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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 Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  • 1 Post By Gipper

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  #1  
Old 24 Jul 2014
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Also factor that in stock trim the DR is not a good bike, the seat is horrible, the tank is too small, the suspension is way too soft and it has no screen, it will take ~$1500 and some wrenching time sorting these issues - but out of the box you can just put some luggage on the V Strom and its ready to go.

The current model 650 Strom is probably one of the best sorted and reliable bikes out there, 3 friends have 2013 models and they have been bombproof, modern FI is reliable and nothing to be scared of these days. If you like tinkering and wrenching the DR is great, but if you just want to put gas in a bike and ride it go with the Strom.

I was very close to using a 650 V Strom for our trip and for probably 60% of our trip on the sealed roads we did it would have been a lot better than the DR - long highway trips are not the DR's forte.
The DR shines when your on loose gravel, I'm one of its biggest advocates - a well sorted DR is one of THE best travel bikes out there IMO, but for the trip you describe the Strom will be the better bike.
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'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca
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  #2  
Old 24 Jul 2014
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Vstrom will work as would a multitude of other bikes including KLR650, Versys, etc. I would guess about as many folks use KLRs as anything else. That is what I'm using '07 KLR.

You know that you will have to ship the bike Panama/Columbia?
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  #3  
Old 24 Jul 2014
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Originally Posted by Gipper View Post
Also factor that in stock trim the DR is not a good bike, the seat is horrible, the tank is too small, the suspension is way too soft and it has no screen, it will take ~$1500 and some wrenching time sorting these issues - but out of the box you can just put some luggage on the V Strom and its ready to go.

The current model 650 Strom is probably one of the best sorted and reliable bikes out there, 3 friends have 2013 models and they have been bombproof, modern FI is reliable and nothing to be scared of these days. If you like tinkering and wrenching the DR is great, but if you just want to put gas in a bike and ride it go with the Strom.

I was very close to using a 650 V Strom for our trip and for probably 60% of our trip on the sealed roads we did it would have been a lot better than the DR - long highway trips are not the DR's forte.
The DR shines when your on loose gravel, I'm one of its biggest advocates - a well sorted DR is one of THE best travel bikes out there IMO, but for the trip you describe the Strom will be the better bike.
Thanks, Grif.

Yeah, to be honest, although I can appreciate a bike that's easy to fix, I'd prefer a bike that potentially doesn't need to be fixed as much. I used to enjoy tinkering, but then I owned a couple of cars that were total lemons and the fun gets taken out of it when you should be at work instead of trying to get the darn thing going.

As for customizing a DR, there are some that pop up now and again all farkled out. For instance, check out this baby, from a guy who was looking at almost the same trip as me. I think I may have actually spoken with him by email when he was still trip-planning. Shame he has picked up some health issues. But, great bike!

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Originally Posted by juanvaldez650 View Post
Vstrom will work as would a multitude of other bikes including KLR650, Versys, etc. I would guess about as many folks use KLRs as anything else. That is what I'm using '07 KLR.

You know that you will have to ship the bike Panama/Columbia?
Thanks, Juan.

Yeah, KLRs are quite popular for this trip, I've noticed. I had them on my shortlist for a while, but recently ruled them out for a few reasons (nothing that makes them a bad bike). I'd prefer a DR if I were going for a more offroad-oriented bike.

And yes, I'm aware of the Darien Gap and its associated challenges for travel. I've been researching this for quite a while. So much to know, though. And of course, some things you only find out when you're in the thick of it. I've already visited or lived in about a dozen countries. I've never been south of the US border, though.
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  #4  
Old 25 Jul 2014
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Originally Posted by This Is Mark View Post
Thanks, Grif.

Yeah, to be honest, although I can appreciate a bike that's easy to fix, I'd prefer a bike that potentially doesn't need to be fixed as much. I used to enjoy tinkering, but then I owned a couple of cars that were total lemons and the fun gets taken out of it when you should be at work instead of trying to get the darn thing going.

As for customizing a DR, there are some that pop up now and again all farkled out. For instance, check out this baby, from a guy who was looking at almost the same trip as me. I think I may have actually spoken with him by email when he was still trip-planning. Shame he has picked up some health issues. But, great bike!
I agree, when you spend more time wrenching on it than driving it, the fun can go out of working on vehicles, but I enjoy working on motorcycles anytime though!

That DR looks OK, my only concern is 530 kms in 9 years, if it has potentially not been started for a few years the top end can dry out, causing extra wear on the rings/bore the next time it is started - but maybe that's just me being overly cautious. Even after our 7 month winter here I turn the engine over 4 or 5 times for about 10 seconds each time with no gas to get the oil moving to the head before I fire it up. Also has anything been done to the suspension? that is the DR's weakest area when stock.

Its hard to ignore a good used DR at half the price of a new V Strom......
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Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca
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  #5  
Old 31 Jul 2014
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You can get round most of South America sealed, but you could end up missing out a lot of stuff. That said, most places of interest should be able to be reached on gravel roads, which can be done by practiaclly any bike. In the end, choose the bike that you will most enjoy riding, and not like a Strom 650 is unreliable or a guzzler.
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