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Street bike suitable for dirt roads?? Street bike suitable for dirt roads??
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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.
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  #1  
Old 8 Oct 2003
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Street bike suitable for dirt roads??
Hey folks.

I am currently searching for a street type motorcycle that I can use on dirt roads and fire roads. I want the comfort of a "Street" type bike with some ability off highway. Now I'm not talking tight single track and muddy trails, rather good dirt roads and trails.

Any ideas?
  #2  
Old 9 Oct 2003
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I'm looking for the same thing, good acceleration, can go a good distance without crippling me and can hold it's own on dirt also it must be able to pull 2 people with luggage.

There are a few bikes I'm considering for a trip from the UK to south africa, honda africa twin but I'm short so may be a bit much, hondaXR650 with modified seat etc.. very good but not good doing road work after a few hours, honda dominator- seems the best Ive tried at present.
BMWR100GS Ive heard all sorts about these but seem to be a bit on the heavy side for anything off road but yet to try one!

Yamaha XT600, seems good but reliability for a very long trip seems not that good.
  #3  
Old 9 Oct 2003
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Hi Mercenary,
It would be difficult to recommend the "best" street bike for dirt roads but I have ridden lots of dirt roads and find thinner road tyres are best. I have used Guzzis on road tyres and they worked OK. Anything with fairing panels suffers from the vibration.
Have you considered a duel purpose bike, Africa twin, Transalp etc.
It is surprising the difference the tyres can make to driving on dirt roads, not just traction but steering as well. Letting some air out of road tyres helps but you could end up damaging the rim. Spoked wheels are preferable.

This question would be best discussed over a few s

Steve
  #4  
Old 9 Oct 2003
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I have a BMW F650GS Dakar and my girlfriend a F650GS. As stated before, they are as comfortable as a road bike but have some off road ability. They won't keep up with a CBR600 or be as good off road as an XR600 but you'll get a bit of both.
Hope it helps!!
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  #5  
Old 9 Oct 2003
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Of course there will be some debate over which one is best. I have owned a KLR 650 which I loved. Problem being was the comfort level just wasnt there. I would like a bike that I could put a side car on but not break the bank

Current BMW 650 Dakar price (CAN) 12,500
Current KTM 640 Adventure (CAN) 12,100
TransAlp, Tenere, Africa Twin: Not available in Canada.

There has to be a bike besides a full on "Dual Purpose" that would be suitable. Think of a 2WD Pickup truck instead of a Car. Whereas the Dual Purpose would be considered a 4x4 Truck and a CBR600 would be a car. I am looking for something in between.

Any more thoughts would be appreciated.
  #6  
Old 9 Oct 2003
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If you really want to put a sidecar on it then that's a whole 'nother subject! And a different bike.

Please confirm or deny that's what you want to do!

NO 650 is really adequate for NA roads hauling a sidecar. Few modern bikes are suited to a sidecar.

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  #7  
Old 9 Oct 2003
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I read somewhere that there was a guy who travelled round the world on a honda fireblade, he took it on the rough stuff when he didn't have a choice and had a great time so I reckon anything is possible but last time I pulled into a gravel layby on a sprots bike i came off.
  #8  
Old 10 Oct 2003
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Martync,

That would be Sjaak Lucassen, who did indeed ride around the world on a Fireblade. He's on the road again, but I guess he didn't like the Fireblade - this time he's on an R1!

Search the site on Sjaak and there is more, inluding a pic somewhere.

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  #9  
Old 10 Oct 2003
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I am also looking for a "street" bike to be able to ride off-road. I did some traveling in South America on a Tenere XTZ660 a few years ago and there were a few things I did not like, such as having to make sure the spokes were tight, making sure the bike had enough oil, changing tires every 3000 Km, and so on.
Currently I own a Honda CB1000 that never needs oil added, never needs the spokes tightened, the tires last 10,000 miles, and it has twice the power; but its way too heavy to take off-road.
For my next time in South America I was looking at the Yamaha FZ1, and the new FZ6 which has the exhaust pipes under the seat, giving you ample space for luggage, has nice wind protection, its very light, will sell for 6400 USD, etc.
I am hoping Yamaha comes up with an FZ1 with
all these amenities, then my problems will be solved.
  #10  
Old 10 Oct 2003
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Grant: I agree that no modern 650 would be suitable for a sidecar. I guess I am really searching for the best of both worlds. Knowing that is nigh near impossible I suppose I need to determine what I can "do without". Give up off road ability for power and comfort or give up the comfort and power for off road ability.
  #11  
Old 16 Oct 2003
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Check out the following link (in german). There is a pic of an africa twin fitted with a side-car.

http://www.powerslider.de/
  #12  
Old 2 Feb 2011
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xyelkenli1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mercenary View Post
Hey folks.

I am currently searching for a street type motorcycle that I can use on dirt roads and fire roads. I want the comfort of a "Street" type bike with some ability off highway. Now I'm not talking tight single track and muddy trails, rather good dirt roads and trails.

Any ideas?
2011 Kawasaki KLR 650 good for what you looking for. if bike is too tall for you, you can lower the suspension or an after market seat or both will do it.
Kawa brand new is cost 6000$ in USA cheap enough and dress up parts are planty and cheap also.
bike is street oriented dirt capable rough enough for both worlds. and 6 gal tank is plus. comfy too
also suzuki dr 650, or 450 or vstorm 650 will do
  #13  
Old 2 Feb 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xyelkenli1 View Post
2011 Kawasaki KLR 650 good for what you looking for. if bike is too tall for you, you can lower the suspension or an after market seat or both will do it.
Kawa brand new is cost 6000$ in USA cheap enough and dress up parts are planty and cheap also.
bike is street oriented dirt capable rough enough for both worlds. and 6 gal tank is plus. comfy too
also suzuki dr 650, or 450 or vstorm 650 will do
Did you notice that the OP´s ´currently´ was over 7 years ago?

For a street-oriented bike capable of doing some (but not much) dirt, I would go for a twin-cylinder bike. It is simply so much better on tarmac.

I have a V-Strom (well, 2 in our family actually!) and did almost 20.000kms around southern Africa on a rented KLR almost a decade ago. I don´t believe the Kawi has changed that much. Both surely CAN be ridden on the highway, but there´s no question about it, the V-Strom is totally superior there. Especially, if you´ve got a lot of load on board. And, of course, the Kawi (or DR650, or some 450), is better for more off-road stuff, but that probably should not be your priority, if you´ll be spending 90% of your time on the street. It is, and always will be a trade-off between things, one bike won´t be perfect for everything.
Last edited by pecha72; 2 Feb 2011 at 10:09.
  #14  
Old 2 Feb 2011
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My GS500 was taken to some places it should have never been but it is still working. Just today it took a beating on the Mali roads, the suspension bottoms out pretty easily when the bike is loaded... but it never breaks. With BT45's it can go on hard surface dirt, gravel or whatever. Deep soft sand is out of limits for it.
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