A 690R may be the bike for you if: 1. You want it to be a trailer queen to get to offroad areas. It is not set up for any type of touring or long distance travel. 2. You do not have the funds for the original "swiss army knife of bikes", the BMW R1200GS.
What are the absolute essentials that I need to bring when I do go? You only need a loot feel like doing it. All others things are in the trip.
+1 on taking a 2-3 day adventure on the SV650. Have you ridden a V-Strom? That might be a good trade, given it has a lot in common with the SV. Equipped with Pelican cases, these are very capable ADV bikes. Want more pep? The F800GS rocks. Power/weight is very similar to the SV (4.8 lb/hp vs. 5.2 lb/hp for the SV). However, you are signing up to be a beta tester if you buy any made the first couple of years (yep, I know, and yes, so far so good, although mine will probably eat rear wheel bearings too). Get out and ride - then tell us how it went!
You are in luck. I will be happy to mentor you in the ways of adventure travel. You cover my bike maintenance, fuel, food bill, and health insurance and I will be happy to guide you around the country and the world if so be it. Pretty good offer eh