Which Single?
 

hi all,

i gave up heavy two cylinder bikes (transalp - kle 500) and turned to singles. choises are:

suzuki dr650 (2004 - onwards)
kawasaki klr650 (2004 - onwards)
yamaha xt600 (2003)

why these bikes:
- cheap (i am on a budget)
- simple engine
- air/oil cooled
- lighter then any twins
- better in off road and ok for 500km/day

i have read many of the "which bike" and "yamaha", "kawasaki", "suzuki" threads.

1- the problem with these bike is (which is also a pros) the oil/air cooling. is it a big issue in the city or in big climate changes (from -5 to +45 maybe more)?
2- which bike is more reliable?
3- dealer/parts available all over the world?
4- which bike has better fuel consumption?
5- which bike is cheap (and less) to modified?
6- optimum top speed/tork/hp?

my investigations show that DR650 is a bit ahead than the other ones, am i right?

i was an F650 owner. but now i would go for a Japanesse bike in a couple of month to set it up for rtw. any advice is welcome..

It sounds to me Ozhanu that you are already well aware of the various pros and cons and you want some sort of collaboration for a decision that you have more or less made - DR650.

You will know that most of your questions are open ended and have a range of answers depending on a whole host of variables.

So, for my 2 cents worth, toss a coin or, better still, look around on your bike market for all 3 in your short list and see what comes along inside your timeframe - that's what I would do. In fact it is pretty much what I am constantly doing!! :rolleyes2:

Yes, the man has done his homework! ...

well.........
 

[quote=ozhanu;170270]hi all,


yamaha xt600 (2003)


- cheap (i am on a budget)
- simple engine
- air/oil cooled
- lighter then any twins
- better in off road and ok for 500km/day


Ozhanu, you wouldn't go far wrong with an XT600.
Cheap, RELIABLE, Simple, Rugged, PROVEN, Fairly Light, Great Off Road, Good On road if you bear in mind its not a twin or a high speed tourer, 500km is doable if you put a Sheepskin or a air Cushion on the seat ( or just take rest breaks every 125km)
Parts available Worldwide and Worldwide by internet or phone/ mail from Wemoto Home


Martyn

DR or XT...
 

Hi Ozhanu,

I'm pretty much looking at the same stuff. Dropped the KLR of the list cause it's not a common bike here. I'd say the DR is has the edge because it has at least some sort of a fairing.

I'm wondering about Mollydogs comment about good quality oil though (in another tread, he refers to good quality motorcycle oil was mentionned). In some of the more remote places you'll have to look far for something more advanced then SAE40 or SAE50, If you're lucky there's 15W40/10W40/20W50. So a bike depending on good quality motorcycle oil is not such a good idea for long disctance traveling in my opinion.

My TA seems to be happy with the same 10w40 I poored in my lada.

There's also a tread about military KTM's on the forum here. Have a look at those. Seems like they're pretty much ready to go....

Rob

Yes, if you are really into singles and are firmly against the twins, then the 400cc bikes might fit the bill - that KTM is certainly interesting and that model seems to be readily available in Germany at present.

You could also consider the other 400s , such as the Suzi DR-Z, but I got the impression that you want a 600-650. Could be wrong of course :rolleyes2:.

You could go further back in the line and look for a DR350 or XT350 as well; now the options are opening up!!

to Robbert:
when i read Mollydogs thread i have also noticed the oil issue. i think the main idea is changing the oil frequently and try to keep it clean. when the oil gets dirty it gets also dense and it is hard to cool down a dense oil.

about the army ktm, look quite and ready to go, but i know just a little thing about ktm and did not see much long distance traveler with ktm. Also i cannot import it here as the import tax would be really high.

probably it should be better if you stick dr or xt.

to others:
i had bmw in the UK and it caused me a lot trouble. expensive and hard to find parts in Greece, Italy (the rear shoch in Verona) and in Turkiye.

here in Turkiye the famous bikes are honda transalp, suzuki dl650 and gs1xxx series. they dont even import suzuki dr, kawasaki klr and honda xr. i have found some second hand dr (2004 make 7500km), klr and xt. I think i am gonna drop the KLR as well. Prices are close to each other (6000 USD for 2004 dr, more expensive then brand new US retail price).

my only concern about the DR is the cooling system. How it is gonna behave in Delhi while it is >40 degree celcius in the city traffic or in Sahara where the temperature differance is quite extreme between day and night..

I can also switch to XT. Not sure yet:)

Thanks for your helps..

Interesting how bike availability varies so much between countries! You have a good choice of twins then!

There are threads in here about air cooled bikes running in hot conditions, really hot conditions under extended engine loading, so they would be worth reading - from memory, most comment says that the "air coolers" perform OK, but please check for yourself!!

How about the XT660R? - you have not mentioned it, but it is the obvious water cooled successor to the XT600 and the likely way forward. along with the new XT660Z, when the old bikes fall apart :rolleyes2:)

people loves twin here couse of better speed, less vibration and better lookin (fairing!!)

i would something like with carb and not with injection. The one with the carbs are easier to repair and parts are widely available. It is why I am thinking of XT600 and not XT660 or any bike with carbs. Liquid cooling... ummm.. Better for engine maybe but again makes the engine complicated. Also XT660 is a bit pricy then xt600 ;)

thanks..

You can't go wrong with the venerable - Yamaha XT600E

The most widely used RTW adventure bike on earth and probably your best bet...

:funmeteryes:

Ride carefully & Stay safe.

First part:
My local BMW dealership would not agree (and I don't know, but that is because I don't care).

Second part:
Sounds like an ad for Carlsberg.

You're right, probably....

I maybe a "teensy weensy" bit biased though - seeing that I actually own one myself!

hi again!

thanks for the comments and infos.

however, i have read the following thread 3 times today:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...t=suzuki+dr650

and then i have start take a seriously look for XT600 as well. the only problem with xt is that it is no more on sale as brand new.

i think i have to read more:)

i am still open to any advice and info..

You can buy an XT600E new in the UK as an import. Should be able to in Turkey. Just Google 'new XT600', I found at least 5 places in the UK.

Cost about £3200.

Well, give it time and it will wear off. :rolleyes2:

XBRs have a good sounding exhaust however.


Ozhanu,
You set the date in your first post: 2003 = about the last production of the XT600. Thereafter they switched to the XT660.

But, there was a brand new XT600 sold for £3000 a few weeks ago. It was not up for sale for very long at a dealer. They may still be found therefore, and ones that are later registered than 2003 come up as second hand buys here in the UK.

I think rather than worry too much about whether there will be a bike shop handy when you break down that has all teh parts for your bike, it would be better to set up an account with a major parts supplier or two to ship parts to you. That way if you need something, it is just a phone call away and flash the plastic. By all means carry small things that are likely to need replacing.. chains,cable brake pads, but leave the crankshafts at the parts shop. I know of some BMW riders who have carried hundreds of pounds worth of parts for years. Likely hood is these parts will either never be used or given away when they sell their bikes. In my view it is better to buy what you need if you need it. even with taxes and shipping could easily work out cheaper.

thanks for your replies.

i did googling for new xt600 but did not find on the first 3 pages and there is no in ebay.co.uk eihter.

as far as i know they have not been produced after 2004, am i right? even if i buy a brand new one, it will be a 2004 make.

i am still between DR650 and XT600. I got TT panniers, scottoiler, etc... just need to buy or make a rack and give a good service.

about the spares.. of course i will have a phone or e-mail of a part supplier. just wanna carry the essencial things like tyre stuff, bolts, oil, tools, seals etc.. wanna travel light.. (less is more) even for cloths.

I put about 70kg on my bmw and the rear shock has been broken in Italy gave me some trouble. so this time i'll be very very sensitive about the weigth this time.

Yes, that's basically the situation - they have not changed of course for some years; if you go to a Yam dealer they should be able to get you a new one i.e. there are still some to be "had" - they may not want to do this but would rather sell you a bike that they have in stock.

The end of the line XT600E was a bit of a poor relation to the classic earlier XT's. Same basic engine as the old 80's bikes, but with very basic parts, cheap suspension, steel rims and pretty heavy for a 600 single.
If you've become used to more modern bikes like the f650 then it will be a real step back in time.
On the plus side they're very cheap, simple and reliable.
Have you looked at Yamaha's TT-R 600? Similar engine, but in a much better spec'ed chassis.
The KLR has been around for a long time, but they were never that popular in europe, so aftermarket parts aren't as widely available as in the states.
The DR's are good, solid bikes, but have you looked at the DRZ400S? The more modern 400cc engine makes similar power to the old air cooled 600's and is equally as reliable.

Hi MarkLG,

Thanks for the comments. Which model xt600 are not as good as the previous one do you think? There is no TT-R's here so I have to stick eihter the xt600 or dr650.

i have just checked the dr400s and found brand new in suzuki.com.tr but it is hell expensive for a 400cc. (could not find used for now as they are new imported bikes). the brand new is about 6300 pounds. there are some used 4 years old dr650 which are almost half price of it.

still investigating and thinking..

thanks again..

Sorry, I have to agree with 'walkabout'....still BMW by far, and I mean the old airheads. Lucky for me 'Martynbiker' is on a ban or I'd be 'flamed' for this post! :rofl:

Okay, I give up - I may have been WRONG!
 

Perhaps I should withdraw that comment and replace it with -

"Probably the most widely used African Adventure bike ever"
There is that more acceptable to you (BMW) purists out there?

NO, first cut is the deepest! :rofl:

Depends of what part of RTW you mean!
 

"Most popular RTW bike" depends on what you consider "the world".

The earlier XT600 Tenere's from the late 80's to the mid 90's are genererally thought of as the best of the line. They came with large tanks as standard, plus good quality suspension and wheels. The problem is finding a good one - there aren't many around which are worth looking at.
The later models lost a lot of their off-road and overland ability - small tank, cheaper suspension with less travel and heavy steel rims. They're also a good bit heavier than the older models. They're still a reliable bike, but pretty dull to ride - things have moved on a long way since the bike first came out in the 80's.
The DR650 is a better quality bike all-round - ligher, more powerful, decent suspension and real off-road ability. Of the two bikes it's definately the one to go for.
Another bike to consider if you can find one in your price range is the newer water-cooled Yamaha XT660 - a very solid bike, with a very nice, smooth engine.

I am curious now, what happened ?

If you mean what happened to Martynbiker,well Caminando has been baiting him for a while and when Martyn retaliated it resulted in a ban for both of them till Jan30th, before Christmas Cammy got himself a 3 month ban reduced to 4 days ??? for abusing Martyn, it seems Cammy is a pr:censored:k.

mollydog
your post have really shocked me.. it is like "the brief history of motorbikes and motorbikers of America". Amazing really. I have "again" realized that I have too much to learn and a long way to walk. Thanks for your time for that long post..

MarkLG
Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowedges with me. Many people has voted for XT600 buy I think is it the old XT up to mid 90's and it is really hard to find a good and realiable one here. So, the best choise would be a DR650SE. There is one here 2004 make low milage. I think I'm gonna read the threads about "prepare a DR for rtw" and apply them as my budged allows.

Thank you very very much again to everyone who helped me with their experiences and advices.

Hope to see you all somewhere on the road.

Thanks dave

I tend to just let things go when people have a grump....


Ozanhu...... sadly (in my opinion) you did not consider the lean burn Enfields. 160kg, simple to maintain and 80+mpg. a very different animal from the old 1949 design. sadly people keep on with the 60 year old mantra's. I am sure i could find problems with 60 year old jap bikes. You know the crap ones before they copied the brit bikes. :)

Mollydog,

I really enjoyed reading that reply, very interesting indeed and written by someone who palpably knows what he's talking about. Nice to get the "slant" on things from our American cousins across the big pond...

All the best.
Neil

where to look
 

hi

i have found a DR650SE. it is 2004 make, but, registered on november 2006. so, it is virtually 1 year 3 months old. it has 28000KM (17000 m) on the clock and have 1 previous owner.

it is about 800km (500 m) away from where i live. i will have only one chance to look at it and a ride.

my question is, which is the delicate part of the bike? where should i pay attention? which parts are vital parts for DR650?

thanks..

All this points to how the back was treated.

thanks mollydog.

my options was XT600 and DR650. I wanna simple, light, reliable, non-electronic, non-injection bike. there is no bike which last forever. Turkish Suzuki importer does not import DR since 2004 so the latest model here in Turkiye is 2004 make.

i have heard that post-2000 make XT's are as not reliable as the pre-2000 ones. I dont want to own a bike which is 10 years old.

did you mean 18000 miles is too much for long distance bike? there is one more which is 2004 make and has only 4000 km (app 2500 miles) on the clock and it is really shiny. it is 600 km (375 miles) away from my home.

the first one cost 5900 USD and the second (one with 4000km on the clock) 7100 USD. i know they cost to much comparing to US price. I have checked the suzuki usa site and saw that brand new DR cost 5099 USD.

how should air filter look like? and how can i exemine the oil without drain it?

thanks a lot!

Oz,
Mollydog is saying that the air filter should be clean and the oil should be the same, if the bike is well maintained - for the oil, just look at the dip stick or the sight window for the oil level.

but not too many options?
Try to see the oil. meditate on it

But I think xt600 is the best buy for long way. Be patient, anf looking for xt600, you will not be wrong!!!

But I think xt600 is the best buy for long way. Be patient, anf looking for xt600, you will not be wrong!!!

ummm.... again dilemma.. xt or dr...???

by the way i went to suzuki dealer here. he had a 2006 make DL650 V-Strom. it has 8000 km on the clock looks shiny and brand new.. a bit costy comparing to xt or dr but very very comfortable, powerfull and tempted. However, i am suspicious about the Africa leg of the tour. I think it (the dl) cant cope with Africa and remote places in S.America. But it is definately ideal bike for Turkiye and any other EU country (ok, Iran and USA too). Also, on this form, I haven't heard bad things or bad fault report about DL. bad points are: their are heavy, low graund clearance, delicate plastics, too much digital electronics, carbs and need a dealer to fix, especially the electronic bits!!!

it is really hard to make some choise. everyday you change your mind.. i've got couple of months. i'll wait and see.

Wait and See
 

Welcome to the club!! Now you are into "Which Twin?"! :rolleyes2:

thanks dave, but, i would like to hear (or read) more constructive ideas from an experianced member like you :).

do i have to cross the dl over from the list and carry on looking for a clean xt or dl?
or do you think dl can handle Africa if i dont do too many offroad?

thanks

It all depends of where you want to drive. People have made though Africa on scooters and bicycles. If you want to drive on main roads, no big problems. If you want to go off the beaten tracks then that is something different.

Here is an expert that has ridden many bikes RTW and what is opinion is on the KLR.

Gregory Frazier

Good luck,

Randy

Advice from an amateur long distance rider but long time owner of bikes.
Get a Yamaha! I have owned four so far in my life and the most reliable bike I ever had was a 1974 Yamaha XS 650 twin. I bought it in 1987 for US$500.00 and it just ran and ran.

My 1993 xt600 with 55K Kilometers does not leak or burn any oil. I bought it two years ago with 46K kilometers on it. Did a 3K trip on it recently with no problems. It runs great and I am planning on a 12,000 Kilometer trip one year from now. Buying bigger gas tank, softer seat, etc.

I rode my friends 97 Suzuki DR650 the other day, it was more comfortable than my xt but seemed wimpy to me. IMO

I doubt it! Here in Brazil they have the same engine. They drive the XT600 everywhere here in Brazil pre and post year 2000. They even have a site dedicated to the xt. Página do Clube XT600!


Whichever one you pick, accept it and have fun! :mchappy:

DL650 - TA - Versys thread
 

Hi Ozhanu,

I don't want to take your thread :offtopic: too much! It's a good one for singles, as it is.

If you are interested in considering the DL650, then you could take a look at this thread:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-twins-31992-2

Although it was aimed mainly at the 2008 TA, it has some info about the Wee Strom.
Of course there are plenty of other threads that deal with the bike and I believe there are lots of them travelling right now.
I think it is significant that no one has bad things to say about them.

Cheers,

ps The "balance" between off-road and on-road riding while travelling long distances needs to be thought about carefully - again, check back with earlier threads - once a bike is loaded up it is a handful for any type of dirt riding (and the serious dirt riders would laugh at such antics).
I guess it depends, in part, on what you want to get out of a particular trip - is riding dirt "for the sake of it" likely because many, many countries have some form of sealed road surface nowadays.

Off Topic
 

OFF TOPIC

"-------Get a Yamaha! I have owned four so far in my life and the most reliable bike I ever had was a 1974 Yamaha XS 650 twin. I bought it in 1987 for US$500.00 and it just ran and ran.
--------"
------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm a Yamaha XS650 fan too , the last time I looked I had 3 complete and one in bits .
They have a very strong engine and now that permanent magnet alternators are available for them , it is an excellent bike to rebuild for travelling tarmac and gravel roads .

thanks to all again.

i'll think... think.... and think again. i'll look over my route and see the percentage of on/off road. twins would be much more comfortable especially on the motorways, on the other hand singles are better in the third world countries.

anyway, thanks again for the advices..

That is neat. :thumbup1: Send one down this way!
The XS does not exist in Brazil, that is why I went with the XT600! Reminds me of the XS650 somewhat.



:scooter:

Dave has pretty much said it all ..... its really about you, what sort of ride you'd like, your abilities and your expectations.

I've owned 2 Vstroms .... look in the Suzuki tech section for a couple theads where I talk about the 50,000 miles I put on my first Vstrom.

The bottom line is that it is a very tough bike. And is now one of the most popular RTW choices for a bike. Look up riders on the road now...you can find their reports here on HU.... I predicted years ago the Strom would do well....and now the Vstrom is really really popular. There is a good reason for the reputation.

In 2002 the orginal Vstrom mailing list (US based) had 2700 members Almost NO faults or problem reports from anyone for years. I've never seen a bike do this well in a public forum.

You have listed some of it's weaknesses. Ground clearance can be a problem in very rough going, but a different shock and linkage can help some to raise the bike and a bash plate too. Plastics can break of course but crash bars help protect the radiator and plastics. The Wheels are so tough you can't believe it. I dented mine twice in very extreme high speed riding. Not likely to happen in "normal" dirt riding.

No worries about the electronics or fuel injection. Zero negative reports on this. It just keeps going. Only need to take care of battery...which are very very good ....not like BMW. Many Vstroms now over 100,000 miles.

Good luck with your choice.

Good thread on Vstrom 650 .....see Rhinoclips posts and pics here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eck-in-24476-4

Patrick

Are you seriously suggesting setting off on a long distance trip on a 35 year old bike?? Things have moved on somewhat since the 70's, and i'd suggest there are more suitable bikes out there to do the job.

Back to the original discussion - if you're looking at the Vstrom, then why not consider the Honda Transalp? They've been around for years, so you'll definately find one at your price, and they're one of the most reliable bikes ever built. 21" front wheel as well.

I would go for KLR650A ...

You can find its parts & pieces from happy-trail.com or Dual Star - The original Motorcycle Adventure Outfitters™ ...They can ship anywhere around the world.

I would think that the V-strom and the Translap would be quite more expensive than a single of the same quality. Here in Brazil they are almost twice the price. Maybe they are cheaper in Europe or the US?

Off Topic
 

Please read " OFF TOPIC " let me repeat " OFF TOPIC" !


I don't recommend a 3O year old bike to anyone , unless they are a capable mechanic .
Myself - I'd do it in a heartbeat .
I did a 3500 mile trip last year - no big deal.
Old bikes are simple and easily fixed in third world countries .

How long since XT600 , KLR 650 , DR650 and even the good old Enfields were designed ?

I have not read through and the responses, but in case its not been mentioned, have you considered a Honda Dominator NX650?

Its air-cooled, decent tank size: good for about 150 miles (you can get an over sized one too). Comfy seat: good on paved roads, but perfectly competent off-raod, as long as its not something ridiculous. Just fit and endruo/Supermoto mudguard under the bottom yoke (leave the fork brace that was on the original mudguard.

Top speed of about 95 mph (150 kmph), but pulls strongly all the way, unlike some bikes that take 20 minutes to gain those last 15 mph...

I used to have one: very pleased.

You can also get plenty of after market spares, such as luggage, and there are loads out there.

A thought to consider....

thanks to all again.

i have almost read all of the DR and XT threads. both good and though bikes with offroad capability, simple engine, light, reliable, etc..

now i am reading the threads about DL. mollydog, thanks for the links. they are really useful.

i have to keep reading..

What bike :) ?
 

Another suggestion is mobile.de. I'm looking now and there are some between 2000-5000km. I'm sure you know it and you have friends in Germany that can help you out with it. Good prices as well.

I want to do a similar trip this summer. I'll leave in the last week of may and I'm still not sure about the bike. I guess that in the next hours I'll post a thread with my findings and my doubts.

If you're leaving in the same period maybe we can do at least a part of the road together. I'll go through Turkey-Iran-Stans-standard.

hi Maguest

import a bike to Turkiye is really pain and the taxes cost a lot as we are not a member of EU. it is better to buy one from here. they dont import DR650 and KLR650 here. hard to find low milage XT600. now i am strongly consider about v-strom 650 as they are really populer here and second hand cost almost same as transalp.

i am preparing my self for next year as i am moving to another city for job purposes and moving will cost me a lot.

when you are in Turkiye, drop me a line if you need place to stay. i am in Ankara now and will move to Istanbul in a couple of months.

have fun!

Nx650
 

As well as bullet proof engine , easy maintenance just change the oil evry 2000 kms. Honda the best of the lot:thumbup1:

All this ..... and more .... happened to me on my XL! :rofl: