V649HP-Kawasaki's new gravel runner

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by Dejavu

Sorry, maybe you already discussed this, I didn't have time to read all 70 pages. But there are three things I'm wondering about since you made it an adventure bike.
1. Why didn't you do spoked wheels?
2. Why only single disc brake in front?
3. Why did you keep the stock exhaust? Why not run a pipe up under, or to the side, in the back?

But really, I like the bike a lot. My gf has a Versys that I ride sometimes. I'd probably ride it a whole lot more if it was built like this. Very creative and unique!

see reply by proxy....

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by ben2go

Around my parts we call all Kawasaki kwackers.

wrong, wrong, and just plain wrong.

it was the 636, before they got away from that oddball displacement and went with the 599. some greenies still think the 636 was the best ever.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by donny662

I'll try answering these based on what I've read in the thread.

1.) This was a budget build and wire wheels are more expensive than used cast wheels, and cast wheels worked out well on the previous bikes.

2.) DRZ forks were used on the front end, and they come with only one caliper mount, and it turned out that JD was happy with the stopping power from the single (oversize?) rotor.

3.) I think this was based the lack of need and budget to convert the exhaust to the more conventional design. Longer shock and forks upped the ground clearance, and the stock exhaust was adequate on the previous gravel runner bikes.

Again, these answers are not from the horse's mouth, so to speak, but are just from someone who has been following this thread.

damn you're good, i don't know why i should be at all worried about finding wifi out here. thanks, ya got a great memory.

ground clearance under the stock exhaust is 10", good enough for gravel.

bike ran perfectly all day, the first with the full load out of gear for a 30 day trip. i had Cannon build a 16kg/mm spring for the R1 (900#/in) and i'm glad i stuck with this spring rate for the loads i'm carrying. works real well.

love that cop motor, pulls real hard, even harder in those "no passing" zones.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by david white

Good Luck.

thanks, 600 mile roll after a late start.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by jdrocks

wrong, wrong, and just plain wrong.

it was the 636, before they got away from that oddball displacement and went with the 599. some greenies still think the 636 was the best ever.

Thanks fur clearin dat up.I have to claim ignorance here.I have only followed Suzuki when it comes to street bikes and loosely followed Honda when it came to ATVs and dirt bikes.I never was a fan of Kawasaki until I saw these chopped up Ninjas and Versys.Ya'll done went and changed my ole mind bout dees bikes.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by ben2go

I never was a fan of Kawasaki until I saw these chopped up Ninjas and Versys.Ya'll done went and changed my ole mind bout dees bikes.

glad we got that cleared up. Kawasaki might have jumped to the number one spot in motorsport sales in the USA.

[Laconic]

Safe travels, JD.

Subscribed to the RR thread.

[jdrocks]

v649HP flying along, every description of gravel road you can imagine. Some places I'm not sure should be called roads.

[ben2go]

Keeper up.I am trying to catch up on the other thread over on the Versys forum.

[jdrocks]

had the rat upside down a few times...



bike running exceptionally well, all considered.

[jdrocks]

at the gas pumps in Breckenridge, had just found out the location of a power wash to get all the mud off the bike, and out of the radiator.



turned the key, bike completely dead. nuttin'. wheeled it off to the side, unloaded it, pulled the seat.

found a loose connection at the negative terminal. i had ridden some terrible washboard roads today, maybe that did it.

[ben2go]

WHA WHA WHAT!?You flipped the bike and we don't get the story behind it?

I am devastated.

[Roadracer_Al]

Jebus. I looked at that picture and for a moment, thought you'd snapped the forks off of the thing. Glad to be wrong about that.

[sanjoh]

Originally Posted by jdrocks

.

Hey JD there ain't no gravel there bud

Hope your healing quickly.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by sanjoh

Hey JD there ain't no gravel there bud

Hope your healing quickly.

No gravel lots of places, bike down five times so far. Ass deep mud yesterday in the rain, freakin' brutal.