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Best for parts - XR600E, NX650, DR650 or KLR650? Best for parts - XR600E, NX650, DR650 or KLR650?
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Zoe Seymour, The main road south, DRC

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Zoe Seymour,
The main road south, DRC



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  #1  
Old 6 May 2019
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Best for parts - XR600E, NX650, DR650 or KLR650?
Hey all,

I know this site is littered with comparisons of these bikes but many I find are ten years old and availability of parts is an ever-changing beast.

I'm looking to purchase 'that' bike - the one that will take me around the world. I won't be making the trip until 2025 but am preparing early by trying to get something that needs works and learn motorcycle maintenance in the process. I also want a bike that I can source bits for abroad and do myself, should things go wrong.

I've read a lot about the NX650 (dom), DR650 and KLR650 but recently heard about the XT600E; it seems like these are far less rare these days and parts are easier to source.

EDIT: I'm in the UK for parts.

With my goals in mind, which is the better option?
Last edited by lukehold; 6 May 2019 at 11:04. Reason: Added in location
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Old 12 May 2019
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Can't comment on parts availability in UK, but none of those bikes were released 'world-wide' so you'll always have some places where you'll struggle to find parts.

If you're asking for Australia, DR650 and KLR650 are still being sold so parts are freely available. Dom's have been off the market for a while, so parts are a little harder to come by. And they have not been released in places like South Africa etc. I've always struggled with Yammies >10 years old (everywhere I've been- not just in Aus), so I'd say steer away from an older XT.
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  #3  
Old 12 May 2019
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Something to consider when choosing an older bike for a trip in the future is the rise of low emission zones and whether or not you will still be able to ride them in some places without paying a penalty fee or at all. There is also the problem of rising prices due to some of these bikes getting some sort of classic status making them no cheaper but potentially less reliable than something newer, I would suggest thinking about a newer bike such as a Honda CRF250 which is perfectly capable of doing this trip and is available almost worldwide.
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