| Author | Message | ||
     Fatpony |
Rode one at local Buell Demo deal past wknd, all I could think was, it would be at least as good as V-Strom 1000, or big$ Beemer, with addition of up pipe and duel sport tires. Think belt would hold up? Good thought or shitski? | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Someone is running it as a supermotard but I can't remember if the pics showed a chaindrive or the belt still... | ||
| Fullpower |
belt drive would be a cool addition, and about 2 more inches of suspension. if i can get the lift on mine, then i wont need to buy a KLR to run to prudhoe bay. | ||
| M1combat |
I would recomend some heatsinks on the forks at the least... | ||
| Fullpower |
i think a tuber might be a better candidate for dual sport conversion. | ||
| Court |
>>>then i wont need to buy a KLR to run to prudhoe bay. Yes you do. The KLR, essentially unchanged over it's 14 years of production /-1{(don't lecture me about the clutch in 1995)} is an incredible bike. Ever seen anyone do one of those "I rode around the world" stories that didn't have either a KLR or a GS? Court (P.S. - NEVER forget to adjust the cam chain on your KLR) | ||
| Darthane |
Fullpower, what makes you say that? Just curious. -=doesn't think any of the Buells would do well as dual-sports without serious modification=- | ||
| Kaudette |
Not enough suspension and too steep a head angle to take the bumps. No way I'd take the thing down a twisty dirt road. | ||
| M1combat |
Too steep of a head angle??? Don't most dirtbikes have a pretty steep rake? Not 21 degrees sure... but not too much more. | ||
| Bigbird |
Rode one at local Buell Demo deal past wknd, all I could think was, it would be at least as good as V-Strom 1000, or big$ Beemer, with addition of up pipe and duel sport tires. Think belt would hold up? Good thought or shitski? Shitski...as others have mentioned the suspension is wrong (not enough travel), swing arm probably isn't strong enough for that kind of repeated abuse, and for all of the garbage that seems to pass across the belt on my XB9 on the street I think off road would make short work of it's destruction. It might be made to parallel a V-Strom more easily than a Beemer. The V-Strom really wasn't intended to compete head to head with a GS Adventure. It was simply meant to provide the option of "off pavement" (off ROAD is questionable on the V-Strom) to a sport-touring oriented owner. Don't let the looks and colossal weight of the Beemer fool you. Like Court said there is a reason why all of the "I rode around the world" stories are done on a KLR or a GS Beemer. They have both proven themselves to be the best in the business for that kind of use and abuse. The beemer tends to offer more on road comfort, whereas the KLR tends to be easier to use in the gnarly stuff. It would take some pretty severe modifications to make the XB come anywhere close to either of those bikes for their intended purposes | ||
| Biggin |
I talked to a guy today that said he was going to sell his GS because he doesn't ride it anymore. It seems that the KTM 950 Adventure S that he just bought is ( to him anyway ) the best dp bike ever made. | ||
| Bigbird |
The KTM is better off road, without question. But compared to the GS it suffers for comfort. It's a hell of a bike, but I will be interested to see how it stacks up against the new R1200 GS that is supposed to be comparable in weight to the big KTM, but with more horsepower. Make no mistake, The GS in any form is one heavy, piggish dirt bike. But then again it wasn't ever really made to be a dirt bike. Instead it's intended role was for pavement, gravel, groomed dirt, etc. It wasn't intended for gnarly single track stuff, even though plenty of people use it that way. I suppose it got it's foothold in the Adventure Touring market because it was the first large DP to come to market, and the original versions were based on BMW's air cooled opposed twin which has a legendary reputation for reliability. Also, those engines are very easily serviced with basic tools even out in the middle of nowhere, and BMW has dealers all over the globe so parts are available where needed. KTM makes great motorcycles, but most of the remote adventure tourers tend to stay away from them because they aren't so easy to work on and parts aren't readily available in many corners of the globe. It will be interesting to see if they become more widely accepted over the next few years. | ||
| Biggin |
The fellow I talked to said that after 30 miles or so he was suffering with the stock seat, but he sent it somewhere and had it fixed somehow. I asked him if it helped he said " I guess so, I ain't thought about it since I got it back, and I rode 250 miles. I'm hoping to get a chance to try the thing out myself. I hope to get a chance to try the thing out myself. If I do I'll let you know how it is. | ||
| Bigj |
The GS is not really a dirtbike. Like BigB said, I've seen people use them for that, but.... The GS shines as a highway oriented, all around bike.  | ||
| Newguy |
Speaking of KLR's, anyone interesed in one? it's a 1991 250 It was my first bike. I have had a dozen bikes come and go since then But I still have it and really love it. It's in good shape just looks a little rough around the edges could use a new tank and battery though. Asking $500. all the dirt in my area is turning into pavement so I got a XB9s. anyone interesed e-mail me | ||
| Reepicheep |
DOH! Newguy... you have mail. | ||
| Fasteddieb |
<<The GS is not really a dirtbike.>> No reason not to use it as a dirtbike - this from my 2003 Baja trip:  Seriously, the new R1200GS, over 66 lbs lighter than the current GS and over 40 hp more than my airhead, is likely to be the cat's meow! I'm thinking about one a year from now, when they've had a chance to work out the year one, v 1.0 bugs. http://www.bmwmoa.org/features/newmodels/r1200gs.htm | ||
| Reepicheep |
Newguy... trying to mail and message... did not hear back yet, your ISP's spam filter may be eating my messages... Please drop me an email, I want the KLR, but need to know your location. (Bill@KilgallonFamily.com) | ||
| Buckinfubba |
I gotta say I am partial to the Triumph tiger (yes I have one), great on the highway, great in the twistys, ok off the road, a lil top heavy. but very comfortable, the klr would be my second choice. thats what I woulda got if I didn't get such a screamin deal on the tiger. |
