Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki & Kawasaki - Listen Up, Please...

[Grreatdog]

Originally Posted by mtntrails

----- The only (minor) downside with the 690 is the short lock-to-lock of the steering - makes it challenging for tighter trails.....

That did take some getting used to on my 640E. I had to turn around on single track in the NC mountains a couple of months ago and it was ...... interesting.

[joexr]

Albie Agreed. So tell us about the aprilia.

[OrangeYZ]

Originally Posted by Albie

Also, not everyone that is short has a the psychological need to flat foot on a bike

Flat footing is a waste of ground clearance!

[Albie]

Originally Posted by joexr

Albie Agreed. So tell us about the aprilia.

It's an awesome track bike! Ridiculous power to weight ratio. Very finicky though.

[Foot dragger]

Originally Posted by trailrider383

A WR250R lists at $6690, so I think you better adjust the low number on your price range by a bunch.

But I agree with you otherwise. It sucks to have the money to buy one now and have nothing out there to choose from.

Cue the KTM recommendations.

Honda,Kawasaki,Suzuki,Yamaha, dont do niche market bikes,never have.
Euro companies specialize in just that. Either buy Euro or dream on.

[Royal Tiger]

Originally Posted by NJ-Brett

I am old school and will trade some suspension for a lower bike with a lower center of gravity, and just pick better lines. I am not racing, and a lower lighter bike is a lot easier to ride in many spots then a tall heavy bike is.
The tall bike is faster through the rough stuff, but I do not think its easier, just faster.
Low bikes are somewhat easy to ride in thick sand, tall bikes are tough unless its at warp speed.

I once sat on (or tried to) an xr650l at the dealers, and at 6 foot tall I was on my tippy toes.
Then, on many street bikes, the seat is so low its useless for a normal size adult.

The problem there is Dirt Bike ranks it last in a comparison bashing the lack of suspension travel and that idea will never return.

[Sierra Thumper]

Originally Posted by Grreatdog

So who says you can't put a Renazco seat on an EXC500 and ride it wherever the hell you want? Same for a TE511. You don't have to ride them like race bikes. And if you don't then you don't have to maintain them like race bikes. I am riding a crazy fast 200 two stroke MX bike as my city commuter and it hasn't blown up, killed me or upset the balance of the universe.

Why be so self limiting about dual sports when there is so much out there right now? I have been riding nothing but dual sports for 35 years. I have owned everything form 125's to my current 640. And these are the best times I have ever lived through for model range. You can buy anything from 200 cow trailer to a 1200 horizon eater with pretty much everything in between.

So what if you need to tailor them a bit? That is what makes it fun. Yet there is thread after thread of people fretting about the Japanese not giving us the perfect 450 bike. Take the 690, it hardly weighs more than a Japanese 250 dual sport and less than a DRZ400. It will go as far as you want. Since it weighs less than this unicorn of a WR450R would anyway I would argue that it IS a midsized dual sport.

I agree....I also like the most aggressive dual sport I can legally ride on the street, and right now KTM seems to be the leader in that area.
I think the reason so many folks want the Japanese makers to build a WR450R or similiar ds, is that they would make it typically Japanese......high performance....bullet proof and brick reliable.....and most importantly cheaper than a KTM or the other exotics.

[dogjaw]

Originally Posted by Albie

Also, not everyone that is short has a the psychological need to flat foot on a bike

Not every one who is short is porcine enough to compress the 12" of suspension...

My point was that if any manufacturer, Japanese or otherwise, who is trying to broaden the appeal of dual sports might want to design a bike that appeals to less experienced riders, not just ex dirt bike riders. The 650GS is a prime example, decent clearance and suspension, but with a manageable saddle height.

[Royal Tiger]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

I think the reason so many folks want the Japanese makers to build a WR450R or similiar ds, is that they would make it typically Japanese......high performance....bullet proof and brick reliable.....and most importantly cheaper than a KTM or the other exotics.

I forgot about the staggering levels of high performance available in the KLR, DR, and XR-L 650's.

[Duken4evr]

Funny thing is, if you go out to any trail riding off road spot (not an MX track) you would think Japanese bikes are exotic. It is a sea of orange out there.

Yamaha just revamped the WR450. I hope they sell a few. Need a little more blue out there to go with the occasional Husaberg

[Off the grid]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

I agree....I also like the most aggressive dual sport I can legally ride on the street, and right now KTM seems to be the leader in that area.
I think the reason so many folks want the Japanese makers to build a WR450R or similiar ds, is that they would make it typically Japanese......high performance....bullet proof and brick reliable.....and most importantly cheaper than a KTM or the other exotics.

That bike is currently out there.....00-07 KTM RFS bike.

[mtntrails]

Wow! 100 posts and over 4000 views in just 5 days.

Honda... Suzuki... Yamaha... Kawasaki... Are you listening? Do you guys have anything "in the hopper" that we can get excited about? Hello???..... (crickets chirping). Hello???....

[Dirtmongrel]

Originally Posted by mtntrails

Wow! 100 posts and over 4000 views in just 5 days.

Honda... Suzuki... Yamaha... Kawasaki... Are you listening? Do you guys have anything "in the hopper" that we can get excited about? Hello???..... (crickets chirping). Hello???....

Suzuki is listening
they just introduced a new for 2013 bike
its a 250cc, FI, electric start, 6 speed trans, 3.5 gallon gas tank

oh wait.... its a smaller version of the butt ugly B-King street bike
although its new little twin cylinder 250 engine looks neat

[Gundy]

Not Japanese, but reasonably priced, new, compared to some of the Euro bikes

http://www.christini.com/bikes/christini-awd-450-ds

Detuned CRF450x engine.....does that mean longer service intervals?

Also make a supermoto....

[n1tr0]

Originally Posted by Gundy

Not Japanese, but reasonably priced, new, compared to some of the Euro bikes

http://www.christini.com/bikes/christini-awd-450-ds

Detuned CRF450x engine.....does that mean longer service intervals?

Also make a supermoto....

all wheel drive !?!
That's super intriguing , but

CHRISTINI 450 Engine 30 Day Limited Warranty

I'd definitely want some more info as to what exactly they are using for the engine/trans.