If you plan on riding singletrack don't even bother with any of the 600cc+ bikes.
yupThere is no such thing as a perfect all round do everything well bike.
I too have been considering getting a KTM EXC, but the maintenance is a bit scary I find, as well. The 690 Enduro R got onto my radar.
I might buy an EXC but I will need a pickup truck to go with it, otherwise my bike will be getting the motor rebuilt as often as I'm riding it from what I read.
Anybody out there have an EXC 350 or 500 and can chime in? Obviously if you're not beating on them they can go a lot longer than the "motorsports use" maintenance schedule.
See i could have traded my bike for that KTM a couple months ago and then i started reading up, and the horror stories of maintanence for them scared me. I think if you dont beat up on them they are ok, but like i said i wanna ride street and dirt with it, so it will get alot of hours and that will definately raise the maintenence on it. With the DRZ however that thing needs very very little work done. The japs know whats up im tellin ya.
See i could have traded my bike for that KTM a couple months ago and then i started reading up, and the horror stories of maintanence for them scared me. I think if you dont beat up on them they are ok, but like i said i wanna ride street and dirt with it, so it will get alot of hours and that will definately raise the maintenence on it. With the DRZ however that thing needs very very little work done. The japs know whats up im tellin ya.
I don't think it's entirely accurate to state that the maintenance is a horror story. There are many many many EXC's out there that run forever, and yes you need to maintain them. Just like you'd need to maintain any race motor especially if used on the street.
The EXC would be way better in the woods, but of course really the wrong tool on the road. I think the biggest issue is that the EXC doesn't have a cush drive so it's hard on the powertrain when on pavement.
Riding all about compromises which have to include considering location, distances, terrain, etc etc etc.
Completely agree. With me though it would be more street then dirt im sure, so that bike wouldnt be the best option for me as it is a dirtbike first and foremost. The KLR would be great, but too ugly for my liking. Unless I can find a deal on an Aprillia supermoto, then I think the DRZsm is what im gonna pull the trigger on.
Completely agree. With me though it would be more street then dirt im sure, so that bike wouldnt be the best option for me as it is a dirtbike first and foremost. The KLR would be great, but too ugly for my liking. Unless I can find a deal on an Aprillia supermoto, then I think the DRZsm is what im gonna pull the trigger on.
I don't like the KLR because it has carburetors and because of a part named the "doohickey" that people say breaks and/or isn't needed. Why even include it then?
Sure a 690 won't be exceptional in single track, and neither would a DR400, but both can do it for sure. Both are 300+ lb bikes although the KTM has much better suspenders, engine and trans.
There is no such thing as a perfect all round do everything well bike.
The 690 would be a huge frustrating pig in the singletrack. With the tall road gearing and the heavy weight you'd spend the whole time in first gear trying not to turn the throttle past 1/16th so you don't end up in a tree. You wouldn't get the thing up to enough of a speed to need the benefits of the better suspension.
Since it weighs the same as the DR it's no more of a pig than the DR. You can lower the gearing if you wanted which would negate that issue. And good suspension works at all speeds, not just at speed. To much power? Surely you jest.......
You obviously don't ride singletrack.
Do you own a 690 or do you just look at magazine articles?
The op didn't mention any specific type of riding. Which is why I said that if he was thinking of riding singletrack to stay away from the 600cc+ bikes. The 690 is included.
I do agree that modding a DRZ is a waste. A spare set of wheels and some crash protection is all that is needed on those bikes. They are a cheap entry-level dual sport and are best used to find out what type of riding you want to do. More woods? Go for an EXC type bike. More street/gravel? Lean towards the 600cc+ class.
Spending close to 10k on a bike when you aren't even sure what type of riding you want to do wouldn't be a wise move. You can grab an older DRZ for a couple grand. And as long as you don't kill it can get most of it back when selling. The SM model is a good entry level SM and you can pick up dirt wheels a lot cheaper than SM wheels to have some fun offroad. The SM model also sits about an inch lower than it's S counterpart which helps inexperienced/shorter offroad riders.
The WR250R is also a good choice. But due to fact it is a fairly new bike you won't find them for as cheap and you'll get more of a resale hit a year or two later.
I did not mention any specifics really, but I did say it would be street for communting to work with the odd jaunts locally, but then on the weekends( and maybe not every weekend) would like to take my kids dirtbiking up to the ganny. I have a 2003 R1 now, but cant afford to buy another bike out right, so thats why i wanted a bike that looks good on the street ( drzsm) but could work the trails with some dirt tires.
I have not found a bike that I like looks wise for this purpose more then the drzsm. I know it may not be the most capable for what i want, but I do want a bike I can look at and enjoy it every day.